They were sitting on a blanket in their backyards, the waves crashing just feet away. Harry was looking over sheet music and then placing his fingers on the strings.

"Harry you know this song already. Why are you reading music?"

"I just want to make sure, Lou. I have to do it right."

"You do it right every time you play it. Always have."

Harry furrowed his brows and looked closer at the notes, doubting. "I know. I just need-"

"To trust yourself. You know this song."

Harry looked up at Louis, clad in bright red shorts and a white tank, smile outdoing the sun. Instantly he relaxed. "You're right."

"Of course I am. Now go again." He grabbed the papers and hid them behind his back. "Without this junk."

Harry nodded and settled in. Soon the opening notes of The Chain by Fleetwood Mac seeped into the mid-morning air.

"Listen to the wind blow.

Watch the sun rise.

Run in the shadows.

Damn your love.

Damn your lies."

Louis laid back on the blanket and watched Harry play, his fingers jumping across the frets, his voice sprinkling into the air. Louis was sure his eyes were screaming adoration, and his smile was so wide it hurt, but he couldn't stop.

Harry let his hands fall to his lap at the end of the song and looked to Louis. "So?"

"Beautiful."

Harry blushed. "Yeah?"

"You're gonna win, Harry."

Harry breathed that in. The sureness of his voice. He was going to win....hopefully.

***

"Harry Styles!" The woman at the head of the line called. Harry raised his hand and picked up his guitar.

"Do great, babe," Louis encouraged with a kiss to Harry's cheek.

Harry nodded and followed the woman inside some large house to a room that looked like it's been turned into a temporary studio and had rugs on the walls.

"Mr...," he looked to his paper, "Styles." Harry's eyes locked on Jackson Lynch, sitting on a couch in another nice suit. "Interesting seeing you here. I didn't know you played." He nodded to Harry's guitar that was strapped over his shoulder.

"I didn't know you produced."

Jackson laughed easily. "Yes, well, I suppose not." He motioned to a stool across the rug from him. "Sit. Let's hear what you've got."

Harry took a deep breath and sat down, bringing his guitar around to his front. "Do I just...?"

"Yes, sir. Just do your thing."

Harry nodded again. He fiddled with the strings idly for a moment while he collected himself. Then the familiar first notes came from his fingers and he relaxed into the music, closing his eyes and settling into the song. Jackson watched with careful eyes, but Harry kept his eyes closed until the finally chorus, finally looking up and singing proudly.

When he finished he bit his lips and tapped the stained wood under his fingers until Jackson nodded. "You're in."

"What? Really?!"

"You're surprised?"

"You could say that."

"Don't be. You've got talent kid. I'll see you in a couple weeks."

Harry stood unsteadily and shook Jackson's hand. "Thank you, sir. Thank you."

"Go on. I'm sure you've got someone out there waiting for the news."

Harry thought of Louis, biting his nails and pacing. Harry ran from the room, smile plastered between his cavernous dimples. He saw Louis on the sidewalk across the yard and ran to him, holding his guitar with one hand. "Louis!"

Louis turned and dropped his thumb from between his teeth. "So?"

"I'm in!"

Louis hugged him tight. "I knew it! I knew you could do it!" Louis picked him up and spun him around before dropping him to his feet again and kissing him. "You're going to win."

"I just passed the audition, babe. I still have to beat everyone else."

"Who else? There's no one. You'll win. I know it."

Harry just let Louis have his moment and walked with him down the street back to their own houses. When they passed the threshold of Harry's door he called out, "Mom! I'm actually talented!"

Anne came running down the stairs, shouting, "You did it?!" and scooped Harry up. "I knew you could, baby. You are talented. Congratulations." Harry hugged her back until he couldn't breath and asked to be put down. "Let's celebrate. You've never been to that fancy place by the shore that you love. I'll take you."

"Actually-" Louis started, but Harry cut in.

"I'd love to Mom. Thanks." She smiled and pinched Harry's cheek before running off to call Robin back from a friend's. "Let her have her night. I'll act surprised and everything."

"You're the best son ever," Louis teased and took Harry's hand in his. "Now be the best boyfriend ever and go to the water with me?"

"I don't know. See my smoking hot boyfriend wet and tan and half naked? Hmmm..." Harry's smile broke just as Louis smacked him in the chest. "You can borrow some trunks. Let's go." Harry pulled them upstairs and to his room where they hurriedly changed clothes and went running across the sand to the cold water.

***

The two families were sat around a big table. The gaggle of girls were chattering about how Harry was going to be famous while Louis and Harry kept their fingers intertwined under the table. They're parents were sat at both ends trying to get everyone's orders in to the very patient waitress. Once they got to Harry he looked to Louis who leaned in and ran his fingers over a few choices.

"This one looks good."

Harry nodded, but said, "But I had fish last time we came."

Louis made a sound of agreement and pointed to another, "You can pick chicken or beef, but you love tropical stuff."

Harry looked up at the waitress who was watching them fondly. "I'll take this one. With, um, chicken."

She jotted it down. "And for you, sir?"

"Sir?" Harry giggled.

Louis scoffed and puffed out his chest. "What's wrong with sir?"

"Nothing." Harry laid his head on Louis' shoulder. "You're very sir."

