Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor know any member of One Direction. The story line and fictional characters are mine. Some places and events are real. I have just played with them a bit. xo
Heart Attack
Chapter 2
After a wonderful lunch with Cal, we return to the hotel. Jet lag and a full stomach have me exhausted.
During lunch, he filled me in on everything with his family, the tour and some general bits of information on the boys. Having not followed their career, I am shocked to hear a member of the group recently left. He found some old pics on the internet that were taken during my few days with him. They were babies then. They certainly don’t look anything like they did. I learn that the young man in the elevator earlier was Harry, the youngest of the group.
The pictures now could be of a totally different person. His curly hair is now shoulder length. He appears taller too. The only things that remain the same are the deep dimples when he smiles and the green eyes. His face is more angular due to maturity. His clothes are less teen and more young adult; designer shirts paired with skinny jeans and expensive boots. They’ve recently acquired a new stylist as their previous one left with several other team members. Team lines seem to have been drawn since the departure of “Z”, as Cal calls him.
An impromptu sitting area has been set up on the group’s reserved floor of the hotel. As we step off the elevator, Niall and Harry are deep in conversation.
“H...why haven’t you two left?” Cal calls out.
Harry, now sporting a grey t-shirt and his hair pulled up in a bun, smiles, “Thought we’d wait for you. Who’s your friend?” He stands at his full height, making him a few inches taller than me.
“Oh, right,” Cal laughs. “Harry Styles, this is Rebekah Oliver. She’s a friend of Ben and mine, also a photographer.”
“Hello, I’m Harry,” the gorgeous young man smiles offering his hand.
“Hi. Please, call me Bex,” I smile as I slip my hand into his. His hands are warm and softer than you’d expect.
Harry turns to Niall while still holding my hand, “Are you sure, Nialler?”
“Very,” he responds seriously. He looks almost nervous.
“Niall’s told me we’ve met before and I usually don’t forget a face,” Harry says releasing my hand. He doesn’t take his eyes away from mine.
“I...uh...I interned with Cal for a few days when you were starting out,” I stammer. His focus is solely on me and what I’m saying. A slight change happens behind his eyes as if he’s remembered something.
“Hmm...I’m sure it’ll come back to me. Well, it’s nice to have you with us. I understand you’ll be doing the some photography for the next few shows,” he smiles softly and just like that the look disappears. The word us comes out like ‘uhz’ and I find it cute.
“Um, yeah...” I stammer again like an idiot.
“I’m a bit of a photographer myself. We’ll have to have a chat. Niall and I were going to head out to the next show. Care to join us?” Harry says looking between Cal and I.
“Uh...sure,” I answer dropping my head “And... I’m always up for talking about photography. Just let me know when you’re free.”
“Sounds great,” he smiles widely. This is definitely the boy from the pictures. His dimples could rival a cherubs. “Cal?”
“I just need to make a call, wait for me?” Cal says already heading down the hall to his room.
I step back and offer a smile to Niall on the couch, “Let me just..” I motion toward my room. I make my way down the corridor and slip the key card quickly through the lock.
“Rebekah?”
“Yes, Harry?” I turn back to the two boys.
“Again, nice to meet you.”
“You too,” I smile pushing on the door. Quickly stepping in, I shut the door and lean against it. I’m tired as hell but how could I turn him down.
Figuring time is of the essence, I grab a hair tie, a denim jacket and my security pass. Just as I step out the door, my phone chirps in my pocket.
“Hello bearer of bad news,” I laugh into the phone.
“You do realize the good doctor and I have been worried sick. You never checked in, you minger!”
“Whoa! Such foul language, Love! I’m alive. I’ve been fed by a nice man and now I’m going to a concert. See...all is well.”
“You’re infuriating, Rebekah,” she sighs heavily. “So...what band are you going to see?”
I see my three handsome escorts waiting near the elevators patiently.
“One Direction.”
The scream that follows that statement forces me to pull the phone from my ear. The three men look at me with the same perplexed expression.
“Grace...please, sweetheart...I expected to be deaf after the show, not before,” I say loudly over her screaming.
“Bloody hell! That’s what you’re doing? You’re going to be working with bloody One Dee?”
“How about we talk about this later. We’re sort of pressed for time,” I say while pushing Cal into the elevator. “Oh...uh....ssshhhhrrrrkkkkkk....eh....kkrrrrrr.....Grace, I’m losing you! I’ll call later!”
