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

“We've got to be quiet if we're going to scare her. She told me she's taking a nap.” Ryan said. His buddies sniggerd.

Ryan was glad that he had Harry to hang out with. The kid was a little crazy, perverted, and had just enough common sense not to get him killed. He couldn't say the same for the man on his right, Louis Tomlinson.

That boy was Trouble with a capital T. He was crazy. But he was also a hopeless romantic, but of course the tabloids portrayed Harry as the romantic. The four boys behind him were Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and the quiet and elusive Darren Camden.

Niall was munching loudly on a bag of Cheetos, the cheese smeared over his chin. Jeez, it was called a napkin.

Liam was texting someone on his phone and was looking nervous about the prank they were going to pull. It wasn't anything that major, just a bunch of random guys jumping on the bed to scare Kelly Melendez when she was asleep. It's be good to get a video of it for later for blackmail.

Ryan liked the girl, he really did. She was a sweetheart, a fantastic singer, and she was turning out to be a really good friend. Plus Ryan needed a sort of distraction. His fionce' of two years broke up with him that morning over the phone. Like he wasn't good enough to talk to in person. True, she was in America modeling but that wasn't any excuse! Natalie shouldn't have done it. He was in love, and he didn't think he'd get over her.

As Ryan slowly opened the door to Kelly's hotel room, he nearly snorted at a thought. Natalie had broken up with him because he wasn't mature enough. He gripped his can of silly string. He was mature! She just didn't notice!

OK, maybe not. But still.

Ryan stopped walking through the small sitting room area of the room. He'd expected the place to be silent. Instead, he heard water running, music playing and Kelly's voice yelling out the words to Katy Perry's Hot 'N Cold.

The boys froze behind him, and Ryan turned to look at them, his eyes wide.

“Change of plan! I'm going to talk to her through the door until she comes out and then we'll spray her!” He said quickly. Not the best plan, but he wasn't that good at planning on his feet.

All the boys took their positions except Niall. He stood in the middle of the floor, still eating the Cheetos.

Ryan gestured franticly to him as the water shut off to hide behind the couch, but the boy just looked at him confused. “NIALL! Move!” Ryan hissed. The doorknob rattled, and Kelly's voice called, “Who's there?!”

Ryan face palmed and grabbed Niall and shoved him behind the couch just as the door opened. Kelly was standing there in sweatpants and a tank top, a towel wrapped around her head. And in her left hand she was holding a can of pepper spray, and in her other hand silly string.

“Hey Ryan.” She said. She raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were coming at five?”

“I-uh...” Ryan stuttered. Kelly walked past him and to the couch.

“Have you decided what song- WHY IS ZAYN MALIK IN MY HOTEL ROOM HOLY FREAKING-” Kelly clapped both hands over her mouth and wirld around to face Ryan after Zayn popped up from behind the couch, yelling out.

“YOU LITTLE SH-” She clapped her hand back over her mouth and closed her eyes, trying to calm down. Ryan started laughing. He knew the other boys were coming out of their hiding spots behind Kelly, and he couldn't wait to see her reaction.

“So, you're a Directioner?” He asked her. Kelly opened an eye. “You have no idea. You're also dead in Pi unless you start talking.”

Ryan was confused. “Dead in what?” He asked. Kelly glared at him. “Pi. Three-point-fourteen-one-five-nine seconds.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “You're a nerd. Uncle Simon asked me to do babysitting duty because the guys are spending the next few months with him and Uncle Simon needs help organizing the new features that X Factor will have in the live shows because the shows ratings are going down and he needs new things to spice it up and One Direction being here helps.”

He panted slightly after getting that all out in one breath.

Kelly just stared at him after he finished with his rant. Then she opened her mouth. “That still doesn't explain why Zayn Malik is in my hotel room.”

Ryan grinned. “It's not just Zayn, darlin'.”

Kelly stared at him. Then she turned around. All the boys were standing together sniggering. Harry had a cheeky smile on his face, Liam looked worried, Darren looked bored, Louis was laughing and Niall was beginning to eat his Cheetos again.

Kelly turned back around to face Ryan. Ryan couldn't really explain her facial expression. It was a mix of shock, rage, excitement, happiness, and something he would later describe as 'Inner Fangirling.”

He stopped thinking that when Kelly took a deep breath, let it out, and sprayed him all over his face and shoulders with silly string.

Ryan stood there, shocked, as Kelly coated him in neon green spray. He didn't even try to stop her as she sprayed over his face slowly and delerbirtly.