"I'll show you sir, Harold," Louis threatened lightly and pinched Harry's side, making him yelp. Louis handed the waitress both their menus and said, "I'll just take a medium rib eye with baked potato."

"Soup or salad, sir," her voice dipped into a giggle on the sir.

Louis gave her a knowing look before looking down at Harry. "What do you want, babe?"

"Soup."

"Soup it is," he said back to the waitress.

The food was delicious and the company was nice. They spent the whole dinner praising Harry for making it this far, Anne making sure to tell him that, even if he didn't win, she was so proud. At that point Louis leaned in and whispered, "We're all proud, but you're going to win." Harry blushed and hid his face in Louis' shoulder.

***

The next two weeks were spent rehearsing, but mostly just playing around. The two tried to spend as much time together in the last days of summer. They went for late night swims, strolls through the park, and Harry even got Louis to get up early and run with him once. Just once. And Harry had to make him breakfast in bed as payment.

When the day finally came, Harry was ready. He hoped to save Louis' house, he really did, but his mind was so full of wonderful things he got to do this summer with his boyfriend. He'd never gotten to kiss Louis, like really kiss him, before this summer. He got to walk down the sidewalk holding his hand. They went on real dates. He couldn't even try to feel worried when Louis was in the front row of the audience with a smile and his hair swiped across his forehead. His family was spread throughout the crowd, but Louis showed up extra early to get a front row spot so Harry could see him. Harry was thankful for that right now, when he was next and his hands were shaking with energy and the announcer was saying his name and this was it.

Harry took the stool and sat down on it after plugging his guitar into the amp. He cleared his throat into the mic. "Hi, I'm Harry Styles."

"Whoop whoop!"

Harry blushed and gave Louis a 'behave' look. "I'll be doing The Chain by Fleetwod Mac. Uh, hope you like it," he introduced then smiled at the crowd. He started plucking at the strings, rocking to the rhythm. He let the music flow through his fingers and out into the salty air of the beach.

"Listen to the wind blow.

Watch the sun rise.

Run in the shadows.

Damn your love.

Damn your lies."

The adults took to the song immediately, clapping and swaying. Harry looked at them for a moment before turning his gaze back to Louis, who was smiling widely and clapping to the beat.

"And if you don't love me now.

You will never love me again.

I can still hear you saying.

You would never break the chain."

The raw sound of Harry's guitar was putting a bounce in everyone's step. The kids were laughing and dancing, tugging on their parents to get them to dance with them or put them on their shoulders.

"Listen to the wind blow.

Down comes the night.

Run in the shadows.

Damn your love.

Damn your lies."

Everyone was into it. And Louis couldn't be more proud. Harry's voice was pure and a bit rough. Perfect for the song. He was going to win.

"Break the silence.

Damn the dark.

Damn the light."

His fingers tugged at the strings with ease. Harry couldn't get enough of the energy from the people. They loved it.

"And if you don't love me now.

You will never love me again.

I can still hear you saying.

You would never break the chain."

He settled into the last part of the song. Bringing his voice into a deep place so he could make his words ring out.

"Chain, keep us together.

Running in the shadows."

He finished and sat back on his stool while the crowd clapped and cheered. Harry's face broke into a wide grin and Louis was jumping up and down with excitement. Harry stood and bowed to the people, inciting another round of applause. Harry just giggled and blushed and let the announcer swing an arm around his shoulders.

"Give it up one more time for Harry Styles!" The crowd cheered and Harry waved to a few that were waving at him. This was insane. Louis had only seen people this insane during an actual concert. Harry really was something. "Alright, settle down," the announcer continued. "Now it's all up to the panel. Judges you've seen all you need to see, I hope. Lets get all the contestants up here to await the decision." The other six people joined him on stage so they stood in a line. They put on background music and let the panel start their discussions.

Louis leaned forward to get Harry's attention. Like he didn't always have it. "Haz!" Harry smiled and waved. "That was great!" he yelled to him. Harry blew him a kiss and smiled before mouthing his thanks.

The contestants were getting restless when the announcer finally came back with an envelope. "It looks like they've made a decision." The announcer turned to the contestants. "Good luck to all of you." He faced the crowd and opened the envelope. "And the winner of two-thousand dollars cash and a recording deal is..."

Harry bit into the side of his finger while Louis scratched at his shorts.

"Abby Polar!"

Some of the crowd cheered. Some of it stayed silent. Most clapped politely. Harry's heart sank right through the stage and onto the sand below. He lost. Louis' mouth hung open in disbelief. He was so sure Harry would win.

The young girl that gave Harry his guitar back stepped out from the line with shock written across her face. She took the announcers hand shakily and then made her way to the side of the stage where the panel was sat and shook all of their hands. Jackson was last, sitting with a tight smile on his face. She shook his hand and he nodded cordially.

When she was brought back to the mic she expressed her thanks and utter surprise while Harry felt like falling into a black hole. This was his last chance and he blew it. Now he'd have to wait four whole years to ever see Louis again. And by then he'd be in college and who knows if Louis would still want him. He would have to make it through all of high school without seeing Louis a single time. Tears fell down his cheeks and he couldn't bring himself to look at his boyfriend, just in case the disappointment was painted there for everyone to see. So he just fell to the stage floor and sat with wet eyes and broken dreams.