Unrequited

Chapter 12

“Alright,” said my Mum, her ‘tour manager voice’ on. “Today we have an interview with Capital FM at three. It’s going to be prerecorded because we can’t get enough security for the mob that will turn up if you do a live interview. So please, none of you tweet about it-”

“Woops...” Louis looked guiltily up from his phone.

“Louis!” Mum groaned, closing her eyes.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding!” Louis laughed, his eyes crinkling up into that familiar, cheeky Louis expression. Mum sighed and gave a relieved smile. “Louis! Sam could be arrested for ‘causing a riot’ and bang...there’s your tour over.”

“I wouldn’t do that Terri, I’m not stupid,” he reassured her. “Good. Now...” she ran a finger down a page of the large diary she was holding, squinting. We were sitting on couches in the foyer of our hotel, the boys were being debriefed on their schedule for the next few days. The girl at the the front counter was pretending to be typing on her computer but I caught her taking sly looks over at the boys numerous times, no doubt eavesdropping, listening for secret details she could brag to her friends about...or perhaps sell to a magazine even. Sam was outside having a cigarette.

“Okay, today we’re driving back to London because you’ve been invited to the Winter Charity Ball.” She flicked through the pages, murmuring to herself. “Where did I put that invitation?” 

“Sweet, when is it?” asked Niall. 

“Uhh? What day is it today, Thursday? The ball is tomorrow. Which means we’re going to have to organise suits and everything today - ah, here’s the invitation.” She held up a pearly white piece of paper. “Blah blah...invite Niall, Harry, Louis, Zayn, Liam and dates to the Annual Winter Charity Ball 2012...Friday 1st December...after-five dress...”

“Oooooh and dates?” Zayn waggled his eyebrows.

“What are you so excited about? You don’t even have anyone to bring,” Liam smirked. Zayn turned to him, defensive. “I could find someone. We have a whole day today, plus tomorrow!” Mum rolled her eyes. “I think that’s my cue to go start packing up. Buses leave in an hour, kids. If you aint on one at that time, you walk to London.” Now before you all make assumptions about this statement, my mother was joking. She may seem fierce at times but that’s just when she’s trying to do her job and make things work. I gather the boys had been a little tentative with her at first but they quickly learned that she wasn’t some control freak lieutenant general. I guess she was a bit like a stand in Mum for them. I didn’t mind sharing of course...but I couldn’t exactly promise to keep my thoughts towards the boys those of a sisterly nature...

Mum slipped the invitation back inside the book that was busting open with coloured tabs and various papers poking out the sides while the boys rambled on about the dates they could get for the Winter Ball. Flopped on the couch next to Louis, I listened silently to the typical boy banter and realised how truly unaware they were of the fact that they could seriously just walk out on the street that minute, snap their fingers and potential dates would swarm in from every direction and fall at their feet. I loved that they were kinda clueless about the effect they had on people. “Boys, boys,” said Liam, silencing the others. “I think we’re all going to this thing dateless. I, for one, have a girlfriend who obviously can’t be here-” 

“The reminder is appreciated,” Zayn grunted. Liam continued undeterred. “-but this is a celebrity event right? The only girls we could possibly get by tomorrow would be overexcited fans and I doubt anyone at this party will appreciate being squealed at or asked for photos when it’s kind of a chance for everyone to just chill, you know?”