Don't Let Me Go ~ N.H.

Niall’s POV

The lads and I walked into the audition room and saw the beautiful Katy Perry, along with Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole, and Simon Cowell.

“Katy Perry! I’m a huge fan!” I said.

“I’m happy to hear that,” Katy said. “What’s your name?”

“Niall Horan, and these are my mates Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Harry Styles. We’re gonna be singing ‘So Sick’ by Ne-Yo.”

“Okay, hit it!” Simon said.

The music started, and we sang our hearts out. At the end of the song, I awaited the judges’ decisions.

~~~~~

Carlie’s POV

All four boys came bouncing out of the room, and Niall picked me up and spun me around. “We made it, love!” he said.

I squealed. “That’s awesome!”

~~~~~

Aubrey’s POV

After the auditions, we all went home. When I got home, I was met by a very pissed-off looking stepdad, John.

“I know what you were doing in Dublin, missy!” John said angrily.

“What?! How’d you find out?!” I freaked.

“Your shitty boyfriend told me. You LIED to us, Aubrey!” He took his belt off and beat me with it. “YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO JUST RUN AWAY TO JOIN A FUCKING TALENT COMPETITION!”

“I knew you wouldn’t approve; that’s why I did it! You should be proud, John!”

“Well, guess what? I’M NOT!!!” John continued to beat me until I was black and blue all over.

When I was finally out of John’s grasp, I made a beeline for the phone. My fingers flew across the keypad as I dialed Child Protective Services.

~~~~~

Carlie’s POV

An hour after I got home, the doorbell rang. I got up to answer it and saw Aubrey standing there with two men in suits.

“Ma’am, are you Carlie Jennings?” one of the men asked.

“Yeah, why is Aubrey here?” I asked.

“My stepdad beat me,” Aubrey said.

“She says you’re very close to her. Is this true?” the other man asked.

“Yeah, I’m one of her friends,” I said. “Come on in, Aubrey! You look like a train wreck!”

Daddy came downstairs to join us. “Oh, hello, Aubrey,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“Her stepdad beat her,” the first man answered. “She said you were a close family friend.”

“Yes, I am. I’m not sure she’s met my girlfriend, though.”

“Well, if you’d like to adopt her, we have some papers for you and your girlfriend to sign.”

“Okay, I’ll go get her.” He turned his head and called upstairs. “April!”

April came downstairs and gasped when she saw Aubrey. “What happened here?” she asked.

“Her stepdad beat her,” I said. “This is Aubrey. Aubrey, this is my dad’s girlfriend April.”

“Hi,” Aubrey said.

“It’s nice to meet you, Aubrey,” April said, carefully shaking Aubrey’s hand.

Daddy and April signed the papers to adopt Aubrey, and the men left us alone.

Notes