Falling for the Rockstar

Chapter 10 - Louis

I'm sitting in the backstage area of the Manchester concert, enjoying the moment. The noise of the fans seeps through the walls as the arena fills up. The last concerts in Cardiff and Dublin were incredible. I can hardly decide which was better, but the atmosphere in Dublin was something special—the Irish fans really gave it their all. That's probably due to the fact that Niall is from Ireland.

I look at the clock. Grace will be here soon. We've gotten to know each other better through calls and messages over the last few days. Just as I'm about to relax, my phone rings. It's Grace. Strange.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask directly.

"Louis, um... I'm standing out here in front of the arena, and the security won't let me in." Her voice sounds slightly annoyed.

"Seriously?" I sigh. "Okay, don't worry, I'll be right there."

When I step outside, I see Grace standing with her arms crossed next to a security guard who seems unwilling to budge an inch. As soon as she spots me, her posture relaxes, and a grin spreads across her face.

"Sorry, I guess I'm not famous enough to just stroll through the backstage entrance," she says dryly, lifting her little backpack as evidence.

I laugh and shake my head. "Give me a minute." A quick exchange with the security guard is enough to sort things out, and we walk inside the arena together.

Backstage, it's a bit quieter than outside, but the excitement is still palpable. The guys are scattered around; some are getting ready while others sit around chatting. As we walk in, Niall looks up from his spot and waves enthusiastically.

"There she is, our guest of honor!" He stands up and pulls her into a hug that almost lifts her off her feet.

"Hey, Niall!" Grace laughs, and Harry, Liam, and Zayn also greet her warmly.

As we settle down, I notice how quickly she feels comfortable with the guys. Grace chats casually as if she's been part of our crew forever. She and the others tease Liam about his fear of spoons.

Grace's laughter blends with the guys', but I can see her becoming a bit more reserved, her shoulders tightening slightly, and her eyes drifting down for a moment. She's shy, even though she tries to play it off, and I can sense that all this feels foreign to her.

Suddenly, Harry stands up and rubs his hands together. "Alright, guys, it's time to get ready. Manchester expects nothing less than a fantastic show."

Niall nods excitedly. "And I've heard that the pizza after the concert is supposed to be pretty good, so we should get moving."

Grace laughs, and this time it sounds a little less forced. She's relaxing, even though I know she's still struggling in the background. I look at her before I stand up and quietly say, "Come with me; you can watch from the side."

I take Grace's hand and lead her behind the stage, where she'll have a perfect view of the concert. She grips my hand tightly, her eyes shining with excitement, but I also sense her nervousness. "Just stay here, and if anything happens, just let someone know. Paul will help you out, okay?"

She nods, her lips forming a shy smile.

***

The concert feels like a rush. The energy of the fans carries us through the set, and while I sing, I keep stealing glances at Grace, who stands in the corner, eyes wide open as she watches the spectacle before her. Sometimes I see her laughing, sometimes dancing.

After the last song, we rush backstage, completely hyped up on adrenaline. Niall gives me a satisfied look, and I know we put on a good show. Grace is still there, looking a bit lost in the middle of all the chaos, but when our eyes meet, she smiles—this small, shy smile that I adore so much.