Back to The Beginning

I was in the holding room at the X-Factor Judges’ Auditions, and I was freaking out. As the last audition of the day, I knew that I would be dealing with four tired judges. That meant that I needed to be good, so that the judges wouldn't focus on the previous auditions and would only focus on me.

I readjusted my guitar strap and a hand pushed me forward. “Go on in,” the accompanying voice told me, and I made my way into the audition room.

Once I was standing on the X, I smiled at the judges. “Hello,” I greeted them.

“Hello,” Simon Cowell answered. “What's your name?”

“My name is Kayla Payne, I'm sixteen years old, and I'm from Wolverhampton,” I said, trying to remind myself to just focus on the judge that was talking to me. I still had no clue who the other judges were.

“Well, Kayla, it's nice to meet you. What will you be singing for us today?” Simon asked.

I grinned. My brother’s song, I thought. “Little Things by One Direction,” I answered.

“Well then, off you go,” he said, and I slung my guitar into playing position and started to sing.

Your hand fits in mine like it's made just for me
But bear this in mind, it was meant to be
And I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your cheeks
And it all makes sense to me

I know you've never loved
The crinkles by your eyes when you smile
You've never loved your stomach or your thighs
The dimples on your back at the bottom of your spine
But I'll love them endlessly

And I won't let these little things
Slip out of my mouth
But if I do, it's you, oh it's you they add up to
I'm in love with you
And all your little things

Simon held his hand up as I finished the first chorus and I stopped playing and singing almost immediately. “I think I'm going to go straight to the other end of the table for this one,” he said. “Louis?”

I turned my attention to Louis Walsh, who had returned for his millionth season, it seemed like. “You've got great control for someone your age,” he said. “I definitely was not expecting that. Plus, you're cute as a button and I think you could go very far in this competition.”

I blushed and looked down. “Thank you,” I said, as Simon said the name of the next judge, which I missed.

“Okay, I'm going to start by asking you a question,” a very familiar voice came. “Kayla, what brings you to the X Factor?”

I looked up, and my suspicions were confirmed. My darling brother, Liam Payne, was sitting at the judges’ table. This was going to be interesting. “I'm here because I want to do what I love,” I replied.

“And you don't think you need to be older?” he pressed. Liam, I thought, give me a break. Just because I didn't tell you, you go all overprotective brother on me? Not cool.

I shook my head. “Didn't you think you needed to be older when you auditioned at sixteen?” I countered.

“Good answer!” The one female judge, Tulisa, who had also returned, quipped, making me smirk. “Personally, Kayla, I thought you did great; you were confident, you have a great voice, and your personality is just incredible.”

I blushed once more. “Thank you,” I responded.

Simon had turned in his chair to face Liam. “Liam, I get the feeling that you have a problem with Kayla here.” he said, and Liam turned to face me.

I raised an eyebrow, and asked Liam, “You going to tell them or does that fall to me?”

Simon butted in, “I addressed Liam, so Liam, I'd prefer it if you replied.” I smirked.

Liam sighed dramatically. “She's my baby sister,” he said, and I smiled.

“Sounds about right,” I confirmed.

The faces of the other judges were priceless. Simon looked bewildered, which made me wish I had my phone so that I could capture the moment forever. Louis looked equally as shocked, since in all his years on X Factor, this had never happened. Shocker. Tulisa seemed unable to comprehend, just looking between Liam and I over and over again.

Finally, Simon seemed to regain his composure. “Well, with that said, I'm going to kick off voting with a yes,” he said, and I covered my hand with my mouth, shocked. “Louis?”

Louis nodded. “You're talented and you've got a great personality - yes!” he exclaimed, leaving me needing only one yes to go through to Bootcamp.

“Liam?” Simon asked, and my brother looked up at me.

“As much as I want to be your brother right now, I’m going to be a judge, recognize your talent, and say yes,” he said, sighing, and I started looking all around me, waiting for someone to tell me this was a joke, unable to comprehend that he just put me through to Bootcamp.

“For the record, you've got four yeses - it's a yes from me too!” Tulsa chimed in, and I think I started crying.

