Falling for the Rockstar

Chapter 2 - Louis

The soccer ball hits the wall with a dull thud, barely missing Paul. I can't help but laugh. "Good shot, Nialler!" I call out, trying to hold it together when I notice Paul's stern look. He probably regrets letting us mess around so close to the meet-and-greet.

"Okay, guys," Paul says, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. "Get yourselves together. The VIP fans will be here any minute."

I run my hand through my hair, still out of breath from our spontaneous soccer game, and grab a cold bottle of water from the small fridge set up for us. Niall is quickly stuffing himself with snacks, and Liam shows Zayn a picture that he wants to post before the show.

Harry is lounging on the couch, grinning. "Are you ready to make some dreams come true, lads?" he teases, stretching comfortably as if preparing for something monumental. It's always the same.

I throw him a playful glance. "Don't make us look like the Beatles now, mate. We're just a bunch of idiots with guitars." "Yeah, but we're their idiots," Liam adds with a smirk, and the room bursts into laughter. "Guys, the soccer ball needs to go out of here!" a voice calls from outside. Probably a crew member from the concert hall. I glance toward the door, where the fans will enter any moment.

Niall grabs the ball, kicks it back and forth a few times, and then shoots it full speed through the door. "Watch out!" I suddenly hear Niall shout in his thick Irish accent. Before I can react, I see the soccer ball fly past me with full force, out the door, and bounce off the wall.

"Guys!" I hear Paul shout loudly, stretching his head into the doorway with a stern look. "You've got visitors!" Damn, the meet-and-greet! I take one last look at the guys, who are now gathering themselves a bit, and feel the familiar mix of excitement and nervousness rushing through me. It's always amazing how much these moments mean to the fans, and we want to show them the best version of us. For us, it might be normal, but for them, this could be one of the biggest days of their lives.

Five girls nervously step into the room. Their eyes are wide open, as if they can't believe they're here. Two of them squeak like little ducks, excitedly bouncing around. They throw themselves at Harry and Zayn. Another girl hugs Liam as if she wants to split him in half, and the other two rush toward Niall and me, asking for photos. I smile broadly, wanting to break the nervousness, but as I dive into the hugs, my gaze catches on another girl standing shyly in the doorway, waiting. Her hands are trembling slightly, and she seems a bit unsure. She nervously fiddles with her VIP wristband, avoiding making eye contact with anyone.

When our eyes meet briefly, she quickly looks away, a shy smile on her lips. My heart stumbles for a moment as I see her blue eyes sparkle in the light. Something about her demeanor piques my interest—she seems so genuine and sweet. And not just that. She's a true beauty. Her light blonde curls fall loosely over her shoulders, covering the large One Direction logo on her T-shirt, and her fitted pants, which are very similar to mine, showcase her athletic figure.

"Hey," I say as I walk over to her. "How are you doing?" She glances at me for a moment, her eyes wide and full of surprise, before she softly replies, "Good." Her voice is barely audible, and her cheeks are slightly flushed. That's really super cute.

I grin. "Come on in. The others are waiting too." She nods, and I see her shoulders relax a bit. "What's your name?" I ask to keep breaking the ice.

"Grace," she says shyly, and I can feel the atmosphere around us lighten. "Nice to meet you, Grace. I'm Louis," I say, and she laughs quietly. "I know."

I chuckle along, enjoying this brief moment of lightness. "Of course, you know who I am," I say with a grin, feeling the tension in the air fade. Grace still seems a bit nervous, but now she's beaming a smile that pushes all her uncertainty to the background. Her blue eyes sparkle as she glances over at the others, who are lost in hugs, photos, and laughter.