Exposure • h.s.

CHAPTER15.

Pt. 2 ! enjoy!! <3

"Alright everybody! We got five minutes until we're live!" shouts a curvy woman, her small wireless microphone pressed against her cheek as she claps her hands in encouragement. There's an electric sense of euphoria in the air, and I let it wash over me like a river smoothing stones. It's hard to stay composed in this moment, considering it's my first time behind the scenes of a show. Watching the intricate inner workings of the TV realms both fascinates and thrills me.

The backstage area is a hive of people bustling around, quick steps, and indistinct chatter blending together as if it was a well-rehearsed performance.

On the walls, there's a "do not swear! We're live!" sign, along with some pics in which celebrities stand next to the host, who is also a celebrity. I can't help but feel starstruck.

Still feeling the sting from the recent paparazzi encounter, which will surely leave its mark (I'll look like a bruised banana sooner or later), I need to find Jim to finish my tasks.

I absolutely need to talk to him about tonight, making sure everything goes as it should. Honestly, I'm not sure what to say to him. I'll just blurt out something, do my best to handle the conversation, and try to steer him away from asking inappropriate questions, dissuading him if necessary.

To me, what matters the most is making a great first impression on the management.

After all, first impressions shape how others perceive us, and that's what ultimately matters, as such perception is often destined to become an undeniable truth.

"Zayn!" I exclaim as soon as I spot him among in the sea of people flowing down in the hallway. I'm out of breath, the live show is just minutes away, Jim is still nowhere to be found.
I need to hurry.
"Damn-," I pant, interrupting my own sentence.

Zayn gives me a puzzled look and waits for me to continue.

"Do you know where I can find Jim? I've been looking for him for twenty minutes – I've checked every corridor, even the bathrooms, but I just couldn't find him."

"Have you tried looking in his dressing room?"

Of course not.

Anxiety and studpidity corner me, and I grapple with my blatant lack of experience, despite my efforts to appear confident and calm.

"Uh... pfft... of course I did?!" I say, although I'm sure my doubtful tone gives me away.

Zayn opens his mouth as if to say something, then furrows his brows, scrunching his face in concentration.

"It's down there, second door at the end of the hallway."

Sharp-witted.

"I owe you one," I mutter as a 'thank you' and sprint down the corridor like a rocket. Zayn forgot to mention which side I should look for because right at the spot he pointed, there are two identical doors facing each other.

I need to figure out which one to enter.

"Four minutes!"

The woman shouts again, her grating voice echoing through that excited chaos.

Damn it. I need to hurry.

As I debate which door to knock on, ultimately deciding to knock on both, I notice that one of them is ajar, revealing a sliver of light. Someone must be inside, and I immediately think it must be Jim.

Without overthinking it, I cautiously stick my nose beyond the door, stealing a glimpse of the scene unfolding in the room.

Once again, I'm wrong. A warm glow surrounds Harry's broad shoulders, emphasizing them beneath black fabric and encasing him in a cozy nest of light.