“Oh my gosh,” I managed to say. “Thank you guys so much!”

“Liam, go give your sister a hug!” Tulisa said, as if she believed he should have already done it. He followed her command and came over to where I was standing, before he crushed me in a bear hug.

“Come on, I'll walk you out,” he whispered, and I walked out of the room with one of his arms around my shoulders and my free hand waving to the other judges, a huge smile on my face.

When we got back outside, Liam pulled me into another bear hug. “I can't believe you didn't tell me you were auditioning,” he said.

“I can't believe you didn't tell us you were judging,” I said.

“That's fair,” he said. “But you auditioned with my song!”

I laughed. “Believe me, if I’d known you were going to be judging, I’d have picked a different song,” I responded.

“I don't see why,” he said. “You sounded amazing.”

“Says the child that thought he was the only Payne that could sing,” I joked.

“Hey! I was fifteen,” he defended.

“I know,” I said, laughing. “I was only teasing.”

“Ah, always making jokes, my sister. Hey, we're done for the day, why don't I take you back to your….” he trailed off.

“Hotel, and I'd love that,” I said. “Mum and Dad haven't seen you in forever, and I don't have a ride. Mum dropped me off on her way to the mall this morning.”

“Well, come with me,” Liam said. “I actually got driven here, so I hope you're ready for your first limo ride! This one is pretty cool.”

I smiled. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.”

He smiled in response. “Yeah, yeah, other than the fact that I gave you a yes which means you get to go to BOOTCAMP!! Are you excited?” he asked.

“Of course I'm excited, Liam!” I yelled. “I just don't want to wait a month and a half. It kind of sucks, the wait.”

Liam nodded. “I remember the feeling. It's probably the most stressful point in the competition. But look on the bright side: after Bootcamp, everything moves fairly quickly.”

“You always know just what to say,” I said. “But I'm nervous about six chair challenge. The brutality of it scares me, because everyone's good at that point.”

He pulled me into a hug and rested his chin on my head. “Kayla, you're one of the most amazing people I know. You're going to be fine. Now come on, let's get you home.”

He pulled out of the hug and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, steering me towards the limo. Once we were inside, Liam gave his driver the name of the hotel I was staying at, and fifteen minutes later, was walking me inside.

“Thanks for the ride, Li,” I said. “By the way, how's life? We haven't really talked in awhile.”

He grinned as I went for the stairs. “Life's good. Cheryl’s moved in with me and little baby Bear was born, we’re really excited. You probably saw that the boys and I won another Brit a few months ago. That's really about it,” he informed me.

“Okay, so I've only missed a Brit. Practically nothing,” I said, laughing.

“That works,” he said. “Come on, can't you climb these things any faster?”

“Um, I'm carrying a guitar case on my back. I need the exercise but can only move so fast,” I replied.

“Okay,” he responded. “I get it, but next time we're taking the elevator.”

I stopped to open the door that let off at the second floor, where my room was. “Okay.”

Liam followed me down the hall to the suite my parents and I were in. After motioning for Liam to stay in the hallway, I opened the door and stepped inside.

“Mum! Dad! I'm back!” I yelled, and they came into the main room of the suite from their bedroom. My room was the room next door, which had a door linking it to the suite.

“Kayla! How did it go? Are you through to Bootcamp?” My mom asked, crushing me inside.

I laughed, happy to be back with my family. “I'll tell you later. For right now, I have a surprise,” I announced, and walked over to the door, opened it, and motioned Liam in. “SURPRISE!” I yelled.

“Liam!” my parents said, rushing over to him. “We didn't know you were in London!”

He laughed. “Especially not Kayla,” he responded, and I blushed.

“Shut up, Liam,” I muttered.

“So Liam, why are you in London?” my dad asked.

“Funny story, actually,” Liam said, scratching the back of his head and looking sheepish. “Did I tell you that I was judging X Factor this season?”

My parents looked between the two of us. “This has got to be...but...Kayla?” my mom stuttered.

