Unexpected
Chapter 11
Soooo, I'm really not feeling this chapter right now. It took me SO long to write because I felt like I was putting too much description in and it got really boring and I had to erase a bunch of unnecessary paragraphs..so fair warning, this chapter is going to be a tad boring. I apologize!! I'm going to get then next chapter up ASAP because that one will have the actual concert in it.
Charlie’s POV:
I got the boys ready and in the shuttle to the stadium at approximately 9:30. We made our way to the first location they were performing: Etihad Stadium in Manchester. I laughed to myself thinking about how I would have to call my brothers later tonight to tell them I was in the same stadium that Manchester City played football; they were all avid football fans. I was sitting in the front passenger seat and the boys were in the seats behind me. I was the first to see the mass of fans waiting outside the stadium.
It was MADNESS.
Thousands of wild, screaming girls of all ages were in a line wrapping around the stadium…twice. Having done this so many times, the boys paid little attention to their surroundings. I, on the other hand had to pick my jaw up off my lap after seeing the sight in front of me.
A few groups of fans noticed our shuttle entering the parking lot and in a matter of minutes we were surrounded. Girls were throwing themselves on the van, holding up phone numbers and “I’M HORNY FOR HORAN!” signs, which got Niall high fives from the boys. There was one daring fan who tried to climb up on top of the van, but security had finally arrived and started to break up the crowd, allowing us to pull into the gated parking lot attached to the stadium.
As we step out of the shuttle, I was blown away at the deafening sounds coming from behind the locked gate. Hundreds of fans are reaching their arms through the slots of the gate and waving furiously, trying to get the boys’ attention. I can see a couple girls sobbing hysterically as the guys jump out and wave politely to them. I am shaken out of my shock as I feel Zayn’s hand on my shoulder.
“Crazy, ain’t it?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me and I shake my head in amazement.
“Crazy doesn’t even cut close.” He laughed as we entered the side door of the stadium.
We are led down a long hallway and enter a lobby filled with people bustling about. I see Paul talking with a group of men carrying bundles of extensions cords; he sees us and waves us to come over.
“Morning, gentlemen!” The boys all mumbled back some sort of greeting, still tired from being up early. He tells them to follow one of the crew members down the hallway to meet with Caroline in wardrobe to choose outfits for this afternoon’s show. They all shuffled off and I was left to discuss today’s agenda with Paul. He hands me a clipboard with a paper copy of the agenda clamped on it and a headset connected to a walkie talkie.
“Everything you need to know about today is in this packet. It is very crucial that you follow the agenda to the minute. This stadium is too big for people to be frantically running around trying to find each other. But, if anything happens and you’d be late to something or you have a question, you can always reach me on the walkie talkie; I have mine on at all times.” I nodded as I attach the device to my belt loop and place the headset over my ears.
I’m not going to lie, I got pretty excited about the walkie talkie. It’s the little things, I guess.
Paul proceeds to run through the hourly plan and goes into detail about where I need to be and when I need to be there. The boys will be with Caroline until 11:00 and then they head to the stage to do sound check and also run through the entire show to make sure everything is in its proper place. After sound check and the run through ends at 1:30, Lou has the boys in hair and makeup until 2:30.
I nod along to Paul’s instructions as he walks me down a hallway to a door labeled Green Room.
“This is where you will keep the boys when they aren’t in hair and makeup, wardrobe or on the stage for sound check. I don’t want them running around the stadium this afternoon because we’re still getting a feel for the safety of the area.”
We walk out of the Green Room and head down a stairwell that leads to the field. Once we’re on the field, I have to hold in a gasp as I look at the sight in front of me. Yeah, this is going on my list as one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to. The stadium is so amazing! I look up and see that part of the ceiling is open to reveal clear blue skies above us.
The stage is centered in the very middle of the field. It’s a huge square with long walkways extending out from the base towards the seating; I’m guessing they do that to get as close to the crowd as possible. The band equipment [drums, guitars, bass, piano, etc.] is placed in the middle of the square on a large platform. The entire platform has stairs surrounding the sides, leading down to the lower portion of the square.