“THAT, is for being a prick and not telling me you know One Direction. And THIS is for breaking into my hotel room like a bloody pervert when I was in the shower.” She told him. She sprayed all over his hair and legs with the spray.

“We thought you were asleep!” Ryan protested, when he found his voice again. How on earth was she not fangirling?

“That just makes it creepier, honey. I'mma go change.” Kelly said. She turned and walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.

Ryan turned to face the boys. When he met Louis's eyes, he couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.

“She's something, isn't she?” He choked out, wiping tears of laughter away from his face along with a glob of silly string.

“Defenatly. I don't understand why she's not fangirling or freaking ou-” Zayn started, but a loud, drawn out scream was sounding from the closed door. They all stopped still and stared at it.

“ Are you OK?” Ryan called. There was a pause, in which they all held their breath.

“Yes. I need a moment.” Kelly replied. Her voice cracked on 'Moment.'

Ryan snorted and started laughing again. Niall even stopped eating to smile.

Ryan composed himself and hid beside Kelly's door. A minute later it opened and she walked out wearing jeans, a Panthers hoodie and Nikes.

She didn't walk out all the way though. She stopped, and stuck her hand around the door and sprayed Ryan again with the silly string. “Really, Ryan? The door? I have cousins, ya know.” She said. Her face was flushed pink around the edges and her hair was in a wet, messy bun.

“I was going to get you back.” Ryan whined. Kelly rolled her eyes dismissively. “I just took a shower, don't even try to start that with me now.”

“So, later?” Ryan asked. He grinned lopsidedly at her. Kelly grinned evilly. “It depends on how good you are at James Bond video games."

"YOU LIKE JAMES BOND?!"Louis shrieked. Kelly jumped and covered her hand with her mouth. She didn't say anything, she just stared at Louis and the boys, her eyes growing wider every time they spoke.

“I think I need another moment.” She said. She made a strange choking sound and turned back into the room.

Ryan grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “You'll be fine darlin'.” He told her. Kelly pulled her arm from him.

“Don't call me darlin'.” She told him. Then she paused. She'd said it in an Irish accent instead of American.

“Bloody Brits, changing my accent...” She muttered. She was looking anywhere but at the boys.

“You used a British swear!” Louis said. Kelly looked at him and she almost fangirled again.

“Well, pardon me. Freaking British, actin' like they know everything! We won the war!” She told him. Louis grinned. “Sassy. I like. 'Ello, love, I'm Louis.” He said. He stuck out his hand for her to shake, then changed his mind and kissed her hand instead when she extended her arm. She turned bright red again.

“I'm not normally shy.” She said. “I'm just in shock.” Louis threw an arm around her and turned her where they faced the rest of the boys.

“NO need for that! We don't bite! Well, except for Niall, don't touch his food!” Louis said. Kelly looked like she was going to faint, and Ryan was worried for a minute. His Uncle Simon would KILL him if she got sick.

Simon loved everything about this girl. Her attitude, her looks, and most importantly, her voice. Simon had shown Ryan the footage from Kelly's audition, and he hadn't quiet been able to process what he was hearing. She was going to be big. Maybe Whitney Houston big. She didn't seem to realize just how good her voice was.

“Are you okay?” He asked worriedly. Kelly rolled her eyes at him. “One Direction is in my hotel room. I am not okay.” She said. Louis laughed and started swaying side to side with his arm still around Kelly's shoulders, so they were doing some kind of awkward sideways dance.

“She'll be fine, everyone gets over it after a little bit! Ryan fanboyed when he met us.” Louis said. He was grinning lopsidedly, and Kelly smiled up at him.

“I was never knowin' a guy could scream tha' loudly” Niall said. He'd wiped his hands and face off on a napkin and had thrown the Cheetos away in the kitchenette.
“I thought he was going to piss himself.” Zayn told Kelly. She looked like she was in a daze. “I haven't formally introduced myself. I'm Zayn, Zayn Malik.” He said. His dark hair was perfectly styled into a quiff, and he was wearing a red varsity jacket with a M on the left hand side.

“Kelly, Kelly Melendez.” She mocked. "James Bond fan too?"

Zayn shook her hand while nodding, and the rest of the boys took turns introducing themselves after him.

Kelly didn't seem to take to him as much as the other boys, so Ryan relaxed a little.

“Ryan, you have some stuff to sort out with me, pronto.” Kelly told him. Ryan sat on the couch with his hands in his pockets. “Like what.” He said.

