Truly Madly Deeply

Chapter 8: The First Show- Welcome to the madness

Savannah had no idea what she was in for.

The first official show was something else—insane—and that was putting it mildly. It felt like a sensory overload. Fans screaming, jumping, chanting, all while the boys were up on stage giving their absolute all. The whole arena vibrated with excitement, and Savannah could literally feel the bass in her bones. It was electric.

From the moment they hit the stage, she understood why Louis kept talking about this One Direction effect like it was some kind of magic. The crowd was wild, the energy contagious. Louis, as expected, was living for it. His diva attitude was in full swing, making sure he was front and center of the chaos, like the superstar he truly believed himself to be.

And then there were the fans. Savannah couldn't help but stare in awe—and slight horror—at what she was witnessing. Some fans were flashing the boys—full on boobs in the air—and others were stealing their shoes like it was a damn scavenger hunt. It was madness.

She stood at the side of the stage, trying to take it all in. The boys didn't flinch, though. They were pros. Hell, Louis was practically loving the attention, soaking it all in like a sponge. The crowd was practically eating it up, and Savannah couldn't help but laugh. This was a whole new world.

The lights were blinding, the crowd was deafening, and the boys were in their element. They belted out their hits, dancing around with energy that didn't seem possible after being on the road for hours. And the new songs? Damn.

Savannah had always known Louis could sing—hell, she'd heard him belt out songs in their living room as a kid—but hearing him live, surrounded by the other lads, was something else. Zayn's voice was smooth like honey, Liam's deep tones hit her right in the chest, and Harry's high notes made her heart skip a beat. And Niall? His voice was pure, like an Irish lullaby wrapped in a rock star's swagger. Together, they were amazing. They were in perfect sync, and the crowd was loving every second.

She stood there, watching in awe, realizing she wasn't just a fan of her best friend anymore—she was a fan of all of them.

By the time the show was over, her ears were ringing, her heart was racing, and she was pretty sure she had never seen anything like it before in her life. The boys came off stage, drenched in sweat, but all grinning like they'd just won the damn lottery.

Savannah followed them backstage, trying to keep up with their ridiculous pace as they stripped out of their stage clothes, tossing shirts and jackets around like it was no big deal. Louis was the first one to find her in the dressing room.

"Well?" he grinned, wiping sweat off his forehead with a towel. "What did you think? Tell me I'm a bloody superstar, Sav, because you know I need to hear it."

Savannah raised an eyebrow at him. "Louis, you know I'm not that easy. You were good... for a diva."

"I'm more than good," he said, winking as he pulled off his shirt and tossed it into a corner. "I'm exceptional, babe."

"Sure you are," she smirked. "I'm just here to make sure you don't pass out from all the ego-boosting you're giving yourself."

Zayn, who was already halfway out of his own stage clothes, rolled his eyes. "Is this what it's like all the time with you two?"

"Oh, you have no idea," Savannah said, grinning. "You're just getting a taste of it."

Liam, ever the gentleman, handed her a bottle of water. "What did you really think?" he asked, his voice quieter than the others.

She smiled at him, taking the water. "Honestly? You guys were incredible. I didn't expect to be this into it, but you sounded so damn good together. I guess you were right, Louis. You were gonna headline arenas one day."

Louis shot her a smug look. "Told you, love."

Harry grinned from his seat, already in a hoodie and sweatpants. "You're lucky to be on this bus, Sav. It's a privilege to witness this level of greatness."

"Right, Harry," she said, rolling her eyes. "It must be exhausting being so humble."

"Very exhausting," Niall added from the corner, where he was munching on Some Crisps like it was his first meal of the day. "But hey, someone's gotta keep the boys in line."

Savannah shot him a look. "The only thing you're keeping in line is the snack supply, mate."

Niall laughed and took another bite. "You're not wrong there."

After the show, the boys went through their usual post-performance ritual: quick changes, stretching out their sore muscles, and a lot of teasing each other about who looked the best with sweat on their face (spoiler: it was Louis). But then it was time to head back to the bus, and that meant—disguises.

"This is the part I love," Louis said as he pulled on a baseball cap and sunglasses. "Time to make our escape."

"Why are we even bothering?" Savannah asked, clearly amused. "I mean, the fans are probably waiting outside with pitchforks."

"Well, yeah," Harry said, winking. "But we've gotta look cool while they mob us. Can't just let them see us being real people, right?"

"You mean you're not all just perfect?" Savannah said, sarcastic as ever. "Oh, what a blow to my dreams."

The lads all laughed, and she could tell that, for all their fame and ridiculousness, they were still just a group of normal lads in a very weird situation.

By the time they got back to the bus, Savannah had changed into another pair of sweatpants—because there was no way in hell she was risking anything in those short skirts or tiny shorts on a bus full of teenage boys. She pulled on a hoodie, settling in next to the guys for some much-needed downtime after the madness of the show.

The bus was quieter now. The lads had settled into their usual positions, sprawled out and laughing as they recapped the night.

"So, Sav," Liam said, giving her that boy-next-door grin. "You're gonna stay with us for the rest of the tour, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied, glancing at Louis, who was already laying across one of the seats, his legs thrown over the armrest.

Louis grinned at her. "Told you. You're part of the crew now. Get used to it."

"Great," she said sarcastically, looking at all the chaos around her. "Guess I'm stuck with you guys for the long haul, then."

Harry chuckled. "Good luck with that. It's gonna get real interesting, Sav."

She sighed, sinking back into her seat. "Oh, I have no doubt."