Trouvaille

Chapter 1

"Come on," Tom said, throwing a cushion across the room, "I promise I won't ditch you, pleaaaaaaaseeeee."

This was the millionth time that day that he had begged me to accompany him to some party. I was pretty sure that he was just trying to get me to go with him, because Ann was supposed to be there. He had an immense crush on her, and was either texting her or sending her memes at any given time. It was pretty obvious that she liked him too, but god forbid Tom made a move.

"Fine," I agreed, remembering the last Hollywood party I had attended with dread pooling in my stomach, "but no drinking."

"YES!" Tom yelled, pumping his fist in the air, "I won't drink either." He promised, eyes darkening for a second as he also recalled the party.

**** 4 hours later ****

"Okay," Tom popped up by my side, looking ecstatic, "Come with me."

"Do I really have to?" I hissed, annoyed. I was flirting with a pretty brunette, and it was going really well when Tom popped out of nowhere and dragged me away.

"Just come," Tom kept dragging me through the crowd, and finally pushed me into the kitchen, which was occupied by a couple aggressively making out. It had been more than a year since I'd moved to LA, but I still got a little taken aback at how freely people made out and sometimes even had sex, just like that, out in the open.

"Hey guys! I want you to meet Nikitha," Tom declared, whipping me around to face four guys - and I immediately fell into my networking persona- polite smile, interested face and all the works.

"Heyya," a tall, blonde guy with a short brunette tucked under his arm said, smiling broadly at me - and for a second my entire mind went blank and I momentarily forgot how to breathe.

Tom dug his elbow into my stomach, and I suddenly realized that I was gaping at 5 seconds of summer. Fuck. 5 Seconds of Summer. My stomach churned.

'Oh. Um. Hey,' I stuttered, 'Nice to meet you guys.'

'She's a huge fan,' Tom said gleefully, draping his arm over my shoulders. He was obviously enjoying this immensely.

'Really?' Calum (fucking hell!) Thomas Hood asked, eyebrows raised.

'Uh, yeah,' I said, kicking myself inside that the first words I said to the ultimate celebrity crush was 'uh, yeah'.

'That's cool, I don't think we've ever met a fan from India,' Michael said, 'have we?'

'Well, maybe you would have if you'd ever bothered to come there for tour,' I muttered, rolling my eyes. For a moment, my nervousness was overtaken by anger.

Calum chuckled, ' We didn't know there were people there who wanted us to come,'

"Well, apparently nobody does,' I said, ' the only people who've come are Coldplay and Justin Beiber.'

'Oh I see Ann,' Tom said, 'Text when you're ready to leave?'

I nodded.

'You're welcome,' he whispered in my ear, as he left.

When I turned back, Luke and Sierra had disappeared, leaving Calum and Michael standing there, observing me.

'Don't you want anything to drink?' Michael asked, nodding at my empty hand.

'No thanks,' I said, ' no alcohol today.'

'Oh, I saw some cranberry juice somewhere,' he replied, 'Want me to get some for ya?'

'OH, I don't want to trouble you,' I said, feeling some weird emotion.

'I'm gonna get a beer anyway, so I'll get you some anyway,' he said, leaving me alone with Calum.