Into The Unknown

Chapter 3

Abigail's POV

My phone bleeps one message after another, I have finally picked up the courage to turn it back on. It was 2pm and I was at a radio station with Ryan and the rest of the boys. They were here to do an interview and to sing a couple of tracks off their new album.

I jumped as I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, I didn't recognise the number so I silenced it and put the phone face down on the table "It'll die down baby girl it always does" Leroy came up behind me and rested a hand on my shoulder "Try not to let it get to you" he smiled weakly.

"It's easier said than done" I exhale, I was starting to feel hot "Hey I am going to get some air, will you let Ryan know please" Leroy frowns and nods.

"You want me to come with you?" He was always thinking about me first. I shake my head and walk out of the door and follow the way out signs. As I walk out onto the sidewalk I spot a bench across the street.

As I sit down I pull my phone out of my pocket. I dial a number and wait "Hello" a gentle familiar voice answers.

"Hey baby" I say softly "How are you? Are you behaving for your dad and Lauren?"

"Hi Mom, yes of course I am" Freya's voice sounds so grown up now, she has lost that little girl sweetness.

"Good girl" I reply "What have you been up to?"

"Dad took me shopping for some new boots" I look up to the sky and close my eyes as I listen to Freya going on about boots, school and music. She mentions something about Nick's tour and asks me if she can see OneRepublic when they are back in Los Angeles "Mom is everything ok?"

Shit I think to myself as I realise she has picked up on what's going on "Yeah everything's fine honey" I lied very convincingly "I just miss hearing your voice, that's all"

We talk for a little longer before I say goodbye and hang up. I almost shoot out of my skin when I feel two hands on my shoulders "Jesus Ryan, a little warning would have been nice, you know like a cough"

"Sorry" Ryan sulked at a me "Are you ok? Leroy said you wanted to get some air" he sat down beside me on the bench.

"Yeah I just needed to think" I reply "Don't you think it's great here?" I exhaled and lean my head on his shoulder "No crazy journalists, or photographers trying to make a story out of nothing"

"Yep, I told you I love Paris" Ryan laughed "We have finished inside, shall we go and explore the city?"

"Yeah" I smile and stand up, grabbing my purse and Ryan's hand. I call Leroy and let him know what we are doing. He is happy to hang with the rest of the guys until later "I'll never get bored of Paris" I sigh.

X-x-x

We had spent an amazing afternoon in Paris, lots of shopping, good food and a few drinks. Ryan had to get back to the hotel though to prepare for his concert tonight. Both our phones had been ringing insanely, as more people read the article in the paper "It's funny how we can spend the whole day in Paris and only get asked for about 3 or 4 photos, and yet most of the day we get hounded by people from a country we aren't even in" I sigh as I pull a white OneRepublic t-shirt over my head, I can hear Ryan laugh when he sees it.

"What's that?"

"Alice had it made for me after the misunderstanding in Chicago last month" I smile as I remember what happened "It gets better look" I turn round and reveal the "Mrs Tedder" writing on the back.

"That's brilliant, I love it" he laughs loudly "At least now you won't get thrown out by the venues security"

"I better not" I frown "The look on you face was priceless...Woah wait what are you doing, that's my fucking wife you idiot" I try and do my best impression of Ryan, he laughs at my efforts.

"Yeah well the guy was holding you mid air, he was three times the size of you" Ryan frowned "I had every right to be pissed"

"I thought you were going to kill him, the way you jumped of the stage like that"

"If he hadn't of let you go when he did I probably would have" Ryan looped his are around my waist and kissed my neck "No-one puts their hands on you like that, ever"

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him "I love you Ryan Tedder" I smile and bite my lip.

"I love you too Abi Tedder" he replies, before gently biting my lip and pulling away "Right come on we have to move we need to a brief sound check before the show"

I grab my bag and follow him out of the door, we meet the others in the lobby before heading to the minibus which is parked outside. As I am walking to the bus I am surprised to be stopped by a young male fan who is holding a single red rose, he looks to be stood with his Mom, Leroy stops them from getting too close "It's fine" I smile and gesture them to come forwards "Hello" I smile at the nervous looking boy.

"Hi" he handed me the rose, his hand was shaking.

"Thank you" I smile "Have you been waiting here long?" I asked his Mom who looks as equally nervous.

"Just a few hours" she sighs and giggles "He wanted to give you your gift to say thank you"

"For what?" I was a little confused, why did he need to thank me.

"For giving him the confidence to dance" she smiled "He watched your television show and thinks that you made dancing for boys cool"

I remembered the show I had done last year, it was set around the dance school I run. It was a documentry based around a group of dancers of all ages who attended the school. They were followed around by a camera crew for a whole term.

"Oh thank you very much" I looked at the boy who still seemed shy "What's your name?"

"Theo, I come from London, but am here on vacation. We are staying in the same hotel" the boy explained with a little more confidence.

"That's awesome" I reply softly as I bend down to his level "So Theo what kind of dancing do you enjoy?"

"Ballet" he whispered gently "I have been doing it since it was 4 years old"

"I danced from a young age too" I smile "You will have to ask your Mom to post a video on YouTube so I can see" the boy grins with excitement "Well it was lovely to meet you both, but I'm afraid I have to go now. They are waiting for me" I look at the bus and see Ryan standing just outside the door of the bus "And thank you for this beautiful gift Theo" I give him a kiss on the cheek and turn and walk towards Ryan. I wasn't really sure why, but something in my heart was smiling. After everything that had been happening recently I needed this kind of gesture to make me see exactly what my life means to fans like this. I realised that no matter how bad things were I was doing good somewhere...