While on the Run

Part VII

It's been quite some time since the tour schedule had been finalized. The music managers came to an agreement that the boys needed to incorporate some of their old music and their new music.

I think that they were mostly nervous about the concert feeling like 4 separate ones all mashed together, but I can't help but smirk and shake my head at that silly suggestion as I stand in an empty Staples Center watching the boys rehearse.

They currently had Niall's "Nice To Meet Ya" playing and while Niall was primarily singing the catchy tune, Liam and Louis had both taken over a verse, while Harry belted in the chorus with the bubbly blonde. 

This was the first on-stage rehearsal that I've been able to watch over the past few weeks, and it was truly so mesmerizing. All four men look so at home on that stage, even if they'd only performed two, now three, songs for sound check.

When they finished goofing around, it was time for me to actually begin their rehearsal.

"Hey, guys?!" I yelled through the empty arena. I had parked myself around 60 rows back from the stage, close enough to talk to them but far enough away that I could observe the whole stage. "I think it's time to actual walk through the whole show. Are your ear-pieces working okay?"

"We're good, love!" Louis called from the left side of the stage while Harry shot me a thumbs up.

"Fabulous, than from the top!" I pulled out the walkie-talkie that was positioned on my hip. "Little sis to Music Man," I stated into the tiny machine. 

"Go for Music Man," Jaime responded. Jaime was our soundboard and tech guru for the entirety of the tour.

"Let's go from the top. See if they make it past the first 5 songs."

I heard Jaime laugh on the other end of the walkie. "You got it, sis."

"Take your position, guys!" I yelled into the arena's air. Something about an empty arena was eerily calm and fairly relaxing. I took a deep breath and let a smile form on my lips.

"On your cue, Little Sis," I head Jaime speak into the walkie.

"3, 2, 1...."

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I was right. They made it five songs before all hell broke loose. My sketchpad of notes to take during their performance was filled to the brim 20 minutes in.

Vocally, they sounded amazing for the most part. There were a few glitches on the sound levels of Liam's mic for the songs, but that was an easy fix that I jotted down while the boys were performing. 

Their choreography on the other hand, was a hot mess. At one point, all three boys were on the left side of the stage, while only Harry remained on the right. Liam and Louis almost ran into each other coming down the same ramp during the opening song. Harry almost tripped and landed face first on a wire that we didn't expect to be there and Niall forgot to give up his guitar after the first three songs, consequently ruining his positioning for the next two.

I figured it was better to stop the chaos now before it got even worse.

Harry looked beyond frustrated, eyebrows drawn together while his hand ran through his hair continuously. I've realized that this was a nervous tactic that he did to keep himself grounded.

Niall looked bewildered. Like he couldn't believe the past 30 minutes even happened. Louis looked about the same, just in better shape. And Liam, poor Liam, wasn't making eye contact with me.

This should be a fun pep talk.

At this point, I had walked closer to the stage, now only 20 rows away from them. My arms were crossed in front of me, clipboard in hand.

"Well, let's not stand around here all day just staring at each other. We need to fix this."

"How?" Niall whined, clearly not thinking it through.

"Let's go over these notes and try it again." I saw Harry and Liam exchange a look with one another, just before I saw Louis putting his phone back in his pocket.

"Let's go! Now!" I yelled as I stalked back to my place in the arena as I called for Jaime to cue the music again.

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Four hours later, I found myself in the very large dressing room backstage in the arena. I had ordered Panera for dinner to be picked up in an hour and had my phone out to call my brother.

I heard him clear his voice before he spoke, "Hi, love," Harry spoke. His voice was so low, as if I might have imagined it.

I turned around and allowed my eyes to meet his. His green irises were beyond beautiful, even moreso now that I knew a bit more about what went on behind those eyes. The beautiful thoughts he thinks, the kindness that comes so naturally to him.

"Hi," I returned as I watched him slowly make his way to where I was standing in the room, back against Liam's hair station.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad was today's rehearsal?" he teased as a small smirk made its way onto his face.

I laughed. "I'll give you all a solid 3.8."

"That's all?" Harry countered as he laughed at the absurdity of the situation. I couldn't help but smile at Harry's playfulness.

"That's all." I said, "Maybe that's incentive to stop pretending you're in the bathroom instead of looking for me and head back to rehearsal."

Harry's hand made their way to my waist, eye's trailing the movements of his hands.

"Maybe," he whispered. "But maybe, the confidence I need to make that 3.8 a 10 is right back here."

"Smooth," I whispered as Harry angled his face to fit in front of mine. I could feel his breath against my lips and his eyelashes fluttering against mine. Rising up onto my toes, I placed my hands on top of Harry's and squeezed as I felt my lips press against his. After the initial pressure of lips against lips, I felt him deepen the kiss and fit his bottom lip between my own. My hands crawled up his arms and tangle into the hair at the nape of his neck, slightly scratching at the skin. Harry grunted into my mouth, biting down on my bottom lip and slightly pulling away from my face. His breathing was heavy, as was mine. Harry slipped him hands from my waist to the two back pockets of my jeans.

"See, love? Now I'm ready." Harry winked and squeezed my ass through my jeans, and then turned around and made his way back out of the dressing room.

So now I'm One Direction's tour manager and I've fallen under Harry Styles' spell.

What could possibly go wrong?