The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 40- Beauty

"Relax, Steph. They're just normal lads like us," Calum says patting me on the shoulder as he walks past to head up to the stage. The rest of the band is already up there talking to Adam.

"The difference is, I didn't know you were famous when I met you!" I call as he walks away.

Today, the boys are rehearsing for their supporting tour with One Direction. Even though they won't have their actual show in L.A. until a few weeks from now, the tour rehearsals and some album work will be taking place here for the next week.

Calum has just nonchalantly told me that a few, if not all, of the One Direction boys will be coming to watch them today, so I am obviously freaking out. I find myself clutching at the camera in my lap, my lifeline, as I stare up at the stage. The boys start going over their set, playing through a few of the songs. As the time ticks by, I start to relax a bit. Maybe they really aren't coming today.

Just as the thought crosses my mind, a body plops down into the seat beside me, making me jump.

"Sorry," a deep, British accent says. "Didn't mean to scare you."

I turn my head and find myself face to face with Harry Styles.

"I'm Harry." He holds out a hand to me. Thankfully, I am coherent enough to shake it.

"Stephanie," I say in response.

He touches the camera strap around my neck and I nearly have a heart attack at his approaching hand.

"Are you the new photographer, then?"

"Uh, yep. That's me."

He smirks. "I've heard they're lucky to have you. That you're some rising star?"

I snort. "Someone lied to you," I say, a slight blush rising under my freckles.

"Wouldn't be the first time." He shrugs with an easy dimpled grin. "Go on then. Don't let me stop you from doing your job." He lounges back, still grinning and drapes his arms over the seats on either side of him, one of them happening to be mine.

Not really sure what else to do, I pick the camera up off my neck and angle towards the stage. The guys are huddled together around Ashton's kit, their backs to us. It doesn't make for a very entertaining picture, so I don't even bother to take one.

Just then, Michael glances over his shoulder in my direction. He squints at the person next to me, and then his face splits into a broad smile.

"Harry!"

Harry returns his over exaggerated wave and then yells back, "I want to hear something!"

The boys oblige, playing their opener for him. As they start to play, I put my camera to my face and take a few shots. That's when I feel a slight pressure against my side and a hand on the chair by my knee.

I pull the camera away and glance down to find Harry's hand brushing against my skin and up to find his face right next to mine as he leans towards me.

He grins and removes his hand. "Sorry, I just wanted to see what angle you were taking the picture from. I'm kind of into photography. Can I see how it turned out?"

A little breathless at his close proximity, I simply nod and pull the camera from around my neck. He takes it carefully, almost reverently, and it's endearing. Even though he doesn't know me at all, he seems to understand how important that one object is to me.

He looks down at the screen.

"So how'd you get into photography?"

At first, I'm a little thrown by his random personal question, but I find my voice to respond.