“Like how you forgot to tell me your freaking uncle is Simon Cowell? And the fact that One Direction is in my living room needs some light shed on it too.” Kelly said. She really did fit the stereotype of a short tempered, Irish ginger.

“Mom is his sister. The guys are done with their latest tour, and Uncle Simon asked me to look out for them. He also helped me get an audition.” Ryan explained. Kelly raised an eyebrow at him.

“She can raise a eyebrow too!” Louis exclaimed. Kelly looked up at him and did it again, and Louis did it back to her and they both laughed.

“That's the most random thing anyone's said to me today.” Kelly told him. Louis just raised an eyebrow at her again, and she giggled.

“So, are we going to pick a song or what?” Darren asked. He looked throughly bored.

“I guess.” Ryan said. Both of the boys looked at Kelly expectantly. She didn't say anything.

“Well?” Darren asked. Kelly shrugged her shoulders and Louis took his arm off of her.

“I have no idea, don't look at me!”

“You had a lot of ideas in the car though!” Ryan said. Kelly turned and threw herself backwards over the couch where her legs stuck off the back of the couch and her torso was on it. He head hung off the couch cushion.

“That was in the car, and I just woke up.” Kelly said causally. She didn't seem to notice the boys staring at her. Ryan had to admit it really was a weird way to use a couch, and he said it too.

“As opposed to what? What else beside sitting like I am is weird to do on a couch?” Kelly asked. Her hair reached the floor.

Ryan snorted and Harry started laughing. “I don't think we can say in polite company.” Louis said.

“Get your filthy minds out of the gutter.” Kelly said. She cracked a smile.

“What song are we doing?” Darren asked again. He put his hands in his dark hoodie and leaned against the wall.

“Maybe you could find a few, Darren. I don't know a lot of rap.” Kelly answered him.

“Well, this is a waste of time then. I'm leaving.” Darren muttered, heading for the door. He slammed it on his way out.

No one spoke for several minutes after he was gone.

Niall, Liam and Zayn hadn't moved at all, but Louis and Harry plopped down on the couch and causally switched the telly on to the sports channel.

Kelly stepped away from him and started for the kitchenette.

“I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN!” Ryan sang out a moment later. Kelly burst out laughing.

“You didn't have to do that, I already knew.” She called over her shoulder.

She started singing. Ryan heard pots and pans banging. He honestly didn't know how she was keeping her cool.

Kelly popped her head out the door again. “Does anyone want anything to eat?” She inquired. Ryan shook his head, but Niall sheepishly raised his hand.

“Come on, then. You can help.” Kelly said, and she dragged Niall in the kitchenette with her.

The rest of the boys slowly sat on the couch and on the floor, looking at each other like What just happened?

“When I told you I'd never met anyone like her, I meant it.” Ryan said quietly over the din of the pans.

“That was... Something.” Zayn agreed. “Why did you even hang around that guy in the first place?” Liam asked. Ryan ran a hand through his gelled hair and sighed.

“His mom knew my mom, we never really liked each other that much.” He said. “Truthfully I don't know why he kept around after his mom died. He has... Issues.”

That's the truth!” Kelly called from the kitchen. Ryan heard Niall ask something about spices.

“It's Manchester United against-” Liam started. He was watching the telly again. A player made a goal and all the boys yelled and high fived each other.

“WHO SCORED!?” Niall yelled. He burst out from the kitchenette with his cheeks pink.

“Manchester!” Liam said. “Drat it all.” Niall muttered, and made his way back to the kitchenette. Zayn and Harry booed Niall and gave him the thumbs down.

“Kelly! Do you like football?” Liam called over his shoulder.

“NOPE!” Kelly yelled back. “Dang it! Niall throw water on it!”

Ryan faintly smelled smoke and went to investigate. “What are you making?” He asked cautiously, peeking his head around the door.

“BLT's. I split grease on the burner and it caught fire. S'all good.” Kelly told him. She and Niall were standing at the counter, making sandwiches.

“Bigger question: How can you not like football?” Niall asked her. He was chewing a piece of bacon. Kelly tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

“I don't play football, so I don't follow it. I like soccer, softball and basketball though.” She said.

“We're talking about British football here. It's you American's soccer.” Ryan told her. Kelly flushed.

“Oh. Sorry! Yeah, I like soccer alright. I'm better at basketball though.” Kelly said.

“You like sports?” Niall asked. “I just said I did, didn't I?” Kelly said. Ryan rolled his eyes and left them to it. At least Kelly had a new friend besides him. Ryan had a feeling they hadn't seen the last of Darren, and he needed to talk to his uncle.