WHAT SHE CAME FOR - Chapter 1

I rubbed my hands nervously and leaned back in the faded yellow couch with a deep sigh. I heard the crowd screaming outside and closed my eyes, I was practically relieved that today they weren’t yelling my name. Instead they screamed the names of the X-factor contestants; girls shrieked Matt’s name as he stepped out last and took a humble bow. I memorized the way things at their concerts worked - I wasn’t willing to admit but I’d spent hours flipping through magazines and youtube videos of the contestants. I was totally addicted and that’s why I was waiting back stage that day; when I heard they were in the city I thought I’d stop by after a long day on set and say hi. Well I was mostly there because to be honest I totally had a thing for Naill. He was a bit short like me, I loved cute guitar players and in theory I had a thing for blond guys, though in reality I seemed to gravitate towards dark haired dudes. Just days before, I’d spent hours on the phone with my friend, Stacy, who was back home in New York, crying because Jason, my back home crush, and best friend, had gotten himself a pretty bitch of a girlfriend. I’d never been great with the whole guy thing off screen. When the cameras began rolling I could become anyone but in reality I was an awkward teenager with my regular teenage problems in an unusal setting. I’d only recently hit it big when I landed a role in a film that made it to Sundance but I’d developed a small fanbase prior with a short run of guest roles on Weeds and Supernatural. I think I fell asleep listening to the encore claps because next thing I knew someone was tapping on my shoulder and I opened my eyes to five guys smiling down at me.

            “Wha-uh” I looked up shaking my head. The boys burst out laughing and I quickly sat up and rubbed my eyes, attempting to hide my face in embarrassment. I felt someone sit down on the couch beside me. It took me a while to muster up the courage to look up. Liam took a sip from his water bottle and put it down on a table. Louis and Harry had sat down beside me while Naill grabbed his guitar and began strumming away, I thought he’d have had enough of it, I knew he played every concert. “Ahh you look a little more awake” said Louis beside me “I’m Louis” he held out his hand and continued “this is Harry, Naill, Zayn, Liam” he pointed around the room. I looked up -

“I’m —” I began, but Harry stopped me “You really don’t need an introduction, you are Anna — can I call you that or?”

“Of course you can and trust me you guys don’t require an introduction either, I’m a huge fan.” The boys smiled back at me, they probably got that from everyone. I looked down at the floor embarrassed because I had no clue where to go from here.

“Would you like a bottle of water, coffee maybe?” Louis grimaced at me after a long moment of awkward silence.

“Coffee? Actually, that sounds great!” I smiled, relieved that someone broke the silence. It was clear though that the boys hadn’t noticed the silence. Everything around them was obviously a whirlwind. I remembered the first few months after Sundance, it was the most tiring time in my entire life, and of course the most fun. I looked over at Harry, now visible on the other side of the couch. He wiped the sweat of his face and he slumped back in the couch like I had before I’d fallen asleep. He opened his eyes and turned his head towards me. “What are you doing here in the UK?” he managed to ask. All that I’d read about Harry, I’d figured he was just too tired to flirt. “I’m working on a film” awkward silence, I assumed it was obvious because he raised his eyebrows urging me to continue “with Colin Firth, it’s great” I smiled. “God! He is amazing! Did you see him in the King’s Speech?” asked Naill from the other couch. I blushed remembering that my crush was in the room and almost stuttered “Yeah, he’s great, he really is” I said, avoiding any form of eye contact and realizing, great now it looks like I am head over heels for Colin. Don’t get me wrong, I have my fair share of crushes on ‘men who are old enough to be my father’ but I assumed this wasn’t the greatest way to impress your ‘I might have a chance with you’ crush.

Harry got up and turned up the radio. “Oh! This song!” he said looking at me “May I have this dance?” he said jokingly reaching for my hand. As if the cameras had begun rolling, I gave him my flirtiest smile and reached for his hand. He pulled me up and we danced to Party Rock Anthem. I laughed as he shuffled and I didn’t notice how Naill was watching us dance until I caught a glimpse of him staring in the mirror. “I heard you were the flirtiest one,” I smiled up at Harry when he began to wrap his arms around me when a slow song came on; I suddenly remembered I was actually shy and awkward and pushed myself off, heading back towards the couch. “And I heard you were pretty but I didn’t know you were this pretty” he flashed his cheeky smile. Liam, who I completely forgot about gave a signal cough – as if trying to stop Harry from flirting and Naill suddenly stormed out of the room. “You’re joking” I laughed a bit too loud; I wasn’t that shy or too worried about what people thought about me but I’d never though of myself as pretty. Honestly, I don’t think I’d been told I was pretty by many people other than my mom and dad. Most of my fans liked me because of my acting not because I was ridiculously good-looking or anything. “But mostly when you smile” He said as he sat up on the makeup counter, staring down at his phone. I smiled looking down, it was a nervous habit. “He probably forgot to call his mummy!” Louis joked sarcastically, reminding me how Niall had randomly rushed out of the room. He handed me a cup of warm coffee and plopped down on the couch beside me. “He seemed kind of pissed…” I said, lifting the coffee to my mouth. “Don’t worry about it – it’s probably just his time of the month – he always gets moody then” Louis grinned.

Harry put his bottle down and looked up from his phone “Want me to show you around, you haven’t even met the others yet!” “Sure, you guys wanna join?” I asked looking around, I was becoming a little uncomfortable with Harry’s attention. Louis lifted his head a bit to shake “no” and leaned back; Liam on the other hand seemed a bit frustrated on his laptop, he was trying to get a hold of his girlfriend I believe. Zayn was playing around on his phone too but he stood up and agreed to tag along. We exited into a cramped little hallway, now full of technicians fixing the lighting, tidying the stage. I saw some rooms towards the end of the hallway with light coming from them, we peeked in. “Allo!” Harry said enthusiastically. “This is Annabelle but you can all call her Anna, I think” I walked and did a little wave and a shy “Hi.” relieved to see Naill, though looking somewhat frustrated texting away on his iPhone. Everyone did a little collective hey back and I told them there was no need for introduction, I was well aware of who they were as I was a big fan of them and the show.

We exchanged a few words, talked about the show until my manager texted me that she’d be picking me up in about 20 minutes. We headed back to the guys’ change room but to my disappointment without Naill. “Listen,” Zayn grabbed my shoulder in the corridor, Harry who was leading turned around too, always one step from me, “we didn’t get to talk too much today, we’re still here for a couple ‘a shows, why don’t you stop by tomorrow?” I smiled and fixed my posture a little, pleased that I’d made a good impression “Why not?” I couldn’t help but notice that Harry seemed quite pleased with the idea too. I grabbed my stuff in the change room “Too bad we couldn’t talk much,” Louis said handing me my bag. “Actually, I’ll be back tomorrow” I replied “Great” he smiled

“I’ll show myself out!” I said as I closed the door behind me. I made my way back down the corridor passing the crowded room we’d just left. As I opened the exit, I heard someone yell “wait”. I turned around, shocked to see Naill running towards me, “Um I just thought, I just, I’d be really pissed at myself if I didn’t give you my number, you’re kinda my celebrity crush.” He smiled “You’re kinda mine” I smiled back, mocking his shy tone of voice. “Good” he replied “give me a call?” “no need, I’ll be back tomorrow,” I promised as I ran out the door to catch the car. I couldn’t believe my luck, it hadn’t gone as I planned but it was practically perfect.

STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN, FEEL FREE TO RE-SUMBIT IF I DIDNT DO YOURS LAST TIME! XOXOXOXO

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