Finding Home Chapter One
Title ; Finding Home
Author ; Me
Rating ; 15+, just to be on the safe side
Genre ; Romance, comedy
Pairing ; PoynterJudd, Pudd.
Summary ; When Dougie is chosen for McFly his mother will only give her blessing once he agrees to enroll in school until the album has been released. Harry offers to start with him and a close bond is formed and love blossoms between the pair. But of course, things do not run smoothly.
Dedications ; Jenny Stewart, thank you for all your kind encouragement.
“Next?” called out a tall man in a suit.
A small sandy haired teenage boy stood up, lifted his bass guitar with shaking hands and followed the man into a large hall.
’Just chill, this will be fine, you are the god of bass’ chanted the boy over and over in his mind but he found that it done nothing to calm his churning stomach. He had already thrown up twice because of his nerves and he was praying that he would not have to sprint to the bathroom for a third time.
He looked up at the three men on the judging panel through his fringe and was surprised and more than a little relieved to see that two of them looked only a little older than him.
”Hi, what’s your name?” asked a slightly chubby blond boy with a childlike smile and a dimple on his right cheek.
”I’m Dougie, Dougie Poynter” he said, thanking God that he had managed not to stutter.
”Hiya, Dougie,” said the other boy on the judging panel. He had straight dark brown hair and a fringe that flopped over his face, partially covering his eyes. “How old are you mate?” he asked flashing him a grin.
”Fifteen.” Dougie had hoped that question would not come up as the audition had specifically said ‘Sixteen and over’.
”Sorry but you’re too young.” Said the older man speaking for the first time. He looked impatient and annoyed that his time had been wasted.
Dougie’s stomach plummeted with disappointment.
”Please, just let me try” he pleaded, he could feel tears fast approaching.
”No, I’m sor-“
”Go on then, show us what you’ve got” said the dark haired boy, in a thick northern accent.
”Danny, the advert clearly says-“
”Dude, this is our band and we want to hear him” said the blond haired boy firmly before blushing, obviously shocked at the authority in his own voice, “you can start, Dougie” he said smiling kindly at him.
Dougie nodded and took a deep breath before beginning to play ‘Carrousel’ by Blink 182. It was his favourite song so he knew it inside out and was able to play it perfectly and with ease. Once he had finished he looked up at the judging panel to find the two boys grinning at him.
”Brilliant, bloody brilliant” said the dark haired boy that he now knew was called Danny.
The other boy nodded enthusiastically and Dougie’s face flushed at their compliments.
”We’ll call you within the next day or two to let you know what decision we’ve come to” said the older man. He didn’t look as angry as he had earlier, Dougie noted.
”Thank you,” he said before exiting the hall through the door he had entered.
Once Dougie had closed the door behind him the blond boy, Tom, turned to Danny and whispered excitedly, “Do you think he’s the one?”
Danny nodded, “I like him”.
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A few hours later a tall boy with dark hair with blonde highlights walked confidently into the audition room.
”Hi there, what’s your name?” asked Tom
”I’m Harry Judd”.
”How old are you, Harry?” asked Danny.
”I’m seventeen” he replied clearly.
”Right on you go,” said Tom smiling.
Harry sat down behind the drum kit and began to play a rhythm that he had written himself. He inwardly cursed when he missed a beat but continued steadily.
”Thank you, you will receive a phone call in the next few days” said the oldest of the three judges.
Harry nodded and left the room.
”Not as good as I thought he would be,” said Danny turning to Tom, “He walked in here as if he was something special”.
”I think he was” said Tom; he continued when Danny gave him a strange look, “He has this kind of raw talent. With practice he could be really great.”
The older man cut in, “What if he doesn’t become great though? You would be screwed.”
”I know, I know but I just have a really good feeling about him, the same feeling I got when that boy Dougie played earlier on. I think they’re the two we’ve been looking for because really, no one else has been better. You can’t argue with that.”
”Yeah I know,” said Danny “I agree with you about Dougie but I’m not sure about that Harry bloke, don’t get stuck with the idea of him being in the band just yet.”
”I already have” mumbled Tom under his breath.
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”Doug! Douuug! Dougie! Oh for goodness sake, DOUGIE”
”Yeah mum?”
”You really should turn down that racket” said Dougie’s mum frowning.
Dougie looked at his mum disapprovingly, “Blink is not racket.”
His mum rolled her eyes and handed him the phone, “It’s for you”.
”Hello?”
”Mhm, speaking.”
”Oh, oh my God. Are you being serious?”
