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

The day when I realized that The X Factor's ratings were bad wasn't the best at the beginning.

Ryan and I had been researching previous winners just after breakfast. We didn't want to copy any songs that they sang, or their styles or anything. The last thing a budding artist needs is someone claiming that they're riding off of someone else's fame.

But I was researching the show while Ryan was researching the winners. The ratings were awful this year. Even American Idol was getting more views.

"I don't get this," I muttered. I typed more on my laptop. "Rye, why don't they just change the show up? The idea is so overused. Simon basically just copied American Idol."

It was harsh but true. Everything about it just reminded me of American Idol. They even rehearsed what they would say to each contestant, I'd heard Nicole the night before outside her room.

Ryan shifted on the bed beside me uncomfortably. "It's not copyrighted, only the American Idol logo and stuff is copy righted. A show where people can be discovered like this has always been around."

I frowned. "Look at this. The views on the X Factor are the lowest they've ever been. The Voice is way more popular, it's cool. X Factor just isn't cool anymore!"

Ryan stood and paced back and forth. "It's not like we can do anything about it! We're just kids, honestly Uncle Simon will just cancel the show if it gets too bad!"

"Don't you get it? If he cancels the show, think of all the people on here that will never get a chance! It's never too late to change it!"

Ryan spun around to face me. "If you have such a great idea, go and tell him about it then!"

