While on the Run

Part XX

I waited patiently for the boys to finish getting ready, sipping my latte while I scrolled through social media. I almost never used my Twitter account but curiosity got the best of me after Liam's comment from yesterday. So, without thinking twice, I opened the app only to be met with 28,000 notifications.

I choked on my coffee, eyes wide and in disbelief. After staring at my phone for a few painful minutes, I decided to delete the app in entirety. Out of sight, out of mind. Right?

Just then, Niall and Liam bounded into the kitchen, quickly followed by Louis and Harry.

"You guys ready?" I asked.

The looked at each other. "Ready as we'll ever be."

+++++

The car ride over to venue was spent in comfortable silence. Liam and Niall were engrossed in whatever music was playing from their headphones while Louis stared out his window and Harry continuously checked his phone.

As soon as we arrived, the boys were swept up in microphone checks and choreography run-throughs, while I was pulled into meetings with the rest of management to finalize upcoming details. Before I knew it, Peter was kicking me out of a meeting regarding travel to check on 'the four hooligans since the clock read half past noon.

Making my way down the long corridors of the stadium was definitely intimidating, but the quiet was almost calming and very different than what I'd expect to encounter that night.

As I rounded my way towards Louis' dressing room, I peeked my head in to find not a soul in sight. "Weird," I mumbled to myself, but kept walking down the hall until I was met with Niall's dressing room. When I didn't find anyone in Niall's room, I jogged over to Harry's hoping for any sign of life. I was immediately put at ease when I cracked the door open to find all four boys, along with their two guitarists and drummer sat in the back of the room passing a few soccer balls around and listening to Fleetwood Mac.

I stood in the doorway for a few minutes, arms crossed and a content smile on my face as I watched them all interact. I loved that the boys were so comfortable with one another, especially since they had spent so much time apart. Unfortunately, after a few minutes, I put an end to the peace as I knocked on the doorframe to make my presence known.

"Everything okay in here?" I asked.

When all seven heads turned to me with big smiles, I couldn't help but return one of my own. "Hi, love! How's it going in there?" Niall asked.

"Oh, you know... exactly how all meetings go. Boring," I replied with an eye roll. "Listen, they set up a lunch buffet in the common area if you're hungry for lunch. I think there's soup and sandwiches."

"Sweet!" Louis exclaimed and then all seven bodies went to exit the room for food while I made my way back towards the travel conference.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. Boys and their food.

The rest of the day passed very quickly. Harry, Louis, Liam and Niall left the stadium at some point to film a promo video while I double checked their wardrobe, made sure they had snacks and refreshments in their dressing rooms, and made a few phone calls.

By the time the lads got back, I had already started changing into my "concert outfit" so when I was finally able to see them again, it was when they were spread out amongst the common space. Liam was getting his hair done, Louis was eating a salad and Niall and Harry were engaged in a game of ping-pong.

"Boys!" I called to get their attention. "It's 6:30. Time to get changed and finish up hair and such!" Soon enough, they actually listened to me for once and started to make their way back towards their dressing rooms. Until...

"Damn, Blake! Who knew you could look like that?" Liam exclaimed as the lads grew closer to me. I immediately blushed and sat down in my best effort to cover myself. I subconsciously closed my loose-fitted blazer as much as I could and tucked my heel-clad feet under the table. I was totally regretting the red lip I had put on, as well.

"Do I look stupid?" I asked, proposing the question to all of them, but only locking eyes with Harry.

"Definitely not, love. Is this how you plan on looking for every show?" Louis chimed in. I noticed that Harry had yet to take his eyes off my body.

"Erm, that was the plan," I began to fidget with the waist band of my jeans. "I enjoy getting dressed up and looking nice, especially for occasions like these. Did you really think I was going to walk around your concert wearing sweats each time?" I chuckled.

"Honestly, yeah!" Niall piped in, finally having found his voice.

I rolled my eyes at his comment. "Get used to it, lads. Now enough on me! Go on and get dressed! You've still got a lot to check off on your pre-show 'To Do' list before you hit the stage!" I tried to rally them, while also getting their attention off of me.

Again, they shockingly listened to me and began to file out of the common room. Harry was the last to leave, but not before he purposefully tilted his body close to mine and whispered, "There's no way you're not trying to kill me in that outfit." And with one last look and his signature smirk, Styles disappeared down the hallway.

+++++

Describing a One Direction concert is near impossible unless you've seen it for yourself. After I sent the lads off to get ready that night, I was pulled in a million different directions complete with fixing technical problems, making phone calls, and running around the backstage hallways. Since it was the first show, I anticipated being busy, but definitely not THIS busy.

Which is why I'm momentarily peeved to find out that the concert had started and I had had no idea about it. As soon as I was set free from my latest project, I bolted for the side stairway which led me out into the audience. There, it took the help of a stadium worker to find my seat in the reserved box and I couldn't help but watch in awe as the screaming fans and my boys smashed the entire concert. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, really, but I definitely wasn't expecting the first show to go so well.

Let me tell you; Harry, Louis, Niall and Liam looked like they were having the time of their lives. I now understood why everyone was so infatuated by One Direction and their concert series. Between Louis and Liam's incessant need to poke and bother each other, to Harry's crazy dance moves and water bottle stunts, to Niall's infectious smile and insane guitar skills, there was no end to the entertainment that One Direction put on for their fans.

Musically, they sounded pretty damn incredible too.

In no time at all, I found myself dancing along to the songs, singing softly to myself and thanking the heavens I had the box alone as to not embarrass myself in front of family and friends. I even shed a tear when "Temporary Fix" was performed. Not because of the content of the song. It would be super odd to cry over a 'Friends with Benefits' type of song. But strictly out of the pride and pure joy I felt while watching the four of them perform together.

It was exhilarating. It was full of passion. It made me feel completely alive. The entire time, I couldn't help but think that I just wanted to squeeze each and every one of them. And as soon as they stepped off that stage, that's exactly what I did.