Please Come Back Home (Nathan Sykes Fanfic)

Chapter 23

“Hey, come on we’re here.” Nathan whispered in my ear before kissing my cheek and climbing off the bunk. I slowly let my eyes flutter open and looked out the window to see if I recognized our first venue. All I saw were the branches of trees so I figured that I had to go out.

I hopped down from the bunk and checked my watch. It said that it was half three. I went downstairs and saw all the guys just sitting around while Tori was doing something in the kitchen. I walked over, sat sideways in the booth, and watched as she made tea.

“So what time is the show?” I asked anyone who was listening.

“Doors open at six. You’re on at seven.” Jayne answered as she came onto the bus.

“Then I should start to get ready. Takes me forever.”

“It takes you five hours to get ready? God, that beats Nath’s record.” Max said as he glanced between Nathan and me.

“No I take about three hours thank you very much. And it’s half three right now anyways.” I said as I looked at my watch.

“Soph, were in central time. It’s only two something.” Tori said as she sat across from me.

It all hit me just then. The trees, they had green little grenade looking things on them. We were in central time. I could tell by glancing out of the window that the venue was in a park. I jumped up and sprinted past Jayne and outside only to see exactly what I dreaded.

As soon as I stepped off the bus I was hit by those sounds. The breeze running through the trees, the waves rolling off the rocks, the cabbies honking their horns, and the joyful screaming of children. I went around the front of the bus to see that huge silver amphitheatre and the Cloud in the distance. We were in Millennium Park... in Chicago.

I just stood there in shock not knowing what I was going to do. I had to tell my father but I didn’t even know if he was here, let alone in the States. For all I knew he could be in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I walked over to the stage and got up, looking out over the large grass covered area that would soon be filled with people. I glanced once more at the Cloud, otherwise known as the Bean, and the large fountains where all the children were playing.

I hopped down and ran back to the bus, flying in and startling Tori in the process.

“Okay we’re going to have you guys get ready at five. Got it?” she asked the boys once I had just been staring at Nathan for about a minute.

“Awesome until then we’re being tourists. Be ready in five. This is important and there’s no excusing yourself. Tori you’re coming too. You can shop downstairs.” I said as soon as Jayne finished. I took off and put on my flats before grabbing my Vera Bradley clutch and waiting by the door for the rest of them.

“Where are you going?” Jayne asked while the rest were getting their shoes on.

“Merchandise Mart.” I answered plainly while staring into the distance.

“Okay, well be backstage by five. And do you have your outfit?”

“Yep. It’s in the black and white polka-dotted case.”

“Okay have fun!” she said as we all filed out of the bus and across the park to Michigan Avenue.

I proceeded to walk with a purpose until I came to the corner of the Merchandise Mart. I glanced up to the sixth floor before taking hold of Nathan’s hand and getting everyone through the revolving doors. Once inside Tori went off to shop around and I got all the guys in the Ocean Avenue elevator that went to the interior design showrooms. In the elevator I told them the plan and they all agreed.

We got off at the sixth floor and walked all the way to the end of the hall to the Cowtan and Tout showroom. Nathan and I walked in and the rest of them just waited outside the door looking at some display cases.

I first saw Missy who was sat at her desk and soon greeted me and told me my father was in the back pulling samples. I introduced her to Nathan before I saw Paula. I talked to her for a minute before she introduced herself to Nath and they all started talking. We finished our conversation and I took Nathan by the hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before he kissed me on the cheek. I walked him into the back where the racks of samples are and had him wait by the desk with the catalogue computer on it. He took his phone out and told the guys to come in and wait by the sample books in the front.

I looked down each aisle and finally found him wearing his coral pants and grey blazer with his glasses on looking for a specific colour way of a fabric for a client. I ran up and hugged him before he noticed I was there.

“Sophia what are you doing here?” he asked extremely surprised that I was there.

“Well I’m here with work and I wanted you to meet some people that I work with. Come on.” I said as I led him out to Nathan. “Daddy, this is Nathan, my boyfriend. I also work with him.” They shook hands and my father introduced himself before he looked at me questioningly and then at Nathan.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” My father asked, but before Nath could answer, I butted in.

“Daddy there are also some other people I want you to meet.”

“Okay.” he said as he followed me out onto the floor. I walked him over to where the rest of the guys were looking through the Larsen book now with Tori who had probably maxed her credit card judging from the amount of bags she had on her arms.

“Daddy, I’d like you to meet Max, Tom, Siva, and Jay. Of course you know Tori. But I work with them also.” I said and looked at him with the last part. He introduced himself to the rest of them and said hello to Tori before he just stood staring at the five guys.

“You all look very familiar. I know I’ve seen you somewhere before.” he said as Paula and Missy walked up and stood next to me. I had already told them about my job and they were just smiling and trying not to laugh.

“John, you’ll hate yourself if you don’t remember.” Paula said behind me while trying not to laugh.

“Well you have seen them somewhere.” I said as I looked at my father. “Guys do your intro.” I looked at all of them before watching for my father’s reaction.

“Hi, we’re The Wanted!” they all said simultaneously. They all just smiled at him as he looked between them and me in astonishment.

He finally stopped on me and started firing questions. “You mean…”

“I’m a singer. Yep.”

“And you’re on tour with The Wanted?”

“Mmhm.”

“And you’re dating Nathan?”

“Correct.”

“How, when, where? Good lord! I’m so proud of you!” he exclaimed as he hugged me. “Are you performing tonight?” he asked when he pulled away.

“Yep, I’m opening for them tonight in Millennium Park.”

“Oh, congratulations!” he said as he hugged me again. “Well let’s go celebrate for a bit before the show. How about Moe’s?” he asked and I shook my head as I was really looking forward to those empanadas.

All of us including Missy and Paula paraded downstairs laughing and smiling, crossed the street, and went into Moe’s. Moe’s is a rather large Mexican barbecue place that has amazing small plates. I sat on the end next to Nathan and across from Daddy. We all talked and ate the delicious food and when we were done we all split the bill.

We all got up and walked out and we said our goodbyes promising that we would see them later before we walked back to the amphitheatre to get ready. By the time we got there it was ten to five and the guys went to backstage while Tori and I got our stuff from the bus. My suitcase was already at the stage but I still needed to shower and grab my train cases.

I took a quick shower before putting on some sweatpants and a t-shirt, taking my cases, and went backstage for the first time with Tori close behind. I started getting butterflies as I got closer to the stage. I finally found the door and went through the halls.

‘Well there’s no going back now.’ I thought to myself as I closed the door of the room.