NO FRIENDSHIP IS AN ACCIDENT || SIXTH MEMBER SICKFICS/HURTFICS

13- Interview Gone Chaotic

13- Interview Gone Chaotic:

The interview room was bustling with energy as Matilda and the boys of One Direction settled into their seats, adjusting microphones and giving each other playful glances. They were in the middle of a whirlwind promotional tour. Louis, who had been casually chatting with Niall and Liam, noticed her sitting alone and made his way over.

“Alright, love?” he asked, plopping down beside her, his arm slinging over the back of the couch.

Matilda looked up, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah, just the usual pre-show nerves, you know?”

Louis chuckled softly, nudging her gently with his shoulder. “You’ve done this a million times now, Tilly. You’re gonna smash it, like always.”

The interviewer, a woman in her mid-thirties with a sharp smile and a glint in her eye, leaned forward as she adjusted her notes. The questions started as fun, light, related band, tour and music. But then, the energy in the room shifted.

“So, Matilda,” the interviewer began, her tone sly, “being the youngest member and the only girl in a band full of lads, I have to ask—how do you handle all that male attention? I mean, surely, there must be some flirtation behind the scenes, yeah? Maybe with one of your bandmates?”

Matilda’s cheeks flushed instantly, caught off guard by the implication. Her smile faltered, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not quite sure how to respond. She was only 18, and while she understood the media’s fascination with band dynamics, this felt personal—too personal.

Before she could even open her mouth, Louis was already leaning forward, his jaw set in that familiar protective way.

“Alright, that’s enough of that,” Louis said firmly, his accent thicker when he was irritated.

His arm, which had been resting casually behind Matilda, moved slightly closer, a clear physical barrier between her and the interviewer.

“Matilda’s here to talk about music, just like the rest of us. You don’t need to be asking inappropriate questions like that.”

The interviewer blinked, clearly surprised by the shift in his demeanor. She tried to backtrack, her smile faltering. “Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it, just a bit of fun—”

“Fun?” Louis interrupted, his blue eyes now sharp. “Asking an 18-year-old about ‘flirtation’ with her bandmates is not fun, love. It’s inappropriate.” He leaned forward slightly, his tone still calm but now edged with protectiveness. “She’s here as a professional, and she’s part of this band because of her talent, not because of some gossip you’re trying to stir up.”

The rest of the boys remained silent, but they were ready to jump too. Niall, who was sitting on the other side of Matilda, gave her a reassuring smile, while Harry subtly shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing at the interviewer. Liam and Zayn exchanged glances but let Louis take the lead, knowing how close he was to Matilda.

The interviewer nodded quickly, clearly rattled by the unexpected pushback. “Of course, of course, I didn’t mean to make anyone uncomfortable.”

Louis, still keeping his eyes on the interviewer, gave a small nod. “Good. Let’s keep it that way, yeah?”

The air in the room felt lighter, but the tension from the previous question still lingered. The rest of the interview carried on smoothly, but Louis remained closer to Matilda than ever, making sure she felt safe and protected. He threw her small smiles, making goofy faces when the interviewer wasn’t looking, and every so often, he’d give her a gentle nudge with his shoulder, silently reminding her that he had her back.

As the interview wrapped up, and the cameras finally cut, Louis let out a small sigh, running a hand through his hair before turning to Matilda. His face softened.

“You alright, love?” he asked, his voice warm now, as he gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.

Matilda nodded, giving him a grateful smile. “Yeah, thanks, Lou. You didn’t have to go all big brother on her, though.”

He chuckled, nudging her lightly. “Course I did. You’re the baby of the band, aren’t ya? Gotta look out for ya.”

“I can handle myself, you know,” she said with a playful roll of her eyes, though deep down, she appreciated his protectiveness more than she could express.

Louis grinned, his familiar cheeky smile back in full force. “Yeah, well, not while I’m around, you won’t have to. You’ve got all of us, but you’ve especially got me, kid.” He pulled her into a quick side hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head in a brotherly fashion.

She chuckled, leaning into his shoulder. “I know. You’re like my personal bodyguard.”

He ruffled her hair playfully, a grin tugging at his lips. “Damn right I am.”

Matilda rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her chest was undeniable.

“C’mon, let’s go get you some tea.” Louis said, standing up and holding out his hand for her.

Matilda took it, letting him pull her up from the couch. “You’re really going all out with this big brother act, aren’t you?”

Louis laughed, slinging an arm over her shoulders as they walked out of the dressing room. “Oi, it’s not an act, love. I’m committed. Now let’s go. We’ve got a crowd to make wild.”

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Take Care, everyone!

Love,

AUTHOR ♡