After the tour of the stadium, Paul starts to walk me back to the lobby. As we make our way through the hallways, he informs me that before every show there is an hour Meet & Greet for fifty fans with V.I.P passes. This is where the fans can meet the band, take pictures and then the boys perform a couple songs before the show.
“The Meet & Greet is going to happen at 3:00 and last until 5:00. It will be held in the lobby because it’s the largest area to fit fifty people comfortably. We’ll have the backdrop set up for the photos in the corner and the stools and microphones arranged on the opposite side for when they sing. The boys have been told to come straight to the lobby once they’re finished with Lou. You’ll need to go and greet the fans who will be waiting in the same gated parking lot from where you arrived. I will have a team of security ready to assist you in escorting the fans here.”
I shake my head and follow him back towards the wardrobe room.
“The show will start at approximately 6:00. After the Meet and Greet, the boys will have an hour to relax, eat and get dressed before they need to get their microphones in check. I need you to have them at that entrance I showed you by 5:40. Once they’re on stage, you’re free to relax in the Green Room or watch the concert from the reserved seating available to the crew.”
I get butterflies in my stomach when I hear Paul tell me that I get to watch the show. I’ve never been to an actual concert, so having my first experience in a place like this is really exciting! And it’ll be fun to see the boys in their element; I see how they are together offstage and now I want to see them in the spotlight.
Paul gets a call on his walkie talkie and tells me he has to leave me to help security with an issue. I wave him off as I wait outside wardrobe for the boys to finish. Its fifteen minutes to 11:00 and Caroline is putting the finishing touches on each outfit before releasing the boys to me. They’re dressed back into their sweats and t-shirts and they walk over to me while I’m checking over the agenda.
“Well, well, well. Someone finally looks like an assistant. I like the headset, love.” I look up to see Harry throwing me a huge grin and I roll my eyes.
“Thanks, I guess. Alright, you guys are going to sound check and the run through right now out on the stage for the next two and a half hours. Let’s get a move on!” I turn on my heels and start walking towards the stairwell.
“I like a woman who takes charge.” I catch Harry muttering to Louis. I don’t want to instigate Harry’s behavior, so I pretend as though I didn’t overhear his remark. I end up grinning widely when I hear Harry grunt as Liam’s hand makes contact with the back of his head.
The boys go on stage for sound check and the run through and I finally get to witness their talent for the first time. I could barely contain this new inner fan girl inside me while I was watching them sing. The most amazing part about this band is the distinctive sounds that come from each member.
Liam and Harry can both sing quite low but also belt extremely high notes. Liam also has a growl he does on some low notes that made my head spin. Harry, Niall and Louis all have a certain rasp to their voices but it’s very unique to the respective person. And Zayn…Zayn gave me goosebumps. He’s a male Mariah Carey. His high notes were so insane that it took my breath away!
I could tell that Harry noticed me gaping at all of them and he didn’t hesitate to send me a few winks and stares while he was singing his solos. I could tell he was trying extra hard to impress me with his riffs that he made look so easy. I tried my hardest to look dissatisfied when he glanced my direction but I could feel my stomach turning and a blush forming on my cheeks.
I hated the way he made my insides feel.
Once sound check was complete, it was time to run through the entire show. I grinned like an idiot as I watched them bounce around on the stage and run down the walkways, pretending to get the fans excited. It was so refreshing to see how their choreographer allowed them to pretty much do whatever they felt was comfortable for them.
I died laughing when I saw them come together during one of their songs and perform original One Direction dance moves. Clearly they were better singers than dancers, but the goofiness made the show that much more genuine. These boys were acting the same way on stage as they would off stage. And I have become to realize that their sincerity might be why they have been such a successful group with an extremely loyal fan base. They don’t pretend to be anything they’re not. And I am growing to love them for that.
