Crooked Hearts

20. Forever Young

We're on our European tour today at Croke Park. Niall is practically bouncing and swearing. Also, the 5 Seconds of Summer boys are currently with us. We're all backstage having a chat.

"Can you believe it lads?" Niall exclaims, "God, I'm so nervous." He bites his nails. Niall bites his nails when he gets nervous.

Luke nods, grinning. "I know. And thanks for having us again for Where We Are Tour, this is beyond cool." He says.

Liam fist-bumps him and grins wide, "No problem mate, our fans loved you from last time, and so did we."

Michael, who is sitting beside me, jumps up and down, "Holy shit." He says over and over and over. I slap Michael on the arm and ruffle his newly dyed hair. "Is it just me, or do you dye your hair a different color every month?" I smile.

Michael looks at me and snorts, "It would do you good to dye your hair too."

I laugh, "I'll bet management would love that."

Michael shrugs, "That's because you guys aren't punk rock. We punk rock musicians dye our hair, get lip piercings, and eat watermelons."

I laugh, "You guys aren't punk rock. You're a mixture of emo, rainbow unicorns, puppies, and perverted souls."

"He doesn't know about the punk rock watermelons. You will respect the goddamn watermelons!" Calum shouts, pointing the head of his bass at me.

"Watermelons." Ashton agrees.

"I think I like is best when Calum says watermelons." I grin, "His accent is sexy."

"Gay." Calum winks at me and Michael.

Paul's comes in and nods at us, "It's time for soundcheck lads." He says. The 5 Seconds of Summer boys make their way to the stage, and I follow them and hide behind the curtains. As they begin to soundcheck, Niall comes up beside me and lays a hand on my shoulder.

"Crazy, isn't it Harry?" he says.

"What is?"

"All of this." He says motioning to the huge stage, and the entire stadium.

I grin, "Yeah." I murmur.

"Hey... about that journal?..." he says.

I nod, "Right. Yeah, I brought it."

Niall nods, "Harry, if you ever need someone to talk to.... I'm right here, alright?"

I smile and put my arm around his shoulders. "I know."

Michael starts to strum a song and sing, 'I remember the day you told me you were leaving, I remember the makeup running down your face, and the dreams you left behind you didn't need them, like every single wish we ever made....'

"You dumbass! That song's not out yet!" Calum says into the mic.

Michael pays no attention. 'I wish that I could wake up with amnesia and forget the stupid little things, like the way fall asleep next to you, and the memories I'm never gonna escape, cause I'm not fine at all.'

Beside me, Niall takes a mic and goes up onstage with them. The arena isn't open yet and fans are still waiting outside, so they can still fool around.

"Is that a new song, lads?" he says.

"Yeah, you like it?" Ashton says.

"Sounds awesome." Niall says.

While Niall, Ashton, Luke, Calum, and Michael continue to fool around onstage, I take this moment to wander around the empty arena for awhile. I stuff my hands and pockets and feel Aria's journal which I stuffed into the right pocket of my trousers this morning. I take a seat on one of the empty chairs about twenty-five rows away from the stage and pull the journal out. I open it up right where I left off.