Taste (H.S. / A.U.)

Chapter 50

DOUBLE UPDATE: Chapter 50-51

ELOISE DUPONT

Craning my neck to see as far down the hallway as I could, struggling to keep up with Liam's longer strides, I hurried myself. "And no one ever knew?"

His teeth sucked in to create a small click noise, "no one knew. It's like, the I don't know, biggest mystery of mysteries they think." His eyes twinkled as they said it, letting me know this clearly was a big deal to someone. That someone, well, it was not me.

Everyone arrived at different times and slowly split up like a Scooby-Doo gang episode, Harry to sound check, Bear and his date, aka Jasmine were watching the stage together, Liam decided to run for snacks which I roped into, and Jade was off doing Jade activities. Normally, I wouldn't trust her out of my sight because I would think it was something that had to do with Harry, my love life, and her meddling self, but tonight it was actually attempting to get merch. According to Jade, I need Harry Styles merch to represent. 

Twist my arm why don't you.

Liam was balancing nachos, pretzels, dippin' dots, pizza, and a hot dog very carefully while I held a cardboard container with numerous drinks piled into it. I once again asked Liam to tell me stories about the One Direction days, if he had ever played this location, and more information to quench my insatiable need for more.

After hearing about some of the best moments of tour we diverted to the craziest moments, including numerous stalkers, wild fan interactions, a weirdo named Mr. X, and the most current story he was telling.

He rounded the corner, somehow remembering the way we came. Stadiums and arenas are so much different and more eerie when empty, only a few workers passing you by and ignoring, the hollowed out sounds of broken songs that are played and repeated before cutting abruptly. Some hallways still were darkened, while you could hear the noises of fans already lined up outside. Even today when we arrived I saw the chaos of outside where people were camped out, lined up, and all dressed up, ready to see Harry Styles.

"Why don't you guys just spill the beans at this point? It's been so long, and the grudge is gone, so why not just say it?" I inquired, because honestly, who cares about who was arguing with who backstage, right?

Liam bit at his lower lip, almost a deviled grin appearing as he cocked his head to the side and stared forward to where the stage was set up. Harry in the middle adjusting a mic stand while others worked around him. He was the center of attention, even when he didn't realize it. "Because where is the fun in that? It's more fun for the fans to wonder all these years who shoved me backstage. I really thought all the fun was ruined when the tea was spilt a few years back of a nasty rumor having it be Zayn, but, we all know the truth."

He was a little shit, but I loved it. 

Bear and Jasmine were practically bouncing in place while admiring everything from the stage to the lights and the building. Bear was in what he described as "what all the cool kids were wearing", Jasmine however was done up as much as a middle schooler could be with a black skirt, Harry Styles shirt, and long loose curls that she kept swinging over her shoulders. 

The young love in front of me was so cute it brought a nonstop smile to my face, the adoring way that Bear stared at her while she hummed along to the music. The similarity between the way he looks at her and the way I look at Harry was telling. Something about tangible and raw emotions like that, running wild, allowing it to become consuming enough for someone else to notice it.

The arena still allowed for a cold chill to pass through the air before the hundreds and thousands of bodies infiltrated the space and turned it into a screaming sea of fans. Liam and I handed out the food and drinks while the tweens were chattering quickly about everything, pocketing their phones that moments ago were recording and snapping photos. Both of them had bright eyes and gleaming smiles that haven't paused since we waltzed through the doors.