Behind The Backstage Doors

Her hands were practically shaking. She tried to calm them down by putting them into her jacket's pockets. But she noticed it was a bad decision to remove her hold of the pole as the bus turned quickly and she almost fell on the ground. "Sorry," she mumbled when she took some support of the man in front of her. God, she hated packed buses in London.

She didn't know if she was relieved when she finally got off the bus. Her feet unwillingly guiding her in the building in front of her. There was no doubt she was going in the wrong building. There was a group of screaming girls in the front door and she kept apologizing when she tried to push past them. She was quite surprised that people were still so crazy about them. She didn't know if someone would recognize her after these two years but she kept her sunglasses on and her gaze on the ground.

She showed her driving license for the body guard so he'd know who she was and she'd get in. She sighed out when she was inside and the screaming wasn't echoing in her ears anymore. She probably looked really lost as a woman came to ask her if she could help her.

After a while she found herself in the meeting room with the tour manager. After introducing herself she sat around the table as they waited for the rest of the team appear. After a while people started to stream into the room. She felt nervous even though they all seemed nice and chilled as she shook hands with everyone. And her part of the meeting wasn't that big. She had spoken with the tour management on the phone and he had practically said the job was hers. But still her hands were shaking and clammy as she nervously smiled to everyone.

She didn't know what to think when certain people stepped in the room. First she saw Zayn walking in. He shook hands with people before locking eyes with her. She shifted nervously and gave a little smile. "I'm not sure... but have we met before?" he asked and she was kinda relieved he didn't recognize her yet. She laughed it off but then from the corner of her eye she saw Louis.

He was staring straight at her with a frown on his face. "Alison?" he asked with disbelief and she could form a weak 'hi' with her mouth. "What are you doing here?" he then smiled and half hugged her. She shrugged her shoulders at her old friend and gave him a mysterious smile. They didn't have more time to chat as the tour manager cleared his throat and everyone settled in their seats.

She didn't want to raise her head to look at everyone around the table. Because she knew if Zayn and Louis were here the rest of the group would be also. She was shaken off her thoughts when the tour manager whose name she learned to be Rick called her name. "I was just introducing you to everyone," he smiled when she looked confused. "Ahh yeah, sorry. Erm... Hi," she said and she felt like she could hide under the table because of the embarrassment. Her cheeks probably flaming red. No one seemed to notice her goof as they kept their focus on the man speaking.

Carefully she let her gaze travel around the room. She noticed Niall and Liam on the other side of the table. Luckily they were as unaware about her presence as Zayn. Well, she hadn't been that close to them but her hair was nowadays blonde and her style generally a little different than before so she wasn't that surprised they didn't recognize her. She glanced at the other people and she sighed out relieved when a person she was afraid to meet was missing.

But her fear turned out to be needful as a light knock came from the door and the person opened it. "I'm so sorry I'm late! The traffic was insane," he rushed to say. Her breath was taken away by the sight of him. He had a casual white t-shirt and blue tight worn out jeans with black boots. His hair was a lot shorter from the sides than when she last met him. Which felt like ages. He had still some unruly curls in the top of his head and he messed them up before taking a seat on the other side of the table.

"No excuses, Styles. Right where I was..." Rick said but suddenly she couldn't concentrate on his words anymore. Only thing she could see was the man with the same green eyes she had once known so well. He kept nodding and smiling at the people around the table and it was only a matter of time when his eyes would land on her. She tried to hide behind her hair and look at anywhere else but him. But she knew she couldn't hide from him forever.

Louis was giving her a raised brow as he looked at between the two of them. She hadn't been in touch with Louis for six months at least. She felt quilty for that. She had been such good friends with him once.

The meeting went on slowly and apparently he hadn't noticed her yet but she knew that sooner or later he would and it seemed sooner. "Aaand I'd like you to meet your new photographer, Alison Livesy," Rick informed and everyone's attention turned to her. She smiled weakly and opened her mouth to speak. "So everything's clear then?" she said then giving a questioning look at Rick. She started to play with her long hair nervously while Rick kept talking and she could feel the green eyes boring into her.

"...And also I'd like to have a chat with you after this. Don't look so scared! Nothing to be worried about," he assured and then the topic of her was over. She felt quite excited despite the circumstances. This was a big job she had dreamed about for a long time and she'd get to travel around the Europe while doing what she loved and also getting paid of it. She couldn't ask more.

Finally the meeting was over and people started to gather their stuff. She felt a little lost standing there alone but then Louis appeared next to her. "A job contract with us. Wow," he smiled genuinely. "It'll be amazing to have you on our tour," he then winked and she thought with that the past was forgiven and forgotten. She gave him a smile before he walked away. Rick nodded her to follow him so she exited the room.

"Welcome to the team," he first smiled and hold his hand out to shake hers. But she had a feeling it wasn't all he wanted to say. "Look... I'll go straight to the point. I know about you and Harry's past," his words made her tense and she kept silent so he could talk. "And it's not a problem until you won't do anything stupid with him. Can you work with him without any incidents?"

"Y-yeah," her answer came out a little unsure so she cleared her throat and spoke again. "Yes. It's all in the past and this is work."

"Good. It's just... We need Harry to be single for this tour and I don't want any photos of you two together," he said looking deep into her eyes. "Of course," she answered somewhat annoyed by his words. But she tried to be polite and said her good byes to the man smiling. When he left she could breath freely again and she started to move towards the entrance.

But her relaxed mood was quickly shifted when she met the green eyes in the lobby. His expression was surprised, confused and pleading at the same time leaving her wondering what it would be the next time when she had to face him. But now she made her way quickly away and out of the building in the soft spring weather of London.

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