Chocolate ♡ The 1975/One Direction/5 Seconds of Summer

Chapter Five

“Manchester!” I hear Matty yell. I rush to the side of the stage, Harper and Kat following behind. “Our first song is very important to us. It’s dedicated to my fucking amazing sister and her best friend. Harper was my very first love. And Steph doesn’t know this, but George was in love with her. Sorry to spring this on you, Stephy.” He turns and winks at me. “This is, ‘Girls’!”

The crowd goes wild, and suddenly, the song makes sense.

17 and a half years old

Worrying about my brother finding out

What's the fun in doing what you're told?

I smile. How did I not realise that George ‘loved’ me? And this song is clearly about me. I mean, I last saw George when I was 17. He was always trying to get me to go somewhere with him. Matty always refused, and George said that exact line “What’s the fun in doing what you’re told?”

I said, "No!"

"Oh give it a rest, I could persuade you"

"I'm not your typical, stoned 18 year old

Give me a night I'll make you"

"I know you're looking for salvation in the secular age, but girl I'm not your savior."

And there’s Harper and Matty. I always knew they were something. Harper had been head over heels in love with Matty ever since she saw him. She was so obsessed with the ideals of Sex, Drugs, Music. She was a stoned 18 year old at the time. And Matty knew he couldn’t save her.

Wrestle to the ground

God help me now because

They're just girls breaking hearts

Eyes bright, uptight, just girls

But she can't be what you need if she's 17

They're just girls

They're just girls

God, they’re amazing. Matty looks over at me and smiles. I look over at George, who is too focused on his drumming to look at anyone. He’s changed a fair bit. Bigger muscles, longer hair. Still the protective, quiet guy he was, I’m guessing. It was true though. I was 17 and he was 22. It wasn’t even going to work even if there was something there. I guess I just regret not seeing him, like he saw me.

They all run of the stage after their performance. Matty didn’t drink or smoke once. He couldn’t, I’m guessing. This is an all age concert. Partly, I think I was to blame too. Matty never let me see him do drugs. Always sent me away. I’m so glad of that though – I wouldn’t have been able to bear 2 years of flashbacks.

Matty takes me into another hug, and whispers in my ear. “I think you need to talk to George.” He and George had always been inseparable. He lets me go, and starts to walk towards his dressing room. The others instinctively follow him, but I grab George’s arm.

“G, can I talk to you?” He pauses, and nods. “I’m so sorry-“

“Listen, Stephy, I don’t want you to apologise. Please don’t apologise. You were my best friend back then, apart from your brother. You didn’t know, and I didn’t expect you to know. It’s fine. We’re closer than most people, but I’m happy like this. Besides, ever since Matty showed everyone your Instagram, Luke’s been trying to win Matty over. He really likes you, Steph. And he’s only just met you. You deserve him.”

I wrap my arms around his torso. Honestly, I’m so glad George is a part of my life. George is like my other older brother. I love him, just not in the way he used to love me.

“Now, I know you’re fucking obsessed with superheroes. And luckily, Luke is too. Use that to your advantage, huh?” He smiles down at me.

“Thank you so, so much George.” I say, “I love you.”

“I love you too, babe. Go get him.”

With one last hug and a kiss on the forehead, he goes over to his dressing room, smiles, and shuts the door.