I'm Eleanor Calder (Larry Stylinson)

An Official Meeting Before Officially Meeting

"Mark! You mean like right now?!" I practically screamed over the phone, scrambling around looking got suitable clothes and shoes to wear, by now used to multitasking getting ready, making breakfast, eating and talking due to Mark calling me at the most unexpected times to go for photoshoots or assignments to remind me...I'm the biggest scatter brain. But in my defense, this time Mark hadn't told me in advance I'd have to go to a formal official meeting with Louis, Harry and Simon Cowell. I may be a model but I'm by no means famous and I don't really mix around with big names much. I'm just a regular uni student who happens to get lots of part-time modeling assignments. And honestly, I'm content with that. My modeling assignments paid off for a nice apartment in the south of London and it was very cosy, very me. Well looks like a lot of things are going to change starting today.

"Alright, okay sure thanks!" I hurriedly cut the call to start getting ready for the meeting, figuring I should spend some time and effort on it cos...first impression and all that. Just because I don't get attracted to people or have no intention to attract that kind of attention to myself doesn't mean that I don't always put in effort to look good. Looking good has always been for me, myself and I. In fact, that was part of how I discovered my asexuality. While my friends would talk hours about boys, make up and boys and more boys, I would be largely uninterested. I would get tired of telling Hilane no, I'm not going to wear that to show off my cleavage, telling Malorie no I didn't dress to impress any Ethan, telling Christie that no, I'm not going to have sex with her lesbian friend. So yeah, my disinterest in both genders baffled my friends for the longest time; they were worried more than me until I met Pari. No, we didn't fall in love, that would be strange considering Pari is my mum's 52-year-old friend, but she did gently talk out with me about being asexual.

I've accepted it since then. (I didn't really tell my friends though, and we eventually drifted apart anyway except for one who is a bigger scatterbrain than me and that's saying a lot) Sure, love can happen to me but I've never been very much into all that, but I do know that I just don't get attracted to people in that way. I appreciate beauty but it's just like how self proclaimed (cos I don't believe in labels) straight girls can find other girls beautiful. Yeah.

Anyway, I digress.

I put on my best Jigsaw pantsuit, in a mild gold-tinged cream colour, put up my hair in a casual and neat bun and put on a chunky gold colored necklace with no other jewelry. Some light dusting of make-up and I'm ready.

.

..

As I walked up to the Syco building, I was slightly nervous. Were they going to like me? Yeah, I've always been slightly insecure and uncomfortable about meeting new people. And imagine being in my situation. I don't think a lot of girls are really put in situations similar to mine. It had only been five hours before since I'd signed the contract and that same evening, it's being put to action. I'm really nervous and it's seriously unchartered territory. There was no manual, no warnings, no one to ask for advice and the worst: no one to talk to because I just couldn't! That would breach the contract. I had looked up information on the bands, watched some of their interviews and basically tried to get some basic information on them, especially Louis. I'd known of them before; I mean what person lives in London but doesn't know them?! They're world famous. But their music hasn't really been much of my thing.

But I was still impressed with their band's success and popularity in the last two years and frankly quite scared of how bad the fangirling situation had gotten. Blogs, tumblr pages, twitter accounts, fan-made websites, fan clubs, fan fictions and of course the group I fear the most: the Larry shippers. Because wow. They're fierce and intent on strong in their belief. Millions out there. Are going to hate me and wish I was dead. Great.

As I approached a blind corner, an obnoxious and playful laugh followed by a slightly high pitched whine out of sight broke me of my thoughts. Then it got real quiet. I curiously peered around the corner then quickly averted my eyes. But I had managed to catch a glimpse of Harry Styles cupping Louis Tomlinson's butt with one hand and the other gripping his hair, kissing him like his life depends on it. I quickly turned around and followed the other hallway, towards a door marked 'Room 1'. Way to be specific. But the receptionist had told me it was room 1. I knocked on the door before cautiously peeking in.

"Eleanor! Come in!" I heard Mark's voice before I saw his smiling inside the room. It was a typical board meeting sort of room, with a round table and plush leather chairs around it. I tentatively stepped in and sat beside Mark.

Pretty soon, head of management, Jack, John and Simon joined us followed by the red-faced boys with slightly messed up hair walking in sheepishly with Paul.

"Thank you Miss Calder for joining us. As you know from signing your contract, you will be required to fulfill the role of a girlfriend religiously and take your job seriously. There were clauses about the payment and the details that were not bound by or mentioned in the contract, we will be discussing them right now." Jack was speaking in a business-like tone while everyone (even the lovebirds) listened to him attentively.

They basically told us about how our "first meeting" would be like, our "first date", "first kiss" in public, how I would be expected to pose for pictures and keep my mouth shut when mobbed or asked questions by reporters and such nitty gritty details. At times, Harry would look at me with flashes of jealousy in his eyes and though at the beginning Louis had smiled to acknowledge my presence, he would worriedly look at his boyfriend, not sparing me a second glance.

It was pretty simple really, ignoring the fact that management would go to such extent and such trouble to fool the rest of the world. Made me question a lot of things I used to believe in. Guess you can't always trust what you see.

After John finished up with the expectations and etiquette while in public, the three men, including Mark, stood up and said they were leaving me to talk to Louis and Harry for a little while. Paul followed them out.

"Well, listen here. This guy over here, mine." Harry had a possessive glint in his eyes as he pointed to me then to Louis. He was one jealous boyfriend.

Louis grabbed his hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it.

"Hey, Harry, please calm down. I know, I knew the first time I saw you guys that there was something between you two and I swear I won't try any stunts to cause any trouble. And I can guarantee you that I won't be stealing your boyfriend; I'm asexual anyway." I shrugged. I knew Management knew but probably had failed to convey to the boys. They deserve to know and have a peace of mind.

Harry and Louis both stared at me for a second, dumbstruck. Then Harry's face broke into a heartbreakingly relieved smile. Louis looked very relieved as well and they hugged each other.

"Well in that case, welcome to the family, Eveline!" Harry said cheerfully, shaking my hand.

I smiled. "It's Eleanor and thank you."

Harry blushed. It was an honest mistake. "Oh, sorry. Was never good with names."

"It's alright."

"Yeah, you seem like a nice girl. Hope we can be good friends. It'll make things easier." Louis finally speaks up.

"Of course. And you guys are adorable together by the way." I said honestly.

The boys smiled at each other. "Thanks." Louis offered me a smile. But it was way different from the one he seems to have reserved only for Harry.

We went home after the meeting. I didn't know how to feel about tomorrow. Tomorrow's the day we "first meet".