After the run through, I hustle them over to Lou and she got started right away. I observe from a chair in the corner as each of the five boys get pampered, plucked, blow dried, moisturized, and perfected until they all look like rock stars.
Caroline has hung five garment bags in wardrobe labeled with the boy’s names that contain their outfit for the night. As each one goes in and out of the changing area, I see their look finally coming together. Similar to the choreography, Caroline allows the boys to pick and choose their clothing to fit their personality. Some are more casual, some more sporty, but they all look amazing.
It’s reaching 2:30 and I leave the boys to go meet up with the fans in the parking lot. I stroll down to the side entrance and am greeted by six security guards waiting to assist me per Paul’s request. I smile as I walk towards the gate and see the ecstatic fans lined up behind it. A few see me walking and starting jumping up and down, letting out high squeals. It turned into a snowball effect and soon I have fifty girls shrieking and crying in front of me. I wince and signal them to quiet down.
“Hi everyone! My name is Charlie and I’m going to be taking you to your Meet & Greet with One Direction! Who’s excited?” I instantly regret asking that question as my eardrums explode from the noise emanating from the crowd.
“Please make sure to stay in line and not to go in any rooms while we walk through the building!” I gesture to the security guards and they line up beside the group and herd them like sheep into the small hallway. As soon as we get to the lobby, I’m confused when I see the photographer but the boys aren’t anywhere to be found.
With the help of the security guards, we manage to condense the fans into the lobby and I look around for help. But before I could call Paul on my walkie talkie, I see the boys jump out from behind the photo backdrop and surprise the crowd.
It’s an absolute circus.
The fans cries have erupted and the sounds are bouncing off the high ceilings. I see the boys all bent over from laughing at their surprise and I can’t help but laugh along; they’re such goofballs.
The Meet & Greet went by without any issues. All the fans got to take their pictures with the boys and after everyone was finished they all sat cross legged around the makeshift “stage” and watched the guys perform a couple songs.
Listening to them sing here might have been even more amazing than watching them sing on the stage. Each one of them was so focused and didn’t miss a single note. I had to lean against the wall to stabilize myself as their angelic voices floated through the lobby.
One song I found myself extremely drawn to was called Little Things. Each member had the spotlight during some part in the song. When Harry sang his part, my knees almost buckled underneath me. His deep, raspy voice vibrated my core and sent pleasure shocks just below my bellybutton.
I know you've never loved the sound of your voice on tape
You never want to know how much you weigh
You still have to squeeze into your jeans
But you're perfect to me
I could feel my heart thump faster against my chest as his stunning green eyes locked onto mine while he sang. I couldn’t even pull my gaze away from his as he serenaded me. After his solo, Harry, Louis and Niall all sang the chorus together and then Niall had his solo. Harry kept his eyes on me the entire time before singing another solo part. I bit my lip as his mouth began to move ever so sweetly.
I've just let these little things
Slip out of my mouth
'Cause it's you
Oh it's you
It's you
They add up to
And I'm in love with you
And all these little things
Once the song was over, I realized my eyes were extremely dry because I hadn’t blinked during the entire song. I rubbed them before looking back at Harry, who was still staring at me. I felt a blush come over my face as he grinned before going in to the next song. As I stood there and watched them sing the next tune, my heart dropped when I realized what had just happened.
He had broken down one of my thousands of walls, protecting me from him.
And he knew it.
///
Harry’s POV:
After my first solo in Little Things, I smiled inwardly knowing I was making progress as I looked at her expression while she watched me sing. I didn’t take my eyes off of her the entire song, and surprisingly, neither did she.
I knew I had sparked something inside of her when she bit down on her bottom lip during my final solo. God, what I would do to kiss that beautiful bottom lip. I know it could potentially fuck up her job if I ever made a move, but I just couldn’t contain my wanting her. It was inevitable.
I had to do something about this tension between us and it had to be soon.