”Wow, oh God, yeah, yeah, definitely I’ll be there.”
”Thank you so much! Bye.”
”What was that all-“
His mum was shocked into silence when she found herself with an armful of Dougie.
”Care to explain?” she said, patting his head affectionately, it wasn’t often that he hugged her willingly like that.
He tensed in her grip. He hadn’t told her about the audition, she would never approve.
”Oh it’s nothing, can’t I just give my mummy dearest a hug?” He asked with false innocence.
”Dougie” she warned.
He folded under he strict gaze, “Oh right okay but you need to promise not to get all angry.” He continued when he realised he was not going to be getting a reply, “Well the other day, I sort of, auditioned for a band and now they’re calling asking me to go to another audition thing so they can decide who has the place in the band.”
He said it in a rush and was unsure of whether she had been able to understand him.
”You WHAT? Dougie Lee Poynter how dare you do something like that without my permission!”
”But mum please, I knew you wouldn’t let me go and it’s soooo important to me. They even have a record deal mum, this isn’t just some stupid kids band with no hope.”
”I don’t care if they’ve already had five number one albums, you are NOT going to that call back!”
”But mum-“
”I said no Dougie, I don’t want to hear anymore about this.”
”I- I hate you.” Said Dougie darkly before turning on his heel and running out of the front door. He was gone before he could see the look of heartbreak on his mum’s face.
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On the other side of the city Harry Judd had just received the exact same phone call as Dougie.
”Mum! Dad! I’ve got a call back! They want to see me again!” he all but screamed at his startled parents.
”For that band, what was it, McFlu?”
”McFly,” corrected Harry, “And yes! I’m so close to being in the band I can actually taste it.”
”Well done baby,” said his mum walking forward to embrace him.
”Yeah we’re so proud of you son,” said his dad as he made to join in the hug.
”Thank you guys,” Harry quietly thanked God that he had such understanding parents.
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Later that evening after the sun had long since set, Dougie Poynter crept in through his front door in the hope of not waking his mother.
”Dougie? Is that you?” asked his mum coming out into the hallway.
Dougie gasped as he took in the sigh of her; her make up was smeared and her eyes were red raw from crying.
”Mum,” he said quietly, pulling her into a tight hug.
”I was so worried,” she sobbed, “I thought you had left me too”.
He made soothing shushing noises as he guided her back into the sitting room.
”I’m sorry mum; I didn’t mean to upset you”.
”It’s okay, don’t worry about it darling,” she said wiping away her tears, “I’m sorry for being so unreasonable about this band thing; I just don’t want to lose you. Especially so soon after your dad leaving.”
Dougie hung his head, tears stinging his eyes and threatening to fall at the mention of his runaway father.
”I know, it’s just this band means the world to me; I don’t want to miss this chance. Please mum, please don’t take this from me.” He said almost inaudibly, a stray tear running down his cheek.
His mum took in a deep breath before replying, “Okay, you can go but just know that if you get into this band - and I don’t doubt that you will - I will have my own terms and you must follow them. I can’t let you have complete control” she said, a faint smile on her lips.
Dougie’s head shot up, his eyes wide and hopeful, “Really? Thank you, thank you, thank you! I swear mum I’ll do things the way you want.”
She just nodded and pulled him into a tight hug, “Right get to bed, it’s late and you have school in the morning”.
Dougie groaned at the mention of school but kissed his mum on the cheek anyway and made his way to bed without complaint. He was determined to stay in her good books before the call back on Saturday.
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The next Saturday, Harry Judd walked back into the same building he had been in last week. He was surprised to see how empty it was compared to how it had been last time he was there. He looked around and noted that there were only another three people there. Two of them had bass guitars sitting beside them and the other boy was twirling a pair of drumsticks in his hands.
He looked around trying to decide where to sit down when one of the bass players caught his eye. He looked younger than him; he couldn’t have been older than sixteen, he thought. His slightly messy blond hair fell over his eyes and he was chewing on his bottom lip. Something about the boy’s shy and anxious stance urged Harry to go sit down beside him, so, he did.
“Hi, I’m Harry,” he said smiling softly at him, sticking out his hand.
The boy jumped at the sound of his voice, “Oh sorry, I was off in a daydream,” he said, his cheeks tinted with a pink glow, “I’m Dougie,” he grasped Harry’s hand in his own.
”I take it you’re here for bass then?” asked Harry indicating to Dougie’s guitar.
”Mhm. You’re here for drums yeah?”
