The Official Boyband Handbook

[01] The Reality

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 Captured by light; stalked by darkness.

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Chapter One – The Reality

Frankie Beauregard was accused of being an opportunist when she applied for the job as assistant designer, months before the employment was even made public. Many of her friends from school, namely the ones who had continuously been jealous of her victories, began treating her friendship like an onerous task. They disapproved of everything the aspiring young girl did and fought their toughest too keep her from achieving what she most desired. It is safe to say, Frankie no longer keeps in touch.    

“Hi, Steph.”

The slightly mawkish tone of an old friend merely searching for her own personal concerns, returned the greeting, “hey, Frankie! I’ve been missing you a lot lately, and I decided to ring you today to see how you were. So, how are things in London?”

“Just lovely.”

“Good, good. Frankie, listen, I was hoping you could help me out with something…”

“Stephanie.” The girl’s tone was harsh, and although she was perfectly aware of this, in her mind, she knew it was necessary. “I left Toronto nearly three years ago and in those three years, you haven’t called me once. Now, I apologize if I’m coming off as rude, but I remember leaving you countless messages on your phone and even emailing you in whatever spare time I had. You didn’t return a single message or email. I had to call your mother, only to find out that you went backpacking in Europe with Abigail and Maude. Thanks, but no thanks, Steph. Our friendship ended the moment you decided I wasn’t important anymore. So, please, don’t call me asking for some sort of help because I am not going to assist a stranger. Have a nice life. Bye.”

The awkward dial tone Frankie was forced to listen to following Stephanie’s departure made the girl ill. Her intentions were not meant to be so severe, but all the emotions she had pent up inside finally tore loose and there was honestly nothing she could do to stop them. She was a horrible person, but the mere prospect of committing a deed she was later going to regret changed her mind and she did what she had to.

“Frankie!”

“What?!”

“Come out here, will you?!”

Releasing a reverberating groan, Frankie stood up and paced her way to the living room where her coworker and actual friend, was sitting cross legged on the sofa. Her dark hair was tied in a loose bun, similar to Frankie’s, while her hands were deep in a bowl of popcorn and her eyes trained on the television. The girl arrived to sit next to her, confusion racing across her features as she listened to the evening news report. 

“The five charming lads of UK boyband One Direction, were last seen leaving the venue in Manchester, following the last concert of their Take Me Home tour. Their driver, Walter Keeves, was said to have been driving them back to their hotel. However, last night’s rainstorm led them astray. All five members of the band have been hospitalized alongside their driver, their manager Jared Cartwright, and their bodyguard, Paul Higgins. More news to come on the shaking accident. Please check our website for more information!”

“Call Simon!” The girl sitting next to her did not move. She was petrified. “Genevieve, call Simon!”

The dark haired girl turned to her friend with wet eyes, “no.”

“No? Why not?”

“Because!” Genevieve jabbed her finger in the direction of the television. “This wasn’t supposed to happen, Frankie. They were supposed to come home and…and…”