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

Niall and I both tried to hit the high notes in My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark, and we both failed miserably. We both ended up laughing at each other as Niall pulled into the hotel that the X Factor had paid for. All of the contestants going to the live shows were there already. We probably would have been there earlier, but I'd wanted to stop for gas, then Niall wanted food when I wasn't hungry, then I was hungry, and then he was hungry, and we both ended up getting ice cream even though it was fall.

It was amazing how quickly the last three or four months had passed. It felt like only a few weeks since I had auditioned, but in reality it was several months. Getting everyone auditioned, and then everyone going through the different stages of boot camp had taken over four weeks. Over a month.

Then the waiting to see if we had made it, and then waiting at Simon's for our turn to sing, and then directly after that it was time for the live shows in three weeks.

Niall had explained it to me on the way. We had voice lessons, (Filmed, of course) dance lessons, how to do our hair, practicing choreography, and a lot of other stuff that was making my head spin. Niall also mentioned about a talk that Simon was going to give us when everyone was there.

I had a feeling I knew what the talk was about.

The changes.

He was going to change up the show. I may have given him just a little idea, but I knew that it wouldn't be any “Little” changes made.

Niall stopped the car, and as I was wrestling with my seatbelt he came around and opened the door for me.

I grinned at him as I unclipped the belt, and accepted his hand as he pulled me out.

“Chivalry isn't dead after all." I complimented. Niall shrugged, his eyes flushed with excitement. “You're going to love this place, they had a pool and trampoline when I was here, and all the trainers are really nice, and you get to wear cool clothes, and-”

“Woagh there tiger. Did you say trampoline? How big? Can I jump on it?1” I asked. Niall laughed.

“Ugh, it's huge, and yeah, you can jump on it.”

I started for the door. “Leave my bags, we're going to find the trampoline.”

Niall caught my arms and puled me back. “Uh uh, bags and unpacking first.” He said firmly. I groaned, frustrated.

“Since when did you turn into Liam?” I muttered. I hadn't intended for him to hear, but he did. “Since he did the same ting to me the first time we were here.” He answered, tossing me a bag. I caught it, and it was heavier than I expected.

I leaned down and carefully picked up the bag, leveling it out with another one so the weight was even. Niall watched me closely as we got my room assignment and went to the elevator.

“Can I ask you something?” I said. “Anything.” Niall replied.

“Why do I always get my own room, when other people have to share?”

Niall blinked at me, confused. Then he realized what I was trying to ask. “OH! Everyone's sorted by act! If you're a band, you get a room to share, if your a solo artist, like you, than you get your own. It's been like that for ages.”

I suddenly felt like an idiot. “Oh.”

The rest of the journey was spent in a comfortable silence. Niall was carrying way more bags than I was, and for a moment I questioned where his bags where, then I realized that the other boys had probably gotten them.

When we had dropped my bags off in my room, we had to make two more trips to the car to get everything, including my laptop, amps, guitar, and bass. I set up everything in the room how I liked it, it was smaller than the one at Simon's, but I honestly liked it better. Cream walls, a soft comforter, and carpet. I liked it.

A voice came on over a intercom.

“Will the contestants for the X Factor please report to the main gym.”

Niall and I looked at each other, then he steered me in the direction we needed to go.

“Is this entire place owned by the show?” I asked. Niall nodded. “Yeah, it has a gym, pool, training room, recording studio, and other places I didn't go to.”

After a few minutes of hurrying up and down halls we found the labeled door, and I started to go in.

“Aren't you coming?” I asked over my shoulder. Niall shook his head, his hands in his pockets. “I'm not a contestant love. I'll see you in a bit, yeah?”

I nodded and did a little awkward over the shoulder wave, then thought better of it and, standing on the tips of my toes, I pecked him on the check.

My last glimpse of Niall before I went into the very crowded and noisy room was an image of him staring down at his shoes, a silly grin on his face and his cheeks flushed.

The noise nearly defended me.

People were standing on chairs, yelling, some were fighting, almost all of them looked worried. Someone picked up a chair and threw it, and I narrowly dodged it.

“WATCH IT PRICK!” I yelled at the guy. He turned around, and it was that jerk Darren. I glared at him, then turned my back on him and searched the room for Ryan.

He was in the very back, in the corner. He looked like he was making a shield out of unused chairs around himself.

I dodged and ducked my way over to him, then crawled into his make shift fort.

“Hey,” I said breathlessly. “What're you doing?”

Ryan glared at me. He was nursing a black eye, and his left cheekbone was bruised.

“Hiding from the idiots,” He answered, jerking his head in the direction of the chaos. “They all think they're being kicked off, or that the show is ending.”

“Is it?” I asked. Ryan shook his head. “No, but it might if we can't stop them, Uncle is going to FLIP if he sees this.”

“I have a whistle in my pocket and pepper spray.” I offered.

Ryan considered. “Use the whistle, we'll save the spray.”

I nodded, pulled the whistle out, and crawled out from the fort.

I was immediately pushed, and I lost my balance as I tried to stand up. I tried again and made it over to the far wall, and began edged my way around to the front of the room, where a table was. I dragged the table to the middle of the room.