“Did you just fake a bad connection?” Niall asks, his eyes wide.
“You would have too,” I shrug. “She was screaming at me that I was working with ‘bloody one dee’. This is going to be interesting,” I say slipping my phone into my back pocket. Cal and Harry smirk at me from opposite corners of the lift.
~</3~
Niall is busy in the seat behind us discussing South Africa’s current record in rugby with Harry. All I hear are the occasional ‘mhms’ and ‘oh, really?’ from him. We pull into the backstage area of the stadium cutting off Irish’s commentary. A few members of their security team meet our car and escort the four of us into the building. There’s a flurry of activity as people finish setting up.
The boys make their way off to their dressing rooms while Cal & I head to what he calls ‘Sarah’s Kitchen.’ People are milling about prepping food and setting up serving areas. Four young men are sitting chatting at one of the tables.
“Opening act?” I ask nudging Cal.
“Yeah, three are from a boyband called FOUR who won the South African X Factor. The other one is Johnny Apple. I believe he won South Africa’s Got Talent.”
I nod and look around the communal area. There’s a chalkboard that looks like a british phone box with all kinds of messages on it. A little blond girl sits on the floor coloring near my panty dealer, Lou.
“Hello again!” she waves at me. “Come to see the show or have they put you to work already?”
“Just a spectator tonight,” I smile. “Who’s this little princess?”
Lou smiles, “This is Lux, my daughter. Will you say Hello to Rebekah, love?”
“Hello. Uncle Louis said there was a new lady named Becks coming. Are you her?”
“I am. It’s nice to meet you, Lux,” I say shaking her hand. “I’m going to be taking some pictures of your Uncle Louis.”
“Oh! Like Uncle Harry and Cal,” she excitedly yells at Lou.
“Yes, just like that poppet,” she smiles at her daughter.
A flurry of activity and yelling comes from the doorway causing all of our heads to turn.
Niall is swearing, Harry is smirking while shaking his head. Liam and Louis are laughing.
“Go on and laugh! It’s only my bloody dressing room you trashed!” Niall can only be described as incensed.
“Lighten up, Irish!” Louis laughs as he makes his way over to where I’m standing. “Hello, Love. You alright?”
He plops down in the chair in front of Lou. His hair is wet and flat to his head obviously fresh from a shower. I look over at the other boys and find Niall and Harry in the similar states. Harry’s hair seems much longer, hitting just past his shoulder. He’s changed into a pair of very tight black skinny jeans, a black tee shirt and black harnessed boots.
I move over to a far table just to take in my surroundings and to people watch. After Lou fashions Louis’ hair into a modern version of Frank Sinatra’s quiff, Niall takes the chair. The irish one has calmed after noticing Lux is in the room and scrolls through something on his phone. The now just damp curls of his bandmate have been pulled from its man bun while he waits his turn. Cal and Liam hold a conversation at another table near the food service. A sudden feeling of warmth spreads through me. Looking back around the room, I find Harry staring at me. His brow is slightly puckered. Blushing, I pull out my phone and check for a wifi signal.
Luckily, the service is pretty good and I open the near constant chat between my roommates and I.
anyone home?
G: you do realize it’s 2 am...
Oh, gray! I’m sorry! I didn’t realize time difference.
G: I’m mad at you anyway.
E: hell! I’m just getting off work.
What did I do now?
E: you faked a bad connection
Emily’s reply causes me to laugh loudly. I should know better than to put anything past Grace. She’s way too smart.
What?!?!? I didn’t...
G: that’s bloody crap and you know it.
E: Admit it...you can’t fool her, B.
Alright...I couldn’t talk. We were heading into the elevator.
G: why didn’t you tell us you were working with 1D???
E: Gray is very upset you kept this from us, B. She even came in and had a drink.
I didn’t think you’d care. My god. You’re how old?
G: Age is just a number, Rebekah. I happen to enjoy their music.
Really? Huh...
G: Why is that surprising?
Maybe because I’ve never actually seen you listening to music. Your ringtone sounds like an old
school phone.
E: Everyone loves 1D!
G: I listen to music all the time. You’re never here, love.
Oh..makes sense.
G: you’re at the venue? How are your seats?
Don’t know. Backstage right now.
E: Is the blond around?
The blond? Niall??