”Yeah,” Harry grinned at him, “Just think, we could end up in a band together!”
Dougie beamed at him and it made Harry’s breath catch in his throat.
”I don’t know, I’m probably not good enough,” said Dougie looking down at his feet, a frown forming on his tanned face.
”Don’t be daft; you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t good enough.”
They were interrupted when a deep voice called, “Dougie Poynter?”
”Oh God, that’s me. I feel sick, oh my God.” He was shaking like a leaf.
Harry gently touched his arm and said soothingly, “Just breathe, you’ll do fine. I promise.”
Dougie did what he was told and took a deep breath and nodded, “Thank you, by the way.”
”No problem,” replied Harry.
He watched Dougie walk unsteadily into the audition room and felt a tug at his heart strings. He really did hope that everything would go well for him; there was just something about the smaller boy’s innocent nature that made Harry want to look after him.
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”Hi, Dougie,” said Tom, grinning at him from across the room, “What are you going to play today?”
”Um, I was thinking I’d play ‘Welcome To Paradise’ By Green Day”
”Good choice mate, Tom loves Green Day,” said Danny, “On you then.”
Dougie nodded and began to play. He played it almost perfectly and only messed up one particularly difficult part.
”Thank you, now if you just go back through and wait in the room you were in, please.”
”Okay, thanks.”
Dougie slid down the wall so he was sitting beside Harry and exhaled loudly, “Dude, thank God that’s over”.
Harry chuckled, “Was it alright, yeah?”
”Yeah, wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I messed up a little. Don’t think it was too noticeable though.”
”Good, see I told you it would be fine,” Harry chuckled, poking Dougie in the side.
Dougie let out a small squeal, and then flushed crimson with embarrassment. Harry’s mouth widened into a perfect ‘O’ shape before he let out a loud roar of laughter.
”Oh man, you’re cute.” Sniggered Harry.
”Shut up,” Dougie pouted but when he looked up and seen the sweet expression on Harry’s face he could not stop his lips from curving up into a smile.
The moment was spoiled when Harry was called into the hall. He pulled a face of mock horror before standing up to leave.
”Good luck!” Dougie called after him.
Harry turned and grinned at him over his shoulder before disappearing in through the large doors.
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Since the audition last week he had been practicing non stop. He had come up with a new piece and he was sure he knew it perfectly. He knew he just had to stay calm and not panic and things would run smoothly.
“Alright Harry?” Asked Danny.
”Yeah thanks,” he replied with a nod.
”Okay, on you go, mate,” said Tom, smiling encouragingly.
Harry began to play. He started off slowly and simply but the beats became faster and much more intricate as he went on. When he played he seemed to lose himself in the rhythm and he played fabulously. His practise had paid off. When he finished he let out a long breath in relief and looked up at the panel.
”Great,” said Tom. “Well you were the last one, so, when you go through could you tell the others that we will be in within the next half our to let you all know who’s made it?”
”Yeah, sure.” Agreed Harry.
He returned to find Dougie looking up at him expectantly, “Soooo, how did it go?” he inquired.
”Yeah, I think it went well actually”
Dougie beamed at him, his eyes scrunching up and patted him on the shoulder, “Well done, dude.”
”Thanks. They said they would be in soon to tell us who’s in the band. I’m getting a bit nervy now, are you?”
”I’m actually all right now. It’s just the actual audition bit I hate; I don’t like people watching me.”
The wait seemed to fly by as the pair chatted easily about everything and nothing at all. Harry was hoping that Dougie would make it into the band just as much he was hoping he would make it himself. He really got along with the younger boy and he didn’t want their budding friendship to end so soon after it had begun.
The doors opened and Tom, Danny and the other man entered the room.
”Hi everyone,” began Tom, lifting his hand as a way of greeting, “Well each of you have been fantastic but unfortunately we could only pick two of you. Frank and Mike, I’m very sorry but we just don’t feel you both would be right for this band. Dougie and Harry, welcome to McFly!”
Harry yelled in surprise and pulled Dougie into a bone crushing hug. He lifted the smaller boy up and spun him around as Dougie giggled into his neck.
”Mate, we’ve made it! We fucking made it!”
Dougie beamed at him and drew him in for another hug but they were interrupted by Danny. “Oh, you already know each other?”
”Just met today,” said Harry, unable to wipe the grin from his face.
”See, Dan, I told you they were the right two. It’s fate, they already get along. This going to be bloody amazing.”
”Yeah, Tom, I know; you’re always right.” Chortled Danny.