One Direction: Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction (6 page)

It was a tough situation, but we picked ourselves up as much as possible and waited to find out what was going to happen. We were then called up to Simon’s dressing room, and we knew we were about to find out one way or another whether or not he wanted to carry on working with us. The atmosphere there was incredibly tense and we were all looking at each other really nervously. We wanted more than anything to stay together as a band and tour and record an album, but of course Simon made us wait a bit before he delivered the news.

It was like being back at Judges’ Houses, because he was saying how much he liked us, but not giving us a definite answer. Then he told us that he was signing us and we were in complete shock. I had a feeling it might be good news, but until I actually heard him say the words I couldn’t be sure and didn’t believe it.

We went back downstairs afterwards and we were allowed to tell our families the news, but only them. It had to be kept quiet from everyone else, but needless to say it soon got leaked to the press. The whole night was full of mixed emotions really. And of course we were moving out of the contestants’ house the following morning, which would be another big shift. We’d spent the last few months living in each other’s pockets, so it was going to be very different not sharing a bedroom with the other guys anymore. We were all pleased to have our own space back, but I reckon all of us missed things about sharing the room in a strange way.

We moved into a hotel in West London straight from the contestants’ house and we had the wrap party that evening which was a really good laugh. It was nice to catch up with everyone again and talk back over all the good times we’d had. We had to be up really early the next day for work, so we didn’t go too mad and we were probably among the most well behaved.

The following few days were filled with management meetings and gigs, and while it was weird being away from the
X Factor
bubble, it was exciting to be experiencing new things. The reception we got in the clubs we went to was amazing, and we felt more like a band than ever because we were out there doing proper shows with a set list of songs. We could have happily carried on doing that for weeks, but then Christmas rolled around and I think we were all in need of a bit of a break after the madness of the recent months.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Going home to my family for Christmas was really nice. Everything felt so relaxed and I felt closer to my parents than I’ve ever felt before. I could tell they were very proud of me, and I think because I’d been away it made the time we spent together much more special.

I think it was the same with the boys and me. We’d spent so much time together that we kind of needed a break from each other, and that made us all miss each other and appreciate everything we’d achieved. We did text sometimes, but we also gave each other space, so when we met up after Christmas we were so happy to be together again.

It was weird being at home and not having loads of things to do. I was so used to being busy 24 hours a day that sitting watching TV and relaxing felt completely alien. My sister Ruth and I ended up going to the cinema or bowling, because I needed something to do all the time. I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing.

Christmas Day itself was lovely, with loads of great presents. I’m usually very cautious with money because of the businessman side of me, but this time I really splashed out—it was the first time I’d really been able to. I ended up buying four iPads, a laptop, a phone for my mom’s birthday and lots of Links of London bracelets. I took the family out for dinner and really treated them, and I loved being able to do that. I also bought my mate some sneakers. Sometimes I’m not clever with money, because if I see something that will make someone happy I just want to buy it, but then there is the business side of me that tells me to be sensible.

My friends and family didn’t treat me any differently because of the show, although I think my parents maybe treated me as more of a grown-up in a way. I think my mom found it a bit hard because I’ve always been the baby of the
family and she knew I would be moving away in the new year. She’s got no one to look after now, so she still likes to do my washing and even tries to pack my suitcase. But I do my own ironing.

IT ALL KICKS OFF AGAIN

It was weird to sit back and think about how different my life had become in a few short months. As everyone knows I’m a massive fan of Leona Lewis. I absolutely love her and think she’s so gorgeous. Now she’s added me on Twitter and says she can’t wait to meet me. How crazy is that? Life is moving incredibly fast, and I do want to appreciate everything that’s happening, so sometimes I just have to pause and take stock of things.

Straight after New Year’s we were back to doing some more gigs, and we played at a few private parties. Then we heard we were going to LA for some meetings and to do some recording and we couldn’t believe it. My dad always said to me that if we ever got told we were going to LA he wanted to be the first one to hear about it.

We had gone to have dinner with our manager, Richard Griffiths, at his house. We all left our phones in the car so we’d look professional, but when we sat down to eat and he started talking about us going to LA, my first reaction was to reach for my phone—I wanted to text my dad. I soon realized I didn’t have it, so I was itching to get back to the car to let him know. He was so happy when he heard.

I’d never been to LA before, so I was looking forward to seeing what it was like, and it was so completely different from England. I can understand why all the stars go over there to record music, because it’s the perfect setting with its
spectacular buildings and all that sunshine. We met Randy Jackson, who was amazing, and Bryan McFadden came over to say hello. Leona Lewis was going to come and meet us too, but sadly she couldn’t make it.

We stayed in this massive hotel called the W, and we used to get up every morning and hang out by the pool. We were there to work but there was no set schedule, so it ended up being more like a guys’ holiday at times. We went shopping and I bought loads of sneakers. No one bought as much as Louis, though, because he’s got a shopping addiction. Zayn and I nearly made us late for our plane because we’d been taken out shopping and we got stuck in loads of traffic. We ended up rushing and panicking, but we just made it in time.

While we were in LA we went out to dinner with a massive producer called Max Martin and we did some recording with RedOne’s crew. I remember thinking, “Wow, it’s got to this.”

The weirdest thing that happened in LA was finding fans waiting for us at the airport when we arrived, which we weren’t expecting at all. They’d checked us out on YouTube and come along to see us, and they had a big banner and everything.

Our arrival home was the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced. There’s only one way out of Heathrow, and it’s the area where all of the celebs get papped. There was literally a wall of fans, so we had to go out of the main entrance and then slip out of a side door and run with hardly any security. I got hit in the face by mistake in the scuffle and some of the other guys had clothes ripped off.

When the police riot van arrived we had to run from this parking booth we were hiding in and try and get into the back of it, but someone had hold of my hood so I ended up being squashed up against the side of the van. In the end someone grabbed me and threw me into the back of the van. We drove off with
lights flashing and siren sounding, so it was all quite dramatic. At that point we hadn’t even released a song yet, so it was the maddest thing.

The best thing about the tour is that we got to see loads of the fans, which I loved. Everyone is always really nice and friendly. Sometimes we get shielded from it, but we would always rather go and meet them. If they’re waiting at a gate at a gig we always want to go out and say hello, but sometimes the people looking after us don’t think it’s safe, so we can’t, which is a shame.

We do have the best fans ever. I know all bands probably think that, but for instance Louis put on Twitter the other day that he wanted some Curiously Cinnamon cereal—and someone brought some to the hotel! It’s amazing. It can be strange waking up to people screaming at 7 am, but we love it.

Even most guys are nice to us. I was in a restaurant the other day and these guys came over and they were chatting to me about the band and being really supportive. It’s a shame when people aren’t supportive, because at the end of the day we’re just nice, ordinary guys, and we’ve come from nothing and worked really hard to be here. If they were in this position, they’d feel exactly the same way.

The funny thing about fame is that I don’t think there’s ever a moment where you actually stop and think, “I’m famous now.” There are moments that you have on stage or in the studio that are amazing, but it never really hits home. I remember being on stage in Birmingham and the lights were on the audience and I was looking out at them thinking, “This is my job. I don’t care what it takes, I’m not going to stop doing this.” Equally, when I’m in the studio I’ll find myself standing there smiling at nothing—just because I’m so happy to be there.