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Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Renee's POV

I'd been working at Teen Tiger as paparazzi for two weeks and my life was better than all of my twenty-one years put together.

I didn't only just take pictures of celebrities now, I also made the cover for the magazine. I was reluctant at first (because I would have to use photoshop), but once I was taught how it worked it turned out to be not half-bad. I loved making the covers.

I wasn't the only one who worked on them, though. There was also this other girl, Elise, and she was super nice. She was really bubbly and outgoing, my exact opposite, but once we got to know each other we became fast friends. She worked on the texts and colors, while I worked on the pictures.

I'd met so many celebrities. So far, I'd met Justin Bieber (but you already know that), Selena Gomez, Cher Lloyd, and even the Jonas Brothers. It turns out they had a lot more potential then you thought.

And get this, I was getting paid MORE than 660 pounds per month from both of my awesome assignments, so I was getting more than enough money to pay the rent for my flat. It was both relieving and amazing.

Leo and I grew closer by the day. We hung out a lot, sometimes even after our work shifts, and we went out... wherever. No, it wasn't dating, we just walked around and talked to each other. I always had an amazing time with him.

I loved my job, I loved working there every day. I loved being greeted by Leo and Elise, and working on my usual, super-fun schedule.

Who knew my life would come crashing down when Leeann called me to her office?

I just didn't know it yet.

*~*~*~*

"Renee Wilson. Could you come to my office for a minute, please?"

I stopped laughing with Elise and Leo and looked up at the intercom.

Elise and I were working on the cover for the most recent issue of Teen Tiger, and Leo was pretending to help. He was supposed to be taking photos of Ellen DeGeneres, but he decided to skip it to be with us. How sweet.

I pushed my buzzer thing on my desk (I know, I have a desk of my own already. I feel so official!) and replied, "Sure, Ms. Leeann. I'll be right there."

I called my boss Ms. Leeann whenever I talked to her. I just didn't feel too comfortable calling her by her first name. She didn't seem bothered by my more comfortable solution, so I just went with it.

"What do you think Leeann wants with me?" I asked my friends. Most of the time when she called me to her office it was to compliment me or give me a new assignment. I wasn't too nervous when going to her office.

Secretly, I hoped it was another paparazzi assignment. I hadn't had a task like that since the Jonas Brothers, and that was three days ago. I wanted to take more pictures.

"I don't know," Elise said with a shrug. "Maybe it's to promote you."

I scoffed. "Yeah, right," I said, rolling my eyes. "What about you, Leo?"

We both turned to him. Elise and I both kind of had a crush on him, but so did every other woman our age in the building. If Leo noticed, he didn't say anything.

"Maybe it's another compliment," he suggested. I shook my head before getting up. "Only one way to find out," I said. "Leo, you better head back to Ellen before Leeann finds out and you get in trouble." He pouted in complaint, but didn't argue. We headed out together, but walked in opposite directions.

I went up to Leeann's office door and knocked loudly. "Who is it?" she called out.

"It's Renee Wilson," I replied.

"Come in."

I did, and she smiled at me. I smiled back. For a boss and employee, we seemed to have a pretty close relationship. She was more of an aunt than a boss to me, and I loved that.

I took a seat across from her and looked at her expectantly. "I know you're going to be excited when you hear this," Leeann said. "I have another paparazzi assignment for you." I grinned and had a little celebration in my head. Yes! About time!

"Who's the celeb?" I asked.

"This is the exciting part," she said enthusiastically. "Get ready.... It's One Direction!"

I didn't freak out. Truthfully, I knew almost nothing about them, if not for Elise. She's OBSESSED with them! She's the reason that I only knew all of their names. If you so much as said "one" or "direction" at ALL, Elise would go on and on about them for hours. So Leo and I made it a point never to say those two words around her.

But taking photos of One Direction, that would be a huge honor. I knew how much those boys were loved around the world, and it would be really exciting for me to be around them, and for FREE. This would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.

I had no idea.

Leeann looked confused about something, and I realized she was wondering why I wasn't freaking out. "Okay," I said calmly. "I'll do it."

"Aren't you excited?" she asked, bewildered. I laughed. "Of course I am," I replied. "I'm just not a huge fan of them, unlike Elise. It's probably a good thing you sent for me and not her, or else you wouldn't be able to get a word in for the next hour." Leeann chuckled.

"Why not Leo?" I asked, although the answer was obvious.

"He's not a Directioner," Leeann said bluntly, and an amused smile crossed my face.

"They'll be here by eight the next morning, so I need you here an hour and a half before them," she said. I nodded.

"Bring your best camera, and be on your best behavior."

Another solemn nod.

The last photo shoot hadn't gone so well. Peter, one of the photographers, had gotten into a fight with one of The Wanted band members. He was abruptly fired, and paparazzi was starting to get hate again. I didn't really miss Peter. He was a jerk anyway.

"Thanks so much, Ms. Leeann," I said.

"You're welcome, Renee," she replied warmly. I left her office buzzing excitedly, and ran all the way down to the "cover room"--the room where Elise and I would hang out and make the covers--to tell my friends the good news.

I burst through the doors, and I tried not to roll my eyes when I saw Leo with Elise again. But I didn't care about it much longer.

"Guys, you'll never guess who I'm photographing tomorrow!" I shouted, making them jump. They looked surprised by my reaction. I never shouted or yelled or anything like that. It was totally unlike me.

"Who?" they shouted back.

"One Direction!" I cried.

They stared at me. Then Elise started screaming. "OMG, I'm so jealous!" she squealed and launched herself at me in a hug. Just like Lacy would do. "Can you get me some autographs?"

I laughed and nodded. She squealed again and nearly squeezed me to death.

Leo wasn't as enthusiastic, but he did pat me on the back and congratulate me.

This was amazing, how could this happen to me, of all people? This was the same reaction I had when I learned I got the job at Teen Tiger. This photo shoot was going to be spectacular.