While on the Run

Part XV

As always, the boys smashed their Good Morning America concert. Even for it being at 7:30 in the morning. Liam was a little grumpy, thinking his vocals were a bit flatter than usual. But the three lads brushed it off with reassurance and soon enough, it was noon and I was currently standing in a giant, white room watching the boys goof off. They were taking promotion pictures for the tour, which should have only taken around 30 minutes. But because my bosses are actual children, here we were, an hour later, waiting for them to get their shit together. 

Was it that difficult to just stand together and smile?

Apparently.

I was standing near the craft table, sipping coffee and scrolling through instagram. I peeked my head up a few times to make sure the four of them weren't causing too much of a ruckus and then returned to my scrolling. They had 20 more minutes before I stepped in and forced them to focus.

"Excuse me?" I heard a woman's voice coming closer towards me. I quickly put my phone into my back pocket and examined the woman in front of me. She was gorgeous, with long blonde hair and bright green eyes. She was dressed in a skirt suit and wearing low-rise pumps. I automatically assumed she was someone of importance.

"Hi, can I help you?" I asked, shooting the woman a polite smile.

"I was actually about to ask you the same thing," the woman replied.

"I'm sorry?" I replied slowly. I felt my smile drop and my eyebrows close together, knotting in confusion.

"Normally we don't allow fan meet-and-greets during these kinds of appointments. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to wait outside, please." 

I stood stunned for a moment. Did she really think...?

I bursted out into a giggle. "You think I'm a fan?"

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but if you don't leave right now I'm going to have to get security involved."

"Oh this is definitely one for the books," I muttered under my breath. "Alright, well since you apparently have no idea what's going on, let me fill you in. My name is Blake Morris. I'm One Direction's tour manager."

"No you're not. And even if you were, you're not on the list to be here."

"I'm sorry, did you just say 'list'?" I asked.

"Manny! I need some help over here!" the woman called over to a muscular man wearing all black.

"Oh, c'mon. This is a joke, right? Just ask any of the guys. Nia--." My speech was cut short. As soon as I went to get one of the boys to my rescue, I realized that they must have finished the shoot and returned to their rooms to get changed.

The man I assumed to be 'Manny' walked straight up to me. "Come with me, please."

I rolled my eyes. "This is ridiculous. I'm not a fan!" I exclaimed, but I left the room, ventured into the nearest elevator, and walked outside of the building, as I didn't have the energy in me to fight.

As soon as I stepped outside, I grabbed my phone and dialed Harry's number. 

No answer and as per usual, his inbox was full. Lovely.

I dialed Niall next and was met with his voicemail. "Hi, Ni. Just wanted to let you lads know I'll be waiting outside for you, long story short. Please be quick! See you soon."

I sighed and shoved my phone into my pocket, once again. I took another sip of my latte and sat down on the rock wall that lined the front of the building. Without realizing I was doing so, I started to monitor the street we were on. There were so many people walking up and down, wearing various colors, types of clothing, some carrying Starbucks cups, some listening to music as they jog. New York was such an amazing place to be in, and sometimes I forgot about that. I honestly couldn't wait for the touring to really begin, especially because I enjoyed seeing different parts of the world.

All of a sudden, a hand on my shoulder broke me from my trance. "Love, what are you doing out here? You worried us." Harry's green eyes looked down on me, his eyebrows crinkled with a look of concern.

I saw Louis and Liam standing behind him, similar expressions on their faces. "Eh, it was nothing, really. Some woman thought I was a fan or something and asked me to 'remove myself' from the building," I added with an eye roll.

"I'm sorry, what?" Louis replied and "What the hell?" Liam exclaimed, simultaneously.

Harry's hand dropped from my shoulder and I saw his facial expressions turn to those of anger.

"No, no, no-" I tried to reason with him before he did something he couldn't take back. "Everything's fine, I'm fine. Let's just try and make sure I have a label on me next time we go somewhere," I tried to tease and lighten the mood.

Harry didn't seem to be having any of it, at first. But I started to see his shoulder relax from their tense position and new he'd slowly calm himself down from frustration.

"You guys are done here, right?" I asked Louis. 

"Yes, ma'am," he replied. "I'm ready for lunch!"

"You're always bloody hungry," Harry replied.

I laughed. "Alright boys, get in the van so we can go. Where's Niall?"

"He said he'd be down in a minute," Liam replied and turned towards the front door. In perfect timing, the blonde One Directioner made his way outside and walked towards us, two body guards in tow. 

"And where the bloody hell have you been?" Louis asked.

Niall chuckled and I could see his face begin to get a slight blush. "Ehm, well, one of the company's employees wanted to chat and give me...this!" he declared, smile on his face as he held up a small, white piece of paper.

Harry grabbed it from his hands and examined it. "Her number?"

"Ayyye, mate! That's fucking awesome!" Liam exclaimed, clapping Niall on the back. Just then, the body guards started ushering the five of us towards the cars. 

"What did she look like?" Louis asked.

"Umm, well. Blonde hair. She was wearing this skirt that just hugged her body all too well," he chuckled. My heart started to drop. "And Hazza, her eyes looked literally just like yours!"

Without thinking, I marched up to Niall, snatched the white piece of paper from his hands and walked towards the nearest trash can, ripping the paper to pieces every stop of the way. After tossing the paper, I made my way back towards the cars, Niall's face in a priceless position of shock, whereas Louis had a smirk on his face and Harry and Liam looked like they were trying to hold in laughter.

"C'mon, in you go," I ushered the boys into the van. As soon as we piled in and started to drive, Niall seemed to break his shock.

"I'm sorry, but what just happened?" He looked so, adorably confused.

"That woman that gave you her number was the woman who kicked me out of the building." I said straight-faced.

Niall was at a loss for words for a moment. "You mean..."

"Yes."

"Oh, B I had no idea! I'm sorry-"

"Niall don't apologize! Not like you knew! Plus, getting to toss her number and her future with you into that garbage can was the best payback I ever could have gotten."

Niall shot me a small smile. I looked at Louis, Liam and Harry and they all looked like they were still trying not to laugh. As the savior he always is, Niall asked, "So where are we off to, now?" to break the tension.

"It better be to get some lunch," Louis murmured.

I laughed. "Sure, Louis. Let's stop and get something to eat. Gotta feed my boys!"