Charlie’s POV:
I got the boys ready and in the shuttle to the stadium at approximately 9:30. We made our way to the first location they were performing: Etihad Stadium in Manchester. I laughed to myself thinking about how I would have to call my brothers later tonight to tell them I was in the same stadium that Manchester City played football; they were all avid football fans. I was sitting in the front passenger seat and the boys were in the seats behind me. I was the first to see the mass of fans waiting outside the stadium.
It was MADNESS.
Thousands of wild, screaming girls of all ages were in a line wrapping around the stadium…twice. Having done this so many times, the boys paid little attention to their surroundings. I, on the other hand had to pick my jaw up off my lap after seeing the sight in front of me.
A few groups of fans noticed our shuttle entering the parking lot and in a matter of minutes we were surrounded. Girls were throwing themselves on the van, holding up phone numbers and “I’M HORNY FOR HORAN!” signs, which got Niall high fives from the boys. There was one daring fan who tried to climb up on top of the van, but security had finally arrived and started to break up the crowd, allowing us to pull into the gated parking lot attached to the stadium.
As we step out of the shuttle, I was blown away at the deafening sounds coming from behind the locked gate. Hundreds of fans are reaching their arms through the slots of the gate and waving furiously, trying to get the boys’ attention. I can see a couple girls sobbing hysterically as the guys jump out and wave politely to them. I am shaken out of my shock as I feel Zayn’s hand on my shoulder.
“Crazy, ain’t it?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me and I shake my head in amazement.
“Crazy doesn’t even cut close.” He laughed as we entered the side door of the stadium.
We are led down a long hallway and enter a lobby filled with people bustling about. I see Paul talking with a group of men carrying bundles of extensions cords; he sees us and waves us to come over.
“Morning, gentlemen!” The boys all mumbled back some sort of greeting, still tired from being up early. He tells them to follow one of the crew members down the hallway to meet with Caroline in wardrobe to choose outfits for this afternoon’s show. They all shuffled off and I was left to discuss today’s agenda with Paul. He hands me a clipboard with a paper copy of the agenda clamped on it and a headset connected to a walkie talkie.
“Everything you need to know about today is in this packet. It is very crucial that you follow the agenda to the minute. This stadium is too big for people to be frantically running around trying to find each other. But, if anything happens and you’d be late to something or you have a question, you can always reach me on the walkie talkie; I have mine on at all times.” I nodded as I attach the device to my belt loop and place the headset over my ears.
I’m not going to lie, I got pretty excited about the walkie talkie. It’s the little things, I guess.
Paul proceeds to run through the hourly plan and goes into detail about where I need to be and when I need to be there. The boys will be with Caroline until 11:00 and then they head to the stage to do sound check and also run through the entire show to make sure everything is in its proper place. After sound check and the run through ends at 1:30, Lou has the boys in hair and makeup until 2:30.
I nod along to Paul’s instructions as he walks me down a hallway to a door labeled Green Room.
“This is where you will keep the boys when they aren’t in hair and makeup, wardrobe or on the stage for sound check. I don’t want them running around the stadium this afternoon because we’re still getting a feel for the safety of the area.”
We walk out of the Green Room and head down a stairwell that leads to the field. Once we’re on the field, I have to hold in a gasp as I look at the sight in front of me. Yeah, this is going on my list as one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to. The stadium is so amazing! I look up and see that part of the ceiling is open to reveal clear blue skies above us.
The stage is centered in the very middle of the field. It’s a huge square with long walkways extending out from the base towards the seating; I’m guessing they do that to get as close to the crowd as possible. The band equipment [drums, guitars, bass, piano, etc.] is placed in the middle of the square on a large platform. The entire platform has stairs surrounding the sides, leading down to the lower portion of the square.
After the tour of the stadium, Paul starts to walk me back to the lobby. As we make our way through the hallways, he informs me that before every show there is an hour Meet & Greet for fifty fans with V.I.P passes. This is where the fans can meet the band, take pictures and then the boys perform a couple songs before the show.
