Flights

Two

"Cam" I was walking behind him now as we reached the basketball courts.
There were fans around the edges of the courts. "Cameron, I don't think I should be here."
I knew some fans didn't like me; it's not even that I didn't want to be there because I didn't want to be a target - it was because I hated being the girl that everyone disliked simply for having a life that they wanted.

The first time I met any of the Magcon guys was outside an Ed Sheeran concert. Shawn and I were walking towards each other but both preocuppied by something else. I vaguely remember Shawn caring more about the sandwich in his hand than the direction in which he was going, and I - being as socially awkward as I am - had my phone out, pretending to text as I waited outside to meet Ed as he got on his tour bus. We bumped into each other pretty hard as Shawn dropped his sandwich and I hit my head on his shoulder as he instinctively reached down to try and save it. I looked up to see a 6'0 tall guy with well styled hair and a denim jacket on. He looked about twenty but I soon found out he was two years younger than me. He was waiting for Ed too. Turns out he was a pretty huge fan himself. A few of his friends joined him after a few minutes of awkward chatting between us. He introduced me to them all - Cameron, Nash, Jack and Jack. 

A lot of fans found it unfair that I had met them all so easily and by chance, which is why I prefered to stay away from them. I constantly felt guilty about having this life without even trying when there were girls paying hundreds just to get a few minutes with them. I didn't want to take any time away from that.

"You gotta chill, Hay" Cameron said as he turned back and grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the huddle in the middle of the court. 
Matt, Sam, Jacob, Nash and a few other guys that I had never seen before were discussing teams getting warmed up. The rest were at a meetup. 
"Hayley!" Matt exclaimed as he ushered me over and rested his arm on my shoulder as we all bent into the huddle.
I couldn't help but feel the fans' eyes piercing into my skin. 

My phone started buzzing in my pocket. I got it out to see Jack was calling me again. I took a breath of relief, excused myself and flimsily hugged Matt goodbye one-handedly. I looked up at Cam who smiled and winked. I rolled my eyes as I turned around to leave the way we entered.

"Hey you" I said as I answered the phone.
"I'm five minutes away meet m-"
"I know where" 
I heard Jack laugh quietly. "I love you"
"Love you more, ugly" 

We did this at every hotel on every Magcon tour we went on together. We found somewhere in the hotel that no one would think to look. Like our lake away from home. We were escapists whenever we could be. I always thought that was both a flaw and something beautiful. 

I got to our spot. A beautiful alleyway with flowers growing through the walls on each side and stones on each side of the pavement. I walked down the alleyway in the direction he'd be coming from. I got to the end and just as I was about to turn the corner, he bumped into me. I smiled as his force pushed me backwards. He grabbed my hands and intertwined our fingers but quickly let go and grabbed my butt as I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed me passionately as I tugged on his hair. 

"I missed you so much" He said, sounding more giggly than usual.
"I missed you too" I smiled as I brushed my fingers through his hair. I looked into his eyes as he started speaking in tongues about how much he appreciated me.
"Jack are you high?" My voice went still as I released his hair.
He tried to laugh it off as he defeatedly admitted his state. I let go of him and put my feet back on the floor. I leaned my back against the wall to get as far away as I could in the narrow alleyway.
"I'm sorry Hayley-" He began. "A fan was outside the venue and she was alone and.. I mean, I was only going to ask her if she was okay but then.."
I looked down and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry ba-"
"No, you know what, don't call me babe." I turned and started to walk back the way I came when he pulled my arm so forcefully, I couldn't free myself.
"Hayley." His voice sounded stern but I resisted making eye contact. "Hayley, I love you. I can see how much this affects you, and you are so beautiful, oh god you are so freaking beautiful. Like.. Your hair is so cool and soft and your skin is so soft and you look so good all the time.." 
He started rambling the way he always did when he was high. The words he said were never not good, they were just never fully there. He was never fully there. 
"Jack." I interrupted him. "I'm gonna let you.. I'll just, you- we can talk in a few hours when you're yourself again." 
I started off again, back to Cameron.

I got to the courts to find that they were in the middle of a heated game. The fans on the other side of the court all had their phones out, videoing the guys. I looked over to see Matt sitting on a grassy patch on the side of the court. I smiled a walked over to sit with him.

"What's fine, man?" I sat down and nudged his arm.
"Back so soon?" He turned to me and smiled "I heard you were going to find Gilinsky" 
I tried to laugh it off "yeah he's just another hour or two left until he can get back"
Matt nodded and turned back to the game. I eased my shoulders and leaned my head against his and watched Cam and Nash battle it out on the court. "They're really not good at passing the ball are they"
Matt laughed and shook his head as he took a gulp out of his water bottle. 

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