When The Lights Go Down

3. One With Nature

11:32 am

I woke up to my phone buzzing on my end-table and the bright sunlight filtering through my blinds and shining through my hotel room. I sat up and stretched, smiling at what an awesome time I had with the band last night. I picked up my phone, checking who texted me.

--

Meghan: hey, meet us downstairs for coffee and brekkie ☕️x

Meghan: helloo? You are not getting room service!

Meghan: Gabrielle Lisa Montgomery answer your phone!

Me: hey sorry meg must've slept a little longer! x

Me: I'll be right down x

Meghan: hurry or else Zac will come banging down your door

--

I hopped out of bed and took my phone off the charger. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes while my feet pattered across the carpeted floor and into my tiled fancy bathroom.

I got drowned in my thoughts and stood under the shower for a good 5 minutes just thinking about the band. My thoughts slowly drifted to Zac and what would happen if we had got caught 'canoodling', would we have to break up or make our relationship public? If a relationship is what you would even call it. Then I finally thought about spending time with my family, and what we would do. No doubt we're going to a huge family trip to Brighton or something.

When I got out the shower I wrapped my towel round me and used some of the cloth to rub my hair. I reached into my drawers (which I am yet to pack into a suitcase) and I grabbed a grey sweater dress and a pair of flat knee-high boots. Once I got dressed, I put my damp hair into two French braids tying each one with a hairband at the end of the braid.

I took the lift down to the lobby and to my surprise there were no security loitering around. I walked into the Cafeteria and saw everyone sitting around a big breakfast table. There was a huge spread from freshly baked pastry to the biggest bowl of fruit salad I'd ever seen in my life. Everyone had a tall glass of orange juice in front of them with a strawberry floating at the top and a white mug with black coffee.

"Ooh nice." I lilted, walking towards the table.

"Yeah we know we've been staring at it for the past half an hour." Sydney said giving me evils.

I raised a questioning eyebrow taking a seat next to Zac.

"Fine, that was over exaggeration but still." She said, rolling her eyes.

Everyone finally dug into the food and I grabbed myself two croissants and some scrambled eggs. Zac rubbed his hand across my thigh and I playfully swatted it away, making him snigger.

"So girls what are we doing today?" I asked, sipping my juice.

"I feel like being one with nature, we should go to the Seaside." Meghan suggested.

"Sydney?"

"I am physically unable to tan so I couldn't care less where we went."

"Cool," I ripped open my croissant to find a chocolate filling. "Mm, mm, mm."

"That chocolate is 100% dark by the way. You're welcome."

I sighed at the presence of our red-headed manager or as I like to call her: 'Dragon Lady'.

"Thanks." I smiled tightly, throwing the pastry to my plate.

"You all basically have a free schedule today," She started. "The only thing we would need you for is the Photoshoot later on today for the magazines and your Merchandise." Her voice slithered through the air in a calm and confident tone. " You must be back here by the latest of 3."

"So now we have a curfew?" I asked.

"Do you want the photoshoot to happen or not? For an alternative-rock band you guys are fairly popular. If you want to keep your fans, I suggest you give them what they want."

She turned on her heels and walked swiftly away from the breakfast table as swiftly as she came in.

"Well then," I sighed. "Fuck breakfast." I grabbed my floating strawberry and went to get everything I'd need for a trip to the seaside.

                                                                          ***

Meghan, Sydney and I relaxed on a beach mat underneath the sun. I laid in the middle with my right hand resting underneath my head and my left laying at my side. Once again they were talking about my relationship with Zac.

"So if one of those three guys over there asked you out and you said yes, I could have the Australian hunk o' spunk called Zac all to myself?" Sydney asked.

I stayed silent for a while in thought. 'When will she stop?'

"Exactly!" Meghan said smugly from beside me, high-fiving Sydney.

"Zac and I don't go out!" I exclaimed.

"But you flirt all the time and it's so cute! You must've hooked up before!"

"Mark my words so I don't have to repeat it yet again. We. Are not. Dating."

"But you've hooked up?" Sydney asked, catching onto my slip up.

I sighed, staying silent.

Meghan faked a gasp. "As your best-friend I am completely appalled that you didn't tell me this!"

"Trust me Meghan, you would've slipped up and told David and David would've told James. James would make it obvious that we've hooked up with his sexual innuendos and Sydney would've dug for more information."

"I don't even know if I can trust you right now! You deceitful human being." She joked.

I looked toward Sydney to see a smug smirk plastered on her face. "Do you know how proud I am of myself right now?" She mused

"Oh, shut up." I said deflated. "Just because we've hooked up doesn't mean we're a thing."

"It kind of does, love." Meg chimed.

"No it doesn't! We've hooked up, we're not having some secret relationship."

"No one said secret." Meghan continued. "Make it public."

"How about we drop the subject and do a little swimming?" I got up, hastily speed-walking toward the sea.

"Hang on one minute. I don't remember us ever saying you two were having a secret relationship."

"Yes you did."

"No we didn't." She said smirking devilishly.

"Ugh," I grunted turning back around and stomping on the hot rocks toward the water. If I stayed facing them any longer, they would have called me out on my bright red tomato face.

"Tut, tut, tut Brie."

***

Quite a short chapter but I hope you liked it!

What do you think of Zac and Brie's relationship? Do you think they've only hooked up once? Or a lot more times?

I'd love to hear your opinions and please don't forget to vote!

~ x_aries