Sitting at a table with the boys of One Direction and Paul, Justice felt a bit out of place. A few of the fellow hotel guests were surprised when their preteen daughters squealed at the sight of the boys, but were quickly informed that it was One Direction. It wasn’t normal for Justice, so she busied herself by changing the lens on her camera. As she checked the focus, she noticed a small spat going on at the table.
“Niall, for the last time,” Louis stated moving his food away from the blond boy, “I will be eating that.”
“Alright, alright,” Niall mumbled, admitting defeat. Turning back to his own plate, Niall focused on the food he already had.
Shaking her head, Justice couldn’t believe it. The boy was a bottomless pit, he was already on his second plate and it seemed he was considering a third. If she had eaten even half of what he did, she would have gained five pounds. Hell, she felt like she gained five pounds just watching him eat.
“So, how come you’re here so early anyway?” Louis asked looking over at the girl as his head bobbed.
“I just thought I’d get to know you and the schedule says you have a rehearsal at ten, then a few promo things after that, and I have a few things to do tonight. So, this was kind of the only time I had to sit down with you,” Justice explained, setting her camera down on the table as she did so.
“Ah, well, I’m Louis. We didn’t get a chance to be introduced. You’ll love me,” he stated with a laugh that seemed to fill the room.
Zayn gave Louis a strange look, “I wouldn’t be believing that one, Love. Louis’s a bit of trouble.”
“Don’t kid yourself, you love it,” Louis shot back, blowing him a kiss.
“Just because we like you, doesn’t mean she will,” Zayn pointed out, his brown eyes brightening as he smiled.
“Nonsense,” Louis stated with a wave of his hand. “Everyone likes me.” The corners of his eyes crinkled like sheets as his smile widened. It was almost like Louis had never really grown up, he still seem like young kid at heart.
“Well, you’re a riot,” Justice said as she tried not to laugh. The tour was clearly going to be a lot of fun, and for a few seconds she felt bad about not wanting to go when the call came in.
“Don’t encourage him,” Harry shouted with wide eyes as a smile decorated his full lips. “His heads big enough as it is.”
Turning her attention to the handsome boy, Justice began to respond, but was cut off as Paul informed them it was time for the rehearsal. As they stood from the table, Paul mentioned that Justice was welcome to come along and get a few pictures. It was the job, so she accepted and thus started the gig. The group went down to the hotel’s ballroom where a few other people were waiting to start the rehearsal. For the most part the boys just sang and discussed lighting with the team, while Justice snapped pictures from various places. By the time the rehearsal was over, she had taken a good number of photos.
After a few good-byes, she was off to a meeting with Mark at a little restaurant not far from the hotel. The ride was quick and soon she found herself scanning the little Italian bistro for the man with red-ish blond hair. Looking over other patron’s heads in the small room she found him at a corner booth with her brother James. A smile spread across her lips, she hadn’t seen James in nearly a year and being his twin made that feel like forever.
“James,” she exclaimed as she sat down beside him and tossed her arms around his shoulders in an awkward side hug. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“Well, I am,” he replied, his jade green eyes sparkling as he grabbed the beanie off her head. “No hats at the table. Mom would be appalled.”
“She isn’t here,” Justice informed him as she snatched the crocheted object back. “Anyway, Mark. Nice to see you.”
“Again, Justice I am so sorry,” Mark started, his brown eyes looking truly apologetic. “I really thought you would want the job.”
Waving him off, Justice replied, “Eh, it’s not so bad, but seriously after this I need to get my apartment unpacked. It’s getting ridiculous.”
“You still haven’t done that,” James said, looking a bit shocked. “But you’re such an organization whore. How have you not gone through every box and put things in specific, strange places?”
“You’re just jealous,” Justice quipped before sticking her tongue out at the boy. “Besides, they don’t go in strange places. They go exactly where they belong.”
James rolled his eyes as the waitress walked over to get their orders. By the end of lunch, she had gotten all caught up on her brother’s adventures and gotten the last few details on the new tour. It was going to be a long three months, but after meeting the boys she was beginning to think it would be fun.
“Justice,” Mark whispered as they made their way out of the restaurant. “Can I just make one thing clear?”
“What?”
“This is a job. Don’t start trouble,” he told her, his hand on her elbow as they stood outside the restaurant on the cracking sidewalk. “That means, no pranks, no stunts, and please don’t do anything reckless. I mean, yeah you got some great pics on your last tour by having the artist jump off cliffs into the pacific, but if one of these boys get hurt. They are much higher up on the totem pole than either you or me.”
“Please, like the pretty boys would jump off cliffs for me,” Justice replied, tugging her beanie back on her head. “Besides, Andrew didn’t do anything he didn’t want to. It was his idea to jump off the cliff in the first place.”
Scowling, Mark pulled out a pack of cigarettes and tapped it against his leg. “You know what I mean, Justice. And comparing One Direction to Andrew Bisante is stretching it. Bisante is just a small time acoustic kid, these are the big fish. It’s not like going on tour with Bisante or The Roll Call or Love Out Loud. These guys could open your career up to even bigger opportunities.” Bringing a cigarette to his lips, Mark lit it and took a pull. “This could be your ticket to where ever you want to go.”
“Hey, Bisante is going somewhere, he might just be a small time acoustic musician now, but he’s got talent… And he’s fucking adorable,” Justice defended. She had gotten to know the boy pretty well when she shot his tour, they had even dated for a few months. Unfortunately, their schedules got too crazy so they ended it on mutual terms. “Besides, I’m well aware that One Direction is pretty much going to pay my rent for the next two years. This gig is worth a small fortune.”
“I’m not even talking about that,” Mark stated with a shake of his head. “I mean they could be your ticket to having a gig more like Tyler Shields. Then you could do all the crazy stuff you want with your clients.”
Nodding, Justice checked the time on her phone. It was nearly four thirty, meaning she had an hour and a half until her meeting with Dan, Andrew Bisante’s rep. Looking back at Mark in his baby blue polo and dark wash jeans, Justice wondered how long the drive would take. The office wasn’t super far, but the traffic was probably a nightmare. Just glancing at the street they were on, cars were already starting to pack into the road.
“You make a good point,” she said, sliding her phone back into her pocket. “And I promise I will be on my best behavior. Now I’ve gotta try and get over to the office for my meeting with Dan. I just have to sign a few release forms and whatever, but I’ll call you later.”
“Alright,” Mark replied as she started walking towards her little silver Honda. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Justice simply flipped him off as she got in her car and started for the office. He was like an older brother trying to protect her is some ways. She appreciated it sometimes, but she already knew that this gig was huge; she didn’t need the added pressure that came from his statement. It just made it feel like the world was on her shoulders.
