I'd Choose You Again Tomorrow [L.S]

Chapter Two

January 2020

Los Angeles, America

There are few moments in Harry's life he feels as he does before he walks out on to a stage. Simultaneously feeling as though he could combust from the turbulent emotions of standing before a crowd and delighting in the knowledge that this is truly what his life has become.

They've been at this for just two nights now, the end of January had brought on the first of his exclusive shows he'd arranged in a few selection locations. The venue tonight was far smaller, only seating five thousand but still the past two nights had felt extra ordinary. Love On Tour technically didn't start till March but these shows felt intimate to him, a tribute to his fans whom had stayed by his side over the course of his career.

He'd played the forum for the album debut just last month, had barely come down from the high of that in the weeks since but the past few nights being back out on stage felt like he'd come home, was back where he belonged. California would certainly never be his home, never had been, but he no longer despised it as he once had in the thick of things, had learnt to appreciate it for what it offered and leave his true heart back across the Atlantic.

Shrugging on his shimmering black and gold jacket he turns back to face the large dressing room. Niall is sprawled lengthways across one of the low sofa's, legs every which way whilst somehow managing to cradle his precious vintage acoustic guitar across his torso and strumming a slowed version of a Sticky Fingers song Harry really should have remembered the title of by now considering how many times Niall has blasted it through his speakers over the last two months. Mitch and Sarah sit across from him chatting quietly amongst themselves and behind them stands Ny talking quietly on the phone.

It seems just like every other pre-show routine they've all gone through together over the past four years.

"Did Tom get back to you about final production on Anna?" Niall asks him without missing a chord.

"Didn't mention it when I last spoke to him." Harry replies easily as he makes his way towards the assortment of refreshments lain upon a table in the far left corner of the room.

"I've got a writing session penciled in with him next Wednesday, can see how he's tracking up on it then."

"Aren't we leaving for New York on Sunday?" Sarah pipes up, head raising to look across towards Niall.

"I'm not joining you till Thursday now, spoke to Liam about it yesterday."

"How long have we got?" Ny whispers then, hand covering the mic on her phone, drawing all of their attention.

Harry glances down to the watch on his wrist, the same one he's worn since he was eighteen despite how many others he's been gifted over the years. "Twenty-two minutes till stage call."

Helene will come to fetch him shortly for his warm up, the others soon enough having to find their way to side of stage to prepare to head on. His opener, Kasey, will have just finished her set now, the crew smoothly transitioning the stage into his own design under the cover of darkness and a drawn divider between the crowd and stage.

"Hey are we still planning on going out to Rossio afterwards?" Sarah asks the room and he pours himself a glass of the Aloe juice which sits on the table.

"I'm keen!" Niall calls out and he fights a smile. The other's share in his amusement, snickering at the eagerness in his voice. "What?" Niall cries, "We're not coming back to LA for another four weeks I'll take every opportunity I can to try and snag that recipe from Ross."