The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 49- Water and Tears

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Somehow, I manage to forget my camera on the bus, so while the boys get to hang out in the dressing room, I have to rush back through the crowded backstage hallways and go retrieve it before show time.

As I'm making my way back to the room, camera slung around my neck, I run into Adam.

"Stephanie! Glad I found you. There are some special VIPs tonight. They're already back with the boys, so I need you to get some shots of them together," he tells me, giving me just enough time to nod my understanding before he rushes away to take care of something else.

Usually, when there's a meet-and-greet or something, they have other photographers for those events. I guess this VIP thing is different. It's probably smaller scale, so it's not worth hiring another person. I finally make it to the dressing room and double check that I have a full battery before entering.

I look up from my camera as I step through the door, and if it weren't on a strap around my neck, it would've crashed to the floor with my shock. When I lift my eyes, I find three very beautiful girls about my age draped all around the room-one of which is currently perched on my boyfriends knee while a man in a suit takes their picture with a cell phone.

I let the door slam closed behind me, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. I look at Luke, who doesn't even look ashamed or embarrassed to have another girl sitting on his lap right now. Then, my eyes flicker to the lap-sitter. She looks a little familiar, but I cant quite place it. She's smirking at me, a victorious sparkle in her eyes. She makes no move to get up, so I decide she might need a little hint.

I walk straight over to them and stick out my hand for her to shake. "Hi. I'm Stephanie, Luke's girlfriend."

She gives me a fake smile and shakes my hand. There's definitely something familiar about that condescending smile.

"Oh, nice to meet you. Are you here to take the pictures, then?"

She reaches forward, tapping my camera. I have to forcibly keep myself from batting her hand away. Instead, I grab onto her arm and pull her to her feet, off of Luke's lap.

"Yep. Why don't you guys come stand over here?" I say, dropping her hand, but still leading her away from my boyfriend.

The other girls follow, and so do the guys.

I line them up, purposely putting lap-sitter on the opposite side of the picture from Luke, but she's not having it.

"I think I should stand over there," she says, pointing between Luke and Calum. "It'll look better since I'm the tallest girl."

I grit my teeth, but I can't come up with a good enough response to refuse her proposal. So with another victorious smile in my direction, she slinks her way to stand between Luke and Calum. She sidles up right next to Luke, pushing her body against his and resting her hand on his chest as if they're a couple posing for prom.

I count to three before taking the picture, but otherwise, I say nothing. I know that if I speak, some pretty not polite things are going to come out. The man in the suit-who I assume is the dad of one of these girls-insists that I take several poses. Shot after shot, I have to bite back anger as lap-sitter finds new ways to get closer to Luke.

Finally, I take the last shot. After putting my camera down, I glance at Luke and give him an unhappy look. His response is an almost imperceptible shrug.

Just then, the man in the suit, whom I overhear Ashton refer to as Greg, starts up a conversation with the boys. Taking this as my cue to be excused, I head for the refreshment table and snatch up a cup. I don't even know what drink is inside, but at this point, I don't really care.