Alexandria Anderson
A couple of days had past after Rye and I’s argument and ever since that day, we didn’t talk to each other just like before. It was awkward, but that didn’t stop us from hanging out together with the other lads; it’s just that we don’t talk to each other. Anyway, the boys and I went to Glasgow yesterday for their first gig of their headline tour and it was really fun. Today would be their second gig in Manchester, which we are looking forward to especially Andy since it’s his hometown. I snap out of my thoughts when Mom walks into the room.
“Oh, hi Mom.” I say, as she walks over to me and sits on the edge of the window seat.
“What are you thinking about?” she puts her hand on top of my lap.
“Nothing.” I reply whilst shaking my head.
Mom shifts on her seat and sits across from me, pulling her knees up to her chest as she leans against the wall.
“You know, you aren’t good at hiding things.” she chuckles.
I just smile a little and look down.
“Are you thinking about Ryan?” she asks.
I look at her and she smiles at me.
“You seem upset for the past few days, so I spoke with Andy and he said that it might be because of your argument with Ryan.” she shrugs.
I shake my head and just look out of the window.
“You know you can tell me anything, sweetheart,” she says with persuasion. “even if it’s about boys.”
I chuckle lightly and look down, “Mom..”
“What, I am serious.” she replies, I just smile and fumble with my fingers.
After a minute of silence, I take a deep breath and speak up again.
“I am quite upset about that,” I say in a serious tone. “I just don’t like it when someone’s mad at me; it makes me feel uneasy and sad and.. I don’t know.”
“Are you sure he’s mad at you?” she asks, raising her eyebrows.
“Well, from his tone; it seems like he didn’t want to talk to me.” I reply quietly.
“You know Andy told me that Rye really feels sorry for what he did to you and to Jordi, you should talk to him.” she says.
I breathe out and just nod, “I will, thank you Mom.”
“Just talk to me if you have any problems and don’t just keep it to yourself, okay?” she gets up from her seat and stands at the edge of the window seat.
“I am sorry, Mom,” I sheepishly say. “thank you.”
Mom smiles at me and tucks my hair behind my ear and kisses my forehead, “I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too, Mom.” a reply, as a smile tugs at the corners of my lips.
Mom walks out of the room and I just stay there, looking out of the window.
• • •
I am currently getting ready for the boys’ second gig in Manchester, when someone starts to call. So, I stop what I was doing and pick up my phone from the bed to answer it.
“Hi, Andy!” I chirp. “You excited for later’s gig?” I ask, as I go back to the dresser table.
“Buzzin.” he chuckles.
I smile, “I’ll just meet you and the boys at the venue.”
“Yeah, don’t be late!” he exclaims.
“Of course I won’t, Andy.” I assure him. “I am just getting ready, I’ll be there before your show starts.”
“Alright, bye, take care.” he replies.
“I will, see you later.” I say.
After I hang up, I see Rye’s message on the notification panel; I tap on it and read it.
fr: Ryan Beaumont
— I am really sorry, Alexandria 😔
I feel my heart beat faster upon reading his message, but I just ignore it and put my phone down on top of the dresser table and continue putting my mascara. When I was through, I say goodbye to my Mom and go to the venue in Manchester. It takes me an hour to get there and when I did, their fans are already waiting outside the venue. I text Andy that I was already outside and he texts me a brief instruction on where I should go in without anyone noticing. When I get into the venue, I walk down the halls; looking for the green room when I see Brooklyn walking down the hall.
“Gibson!” I shout.
He turns around and smiles, “Hey.”
“Where’s the others?” I walk towards him.
“They’re at the green room, come on, I’ll show you the green room.” he says, nodding his head to the side.
I smile and nod, following Brooklyn down the halls and we stop in front of a room which I assume is the green room.
“Don’t worry, she isn’t like that.” I hear Andy say, as Brook opens the door.
“Yeah, just apologise to her.” Mikey adds.
When they saw me, the boys look at me in surprise but Andy immediately smiles and gets up from his seat.
“Alexa!” he enthusiastically says.
“Hi.” I wave at him whilst smiling a little.
Mikey says hi to me and when I look over at Rye, he was just looking at me. I couldn’t look at him for too long because of the way he looks at me, he looks sad and apologetic in a way that I couldn’t explain so I just look away and take a seat on the side.
“Oh, we’ll just take a look around the venue.” Mikey says, getting up from the sofa.
We nod and he invites Rye and Brook to come with him, so it’s just me and Andy. When they left, Andy sits down next to me and when I look at him; he’s just looking straight into my eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that, Andy.” I say.
“Are you still mad at him?” he suddenly asks.
“I wasn’t mad at him to begin with,” I reply. “I don’t think I will ever get mad at him.” I add, almost in a whisper.
“Why’s that?” he asks, smiling.
“I don’t know, I just don’t.” I answer, looking away from him.
“Rye’s just protective over you, we all are.” he says. “You’re like our youngest sister, it’s our responsibility to look after you.”
“Yeah, I appreciate it whenever you and the boys are being protective over me but I am old enough to take care of myself, Andy, you don’t have to look after me.” I retort.
“We know that, but that doesn’t change anything.” he insists.
“But –” I start to say, but he cuts me off.
“Alexandria Anderson, just let us look after you, okay, stop arguing.” he replies.
I laugh, “Do you really have to call me by my full name?”
“Yeah cause I know that will shut you up.” he says with a smile.
I smile and roll my eyes at him.
“Anyway, want to take a look around the venue?” he asks.
“I’d love to.” I reply.
Andy and I get up from the sofa and walk out of the green room and down the halls of the venue. He takes me on a brief tour, before going to the stage where the lads are. Later on, the boys did their soundcheck and they start to get ready for the show; putting on white polos and black ties.
“Lexi, kindly help Rye with his tie, thank you.” Andy says, as he lets go of Rye’s shoulder and leaves him without even waiting for my reply.
I get up from my seat and without looking at him, I put my hand out; asking for his tie. He puts it on top of my hand and I put it under his collar and start to tie it. As I do his tie, I can feel his gaze on me; making me feel conscious and uncomfortable so I just keep my eyes on what I am doing.
“Sorry.” he suddenly says.
I stop what I was doing and look up at him, the way he looks at me really makes me feel upset. So, I just look down and continue to do his tie.
“You know I was scared,” he continues. “scared that you wouldn’t talk to me again.”
I didn’t say anything and just keep on doing his tie.
“Alexandria, I am really really sorry; that was very childish of me. Please don’t get mad at me anymore, I hate it whenever we don’t talk to each other.” he stops and runs his hand through his hair, “I was just worried about you and when I saw you two, I..” he trails off and sighs. “I am really sorry, Alexandria, I really am. It won’t happen ever again, I hope you forgive me.”
I pull his tie upward – rather abruptly – to make it tight, “Is it too tight?”
“No, it’s just fine.” he replies.
I nod and turn around, but he grabs my wrist.
“Alexandria, please..” he trails off, looking at me pleadingly.
“It’s okay, just forget about that.” I reply in a flat tone.
“Are you still mad at me?” he asks, his hand still on my wrist.
“I was never mad at you, Ryan.” I reply, a smile slowly tugging at the corners of my lips.
“Then why were you –” he says, but I cut him off.
“Have fun, Beaumont.” I smile at him fully and pat his shoulder, before walking away.