I stood too. "Maybe I will!"

~~~

“You're thinking... What now?”

Simon Cowell sat back in his black leather armchair, arms crossed across his chest.

Ryan took a shaky breath beside me. “Uncle, you know the show will be finished by the end of this year if we don't change it up a bit. The idea is to over done. First American Idol, The X Factor, and all of the other X Factors, and The Voice has already beat us in viewers and their ratings are sky high compared to us.”

Simon listened intently, folding his arms behind his head. “I know all this, why are you telling me?” He asked.

“Because Kelly has an idea.”

Ryan finally got the words out. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the ax to fall.

“Alright then. Tell me.”

Those four words made me relax and let out a breath in relief.

“I-I was thinking of upping the competitive nature of the show. Bringing in different judges, and relying less on the publics votes during the live shows. And have each week be a different music genre and guest judge-slash-artist.”

I took a notepad from the mahogany desk and a pen and began making a graph as I spoke.

“Week one- Pop. Week two- Rap and hip hop. Week three- Country- Week four- Alternative, or a free style.” I said.

Simon nodded for me to continue. His eyes were alight with interest, and he sat forward eagerly. “Which artists would we ask? A woman and a man from each genre?”

I nodded. “Not married couples, but two completely different artists but from the same genre. I mean, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift are certainly nothing alike.”

Simon took out a silver laptop from his desk drawer, booted it up, and then began typing furiously.

“This idea, may just work.” He said. “But are you factoring in Ryan and yourself in this? Are you still planning to go through this competition?”

“Um, yes!” I exclaimed. Simon raised his eyebrows at me a moment.

“Then after this meeting I can no longer discuss this with you if this idea works. You will be treated as any other contestant, and if this does work I expect you'll be receiving a check in the mail sometime next year.”

I nodded.

"I can also guarantee that you'll make it to the live shows. And just because of the information you've given me, your voice will take you anywhere you like. I know you'll make it, probably to the Top 6 if you play your cards right. I haven't seen anyone here who's voice reviles yours!"

Simon stood and extended his hand, and Ryan and I stood also and took turns shaking hands with him.

“Thank you Miss Melendez, this may be what we've been looking for.”

~ ~ ~

“Gran, you're sure you can't come for any of the shows?” I spoke into the phone. It had been another two weeks since Ryan and I had talked to Simon about our idea for the show. We hadn't told a soul about it, staying silent.

“It's too far sweetie, I'll have to watch it on the telly, but I'm going to call you twice a day, alright? Also, your mother called. Call her back please dear, I think she misses you.” She said. I sighed and agreed, then talked to her for a few minutes and eventually said goodbye.

I was back in my hotel room, packing for the judges houses. Ryan, Darren and I had eventually sung Super Bass, and we'd gotten a clean pass to the judges house. We were both going to Simon's.

“You ready babe?!” Ryan yelled. I heard the door to my hotel room slam.

“Yes you arrogant prick! How did you get in?!” I yelled back. I heard him walk down the hall and stop outside my bedroom.

“Can I come in? You're not like, naked, right?” He asked.

“I'm not naked, you're outta luck. Come on in.” I said. Devin opened the door and walked through, plopping down on my bed as I zipped my suitcase.

“I got a duplicate of your key card, they have very lax security around here.” Devin yawned. I rolled my eyes and went to my bathroom to get my toiletries.

“Have you finished packing?!” I yelled from the shower. “Yeah! You and I are riding together by the way!”

“That's neat! Hey! Get in here a minute I can't reach this towel!” I yelled. A moment later Devin walked into the bathroom. He grabbed the towel I was on my tiptoes for off of the shelf and plopped it in my bag for me.

“Thanks.” I said, brushing my hair out of my eyes. Devin smiled at me and patted me on the head. “No problem, Kelly Belly.”

“Don't call me that.” I said absently. I pushed my hair out of my eyes, then pulled it up into a bun on top of my head.

“Has Simon spoken to you?” I asked. Ryan zipped my bag up and faced me. “Yes, they're using your idea. And they're adding some things to it too.”

I nodded and suddenly felt awkward. Ryan hadn't been given any credit for the idea. Simon had barely even looked at him, and Ryan was Simon's nephew. Ryan's voice was amazing, but Simon hadn't given him any special treatment at all besides picking him for his group.

Ryan seemed to feel the awkwardness too, and he picked up my bag and carried it to my bed.

“Have you been to this house before?” I asked him. Ryan mussed his hair nervously. “Yeah, a few years ago. It's nice and open, and there's a heated pool and stuff like that. I think that they'll put the girls on one side and guys on the other.”

“Can we stop off and get my car on the way? I might need it.” I asked. Ryan nodded.

I checked around my room for anything I might have missed. I closed the curtains, then turned out the lights. I took one last room around the room after I picked up my bags and followed Ryan out the door.

A few minutes later we arrived through the lobby and then out to the parking lot, seeing several other contestants there loading their stuff into vans.

I dumped my two bags into the back of Ryan's car and we started off after I gave him directions to my grandmothers house where my car was.

Ryan reached over and grabbed my phone from me and plugged it up to the stereo.

“Pick something good.” Was all he said. I turned on my Ed Sheeran play list and Little Bird started to play. Ryan looked startled and took his eyes off the road to look at me excitedly.

“YOU LIKE ED SHEERAN?!” He half yelled. I reached over and jerked the car back into the correct lane.

“Yes, keep your eyes on the road!” I cried. Ryan turned back to driving thank goodness, and I started looking through his phone.

I was using up his data on Facebook when it changed to a picture of Harry Styles making a monster face, with Call from Idiot #1 flashing across the screen.

“Ryan, Harry's calling you!” I said. “Answer it!” He said, glancing at me. The car swerved a little and my thumb hit Answer.

“Hello?” I said into it.

“Oh I'm sorry, do I have the wrong number?” Harry's gravely voice said. “I laughed nervously. “Nope, this is Kelly, you met me the other week, remember?”

Harry laughed on the end of the phone. “Yeah! 'Course! Niall can't stop talking about you!”

I made a What the heck?! motion at Ryan and said, “Oh really? You can tell him hi for me.”

“Will do. Can I talk to Ryan?”

“Well, no, he's driving.” I said. Ryan was laughing a little into his hand and I grabbed his wrist and placed his hand firmly back of the steering wheel.

“Ask him what he needs. And put it on speaker.” Ryan told me. I nodded, then relayed the message and put it on speaker..

Harry blew a long breath out in the phone. “Well, my car is dead.” He admitted.

“How is this my problem? It's always dead Harry, you need a new battery.” Ryan spoke loudly so the speaker would pick him up.

“I know! Butt Niall and Louis are here with me and Zayn and Liam are already at Simon's and we have to be there in two hours! And my car won't start!”

Ryan rolled his eyes, but slowed down the car. “Alright mate, where're ya at?”

Harry's voice sounded relived when he spoke again. “I'm at my mums, we were seeing Gemma for the day.”

“My car can't fit three more people, Harry.” Ryan groaned out. “And I don't have jumper cables.”

“I have jumper cables at Gran's, and I need to get my car and guitar and amps anyway.” I offered. Ryan deliberated a minute, then agreed. “Harry, we'll be there in about an hour.”

“THANK YOU!” Harry yelled into the phone. Ryan rolled his eyes and hung it up.

“I don't know how to even use jumper cables.” Ryan admitted. “And I doubt Harry does either.”

I shrugged. “Don't worry about it, my car goes dead constantly so I'm used to using them with Gran's car.”

“Fair enough.”

~ ~ ~

“Crank it.” I called. Harry turned the key and the car began to start, but the engine didn't turn over and it went dead again. I shifted a cable clip and gave the order again. Ryan cranked my car at the same time as Harry and finally, the car started.

“Rev it up Harry, it'll wanna stop again.” I called. Ryan tossed me a rag to wipe my greasy hands on.

“IS IT FIXED?!” Louis yelled through the kitchen window. He and Niall had been eating a bunch of brownies that Mrs. Styles and Gemma had made before they left.

“YEAH! We can leave!” Harry called back. Louis came away from the window and a moment later he and Niall appeared at the front door, still stuffing their faces with the brownies.

Harry got out of his car and awkwardly hugged me. “Thanks, er, Kelly, right?” I nodded and hugged him back quickly. “No problem. Lets seriously go though, I need food.”

Harry laughed and Niall grinned at me. How come every time I see him he's eating food? Granted, I've only really met him twice so it wasn't like a tradition or anything, but still.

I got into my car and cranked it up, and then we were on our way after Ryan texted me the directions for my GPS.