"So... who are you with?" The burly security guard steps forward, barring your way.
"I'm with the band," you say, your voice loaded with suggestiveness, and it doesn't go unnoticed.
He raises an eyebrow, taking in your too-tight dress and cherry red...
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"So what's all this about then?" I grumble, eyes raised up to the ceiling as I flop down on to the sofa in the living area, pretending to stifle a yawn like I'm not really interested in what Larry's got to say. I know I'm acting childishly but I can't help it, Larry's overbearing nature brings out the worst in me.
"You really have to ask?" He says, sliding his phone out of his jeans pocket. I know what's coming. I can see the annoyance etched all over his face as he jabs at the screen. My heart's already sinking and I can't bear the thought of going over what's happened again.
"If this is about Sam then you can save it," I say quickly, sitting forward. "I've learned my lesson, blah, blah, blah, I'm very sorry and all that shit."
"You've about broken the bloody internet Bells!" Larry exclaims, his voice going high-pitched. "I reckon your post on Instagram has had more comments than everything that's been posted on Catfish's whole band account... ever."
I shrug, absentmindedly picking at a snag on the arm of the sofa. "Can't help being popular can I?"
"Popular?" Larry echoes. "I thought our Van had lots of followers but you've totally eclipsed him overnight!"
I can't help the smug grin that surfaces at this, imagining winding Van up about this very fact. "That'll come in handy when I start posting about the tour then won't it? Bit of free publicity for the band, eh?"
"I don't know about that. I'm beginning to think it might not be such a good idea you coming on tour after all..."
"What?" I'm up on my feet before the word's even left my mouth. "You can't be serious! I'm young and I'm single, I'm not doing anything wrong! So what if I had a one night stand? Are you trying to tell me you've never had one? Fucking hell, I never took you for a prude!"
"I'm not a prude!" Larry says defensively. "I'm very open-minded if you must know!"
A giggle erupts from me at this comment, much to Larry's annoyance, and I'd love to carry on needling him but I'm aware that I need to tread carefully to ensure that I get what I want. Even so, it's not my style to completely back down and start begging.
"Look Larry," I say, placing a hand on his arm, fixing him with my biggest doe-eyes which usually works wonders in getting boys to see things from my point of view. "You told me how you felt about me hooking up with any of your mates, so I didn't... I just... chose someone else."
Larry looks completely unimpressed. "Is this what's gonna happen then? You're just gonna jump into bed with every musician you fancy that you meet on tour... all the time whilst leading on my best mate?"
Ahh... now here's the real issue. Larry's looking out for Van. It's quite touching really, how close they are, how they always have each other's backs. It almost makes me feel sentimental, not that I'd let on to my cousin.
