Who They Really Are

eighteen

Kat woke up late the next morning, cursing herself for not setting an alarm. She sent a quick text to Noel telling him that she'd be later than expected, then hurried to get ready.

She grabbed her bag and an apple for the road on her way out, then headed to the train station and bought a ticket. She boarded the train at 12:00 and was told it should only take about an hour to get to San Francisco. She texted Noel once she boarded, letting him know she'd be there around 1:00.

Noel Casey: sounds good. may have to change the plans for the day tho..

Kat looked down at her phone, starting to get worried.

Kat: is everything okay?

Noel Casey: yeah it's just there's tons of fans here. I think we'd get mobbed all day if we went outside

Kat: oh that's fine. I'll just go out by myself before its time for the concert to start

Noel Casey: nope I'm picking you up at the station and we'll go back to the arena. I'll give you the rock star tour ;)

Kat: you have a thing for winky faces don't you? but really you don't have to I'll be fine

Noel Casey: hahaha I'll see you at 1

••••••

Kat reached the San Francisco station at 1:10, getting off the train and getting on her tiptoes to look for Noel. She couldn't see him, so she started walking through the people to look for him.

"Kat," she heard someone say behind her. She turned and saw Noel with a hat down low over his face standing behind a tall, big man by an exit.

She walked up to him with an amused expression on her face. "Uhh... hi."

"Hey. Let's go," Noel said, leading her outside and to a car waiting for them. The big man followed, getting in the passenger seat as they got into the back.

"This is Dave. He's the band's head of security, and for some reason he just wouldn't let me leave alone to come and get you," Noel explained.

"Ahh, okay. Nice to meet you, Dave," Kat called up to the front.

Dave grunted in return.
"He's a great guy really. So how was the train?"

"Boring as hell," Kat replied. "I listened to your album on the way up though."

"And?" Noel asks tentatively.

"I love it, of course. Or I wouldn't be going to another one of your shows tonight," Kat answered.

"Mhm, that's why you're coming to the show again. The music," Noel replied.

Kat gave him a look, but just as she was about to reply Noel says, "And we're here! Okay so there are a ton of people out there- and they're crazy teenage girl fans mostly- so just stay behind me and Dave."

Noel must've sensed the nervousness Kat was feeling because he put his hand on her arm and said, "I'm here. You'll be fine."

He pushed open the door and the screaming sound filled the air. Noel grabbed Kat's hand and pulled her out of the car with him, Dave and another couple guys that had been waiting for them shielding them from the fans as they headed towards the arena.

There were fans everywhere, their screams the only sound Kat could hear. It was very overwhelming, and Kat would've been scared if she were alone. But Noel was right beside her, hand in hers, pulling her along up towards the door. When they finally made it inside, Kat breathed an audible sigh of belief.

"I know. I'm sorry about that," Noel said sheepishly.

"It's fine. I understand why you didn't want to go out today," Kat said.

"Yeah, fans must be less chill on this side of the country because we did not have this problem at Coney Island."

Kat smiled at the memory. "No we didn't."

They walked into the main part of the arena, and Kat looked around at the emptiness.
"Wow.." she said, thinking of how different it feels for it to be so empty.

"If you want to see wow, then follow me," Noel said, taking her hand again. He lead her down the stairs to the floor, then across to the stage. He jumped up onto the stage, then reached out and pulled her up with him.

Kat looked around at the empty arena, thinking of how it would feel to be standing there with 30,000 people filling the seats. The thought thrilled and scared her.

"I don't see how you can do it. Get up here and preform for this many people..." Kat says, shaking her head.

Noel sits down, legs dangly off the side of the stage. "It's what I love to do. My passion... I just love it so much that the nerves don't phase me anymore."

Kat joins him, letting her legs dangle beside his. "That's amazing," she says.

Noel shrugs. "You're pretty amazing yourself," he says.

Kat turns to him and smiles, a blush forming on her cheeks. "I-"

"Noel, lets goooooo," a voice from the side of the stage yells. Kat and Noel turn to see Liam, Charlie, Matt, and a girl Kat didn't know walking towards them.

"What?" Noel asks, giving his band mates a dirty look.

"We're playing hide or die today remember?" Matt says.

"What's hide or die?" Kat asks.

Noel sighs. "It's this dumb game we play sometimes when we're stuck inside arenas. We get into teams and basically just play hide and go seek and tag mixed, but if you get tackled by the other team then you 'die'."

Liam nods enthusiastically. "And today, my girlfriend Addi will finally be able to play because Kat's here so the teams will be even."

Noel gives Liam a look. "I'm sure Kat and Addi do not want to play a childish game involving hiding and tackling."

"Actually, I've been waiting for you guys to let me play this game for forever," Addi says.

"That's my girl," Liam says, giving her a loving smile. Addi kisses Liam on the cheek, then wraps her arm around him.

"I'm down," Kat says, and the boys all whoop and holler in delight.

"Okay but no tackling. How about two-hand touch?" Matt says.

"You just want to touch the girls," Charlie says, which Matt responds to by shoving him.

"Two-hand touch is fine. But what're the teams gonna be?" Noel asks.

"How about girls versus boys?" Charlie says.

"Not fair! That'd be two to four," Addi yells.

"I'll be on the girls team," Liam says.

"Nah, you can't be on your girlfriend's team. I'll be on their team," Noel says.

"So you can be on your girlfriend's team but I can't?" Liam asks.

Kat blushes at Liam's comment, and Noel shoves him. "She's not my girlfriend. And fine, Charlie can be on their team."

"Sounds good to me! We'll hide first. Bottom level only right?" Charlie calls, already making his way off the stage.

"Bottom only. You guys have five minutes then we're coming," Matt says.

"C'mon," Addi says to Kat, leading her after Charlie. "This is gonna be fun."