Fuelled by Forever

Ch. 17

Imogen

It's chaotic but such fun. Jude is busy chatting with people, signing books, and taking pictures with them while I'm his cheerleader in the background. I'm filming everything for Elena as she's unable to come away from work today.

Margot hands me a bottle of water. "A few people are kicking up a fuss out there."

"Why?" I ask, looking out to the sea of happy people.

She sips her Diet Coke. "A crowd of guys seem to have used the social media scandal as an excuse to cause mayhem. They're shouting some horrible things."

"Where's the security?" I ask, making my way to the front of the store to see if I can see anything, but it's too crowded out there to see.

The crowd outside looks happy, chatting and laughing as they wait patiently. I hope it stays that way.

Margot points. "The rowdy ones are at the back near the Swarovski shop. I think security has a hand on them, though."

I strain to see if I can spot them. "Hopefully they move them on. You always get a few idiots, so I'm sure the shopping centre accounted for it."

Margot hums. "Everyone else looks happy enough—oh no."

The crowds part and a few guys close to the queue argue with the guy who looks to be trying to push in front of them.

"Is he trying to push in?" I say, and Margot hums.

"Looks that way, but those guys who were there first are holding their own," she replies, and a few other people inside the bookshop have joined us to watch.

"There's a few more now. I think they're the guys causing chaos at the back," Margot says, still slurping away at her drink.

"It's okay. There's two security approaching them," I reply.

"What's going on?" Nathan asks, coming up next to Margot, Summer trailing with her head in that fantasy book.

We catch him up to speed just as the shouting begins.

Nathan grabs for Summer. "Let's go to the back of the store, honey."

"This book is brilliant, daddy. I'm hooked already," she says, and he smiles as he wraps his arm around her shoulders to take her someplace safer.

I turn back to suss out the guys out there, realising Margot is now eating a packet of Quavers. She's really getting herself comfortable.

"Period," she mumbles in explanation. "I honestly can't stop eating. I already ate two breakfast sandwiches this morning, too."

"They say you should eat more calories during your period, so go for it," I reply, and she smiles happily.

"Brilliant," she whispers, digging in her pocket for a chocolate bar. That's the only reassurance she needs. "Oh, I'm sorry. Do you want some?"

I laugh. "No thanks. You enjoy it."

One of the men standing at the door approaches us. "You okay here, ladies? You look a bit concerned."

"Are the men causing a problem under control?" I ask.

He nods happily. "Oh, yeah. These men are regulars here. We usually move them on pretty quickly."

I touch my chest. "Oh, really? So you have a handle on them?"

"Most definitely. You can relax," he replies, exiting back out.

I turn to Margot as she scrunches the chocolate packet up in her hand, turning to watch Jude sign more copies of his book.

"I started reading his autobiography. The first couple of chapters are really sad," she says, and I agree.