Get Ready For It - A Gary Barlow FF

Chapter 10

A sore head is what I'm met with when my alarm rings through the main bedroom of the house at 7AM the next morning. Groaning at the sound of the monotonous, almost screech like sound as it pierces my eardrums, I stretch out my arm from under the warmth of my duvet and hit the snooze button. Grabbing the phone from the bedside table, I'm forced to hold my hand up over my eyes as the light nearly blinds me it's so bright. Checking in case I have any new messages from the lads or anything and having noticed that I don't, I quickly set the alarm for about 9.30 and snuggle back under the duvet for another few hours kip.

*****

I wake up naturally when I hear the birds singing in through the window from outside. Stretching my arms out above my head, I groan loudly as I feel my muscles begin to wake up from the deep slumber. Rolling over on to my left-hand side, I reach over and grab my phone to check the time. It's not that bright out yet so it can't be that late I'm sure;

08:27

Well, I guess that there's no real reason to stay in bed for another while. Not like I'm going to get back to sleep anyway now at this stage. Throwing back the duvet, I swing my legs over the side of the bed and pad nakedly over to the bathroom. Switching on the shower, it's not long before the bathroom is blanketed in steam and begins to spill back into the bedroom. Sliding open the door, I step into the shower and it's only a matter of moments until the hot water begins to help my sore and slightly sleepy muscles fully wake up and prepare them for another action-packed day.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrap a towel tightly around my waist whilst I pad back through to the cream carpet covered bedroom. Sliding my phone away from the charger and into the speaker station, I randomly hit play and tap the shuffle button and immediately regret it as some loud rock song fills the room. 

''What the fuck is that even doing in there?'' I mutter as I pause the song, quickly delete it and move on to the next.

''Aha! Nice bit of Coldplay to kick off the day'' I say once again to myself as the lyrics of Viva La Vida fill the 4 walls of my overly sized bedroom here in the house. 

''I used to roll the dice, feel the fear in my enemies eyes..'' 

I sing along as I throw on a pair of jeans, a nice white t-shirt and a black hooded top as it is a day in the office for me. I'll be spending the day sorting out the relevant paperwork for upcoming gigs over the Christmas period. I have a few charity gigs lined up so it's a day of booking flights, hotels and drivers for me. Of course, James will be coming along with me everywhere we go, but he will not be driving while we're on tour for these gigs. He's my security, and I'll need him to protect me! There's going to be lots of screaming women and girls at these shows, even if the majority of them are for charity. Locking myself in my home office with a cup of tea and few cheeky digestives, I flick open the laptop and have my phones on hand in case anyone tries to reach me. Quickly scanning my emails, I notice that nothing really stand out catches my eye so it's on to the long haul of booking 7 hotels and more than 10 flights for a period that lasts about 12 days in the next 3 or so weeks. 

''Why do companies always to hold their Christmas parties SO close to Christmas Day?''  I mutter to myself as I click in to British Airways and search for flights to Edinburgh from London Heathrow.

*****

I welcome the sound of the text message alert that sounds throughout the office about 2 hours in to the very tedious booking process. An instant smile is brought to my face as I notice the sender;

Sender: Sophie Xxx

11:34

''Hiya, Gary. How are you? Hope I'm not catching you at a bad time x''

Smiling at her concern, which is adorable, I immediately scribble back a reply before hitting send;

Recipient: Sophie Xxx

11:37

''Hey, Sophie. No, not a bad time at all! I'm very well, you? X''

Sitting back in my swivel chair, I swing around casually as I only have to wait a few mere seconds before my phone pings with another message tone alert; 

Sender: Sophie Xxx

11:39

''Yeah, I'm good, thanks. I just wanted to text and say thank you again for last night. I also wanted to apologize for what happened at dinner also. My little ''freak-out'' moment if you will, but I really did enjoy myself so thank you very much xx''

'She need not worry about that' I think to myself as I reply quickly once more;

Recipient: Sophie Xxx

11:42

''Sweetheart, don't worry about it honestly. If you're free tomorrow then maybe we go for lunch around 1 or so? Let me know if you're free, yeah? Xx''

Clicking send once more, I discard my phone to the other side of the desk and lift myself up from the same desk I have been sat at for the last 3 hours. My bum has gone so numb now that I reckon it's fully asleep at this stage! Grabbing my, now cold, cup of tea I head out of the office and head downstairs to fix a bit of lunch for myself.

*****

Heading back upstairs with my chicken salad sandwich and a freshly brewed cup of tea, I push in the door to my office with my shoulder before padding over to the desk. Carefully I place my lunch down among the various printed out confirmation sheets of the various hotels.

''I really should get these organized..'' I moan to myself as I move them all to one side for now.

If Markie saw my office like this, he would be sure to tell me off! Something flashes to my right which catches my attention. I land on the leather swivel chair with a plop and slide over to the other side of the desk. I fish my phone which happens to be whatever it is that's flashing, out from other a few sheets of lyrics and other notepads and slide open the message.

Sender: Sophie Xxx

11:53

''Yeah I'm free all day tomorrow I think, just as long as I get this brief ready and finished for court next week. We can sort out a time later on tonight for lunch tomorrow, yeah? Xx''

Quickly I scribble a reply back;

Recipient: Sophie Xxx

12:04

''Yeah that sounds great. Hopefully, the case won't take you too long but whoever is up against doesn't stand a chance. Chat later xx''

Clicking send once more, I wait for the whoosh to sound indicating that it is indeed sent before I dive binton to the world of paperwork and online booking.