Simon was distracted on his computer, editing his vlog for the following day, while I was tucked into the left side of his bed as usual, scrolling through my phone.
He pushed his chair back, removed his headphones and collected some party cannons that were stacked on the spare gaming chair.
He carried them out of his room and I heard some talking before he returned, shutting the door and sitting back in his chair, picking up his camera.
"You're awake right?", he asked me as he looked like he was adjusting some settings on his camera.
I sleepily mumbled a 'yes' as he then warned me he was about to film something for his vlog.
I watched him turn the camera on and start talking before turning it to face the door. I peaked out from my position, looking around the side of the large TV at the end of his bed.
As he yelled for Josh, the door opened and Jesse, Kon and Josh entered, popping the cannons. My body almost spasmed from the shock of the loud 'pop'.
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All I could see was the confetti in the air, slowly falling all over his carpet while Jesse danced around in it. I watched as Simon filmed some more before ending the clip.
His friends left the room and he replaced his camera on his desk. He looked at the mess on his floor and looked to me with a hopeful smile.
"You want help?," I asked, already getting out of bed. Together, we crawled about on the floor, trying to pick up every last piece of confetti that had tangled itself in his rug.
As I returned to his room after throwing away the small scraps of paper, I saw him hunched over his desk, scrolling through twitter.
I walked over and wrapped my hands around his waist, waiting till he stood up properly so that he could engulf me in his hug. I looked up to him, "Happy Birthday," I said.
"Thanks," he replied with a grin, pecking me on the lips before releasing me from the warm hug.
As I made my way back to the bed he added, "I know it's past midnight but it doesn't actually feel like my birthday til I sleep and wake up on my birthday."
"Then I'll say it again when you wake up at 12," I said with a laugh as I returned to his bed.
*
It was a few days later and we were all heading to the venue where Upload was being held for the weekend.
Even though it was in London, and not too far from the boys' house, they all decided to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the event.
Freya and I both decided we too, would stay with the boys at the hotel, as we were planning to attend the event on both days to help out.
We dropped our bags at the hotel and then walked over to the venue to help set up stalls. Freya and I joined Lewis in the Sidemen Clothing area, to dress mannequins and get out boxes of merch.
At one point I saw the boys all running around with their cameras, as if they were hiding and I presumed they were placing hide and seek.
After Simon found everyone, they all decided to head out to dinner, promising to bring us back food while we finished setting up the store, as the three of us were determined to finish it that night.
We finished putting away all the empty boxes and finalising the outfits on the mannequins as the echoing sound of the boys carried into the room, indicating their return.
We all sat around in what was going to be the 'adults area'u, the three of us eating our dinner whilst the boys ran over their schedule and last minute details.
When the meeting was over, we headed back to the hotel, saying goodnight to each other before going to our own rooms.
"Thanks for helping out with the merch," Simon said as he started undressing, getting ready for bed.
I shrugged, "It was fine, light work," I replied.
"Yeah but it would've taken them two a lot longer if you didn't helped so thank you," he expressed his gratitude again.
"You," I kissed him, "are", I kissed him again, "welcome," I kissed him one last time, leaving him chuckling.
*
Simon and I got dressed the following morning, buying breakfast on our way to Tobacco Dock. As Freya and Josh joined us, the boys started going over their day, while Freya and I let out excited squeals.
I followed Freya into the Sidemen Clothing area and looked around, proud of our work from the day before.
"I'm gonna go find Simon, if you need any help, just call me whenever, I'm gonna be walking around all day anyways," I said to her as I headed out of the room.
"Actually would you mind helping when we open, I feel there's gonna be a huge rush of people at the start," she yelled out across the room I had already left.
"Okay," I yelled back in reply.
I found Simon hanging around in a designated area for the youtubers. "Hey," I greeted him. "When's your first stage show thing?", I asked, as I looked up to the screens which displayed the two, currently empty, stages.
"Only at like 4, but I think I have a meet and greet sometime before that. You know you don't have to stay the whole day," he assured me.
"I don't mind. I might just help Freya and Lewis if I get bored, but I'll come watch your shows. I brought uni work to do anyways, I'll be fine," I playfully shoved him.
"Okay well don't feel bad if you do wanna leave, I don't like expect you to stay here," he said taking my hands in his.
"I know, I know," I replied as he leaned in to kiss me.
I felt my phone buzz and checked to see a message from Freya: Can you help now?
I quickly replied that I was on my way, and let Simon know I was going.
The doors were set to open in 5 minutes, and Freya was frantically running around trying to perfect the setup which was already fine.
The next thing we knew, kids were flooding into the venue and my eyed widened at the mass of people and the volume of the excited screams.
Feeling overwhelmed, I stood behind Freya as kids streamed into the room, waiting till my service was actually required.
Seeing a long queue form, I jumped forward to the counter to help out Lewis and Freya, grabbing the items their customers wanted, while they checked them out.
The queue eventually dissolved as meet and greets and shows started, and only two of us were necessary in serving so we all took breaks throughout the day.
As I had promised, I watched Simon's two shows, one from the audience and one from the youtuber's area.
The whole day was surprisingly more exhausting than I had realised. When Simon and I returned to our room, we both crashed almost immediately.
"I can't believe we put all this work into it and in two days its over," Simon complained as he removed his shirt.
"Two days is fine with me," I said, as I tried to keep myself awake while Simon talked to me.
"No, I fully agree, I would be so tired if it was any longer," he replied as he too, tucked himself in bed.
I hummed in response, feeling my eyelids get heavy.
"I actually wish older fans came, being surrounded by 12 year olds is so exhausting," he talked to himself.
"You do fine entertaining them everyday through videos, I'm sure its not that bad," I said.
It was his turn to hum in response as we ended the conversation with us turning off the lights and saying goodnight.