“Yes, it's true, and yes, I went up there in front of Simon and Liam and sang a One Direction song and didn't even know my brother was judging me,” I said, putting my head in my hands. “Yes, it happened.”

Liam laughed. “I found it amusing, actually, until I saw the look of shock on Kay’s face when she saw me and I remembered that I hadn't told you yet.”

“Well, son, do you blame her?” my dad asked. “Speaking of Kay’s audition, how'd it go, Kay?”

“Well...I’m through to Bootcamp!” I screamed, smiling widely, and my parents crushed me in a hug.

“Now we have two X Factor contestants in the family!” Liam laughed, joining the family hug.

“That we do,” Mum agreed. “And to celebrate, we’re getting dinner tonight.” Before Liam could even say anything, she added, “And Liam’s not paying for it.”

Li just shrugged and wrapped his arm me. “Alright,” he agreed.

“So Kayla, where are we headed?” my dad asked.

“Nando's!” I said in a you had to ask? tone.

My mum rolled her eyes. “Kay, we've eaten there five times since we got here,” she responded.

“And they are great,” I finished her sentence. “You're letting me pick, I'm picking Nando's, that is the end of that.”

“Well, if we're going to Nando's, I'm calling Niall,” Liam interjected. “He's in London right now, and he'd kill me if I went without him. Hope you're ready to meet another celebrity, Kay.”

I shrugged. “Don't know if I am or not, but I've been around you for a few years, so we'll see,” I responded. “Now call him! I'm hungry!”

Liam laughed as he pulled out his phone and called Niall. “Hey, Niall,” he said. “I'm going to Nando's, want to come with? There's someone I want you to meet…….What? Yeah, you can drive yourself……..We'll be there in twenty minutes. See you there.” He hung up and turned to face us. “Niall’s meeting us there.”

Our parents nodded and we walked back downstairs and out of the hotel, one big happy family. With Liam’s arm around me, I pulled out my phone and opened Instagram. I made my profile, which had been private for so long, public and then got to work on my bio.

When I was done it read:
Kayla Payne
Singer/Dreamer
Lil sis of that guy Liam from 1D
Be crazy and love always

I showed it to Liam and he shot me a thumbs up as we got into my family's car instead of his limo. “You know, Jack is going to kill me later for this,” he said, referring to his bodyguard.

Mum turned around to face him from the passenger seat. “You really think your parents are going to let you die?” she asked.

“No,” he returned, “but you don't know Jack. He doesn't even trust me with my life.”

“That might be because you have a child that needs its father, Liam,” my father said.

“I see your point,” Li conceded, and that was the end of that conversation. The rest of the ride to Nando's was spent talking about baby Bear, and I don't think I'd ever heard Liam use the words “cute,” “adorable,” and “perfect” so much.

When we arrived at the restaurant, we climbed out of the car and went inside, where Niall was waiting for us. “Liam, mate! It's been too long!” he exclaimed as he walked over and wrapped my brother in a hug.

“I know, Niall, I know. You ordered?” Li returned.

“Yeah, my food should be here in a few,” Niall said, as I stood there fascinated by the exchange. “Who'd you want me to meet?”

They walked back over to where my parents and I were standing, and after Niall had greeted my parents, he turned to Liam with a questioning look on his face. “That would be who I wanted you to meet,” Liam informed him. “Niall, this is my little sister Kayla. Kay, this is my friend Niall, but you can call him Nialler, Irish, or really whatever you want.”

Niall nodded and then scooped me up into a huge bear hug. “Nice to meet you,” he said. “In case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit of a hugger.”

I laughed. “Don't worry about it,” I responded. “It's nice to meet you, too.”

“So Kayla,” Niall started as a waitress brought his food and set it in front of him. “What was it like growing up with Payno here?”

I laughed. “I smiled everyday,” I answered. “He was a pretty awesome big brother. Did he ever tell you about what happened when I was seven and he was fifteen?”

Niall looked at Liam and raised his eyebrows. Apparently he hadn't heard this story yet. “No, but I'm all ears,” he said, intrigued.

