Love Sick

Chapter 7

I practically skipped to Matt after the tech crew finished wrapping me in wires. "Hey angel." He said as he hugged me. "You look so beautiful." Matt ran his fingers through one of my curls. I cringed.

"Don't mess them up. Mathis worked magic on my hair." I pulled back from Matt and he laughed, grabbing me and pulling me in again.

"You still look perfect." He kissed my forehead. We were playing a waiting game. The crew was packing up and buses were arriving so that we could head to the venue. I sat with Matt on the floor, watching as he attempted to take a selfie. It took him more tries than it took me! I studied his face, that perfect face that half of America was madly in love with. His eyes darted over to mine and he smirked when he caught me staring. "Like what you see?"

"A lot." I said, my eyes fluttered to his lips, they always did, damn myself for not being able to hide the way he made me feel. Caught up in my own world, I heard her before I saw her.

"Matty!" Tall, blonde, and beautiful rushed to us. Matt stood up incredibly fast.

"Em!" He hugged her tightly. "I can't believe I didn't think that you would be here!" They babbled on for a minute before Matt stopped himself. "Damn, I'm so rude, Em this is Hanna." He started. I began to speak but Emmy interrupted.

"Hi Hanna, it's so nice to meet you!" We'd met, why was she acting like we hadn't met?

"You too." I said, going along with her lie and standing to shake her hand. She pulled me into a hug. Something was very wrong with this girl.  She released me quickly and moved me out of the way of her and Matt. I stood and watched the two interact for a minute before I could feel the rage about to explode and I had to leave. Without a word I walked away, and neither of them noticed. Taylor was a few tables away, facing me, talking to a man who's back was all I could see. It was a muscular back though. As I approached him, Taylor's face lit up.

"Hanna-banana!" He exclaimed, standing to greet me. I wrapped myself up in his hug, glancing over my shoulder to look at the man he was talking to, and boy was that a mistake. Tay wasn't talking to a man he was talking to a god. "Hanna this is James." He said. I turned to shake James' hand. He stood up, towering over me at nearly 6'2" with the brightest green eyes I had ever seen. He was well built, and obviously took pride in his fitness. His jawline looked carved from marble. His hair was a sandy brown, that was styled just right. He worn a tight fitting white shirt and black joggers.

"Hi Hanna." He smiled, flashing two rows of perfect white teeth.

"Hi James." I kept my composure.

"Hanna is Matt's girl." Taylor said, I wasn't sure if it was just a part of the introduction or if he was laying some ground rules out for James.

"Lucky guy." James said, sitting back down. "I'm private security for the trip." He said, "there are five of us total that will travel with all of you, and then any added security will be found at each location." Five of them? Does that mean there are five Greek Gods running around this conference room? "Take a seat, we won't be leaving for a little bit." It wasn't until then that I realized I was still standing. I looked back across the room, as Emmy placed her petite hand on Matt's shoulder and threw back her hair, emitting a perfect laugh; then I sat down. We talked aimlessly for a little until Taylor was called to Carter's side and I was left alone with the gift from the Heavens. "So Matt..." he started, studying my face.

"Yeah, Matt." I replied.

"He's good guy, hopefully you don't break his heart." James said, I was taken back.

"What do you mean?"

"You just seem like the heart breaking type. Pretty, sweet, innocent..." he trailed off, his eyes burning into mine.

"Not so innocent." The words came out before I could stop them. A fierceness crosses James' face as he laughed at my reply.

"Not believable sweetheart." He was something else. He was going to be a problem. I shrugged, trying to act as if he didn't make something inside me stir.

"So James from Security, if I seem like the heart breaking type, what does that make you?"

"Just a guy willing to get his heart broken." With that James stood, his name was being called from across the room. "See ya soon, darlin'." And once again I was alone, and emotional. I looked back over to Matt, Emmy was gone and Nash had replaced her. Another conversation I didn't want to be a part of. Matt's eyes met mine, and as if he could sense my discomfort, he left Nash speaking to the wall.

"You met James!" Matt said with enthusiasm. He was watching me, my heart fluttered.

"Yeah."

"Dude's so cool, he's an ex-Marine." Matt babbled.

"Ex-Marine?! How old is he?" I asked.

"Twenty-four I think, he got injured in combat so he was discharged, but he's still got all the knowledge and skills." It was starting to sound like Matt had a crush on this guy. Suddenly everyone in the room was moving. I panicked and look around. "Must be time to go." Matt said, reaching his hand out to me. I stood and we joined the whirlwind of activity. "Off to the venue!"

The line of fans already wrapped twice around the building. People were running around with signs and stopping traffic. I stared out the window in disbelief. "This is insane." I said to Matt. He smiled,

"I'm kind of a big deal." He joked. I elbowed him, returning his smirk.

"I think they are all really here to see Shawn sing, you're just the opening comedic act." Matt faked hurt and shifted his body away from me for a moment before turning back. The line of black SUVs broke through the crowd. The fans scrambled and pressed themselves up against windows, trying to find their favorite members. I shuffled uncomfortably, and Matt rested his hand on my thigh.

"It's overwhelming, I know, but you'll love it." He said with such surety I almost believed him. The cars parked under covered parking just a little walk from the front doors of the venue. Before I had a chance to open the door, James had it open for me. He had changed into a tight black shirt and black pants, and a earpiece was now lodged in his left ear. He held his hand out to me and I slipped mine into his. With the lightest tug, he pulled me from the car.

"Ms. Hanna." He said, he avoided eye-contact, slipped his arm around my waist for the shortest of seconds, to usher me out of the way for Matt. Matt jumped out of the car with excitement and came to my side, grabbing my hand. James shut the door and hit the back of the car twice, signaling the driver to move on. I looked around as all the members began to trickle out of cars and walk towards the venue. The screaming was increasing ten fold. Nash and Cameron reached our sides.

"Ready?"