Amp It Up (X Factor, Niall Horan, One Direction Love Story)

It'd been an eventful few weeks. The audition was over, and the scenes for boot camp that we had filmed today were airing tomorrow night. Currently all of the contestants were in this hotel, and somehow I'd gotten my own room, which was awesome.

I'd seen Ryan and his friends that always seemed to wear sunglasses and hoodies earlier, he'd waved at me across the lobby and winked.

Right now it was 3:00 AM, and I was on Tumblr. I looked like trash and I knew it. I was wearing a old gray sweatshirt and blue Adidas pants with fuzzy socks. And I had my hair in a ridiculously high messy bun and I was wearing my black hipster style glasses that I only wore when I ran out of contacts, which was today. Which also meant I'd have to film boot camp with the awful looking things on.

I knew what song I was doing for the next episode, and I'd already gone over it with the vocal coach. We'd also gone over the dancing, while the camera rolled. Boot camp wasn't filmed live, thank goodness.

I knew I was an OK dancer, I'd taken classes when I was twelve. Simon had grinned and Cheryl had put me through to the next round.

~ ~ ~

“Kelly Melendez, Ryan Debark, Darren Camden.” Simon read out.

That was my group. At least I was with Ryan. I didn't know who Darren was.

We'd been the very last to be called out out of a group of 200. Half of us had already been cut. I saw Ryan across the room, and he caught my eye and grinned. His friends with the hoodies weren't around. As people began filing out, talking excitedly I made my way over to Ryan.

“Hey squirt. What's up?” He asked. He popped a piece of gum in his mouth and started chewing. I glared at him.

“I'm only like, two inches shorter en' you.” I said. "So that makes you what, five foot eight?"

Ryan raised an eyebrow. “That's an insult love.”

“It was meant to be one. Who is Darren Camden?” I asked. “He's one of my buddies, a rapper." He said.

I nodded and we headed out the door, not really needing to talk. I was a little freaked. “We could sing a remix.” I said.

Ryan shrugged. “Darren doesn't sing. He sounds like a dying walrus. He's an amazing rapper though. We could maybe do a Flo Rida or Emenim song?”

“We could do Love The Way You Lie, like Tyler Ward and Megan Nicole did.” I teased. “Maybe your man-crush will be watching when it airs and call you up!”

Ryan looked at me hopefully. “Do you really think so? Because- KELLY! That wasn't nice!”

“You're thick. Anyway, where's that group of friends you're always around?” I asked. Ryan shrugged.

“They had to er- Do some stuff today." He said uncomfortably. " We're having a mini party tonight if you want to come, though!”

I thought for a moment. “Maybe. I have stuff to do”

Total lie.

“Like what?” Ryan asked. He held another door open for me. We were headed in the vague direction of the parking lot.

“Like, um... Mainly Tumblr. I don't really party much.” I said. Ryan snorted. “What kind of teenager are you anyway? I thought you all wanted to get drunk and have sex.”

I rolled my eyes. “One, I've always gotten along better with people older than I am, enter you. Two, I'm a virgin, and Three, beer makes my throat swell up and I can't sing.”

Ryan burst out laughing, shaking his head when I looked at him weirdly.

“You don't sound sixteen at ALL.” He said. “May I ask what's up with your glasses?”

I glared at him. “Don't hate on them! And I ran out of contacts and they won't be in for another two weeks or so.”

Ryan rolled his eyes.

“We should really talk to Darren, and find out what he's planning.” Ryan said, changing the subject. He held the door again for me when we exited for the parking lot.

“Yeah. You two can come to my hotel room in a few hours and we'll figure it out. Can you give me a ride? My cars in the shop.” I said. Ryan nodded and lead me over to a red convertible.

“Nice.” I said, running a hand over the side. Ryan grinned proudly. “She's my baby. And I'll tell Darren. Be warned, he's kinda a controlling guy, he'll probably want to do all the choosing.”

I slid into the car and shut the door. It was nice inside. It had cream leather seats and brown carpeting. I buckled up as he started the car.

“Don't worry, I can handle it. No, wait, I can't. Just don't let him get me mad.” I said. “I'll go ninja on his sorry butt if he tries to mess with me.”

Ryan laughed again and backed out of the parking space. I saw other people getting into cars, and quote a few were with the groups they'd been assigned to.

“I'll pass the message along to him. Um, my other friends, they're not really normal guys, I should let you know.” He said. I rolled my eyes.

“What IS normal anyway? Define it.” I said.

“Normal, ordinary, not usual-”

“In other words, non-boring?” I interrupted. Ryan hesitated.

“You could say that. They're... Interesting, to say the least.”

“Can't wait to meet them. Oh, have you heard that song that Taylor Swift did with Ed Sheeran? It's a really good one, I think you'd like it.” I told him. He nodded to his radio, where a iPod converter was in his tape player.

“Plug it up, we need some tunes. Why this hotel is forever far away from the studio I'll never know.” He said.

I plugged it up and we fell into a comfortable silence as he drove and I listened. When the song ended, he nodded.

“That's a good back up song, maybe. Play another.” I put in several different ones, until we pulled up to the hotel. I really liked the hotel, it had good service and friendly staff. And they had an in ground pool that we could use any time of day or night.

“Thanks for the ride.” I told Ryan. “My pleasure. Thanks for the music, I'm going to buy that song on iTunes.” He said. We walked into the lobby together, and went in different elevators. I pressed the button for my floor, and waved at Ryan as the doors closed. I didn't see if he waved back though.

The elevator doors opened again before my floor was reached, and six guys wearing hoodies and glasses entered. They all looked pretty shady and I squished myself into the back corner until the doors opened at my floor. To my surprise they all got off, and I walked around them with a mutterd “Excuse me” and unlocked my door with my key card and went in.

I threw my bag on the ground and closed the door behind me, and grabbed a apple and a jar of Nutella and headed for my laptop. I opened it and checked it.

I ate my snack and then went to Tumblr. Someone posted a picture of One Direction, claiming the boys were at the X Factor studio yesterday, and I rolled my eyes. I would have seen them, trust me. Directioner's almost always know when they see the boys or find one of the famous Harry Styles look a likes. I'd met one before, actually. He was very sweet and talked to me for a while, but he had to go to school and I had a my job at a bakery. And yes, this was in America. My parents werent actually in Canada, they were still in North Carolina.

I never had much in common with them, and I think they were relived to see me go to live with Gran. Gran was dad's mom, and we shared the same red hair and fiery spirit. She loved music, and played it loudly. She also had NO idea where my dad got his ideas that women are inferior.

I missed my friends though. Vanessa and Tina, and a few other people from when I still went to public school.

My phone buzzed with a text from Ryan.

Lets practice w/Darren @ 5pm, we'll come over b4 the party.

I texted him back quickly.

Okay. Bring your friends, I'm going to take a shower and stuff. How many people are you bringing?

I didn't care if he brought his friends or not, but we needed to work.

Theres like 6. c u soon kellah

* It's Kelly. I'mma take a nap, y'all come when you want.

~ ~ ~

If something doesn't make sense at the moment, it's because I'm editing!