More Than Your Manager (Fifth Harmony)

Chapter 6

When I was eleven, a girl named Ruby called me a lesbian. I had no idea what that meant but it was the way she said it that had me crying in my mum's arms after school. She held me close and whispered,  "Bela baby, be who you are and say what you feel, because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter."

Of course me being an eleven year old, I had no idea what she was on about. It wasn't until fours years later, while I was dating the same Ruby, that I understood what she meant. From that day on the famous Dr. Seuss saying has stuck with me right to this day.

-

"Bela can you grab the aux chord for me?" Ally asks nicely.

"Actually isn't it my turn to provide the music?" Lauren ponders.

"I'm so sick of Lana del Ray. Lo can we just listen to Ally's?" Camila grumbles.

"Bela it's actually Dinah's turn." Normani grins, obviously thinking of Dinah's Beyoncé and Mariah Carey playlist.

"Yeah true pass me the aux." Dinah high fives Mani.

"How about none of you have the aux chord and just be quiet?" I snap from the front seat.

Immidiately regretting my harshness I turn around in my seat; guilt written all over my face.

I had only been their manager for three days. The early mornings and late nights had certainly taken its toll on me. However that was no reason to snap and certainly not to the five girls who, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have a job.   "Shit. Girls I'm sorry. I'm so tired I could sleep for a year." Tears were threatening to roll down my face. "Take it in turns please." I add.

I hear whispering in the back seat. This happens quite frequently with the close-knit group when they want to discuss something as a team.

"Bela I think we all need to sleep. So we'll just keep the music off." Normani who sits closest to me squeezes my shoulder. I nod gratefully.

For the first time on the drive, Big Rob speaks up. "You have half an hour to sleep and then we're at the airport."

"WE'RE GOING AUSTRALIA!" Screams Dinah; eager to ease the tension.

"Shut up Dinah." Everyone adds.

-

I fall asleep quite quickly, only to be woken up, in what feels like 2 minutes when we are nearly at the airport. Still, I feel quite refreshed and plaster a wide smile on my face. After all, we are going to Australia.

"Who's ready to go to the land of Kangaroos and vegemite?" I ask everyone.

"And hot guys" Normani adds. Everybody but me and Lauren yell in agreement.

There's an awkward silence as everyone looks at Lauren and Camila. Camila pretends she doesn't hear a thing, staring so intently out the window you would think she hadn't seen an aiport before.

"Sorry Lo." Dinah sheepishly apologises.

"Guys you don't have to tip toe around me. She doesn't feel the same way. I'm not going to hold it against her." Lauren sighs.

By this time I'm so confused. "Um guys what's going on?"

All eye's turn to me, but before anyone else could tell me anything, Camila speaks out. "Nothing just Lauren fell for the wrong girl." This earns glares.

"Sooo you're lesbian?" I ponder.

"Yeah got something wrong with that? I'm so sick of people asking me like it's any of their fucking business. Fucking homophobes and their judgemental beliefs. Don't you fucking tell me how wrong it is or who God really wanted me to fall in love with. Okay?"

I was taken back by Lauren's sudden burst that I wasn't used to. I know that Lauren hasn't got a clue, but I still felt hurt that she would think that lowly of me. In that moment all I could think about was my late mother and her famous saying.

"Yeah well it sucks to fall in love with a girl that doesn't love you back. Let alone a straight one. As for the homophobes, those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter."

And with that I got out of the van, grabbed my suitcase and made my way into the airport.

"What just happened?" Dinah was the first to speak up after a minute of awkward silence.

"I don't know but I think Bela just lowkey told us she's gay." Normani added.