"This Thursday, we'll have 5 Seconds of Summer back with us for a short interview, which should be fun. I always enjoy talking to those guys." My ears perked up at this. Ryan Seacrest was doing his usual show, but this time I was listening. I stopped in front of the glass windows that the stream room framed. I stared in at Ryan and he looked over and began to laugh. "I'm sorry, I just - one of our prod assistants is staring at me with a star struck look on her face."
My face heats up and I look down, holding my Manila folder to my chest and speeding away from the window. I made my way to the production room that I shared with three other people, all of which were busy with their own work. The one I was closest with, Aiden, looked up at me.
"5 Seconds of Summer, huh?" he grinned at me before patting the stool next to him. "They're pretty cool. I got to help with the interview the last time they were here. You barely missed them, you know? Like you got hired a week after they came by."
I groaned. "Don't remind me. I've only been here five months. I can't get my hopes up like that." I tell him.
He groans in response, mocking me. "Shut up, Fletcher. They love you. Especially Ryan. You little boss' pet."
"That's not even a thing, Aiden." Our friend Gwen pitched in. "Fletch, you're Ryan's favorite. He's going to let you meet them."
"It is a thing! You just described it!" Aiden shot at her with exasperation.
I ignored them and logged onto my laptop set up at the station. "Listen, guys. I appreciate the confidence boosters, but it wouldn't make sense for me to be the one to interview them."
"It would if the three of us told him it did." For the first time that day, Madison spoke up. "Which we're going to. Because you love these guys. You deserve it." Madison smirked at Aiden and Gwen. "Which is also why whenever he finally gets Jason Derulo in here, I get to meet him." She laughed and pulled her deep purple hair out of her face.
"Agreed. So you're meeting 5-sauce, then. How about it?" Aiden wiggled his eyebrows at me.
I flicked his nose once, earning a laugh from the two girls to my right. "Shush and get to work."
As the work day came to a close, Ryan came into our little office area and sat down on one of our stools. "So, 5 Seconds of Summer, huh? Which one of you want to help out?" He eyed me and smiled brightly.
"Fletcher!" Three voices resounded. I rolled my eyes, but my mouth gave me away, as the corners turned up and soon my teeth were showing and my cheeks heating up with excitement.
"Fletcher, this is your first major interview. Think you're up to it?" Ryan stared at me.
I sighed, then smiled again. "Think I can get one of their numbers?" The four of them laughed loudly and began shuffling their things together.
"Hopefully. You've got the looks to date at least one of them. Maybe all of them." Gwen joked, running her elbow into my side.
"I don't know what that's supposed to mean." I told her, my eyebrows quirking.
"Come on, Fletch. With your black boots and too-tight skinny jeans. You look like a female version of Michael Clifford when he had dark hair." Madison commented.
I stared at the ceiling. "Is that a compliment?" I asked her.
"Yeah I mean I would totally date you." she told me nonchalantly, turning to throw me a wink.
I rolled my eyes at her. "I appreciate that." I told her as I gathered my belongings. "But honestly, Ryan. I appreciate you letting us help out on interviews. I've only helped out once and it means a lot that you're willing to let me do it." I smile at him earnestly.
"Well, Fletcher. You're an important asset to our company, and it's only fair that we treat you that way. You've got a great radio voice and a charming personality for it. If you're planning on staying around Chicago as you graduate and such, maybe we can get you a full time job with on-air time here." His bright eyes lit up with joy at his last statement, and I knew for sure he wanted me here.
"Oh my god, Fletcher. That would be so good for you!" Gwen hit my arm once, her mouth wide. "I mean, I know you want to go to film school, but being on air on Chicago's number one station?! That's insane!" She finished and Aiden nodded in agreement.
"This could be so huge for you." Madison grinned at me, nudging Ryan once. "Ryan really does have you in mind."
Ryan cleared his throat quickly, signaling an end to that conversation. "So, Thursday. That gives you two days to prep. That includes interview questions, games, activities, any of that sort. We're going to have them for about an hour, excluding the time before and after the show. If we're going to have them perform, I'll need to know for sure by tomorrow when you get in. Brief recap: you get to schedule and run everything including the stream because I'll be gone." He rushed and my eyes widened.
"Excuse me? What was that last part?" I question, fear rising inside of me.
"You get to be on air. Don't worry, Aiden will be helping you stream and Nina will be on air with you." He explains, but I'm already in shock. There was no way I could do this. I haven't even had this job six months and I'm going on air and interviewing one of my favorite artists.
"I can't believe this. There is no way I can do this. I'm going to mess something up. Ryan make Aiden do it, he's done it before. I haven't."
"Fletcher Harrison, I believe in you." He grabbed my shoulders firmly, patting them once and leaving the room.
I stare at my colleagues. This was insane. How could all of this happen in such a short period of time? I had no idea.
The four of us finished getting our things together and began our journey to the exit. The girls wished me luck and hopped into their cars, going to their houses with their families outside of town. Aiden walked with me to our subway stop and we pulled out our cards, pushing it through the slot and heading toward the station. After a few moments of silence, he turned to me.
"Are you excited? About being on air, I mean. And the band too I guess." He asked me, taking of his scarf that was protecting him from the cool November air.
I took a moment before answering him. "I'm nervous. I don't want to look stupid in front of them, or on air or anything. I don't know what to prep for them, either. I'm so nervous, Aiden." As I finished my sentence, the tube pulled up in front of us, and the few of us there hopped on the subway.
Aiden seemed lost in thought as we traveled the distance between the station and our apartment complex. He stared out the window as the gray bricks passed us by. His wavy brown hair fell in his face, tiredness showing through his brown eyes. As our stop came closer, we stood, waiting for the tube to stop moving and the doors to open. Still, he was quiet. It was like something was bothering him.
We began walking in silence, passing tourists, business people, and locals alike. He grabbed my arm, pulling me closer to him and speeding up his pace.
"Dude, what's up with you?" I asked him, as he looks up at the sky.
He sighs. "It's going to rain, dweeb. And someone didn't bring their umbrella." He looked down at me, fake disappointment written across his face.
"It's not my fault, bud. I left school at one o'clock instead of noon today. I was totally off schedule for today." We approached our complex quickly, just as there was a flash of lighting. We made our way to the elevator and stepped on, pressing the dull '7' button on the circuit board.
"I'm sure you were, but it doesn't matter anyway." he said, shaking his head. We got off on our floor and went to our little home. He unlocked the door we went inside.
Yawning, I looked at the clock. It was nearly nine thirty. I sighed and made my way to my bedroom, plugging my phone into it's charger and changing into pajamas. Shortly after, Aiden made his way to my doorframe.
"I'm headed to bed. Need anything?"
I shook my head once, then asked anyway. "What should I wear to the interview?" I whispered to him.
He chuckled lowly. "I believe in you, Fletcher Harrison. Goodnight."
