Timeless

Chapter 10

5th November 2012

The girls come over after school, and we start getting ready. I have to admit how fun it is to be doing normal teenage girl things like this again - even though I wasn't very girly before. We talk about hot guys, we make jokes, we do hair, makeup, take photos - anything we want. Steph drives, and we stop to get some takeout before going to the show. I follow the instructions as given by Julian and we have really good seats.

Samantha Jade and The Collective are my favourite performances for the night. I'm not a Justin Bieber fan (though Julian tried to convert me by filling my iPod with his songs), but the boys do amazing, and Will's rap is incredible - just like always. I'm sure Julian knows where I'm sitting, because whenever he gets a chance to look out at the audience, he looks in my direction. I'm not sure if he can see me because of the lights, but who cares. I'm here, having fun with my best friends, watching my boyfriend perform on national television. Though the girl dancing around him is certainly making me jealous. The show ends, and we stand up to stretch our legs.

"Did you make plans to meet up?" Katie asks.

And I realise, stupidly, that we didn't. I shake my head, a little disappointed that I'd forgotten that minor detail.

"Excuse me?" A woman in black, donning a headset walks up to us. "Which one of you is Avery Jones?"

"Uh, I am," I reply, confused.

She gives me a sweet smile. "You and your friends have been extended an invitation."

I can't wipe the smile off my face as I realise what that means - Julian has invited us backstage. Silly me for thinking he'd forgotten about me. We obediently follow the woman down the side of the stage and through a door. She leads us to a room and tells us to wait, because it's mayhem back there at the minute. About ten minutes pass with Steph, Katie and I talking about the awesome night, until finally the door swings open.

Julian comes in, zoning in on me immediately. "You were amazing!" I say excitedly as he hugs me gently, as though I might break, and he kisses my cheek.

I introduce him to my friends, who are acting very casual. Julian leads us out so we can go catch up with the other guys. All the boys are chilling in a back room, lounging about on chairs and couches.

"Avery!" Jayden says excitedly, but doesn't move. "I'd get up and hug you but I'm tired."

"I'll forgive it this once," I say with a smirk.

The other boys say hi, and I tell them how great they were. It's only at this stage though that I realise Steph and Katie seem to have gone into a state of shock. Steph has a huge crush on Jayden, and Katie has been in love with Trent since he auditioned two years ago. The two girls are quickly sucked into the group, and Bella joins them. Julian takes the opportunity to lead me silently out of that room and hide us in the prop room.

"You were so good tonight," I reiterate as we settle onto a bright red couch.

Julian shrugs and looks away. "Jayden's falsetto was great, Will's rap was awesome."

I frown, forcing him to look at me and exaggerating every word. "No, Julian. You were amazing." I can see he doesn't believe it. "Why don't you think so?" I ask, so confused by his lack of confidence.

Julian shakes his head and puts on a fake smile. "It doesn't matter. How are you fee-"

"No," I interrupt sternly. "It does matter. I'm sick of talking about me, of people asking how I am, if I'm ok. I'm fine! But you're not. So talk to me!" I demand.

Julian looks a little taken aback, his blue eyes wide with shock and hesitation. "I just don't think I have the same strengths as the other guys," he mumbles.

"Has someone else said that to you? Is that why you don't get many solos? That's utter crap!" I go to start ranting, but Julian calms me.

"No, I don't get solos because I don't want them. I don't want to let the other guys down. I get nervous, and my voice-" he starts.

"No!" I say insistently. "Your voice is amazing. I heard your audition, I saw your first group performance, your solo in You Got It, the solo in Turn Up the Love. Your voice is beautiful."

Julian rolls his eyes. "My voice cracked in You Got It. That's why I don't want any more solos. I hate letting everyone down."

"Huh?" I'm so confused. I pull out my iPod and find said performance.

"No don’t," Julian insists, trying to grab his gift to me.

"Ow!" I scream, and Julian jumps off me, completely wide eyed.

"Are you ok? God I'm so sorry." Julian looks like he's going to be sick with worry.

"I'm fine, I was just kidding so you'd get off me and let me find the song." I press play and give him a cheesy grin - he doesn't look amused. I skip the song forward and listen to Julian's part. I scoff. "In what world does your voice crack?"

Julian takes the iPod from me and replays the section, pointing out the apparent 'flaw'.

I laugh, almost uncontrollably. "Are you joking?" I ask when I'm slightly more composed. "I thought that was just a little flip you did with your voice. And I thought it was flipping sexy."

Julian looks a little less stressed than before, so I take the opportunity to stare up at him through my lashes - my lame attempt at being sexy maybe. Though it's a little painful, I force myself to roll to the side and crawl my way over to him on the couch.

"Careful," Julian says, always the kind and caring one.

I roll my eyes as I lift my leg and end up straddling his lap. I chew nervously at my bottom lip as my fingers softly trace up his arms, now exposed since he ditched the green jacket.

"Please let there be no interruptions this time," I whisper, before kicking off from where we were last time we saw each other. "Wait," I say, just things are getting good. "Promise me you'll have more faith in yourself."

Julian closes his eyes and looks down. "I just," he starts, then cuts himself off when he sees my face. "What do you have to do in exchange?" Julian counters.

I lean in close and whisper, "I'll keep kissing you."

"I promise I'll have more faith in myself," Julian says quickly, and then we're back into it.

I'm not sure how long we stay in the prop room, but my jaw gets sore and my lips are swollen. Julian's phone buzzing down near my knee is our cue to stop. He checks it, and it's a message from Trent asking where we are with a little winky face.

"I guess I should return you to your friends," Julian muses.

I pout. "I'm sure they'll live without me."

"Wait," Julian exclaims, like he's just remembered something really critical. He pulls out his phone. "I have to take a picture of you."

I blush furiously. "Why?" I try and hide behind my hair.

"Because you're beautiful and I want one," Julian declares like a stubborn little child.

I hate pictures, but I can't say no to his pleading face. Instead I sit there, a hesitant smile on my face, as he takes the picture.

"Well I need a picture of you," I counter, and quickly pull out my iPod touch. Julian is definitely more photogenic that I am - he looks so sweet, his adorable teeth exposed as he smiles widely.

"Here." Julian pulls me onto his lap, holds his phone out at arm's length and then takes a few photos of us together. Silly faces, pouts, normal photos, and then a picture of him kissing my cheek and me smiling like an idiot.

We get up and return to the chill out room. Of course we get looks, because I'm sure my hair is a mess from Julian's hands running through it. The thought makes me shiver. The girls and I decide to get going, because I'm tired and they have school. The boy's have to get back to the hotel and rest before tomorrow anyway.

"Did you want to come tomorrow night?" Julian asks as he walks me to the car, holding me close to his side.

I nod enthusiastically. "Yeah, I do. Message me the details."

Julian kisses me softly before wishing me a good night. One thing's for sure - it definitely was a good night.