“The Meet & Greet is going to happen at 3:00 and last until 5:00. It will be held in the lobby because it’s the largest area to fit fifty people comfortably. We’ll have the backdrop set up for the photos in the corner and the stools and microphones arranged on the opposite side for when they sing. The boys have been told to come straight to the lobby once they’re finished with Lou. You’ll need to go and greet the fans who will be waiting in the same gated parking lot from where you arrived. I will have a team of security ready to assist you in escorting the fans here.”
I shake my head and follow him back towards the wardrobe room.
“The show will start at approximately 6:00. After the Meet and Greet, the boys will have an hour to relax, eat and get dressed before they need to get their microphones in check. I need you to have them at that entrance I showed you by 5:40. Once they’re on stage, you’re free to relax in the Green Room or watch the concert from the reserved seating available to the crew.”
I get butterflies in my stomach when I hear Paul tell me that I get to watch the show. I’ve never been to an actual concert, so having my first experience in a place like this is really exciting! And it’ll be fun to see the boys in their element; I see how they are together offstage and now I want to see them in the spotlight.
Paul gets a call on his walkie talkie and tells me he has to leave me to help security with an issue. I wave him off as I wait outside wardrobe for the boys to finish. Its fifteen minutes to 11:00 and Caroline is putting the finishing touches on each outfit before releasing the boys to me. They’re dressed back into their sweats and t-shirts and they walk over to me while I’m checking over the agenda.
“Well, well, well. Someone finally looks like an assistant. I like the headset, love.” I look up to see Harry throwing me a huge grin and I roll my eyes.
“Thanks, I guess. Alright, you guys are going to sound check and the run through right now out on the stage for the next two and a half hours. Let’s get a move on!” I turn on my heels and start walking towards the stairwell.
“I like a woman who takes charge.” I catch Harry muttering to Louis. I don’t want to instigate Harry’s behavior, so I pretend as though I didn’t overhear his remark. I end up grinning widely when I hear Harry grunt as Liam’s hand makes contact with the back of his head.
The boys go on stage for sound check and the run through and I finally get to witness their talent for the first time. I could barely contain this new inner fan girl inside me while I was watching them sing. The most amazing part about this band is the distinctive sounds that come from each member.
Liam and Harry can both sing quite low but also belt extremely high notes. Liam also has a growl he does on some low notes that made my head spin. Harry, Niall and Louis all have a certain rasp to their voices but it’s very unique to the respective person. And Zayn…Zayn gave me goosebumps. He’s a male Mariah Carey. His high notes were so insane that it took my breath away!
I could tell that Harry noticed me gaping at all of them and he didn’t hesitate to send me a few winks and stares while he was singing his solos. I could tell he was trying extra hard to impress me with his riffs that he made look so easy. I tried my hardest to look dissatisfied when he glanced my direction but I could feel my stomach turning and a blush forming on my cheeks.
I hated the way he made my insides feel.
Once sound check was complete, it was time to run through the entire show. I grinned like an idiot as I watched them bounce around on the stage and run down the walkways, pretending to get the fans excited. It was so refreshing to see how their choreographer allowed them to pretty much do whatever they felt was comfortable for them.
I died laughing when I saw them come together during one of their songs and perform original One Direction dance moves. Clearly they were better singers than dancers, but the goofiness made the show that much more genuine. These boys were acting the same way on stage as they would off stage. And I have become to realize that their sincerity might be why they have been such a successful group with an extremely loyal fan base. They don’t pretend to be anything they’re not. And I am growing to love them for that.
After the run through, I hustle them over to Lou and she got started right away. I observe from a chair in the corner as each of the five boys get pampered, plucked, blow dried, moisturized, and perfected until they all look like rock stars.
Caroline has hung five garment bags in wardrobe labeled with the boy’s names that contain their outfit for the night. As each one goes in and out of the changing area, I see their look finally coming together. Similar to the choreography, Caroline allows the boys to pick and choose their clothing to fit their personality. Some are more casual, some more sporty, but they all look amazing.