E: Yup...the lad.
Um...yeah.
E: sneak me a pic would ya?
No....
E: don’t be so rude...
I’m not sneaking a pic of him.
G: you don’t love us...
You two are incredible...I’m out...
I close the chat and slip the phone back into my pocket. Deciding I could use the washroom, I make sure my security badge is visible and stand. A plate of fruit and a bottle of water are slid onto the table.
“Hi,” the owner of the plate says in his croaky tone.
“Hello, Harry,” I nod. His hair is now dry and looks better than mine on a good day.
“The food is all ready. Sarah's amazing. Feel free to have anything you’d like,” he smiles as he drops gracefully into the seat across from where I was seated.
“Oh...yeah. Thanks.”
“Cal asked me to keep you company. He’s working on a few issues with the video equipment.”
“Okay,” I say and slowly back away from the table.
“Is everything alright?” he asks moving to stand back up.
“Yeah, yeah...just need to excuse myself for a second. Can you tell me where the washrooms are?”
“Sure, follow me.” He stands grabbing his plate. His long legs immediately move quickly forcing me to almost run. He guides me down the long hallway. The area is more congested than when we arrived and I have a hard time keeping up. I lose sight of him and stop to check my surroundings. How do you lose someone who looks like him? Choosing to find the restroom myself, I turn quickly in the direction we were headed.
I run straight into a wall of black cotton. One that smells amazing. A warm, firm hand grips my arm keeping me from falling backwards. I reach up and rub my nose lightly.
“Ow.”
“Are you ok?” A pair of concerned, beautiful green eyes appear level with mine. “Rebekah?”
“I’m good. Lost you there for a minute,” I laugh.
“Lost me? That’s a first,” he chuckles. “Usually can’t go anywhere without someone finding me.
Anyway, here...go ahead and use the washroom in here,” he says opening the door on my left.
As I enter the room, it becomes clear this isn’t just a bathroom. It’s a dressing room and it smells exactly like the man next to me. Stopping in my tracks, I turn and look around. The area is dark. A leather couch and chaise lounge are lit dimly with a floor lamp. A paperback book sits haphazardly on the arm of the chair along with a few comfy looking blankets. A wooden H hangs on a black curtain just behind the couch.
I turn to my guide, “You didn’t have to bring me here. A public washroom would have been fine.”
“No worries. There’s so many people running around back here, you’re probably better off using one of our dressing rooms,” he smiles and points. “The washroom is right through that door.”
“Thank you,” I nod shyly.
When I return to the main area of the dressing room, we’ve been joined by a member of the crew. The man is fishing, what I’m assuming are inner ears, through the back of Harry’s shirt. This causes the front of the black tee to lift exposing what I recognize as a pair of fern leaves just above the waistline of his jeans.
“Ahem...”
The sound of Harry’s voice makes me realize that I’ve been standing staring blankly at his abdomen. He chuckles softly and thanks the crew member.
“Well, I should be making my way back to Cal,” I stutter and make my way to the door.
“If you give me a second, I’ll walk back with you. Just need to change my shirt,” he says quietly.
I spin to decline his offer and find myself face to face with a bare chested member of One Direction. He slips his arms into a dark, paisley printed shirt and walks towards me while buttoning it.
Wanting to give him some modicum of privacy, I immediately look down at my own boots.
“You’re different,” he says quietly as he stops in front of me.
“How so?” I ask meeting his gaze.
“I’m standing there half naked and you’re blushing like a schoolgirl looking at her toes. Most females ogle me. Not that I’m boasting,” he says raising his hands. “It’s uncomfortable at times.”
Looking at my watch, I notice we’ve been gone for quite a while, “We should probably get back. There’s probably no food left and you didn’t get to eat much.” I reach for the door handle just as it flies open.
“There you are! We’ve got to do a few checks and Cal is looking for you,” Louis says smiling at the two of us.
I nod quickly and step out of the dressing room. A line of young people has formed while in his dressing room. A few girls, who look to be no more than thirteen, scowl at me.
“So, B...we need to go over the set list at some point. If you’re going to be working the cameras there’s a few things you need to know,” Louis says loudly as he matches my stride. “Best not place any ideas in the fan’s heads. They can be brutal,” he whispers as we continue past the line. “Especially when it involves Haz.”
Can't stop reading! You definitely have me wanting more :) @elapham71
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