a year in london | miniminter

twenty.

It had been just under a week since JJ's announcement and most of the boy's were involved in the beef that followed.

Harry and Ethan had each released their own diss tracks and both of them were awaiting replies from JJ.

Whilst Tobi insisted he wasn't picking sides and Vik didn't really want to get involved, Josh did some harmless pranks.

Simon obviously knew better than to try and start beef with his best friend, despite the positive effect it was having on everyone's channels.

However, Deji had just released a diss track which he had spent so many days hyping up, claiming it would destroy all the boys. "Simon, he uploaded it," I mentioned to him as he was busy editing a vlog.

"Okay hold on, let me just finish editing this one," he replied, indicating he wanted to watch it together.

As we watched it, I could feel us both rolling our eyes at the numerous gay jokes which Deji clearly believed to be disses.

'We fucked the same girl. You got my sloppy seconds bitch'

Simon paused the video and let out a huge sigh to himself. "Is it true?", I broke the silence. When he nodded, his head in his hands which were leaning on the desk, I could only nod in reply.

"It was a while ago, before I met you. Don't worry," he quickly looked at me to reassure me. "I can't believe he just told everyone though," he said in disbelief.

I tried to run my hands through his blonde tips in attempt to calm him down. He only sighed again and pressed play. Line after line, Simon just shook his head at the attempted diss track and then texted some group chat, planning a reaction to the video later on.

"I think I'm gonna reply," Simon said, breaking the silence that followed us listening to the track.

I looked back at him in shock. He explained, "I know it wasn't that good but these are like the sort of creative videos I like doing and it'll definitely help my channel, and it'll shut him up," he said, pointing towards the screen.

I knew there was no point convincing him otherwise, he was still going to do it. "As long as it's better than that, I don't care what you do," I kissed him on the cheek as he texted someone else.

I went downstairs to make lunch for the both of us when Ethan arrived. He'd been around a lot recently - since JJ left, more precisely.

As I handed Simon the pasta I had made for him, I saw him writing down things in his notes as he talked to himself, barely noticing the food, which was rare for him.

I decided to leave him and head back down to chat with Ethan and Josh. Simon eventually called them up to record their reactions to Deji's track while I hung out downstairs, scrolling through twitter to gage people's reactions to the beef.

After a while all the guys returned downstairs, all chatting about the drama whilst eating random sweets Simon had received in his PO box.

Simon found me on the large black lounge where I lay, scrolling through my phone. He leaned over the couch from where he stood behind it.

"I'm gonna go record this diss track, do you want me to drop you home on the way?", he asked with a small smile on his face. "You don't have to go but I'm probably gonna be out all night for it." I could tell he was really keen about his little project.

"Yeah sure, just give me a sec," I replied, sitting up, scrambling to get my things. I waved to the guys as we headed to the car.

"I'm actually really excited for this," I said as he drove.

"You've seen me rap though. Haven't you watched my rap or crap videos?", he joked, glancing at me.

"It's not the same. Like just a whole video of you rapping is kinda sick. I'm sooooo keen," I dragged out.

He laughed at my comment. "I hope I can just get the video to look exactly how I'm imagining it," he said as he stared out at the road.

As we pulled up to the building where my flat was, I put my hand over his which rested on the wheel. "Can you just get some sleep please. I swear you never sleep," I pleaded with him.

"I'll sleep once I've uploaded it," he said with a smile, but I knew he wasn't joking.

"Fine," I kissed him on the cheek as I hopped out of his range rover. "Good luck, love you," I waved as he put the car into drive.

*

I woke up and found several snapchats from a tired Simon showing parts of the video.

From what I gathered, he had recorded the music until late last night, and then in the early hours of the morning while it was still dark, they recorded the video for it.

He must've slept only a few hours because it was only 9.30 in the morning and Simon was already awake.

I headed out for my uni classes before getting an uber from there to the Sidemen House where I met up with Freya who had spent her day at the warehouse. 

Everyone was crowded around a laptop in the kitchen and when they saw me, they all called me over.

"Simon's gonna upload it soon, come watch," Freya shouted to me.

I watched the video and couldn't help smiling despite failing to understand the majority of his references. I also couldn't deny how good he looked, especially considering how tired I knew he was at the time of filming it.

I felt an arm around my waist and looked up to see Simon, looking incredibly proud yet tired, as I knew he would be.

"What do you think?", he asked the group of us, instantly receiving praise for it as we all shouted out our approval. 

He checked his watch and nodded, "should be up in 5 minutes," he said as he shut his laptop and indicated for me to follow him. I walked with him, seeing the group in the kitchen also disperse at the same time.

"Did you actually like it?", Simon asked as he set up his computer to watch the comments which were yet to come flooding in.

"Yes! Simon, it's amazing, you can't even compare it to Deji," I assured him.

After around 20 minutes, when Simon was done with scrolling through all the comments which gave their praise for his track, he joined me on the bed.

"Are you finally going to sleep?", I looked into his reddened eyes which failed to show their usual bright blue.

"I thought maybe we could celebrate," he suggested as he shuffled closer to me on the bed, wrapping a hand over my front to bring me even closer.

His head nuzzled into my neck, placing light kisses all the way down. "As much as I would love to," I pushed aside his arm that was holding me down, "I gotta work tonight, like in an hour and you should sleep. I can come by later?", I compromised.

With a small sigh he rolled onto his back as he watched me get up, "Nah, it's fine I'll probably be asleep anyway. I'll just see you tomorrow."

I kissed him goodbye, picking up my bag and then turning around again to see him already asleep.