“Well, I was seven, like I said, and I walked into his room and he was singing. I kind of knew the song, so I just randomly started singing along, and it was really off key and just bad,” I said, laughing. “Later that evening, at dinner, Li made a comment about being the only Payne that could sing. I was so pissed, but now it's a joke and he's eating his words.”

Niall laughed, a deep, resonant, genuine laugh. “Never knew Liam to be so arrogant,” he said.

“He doesn't seem it, does he?” I agreed as my family and I received our food. “But you should have seen him when I introduced him to my boyfriend, Drystan. He was more intimidating than Dad, and Dad was downright terrifying.”

My dad cleared his throat before speaking. “Kayla, you were fifteen, and while Drystan’s great...we didn't know him at the time. Speaking of Drystan, when are you going to call and tell him?”

I took a bite of my sweet potatoes while I thought. “I could do it now?” I proposed.

“Yeah, do that!” Liam chimed in. “And FaceTime him!”

I rolled my eyes. “I'll do it when we get back to the hotel. I want to eat right now!” I declared, taking a large bite of chicken and noticing Niall do the same. Soon, my whole family was digging into their meals, and we couldn't help but comment on how good the food was.

When we finished, we paid and left. Niall decided he was coming back to our hotel with me, my parents, and Liam, and so the car was full and the ride back was fun. I ended up half on Niall’s lap and half on a seat. My parents turned up the Top 40, and we had a good time singing along to Ed Sheeran’s new music.

When we got back to the hotel, I raced up the stairs instead of waiting on the elevator, grabbed my guitar, and then grabbed an elevator to take me up to the roof, where the pool was.

I arrived on the roof to find Niall already up there. I ignored him and pulled my phone out, pressing the button to FaceTime Drystan. He picked up before the third ring.

“Hey, baby girl,” he said, smiling. “How's London?”

I couldn't help but smile. “Hey, Drys. London’s great. Actually, it's more than great. I’ve also got news for you,” I responded. God, he was cute, and the way he was looking at me was making my heart melt.

“I'm listening,” he said.

I smiled again, looking down and blushing. “Well, you know how I was talking about auditioning for the X Factor?” I asked, and he nodded. “I did, and now I’m THROUGH TO BOOTCAMP!!!!!” I screamed, jumping up and down.

“Oh my god, Kay, that's great! I wish I was there with you so bad right now,” he exclaimed, mellowing out towards the end. “Sing for me?” he asked, making puppy dog eyes at me and, subsequently, my heart melt.

“All you had to do was ask, baby,” I said, propping my phone up and reaching for my guitar. “What song do you want?”

“Photograph, Ed Sheeran,” he said smiling. He always asked for that song; it was by far his favorite.

“Mmkay,” I said, my fingers finding the first chord before letting the melody fall out of my mouth. As my fingers played the familiar chords and my mouth formed the words, I watched him relax and fall into the melody of the song. When I was finished, he shook himself out of a sort of daze before smiling widely.

“Have I told you how amazing you are?” he asked, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his knees.

I laid the guitar down on my lap and leaned forward as well. “Only every time I talk to you,” I replied.

“Then I haven't said it enough,” Drystan responded, making me blush.

A text popped up from my dad that Liam was leaving, and if I wanted to see him before he left I needed to get back downstairs quick. “Drystan, baby, I have to go. I'll call you again soon,” I said.

“Bye Kayla. Keep being amazing,” he said before hanging up. After hanging up, I grabbed my guitar and caught the elevator back to my floor. I proceeded to run to my room, where Liam was just leaving. After I set my guitar down, he pulled me into a hug.

“I'll see you in a month and a half, okay? Take care of yourself,” he said.

I smiled, hugging him tightly, before saying, “I'll see you then. Now go. Don't want to keep anyone waiting.” Then, I pulled back and stepped away, watching him walk out the door and down the hall.

Two hours later, I was climbing into bed and falling asleep. As my body relaxed and sleep claimed me, I was oblivious to the fact that Niall Horan had just posted on Instagram for the first time in several weeks and that that post was throwing the Directioners into uproar.

niallhoran: i'm glad we're friends

Notes