No one seemed to notice me as I climbed on top of the table, still yelling at each other. I raised the whistle to my lips and blew three times.

It went dead silent. Every head was turned toward me, and everyone was still. Someone let another guy that they'd been holding up by their shirt fall, and it broke the silence. People started yelling at me.

I blew the whistle again and again, until it went silent again.

“Okay guys, I'm a contestant too, and This. Has. Got. To. Stop.” I started off. “We're all mainly here for one thing, but if you can't be civil, you may as well leave.”

Someone hollered from the back, “WELL SAID!”

It was Ryan, who gave me the thumbs up, now nursing a split lip.

“I have no idea why you're all fighting. Will someone please tell me?” I asked. It was quiet for a moment, before a girl who looked about thirteen spoke up.

“The show is ending, isn't it? And we're all going to get nothing.”

I snorted. “Of course it isn't. Simon's making changes this year to spice it up, so all of y'all shut UP and SIT DOWN.”

There was a sudden rush to sit down, and Ryan's fort was disassembled and used.

I put my hands on my hips and made sure everyone was sitting before I spoke again.

“Okay, let's just be quiet until Simon comes, and just be nice, okay?” I asked, unsure. Most people nodded meekly, but a few folded their arms and glared at the walls or floor.

I slipped off of the table then went and found Ryan again. He was on the other side of the room then, to the middle.

I sat beside him heavily, then turned to him.

“Well, that went better than expected,” I said.

“Yeah, I didn't think you could do it bu-”

I smacked Ryan. He cowered away, laughing. “Okay, okay, I had complete faith in you!”

He sat back and looked at the door that I'd entered through. Simon Cowell had just walked through the door, and was surveying the room intensely.

“Listen up you lot,” Simon's voice suddenly boomed around the room. He was holding a microphone.

“You're probably wondering why I've called you here-” He began, before someone in the front row yelled, “YOU BET WE ARE!”

Simon glared at the man a minute, then continued. “We are making some major changes on the show. She has chosen to keep her name anonymous, but a certain young lady and her friend approached me a few weeks ago with some ideas about the show.”

Worried, hushed talking began, neighbors asking neighbors who it could have been. Ryan and I smirked at each other.

“It's just, well, amping it up a little. The show is basically going to become at least ten times a hard for you.”

Groans and complaints broke out. Simon held up a finger to quiet everyone. “My assistant is bringing in schedules for the show, your training times, your recording times, your vocal lessons, and what order you will go on stage in two weeks. You will be given a new schedule every week.

“I will let you know, that because the show is going to be so difficult this year, most of you probably wont be here after the first three live shows. Some of you may choose to go home anyway. You have that right at any moment. Just be prepared, the schedules will explain everything that I haven't. If you have any questions, contact me later.” Simon finished.

He turned and left the room, and a minute later the door opened and a smallish man came in holding out a sheet of paper. Another man came in behind him carrying a huge stack.

“I'm calling a roll call, when your name is called, please step forward to receive your time table.” The man said.

It went in alphabetical order, so it was nearly half an hour before they got to the M's and I finally got my schedule. Ryan was absorbed in his already.

I sat back down in my seat and began reading.

Thank you for being a contestant of the X Factor. If you're reading this, than congratulations. You've already covered the easiest part of this show.

Changes have been made.

This year, there will be six grueling weeks worth of live shows. Three shows per week. You will compete in at least two per week, or one as the rules state below.

NO fighting whatsoever. These people are your friends. The people you meet here, you will likely know for the rest of your life.

Try not to start too many relationships. It's okay to date, but too much drama severally shortens your chances on this show.

Think about your song choices. Don't do songs you've only just heard the day before. Use common sense.

The trainers are available from 7:30 AM to 8:00PM all the days of the week. Be cordial, and don't take your frustrations out on the staff. They are there to help, not pick fights.

Voice coaches don't just take anyone to coach. Voice lessons start after you've finished three live shows.

Elimination's are harsh. We don't like them, you don't like them, no one does. Get over it. Judges will vote on who leaves and who stay for the first six live shows. After that, it's up to the public.

Stick to your timetable.

Be respectful of others. Being quiet at night and in the early mornings helps.

All songs will be gone over with a trainer pre-show. Any profanity will be changed, or your song will be changed against your will.

There will be different “Weeks.” Each week is for a different type of music. (Ex. Country, Pop, Hip-hop.”

Each week will have a Star Judge. Group songs will be preformed using a song sung, written, or produced by the Star Judge.

Solo artists can preform a duet with up to two other artists, and those who do duets may only preform in one live show that week.

If you are unable to preform that week, you will be disqualified. Exceptions are deaths in the family, sickness, vocal problems, and conditions on stage that may endanger your health.

There are two group songs per week. One welcoming the Star Judge, and one saying goodbye.

Costumes and clothes to be worn on stage are provided by The X Factor.

I stared at the page in shock. This was crazy. This was ridiculous. This was difficult.

This was... Brilliant.

This show was going to be well... Amped Up.