Over the course of the rest of the day Nova noticed that Julian made sure he was by his side everywhere. Most people would probably find it annoying to have someone stuck to their side, but for Nova it felt comforting.
Julian had only been recognized a few times, it was nothing that he couldn't handle himself though. Just a few fans wanting pictures
It was weird for Nova to see how casually Julian dealt with just random strangers coming up and asking for picture. If it were him he would probably freak out.
They were now walking in and out of some shops on the boardwalk of the beach. Just looking at all the random knickknacks and tourist stuff.
Nova wasn't really one for souvenirs but if he found something he really liked in a store he would get it.
Julian on the other hand loved getting something from each place he visited, whether it just be something as simple as a t-shirt, or even a snow-globe.
Which is why when he found a miniature one with a plain palm tree in it he picked it up and walked quickly over to Nova, who was looking at some mugs.
"Look at this, it's cute right?," he asked with a infectious smile on his face.
Nova found himself smiling back tilting his head, "yeah sure, i guess it's kind of cute." "Do you collect those wherever you go?"
Julian shrugged his shoulders, "sometimes, or I just get one of those tacky tourist t-shirts." He pointed to one that had a sun on it with adorning a pair of sunglasses. "Like who would ever buy that?"
As if on cue, their guard that has been with them all day came up beside them, holding up the same shirt Julian had just pointed out. "Should I get this?"
Julian dropped his head and let out a groan while Nova covered his mouth to hold in a laugh. "Nate, I hate you."
Nate didn't know what was going on but he said, "so is that a no?"
He grabbed the shirt from his hands and hung back on a random rack, stomping off in a huff.
Nova not being able to hold in his laughter anymore let it out, just shaking his head as Julian walked towards the counter.
"Did I do something bad?"
Nova shook his head again stuttering out between his laughs, "n-not, at, all." He took a deep breath in to settle himself before speaking again. "You did nothing, don't worry."
He walked past the guard who was still baffled by what happened. Nova stood next to Julian as he paid for the small globe.
Julian looked at him and tilted his head questioningly, "are you not getting something?"
Nova shook his head, "nah, I don't really buy this kind of stuff."
He got a pretend sad look on his face and said, "how do you keep your memories about trips then?"
Nova made a face and gestured towards his camera. "Does this not help me?"
Julian rolled his eyes playfully, "okay mister smart ass."
He just chuckled softly. "No need to be so rude," Nova said bumping his hips against Julian's. He was getting more comfortable around him, so he didn't feel as shy as he did when he first met him.
Which was weird considering he only met Julian a few days ago.
The two walked out of the shop and the guard told them they should get back soon so they aren't out to late.
Both boys didn't realize that sun was close to setting. So when they got outside and saw the sun going down they were both surprised.
"It's already almost night time?," Julian said shocked. How did the day go by that fast already?
Nate chuckled shaking his head, "yes boys, now lets get back before Mark kills us all."
They all laughed and agreed starting walk back towards where their car was.
Nova looked over at Julian and almost gasped in awe at how beautiful the light of the sunset looked around him.
"Stop!," he shouted making Julian jump and look at him with concern.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Nova said quickly. "It's just, the light is perfect let me get a picture of you," he asked smiling shyly.
Julian shrugged and said, "sure, why not?"
Nova smiled happily and them fumbled with a camera a bit to turn it on. He lifted it to his face so he could take the picture before Julian stopped him.
"Wait, why don't we take one together?," he asked with a grin on his face.
Nova took his camera away from his face looking at him in surprise. "Y-You want to take a picture, with me?"
Julian nodded his head, smiling still. "Why not? It'll be your memory of you being here."
Nova bit on his bottom lip, feeling a little uneasy. He's usually behind his camera not in front of it. "I don't know," he mumbled.
Julian held out his hand with a gentler smile on his lips. "Come on, it's just one harmless picture."
He took Julian's hand and gasped as he pulled him into his side. He wrapped an arm around Nova's waist pulling him closer.
Nova blushed when they were practically squished up against each other. He cleared his throat and said, "okay." Nova held out his camera a bit away from them, in a selfie position. "Say cheese."
Both the boys smiled but just as Nova was about to take the picture Julian turned and kissed his cheek making him turn bright red and eyes widen as he snapped the picture.
Julian pulled back and smiled wide jumping up and down slightly. "Let me see, let me see."
Nova just handed him his camera without thinking about it, a little speechless. His cheek felt all tingly from where Julian kissed it.
Nova snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Julian say, "Nova, look how adorable you are."
He tried to hold back his blush and pushed Julian playfully. "Hush." Nova did take his camera back so he could see the picture and smiled at what he saw. It was a cute picture. "It's nice."
Julian nudged him with his shoulder, "there, you got a memory for here." "Lets get back to the car." He gestured towards where their body guard was standing, waving at them.
Nova got a little bold and leaned over giving Julian a quick peck on the cheek. He blushed himself and murmured quietly, "uh, thanks." Then he quickly walked over to the car and got in.
Leaving a grinning Julian standing there for a few seconds before following after him.
***
It was the next day. And time for Julian's concert.
Nova was using his camera to film some back stage stuff the crew was doing. He figured they deserve some appreciation too.
He wondered out onto stage and panned his camera around the arena to show all the empty seats. The concert wasn't supposed to start for another three hours, so when Nova heard a voice from the audience he jumped.
"What are you doing on the stage?," a nasally high pitched voice said.
Nova looked let his camera fall to his chest and looked out to see a girl who looked about fifteen, standing with her hands on her hips. She had her face plastered with make up and had on a tight fitted shirt that looked way to small for her, as it was riding up slightly.
"I-I'm sorry?," he stuttered out softly.
