Harry sat in his chair, staring at the closed door. There was something about that boy. Something he couldn't quite pinpoint. When he saw him at auditions the world seemed to brighten, like turning the brightness up on a phone.

The world seemed so much clearer now. But Harry couldn't be thinking about him like that. He was much younger than him. Plus he was a contestant. There had to be some rule about a judge dating a contestant. Isn't there? It could lead to favoritism.

He shook his head. He couldn't be thinking about dating him. He sighed and stood up, leaving the room to meet up with the boys.

They all stood around the room, mumbling in hushed voices. They all fell silent when Harry walked in.

"You all have such unique voices. I'm pretty sure my team is going to win." The room erupted into shouts of happiness. Harry chuckled.

"Okay, okay, settle down." The room quieted. Harry opened the door he just entered through.

"Would you guys like to see where you'll be staying?" Everyone nodded and Harry led them out of the entire building.

Time to go to the judges house.

****

Harry stepped out of one of the SUV's that brought them here. Everyone stepped out, mumbling wow's with a starstruck look on their faces. The house was huge, a mansion was a better word for it. The driveway alone held over six SUV's and the contestants luggage.

The walls of the home were a creamy white, the door mahogany brown. Everyone ran inside set on choosing their rooms first.

Harry followed suit, making sure everyone was inside before closing the door behind him. He could hear the boys fighting over their rooms, saying that one has a better view, ones bigger than the other, ones closer to the kitchen. Harry rolled his eyes and made his way to the room he'd be staying at.

He set his bag down and sat on the king sized mattress. A few minutes passed and the ruckus has quieted. He made his way out of the room and found the boys in their rooms sharing with another person each.

He noticed Louis was the only one with a room to himself.

"Everyone come downstairs so we can have the rules set and the boring stuff said." Harry mumbles making his way down the spiral staircase.

Once everyone was lounged around the living room Harry spoke.

"So the rules are simple. No fooling around. Nobody out of their room after 11:30. We all have dinner together every night and discuss our progress. You have access to the chefs and food in the kitchen. There are two areas with televisions so whoever has the remote first will be able to watch whatever they want. No fighting." Harry finishes, "I think that's all. Now today is your free day. Go on and do whatever you want. There's a pool outback."

The boys all grinned gleefully and ran off. Harry exhaled loudly and threw himself on the couch. He wasn't alone. Next to him was a petite boy with glasses slipping down his nose.

"Oh hi." Harry mumbled closing his eyes. He felt the couch sink under someone's weight.

"Hi."

"You don't want to hang out with the others?"

"Never been fond of large groups. And I think they're all going to the pool. It's too fucking cold to go in there." Harry laughed and nodded.

Harry liked his voice. It was raspy and high like...snow. He doesn't know why that's the comparison he makes but it is.

"Do you mind if I sit here? I'll just be reading." Louis asks and Harry just noticed the book he's holding.

"Oh! Yeah it's fine." Louis shifts and opens the book to the bookmarked place he was at.

A few moments passed before Harry spoke up.

"What're you reading?"

"The Fault in Our Stars."

"Make sure you have at least four boxes of tissues, six cartons of ice cream, and a lawyer on the ready to sue John Green."

Louis giggled.

"Have you read it before?"

"Yeah. I cried so much I became dehydrated." Harry laughed. Louis closed the book, giggling, using his sweater to cover his smile.

"I never knew my mentor was such a softy."

"Hey! That book was too emotional." Harry retorted a grin etching itself on his face.

"Don't ruin it for me." Louis smiled, closing the book. Silence evades them.

"So, do you have any other favorite books?" Harry asks.

"Yeah, I loved the Maze Runner series and the Divergent series as well. I loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson...I don't know there's so many more."

Harry hummed in response.

"Am I annoying you? I'm sorry--"

"Of course you're not. I think you're pretty nice to be around." He meant that. He looked at Louis and smiled softly at him. His eyes were bright, cerulean blue, wide and curious. His lips were thin and pink and he subconsciously wondered how they felt. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his small nose and stood up.

"Where're you going?" Harry asks.

"Um I need to unpack." Harry stood up with him.

"I'll help you. I have nothing better to do."

"You don't have--"

"It's fine really." Louis looked away but Harry caught a glance of a smile.

The two boys went to Louis' room and the smaller boy went straight to one of his two suitcases opening it. Harry followed suit, opening the second one and pulling out a pile of perfectly folded clothes.

The two boys were quiet, Louis humming under his breath. Once Harry got to the bottom of the suitcase he finds a few framed pictures. He smiles at them as he sets them on the nightstand.

They were of his family. One had him and his mum hugging and smiling at the camera. Another was of his whole family, Harry presumed. When he picked up the last one he frowned.

It was a picture, more like a selfie, of Louis holding the camera away from him. That wasn't what bothered him. What bothered him was the other boy in the picture.

They were kissing.