To Be Loved By You - Brad Simpson Fanfiction

Chapter Four

I sit beside Joe and we're watching the boys posing for the camera all afternoon. This might sound boring to some people but I couldn't imagine anything better. It's great. Not only do I get to see my favorite band interact with each other, posing in different outfits every couple minutes and just being silly with each other – it gives me a chance to calm down. And to realize, that in fact, they are just normal people that I have no reason to be so nervous around. It's like my mind is finally grasping that I'm actually in the same room as them and they are real people. I've seen them perform before, yeah, but when they are on stage and thousands of fans scream their names, they don't really seem real. Now, right here in front of me, where I can hear them talk and laugh without microphones and spotlights... right now they are just like any other human being you'd walk past in the streets.

Eventually the photographer yells 'that's a wrap' and I join in on everyone clapping. However, I stay sat where I am when Joe gets up to walk over to him to probably discuss that he'll need a couple of shots for the Instagram page. The second that thought pops into my head I internally panic. If he did talk to him about the Instagram shots, I should probably listen in, shouldn't I? That's what I'm here for anyway. Learning about working with social media. And I don't want Joe to think I don't take this seriously and just wanted an opportunity to get to know the band.

I don't get a chance to contemplate any longer because all four boys are suddenly making their way over to me. I glance over to my left. All their clothes are piled up next to me on the couch. They probably just want to get changed.

Connor is the first to arrive and he lets himself fall down right next to me where Joe was sitting minutes ago.

'Those shots were sick', he says and I'm not sure whether he's directing that piece of information towards me or just generally stating his thoughts. Before any awkward silence can arise, James grabs a piece of clothing and starts to unbutton his shirt.

'Agreed. That new merch is gonna be crazy.'

Then Connor turns to me. 'What do you think? Did you have a chance to look at any of the pictures?'

He's looking directly at me and this time I'm sure he's talking to me. So I nod.

'I did yeah, they are great. Good job.'

Tristan throws his shirt at Connor. 'Pass me my hoodie?', he asks him and Connor digs into the pile of clothes.

I just sit there in the middle of the four of them whilst all of them start to change into their original clothes. I try really hard not to stare at any of them. Impossible when Brad is suddenly standing right in front of me, his legs almost touching my knees. He shoots me a big smile that I barely notice as his naked torso is almost right in front of my face.

'My shirt is right behind you, would you...?'

He can't even finish his sentence 'cause I get all flustered and immediately turn around when I realize I'm practically leaning on his jumper.
'I'm sorry', I mumble as I pass it to him.

'Don't worry about it', he says as he pushes it over his head. 'It's really warm now.' I try to ignore his comment although the thought of what his warm jumper must feel like on my bare skin is suddenly stuck in my head.

A few seconds later all of them are fully dressed again. Well, at least they already seem comfortable around me. That's definitely something.

'So, Lizzy, how's it been being an intern so far?', James asks me as he sits down next to Connor. It feels very surreal to hear him call my name. Both Tris and Brad sit down on the floor in front of the couch and all four of them stare at me as they await an answer.

Well, there's not much I can tell you yet, is there?

'I only started this morning so I've not done much yet. But everyone's been really nice so far so I'm sure it's gonna be a good time', I say politely.

I'm also sure they are all just going to engage in their own conversations now but I'm proven wrong. Their focus stays on me. Tris is the next to speak up.

'Is it a voluntary or do you need it for something?', he asks.

I shake my head no. 'I need it for my Bachelors degree. I have to write my thesis at the end of the year so hopefully I'll be able to write it about the internship. But I also need the credit points from this internship to even be allowed to register for the thesis.'
I feel like I'm rambling so I quickly stop talking. Surely, they are just being polite and not actually interested in what I'm doing here.

'I told Kirstie that the management has employed an intern from university and she said a good internship is really important.'

When James starts talking about his girlfriend I'm not sure how to react. Am I supposed to pretend I don't know who Kirstie is? I don't want him to think I'm creepy and stalked him or something. And I definitely still don't want them to know I'm a fan. Before I can even react he quickly adds 'Kirstie is my girlfriend', and I nod, relieved that he cleared that up himself.

'It really is yeah. I mean, I get the credit points by doing a good job, so that's on me, no matter where I do the internship. But an internship at a good company really is a huge door opener to the working environment.'

'So, you want to work in the music industry? Or did you apply to our management because they do social media?', Brad asks.

I applied to your management because I thought I'd never have a chance to get in.

Of course, that's not what I say.

'Mainly for the social media aspect. At least that's what I wanna do after university. But the fact that I get to do it in this industry and not some business company is pretty exciting I think.'

Brad nods and I have to look away because no matter how calm I feel right now, I still can't hold eye contact with any of them.

'I'm so sorry', James suddenly laughs. I'm surprised by his sudden reaction. What's he on about?

'We're asking you questions like this is a second job interview.'

The others join his laughter and I can't help but feel the butterflies erupting in my stomach. It's a pretty great feeling to partly be the reason the members of your favorite band all have smiles on their faces.