It’s reaching 2:30 and I leave the boys to go meet up with the fans in the parking lot. I stroll down to the side entrance and am greeted by six security guards waiting to assist me per Paul’s request. I smile as I walk towards the gate and see the ecstatic fans lined up behind it. A few see me walking and starting jumping up and down, letting out high squeals. It turned into a snowball effect and soon I have fifty girls shrieking and crying in front of me. I wince and signal them to quiet down.
“Hi everyone! My name is Charlie and I’m going to be taking you to your Meet & Greet with One Direction! Who’s excited?” I instantly regret asking that question as my eardrums explode from the noise emanating from the crowd.
“Please make sure to stay in line and not to go in any rooms while we walk through the building!” I gesture to the security guards and they line up beside the group and herd them like sheep into the small hallway. As soon as we get to the lobby, I’m confused when I see the photographer but the boys aren’t anywhere to be found.
With the help of the security guards, we manage to condense the fans into the lobby and I look around for help. But before I could call Paul on my walkie talkie, I see the boys jump out from behind the photo backdrop and surprise the crowd.
It’s an absolute circus.
The fans cries have erupted and the sounds are bouncing off the high ceilings. I see the boys all bent over from laughing at their surprise and I can’t help but laugh along; they’re such goofballs.
The Meet & Greet went by without any issues. All the fans got to take their pictures with the boys and after everyone was finished they all sat cross legged around the makeshift “stage” and watched the guys perform a couple songs.
Listening to them sing here might have been even more amazing than watching them sing on the stage. Each one of them was so focused and didn’t miss a single note. I had to lean against the wall to stabilize myself as their angelic voices floated through the lobby.
One song I found myself extremely drawn to was called Little Things. Each member had the spotlight during some part in the song. When Harry sang his part, my knees almost buckled underneath me. His deep, raspy voice vibrated my core and sent pleasure shocks just below my bellybutton.
I know you've never loved the sound of your voice on tape
You never want to know how much you weigh
You still have to squeeze into your jeans
But you're perfect to me
I could feel my heart thump faster against my chest as his stunning green eyes locked onto mine while he sang. I couldn’t even pull my gaze away from his as he serenaded me. After his solo, Harry, Louis and Niall all sang the chorus together and then Niall had his solo. Harry kept his eyes on me the entire time before singing another solo part. I bit my lip as his mouth began to move ever so sweetly.
I've just let these little things
Slip out of my mouth
'Cause it's you
Oh it's you
It's you
They add up to
And I'm in love with you
And all these little things
Once the song was over, I realized my eyes were extremely dry because I hadn’t blinked during the entire song. I rubbed them before looking back at Harry, who was still staring at me. I felt a blush come over my face as he grinned before going in to the next song. As I stood there and watched them sing the next tune, my heart dropped when I realized what had just happened.
He had broken down one of my thousands of walls, protecting me from him.
And he knew it.
///
Harry’s POV:
After my first solo in Little Things, I smiled inwardly knowing I was making progress as I looked at her expression while she watched me sing. I didn’t take my eyes off of her the entire song, and surprisingly, neither did she.
I knew I had sparked something inside of her when she bit down on her bottom lip during my final solo. God, what I would do to kiss that beautiful bottom lip. I know it could potentially fuck up her job if I ever made a move, but I just couldn’t contain my wanting her. It was inevitable.
I had to do something about this tension between us and it had to be soon.
Notes
Ugh...I'm sorry guys, I just didn't like it. I don't know why. But I thought it would be good to show you guys what Charlie's job was. I just want to get in to the relationship stuff more! :)Question for this week...
If given the chance, what do you think Charlie would do if Harry tried to make a move on her? Would she deny it or let it happen?
Send me your answers! Vote, comment and subscribe! :D
Love youuuuuuu!
-Natalie Xxxx
Please updated ASAP pleas lov this story :)
4/2/14