The girl either didn't hear him or chose to ignore him, continuing. "If you're paparazzi you'll get in big trouble for being up there."
"I'm not-"
"Nobody should be on the stage but Julian or his stage crew," the girl interrupted him.
Nova didn't really no what to say back so he kind of just stood there, his fingers starting to twitch at his sides.
The girl looked him up and down with judgment making him feel a knot form in his stomach. "Why are your fingers doing that? Do you have mental problem or something?"
"Nova, there you are." "You just missed what Cassie called 'prime' Julian faces," Julian said making air quotes with his hand.
When he saw the way Nova was acting and the way the girl was just glaring at him he figured what was happening.
The girl started to freak out because this was her idol right in front of her. Who wouldn't freak out? "Oh my gosh!," she squealed. "It's you!"
Julian plastered on the most false smile he could, which Nova took notice to when he looked at him. He already felt a bit calmer at the sight of Julian.
Though he still couldn't figure out why he felt like this.
"Hi, why are you here? I thought they didn't allow people in this early?," Julian asked raising an eyebrow.
This was true. The place wasn't supposed to let anyone in until at least an hour before show time. That way Julian's crew could set up without people screaming at them.
The girl waved his comment off like what she said next wasn't a big deal, "oh I just sneaked in here." She held up her phone, "can I get a picture?"
Julian gave her an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry but I don't take pictures with people who are rude to my staff."
The girl huffed and said, "I didn't know he was your staff." "Plus it's not like I did anything rude."
He gave a sarcastic laugh and put his arm around Nova's shoulder. "Really? You talked very rudely to him and accused him of having something mentally wrong with him." Julian had actually been standing at the side of the stage the whole time the girl was speaking to Nova, so he heard everything.
"Which by the way, even if he did, there would be nothing wrong with having one." "If you were really a true fan of me you would treat my staff with the same respect you treat me." Julian gave a little bow and said smiling, "have a good night."
Then he pulled Nova away and they both walked back stage leaving the girl with a glare on her face and her arms crossed over her chest.
As soon as they got fully back stage Julian turned to Nova and crossed his arms over his chest, tilting his head.
"Do you just attract bad situations or something?"
Nova rolled his eyes saying, "no, I don't." "I didn't expect that girl to be there," he looked down biting his bottom lip. "Sorry if you were in the middle of something and had to come get me." "I should've been with you."
Julian frowned softly and put a finger underneath Nova's chin, lifting his head so he was looking him in the eyes. "Hey, you don't need to apologize for anything." "You didn't do anything wrong Nova."
Nova knew this, but he couldn't help but feel the need to apologize. "Sorry okay."
Julian whined softly, "Novaa."
He couldn't help but giggle at this making Julian smile instantly from how cute it sounded. "I can't help it, even if something's not my fault, I feel the need to apologize."
Julian rested his hands on his hips, "well, I will try and change that."
Nova chuckled softly shaking his head, "okay?" He gave the other boy a funny smile, not seeing a problem with why he did it.
Julian smiled wide and said, "good."
It was concert time and just as during Julian's interview Nova was in the audience. He had ear plugs firmly in his ears because the screams were much louder considering there were way more people in the arena that at the talk show.
He was waiting for Julian to come out and when he did he immediately snapped a few pictures.
Nova was happy his ear plugs worked so well, it was like he was in a completely silent room.
Julian smiled and waved out at the crowd, grabbing the microphone from the stand. "Helloo San Francisco, how is everyone?"
He got screams in return and he chuckled saying, "guess pretty good." Julian rest his guitar comfortably in front of him and put the microphone back on the stand, but leaned forward so he could speak into it still.
"I hope you guys enjoy this first song, it was on my last album and it has special meaning to me."
The crowd cheered and then started hush when Julian began strumming his guitar. He smiled out at the crowd softly making the girls swoon slightly.
He leaned in and started singing. "All I want is nothing more. To hear you knocking at my door."
Nova switched his camera to record and held it steady, keeping it pointed on Julian.
"Cause if I could see your face once more." "I'd die a happy man I'm sure."
He wanted to take out his ear plugs again so he could hear Julian sing, but Nova didn't want to miss taking a video. Besides, he could always watch his video later himself.
"When you said your last goodbye. I lay in tears in bed all night."
The crowd were completely entranced as Julian sang in a slightly husky voice. "But if you loved me. Why'd you leave me?"
"Take my body. Take my body.." "All I want is, and all I need is." "To find somebody. I'll find somebody, like you."
Julian looked out at the crowd and found Nova with his camera pointing at him. He couldn't help the tender smile that came over his lips.
Nova noticed him staring straight at him and took his camera away from his face a bit so he could look back at Julian as he sang the next lines.
Julian continued to stare at Nova as he sang, "So you brought out the best of me." "A part of me I've never seen."
Nova blushed lightly watching him, biting on his bottom lip gently. "You took my soul and wiped it clean. Our love was made for movie screens."
Nova's mind exploded as he sang about love. Julian couldn't like him right? He thought. Nova snapped out his thoughts and put his camera back to his face to record again.
Julian sung the chorus of his song again continuing to strum gently. "Take my body. Take my body..."
He strummed the final note and grinned as the audience cheered loudly, making Nova flinch at the sudden change in noise.
"Thank you!," Julian shouted chuckling softly. "Ready for the next one?," he asked tilting his head and giving the audience a charming smile. Everyone cheered again as Nova put his earplugs back in.
Nova sneakily turned around and panned his camera around the audience as they all cheered and shouted at Julian.
He then looked forward again, pointing his camera once again at Julian.
While Nova never took his camera off him
Julian barely took his eyes off Nova
Song: Kodaline,