Behind The Backstage Doors

Alison couldn't believe her eyes as she opened the door of the pub. Louis' just a few pints with a few friends was clearly more as the pub was packed of drunk people. She smiled at some of the faces she recognized to be part of the management and made her way on the counter. She thought about trying to find Louis but thought it was better just sit and wait. He'd find her eventually.

She ordered a drink and sat on the high bench. She couldn't really get her head around the fact that she would be travelling around Europe the next few months. She felt excited and terrified at the same time. Excited because she would see places she had never been before and terrified because it was all new to her. She tried to push the other reason why she was terrified of the tour behind the back of her brain.

But then the reason was standing in front of her and she had to look him straight into eyes.

"I said hi?" he looked irritated but tried to hide it as Louis was standing next to him.

"Oh sorry... I was just in my thoughts," she laughed nervously.

"Let's party before wooork!" Louis yelled grabbing her hand. She let out a chuckle as he led the way towards a table were everyone was Harry walking behind them. All of the boys were sitting there except Niall and she felt kind of relieved after their little chat earlier. Also Louis' girlfriend Eleanor was sitting there with a few of her friends.

"Hi Alison! It's nice to see you again after a while," Liam said politely standing up on his seat to gave her a kiss on the cheek. She greeted the rest of the group as well and then they settled around the table with their drinks the conversation flowing freely.

She caught up with Eleanor as they hadn't seen each other in a year or so. The last time was at Louis' birthday party when he turned 23. She couldn't remember anything of the night just when she was throwing up the next morning. Miserable mind and alcohol wasn't a good thing mixed up together. That was one thing she had learned these past few years.

The night went quickly by with the good company. Harry had been sitting silent in the table for an hour and then heading somewhere else. He had given her a dirty look before standing up and excusing himself of the table. But Alison tried not to care.

She knew they had an early morning as the team was going to drive in France where they had their first gig so she wasn't going to drink much. Meanwhile Louis drank only God knows how many drinks in front of her. The girls had a proper laugh when Louis tried to tell some story and ended up just slurring something nonsense. Eleanor decided it was better if she took him home.

Alison stayed there for a while listening to others' talking. When Liam made a move to leave she decided it was best if she left also. "So where you're staying the night?" he asked as he stood up of the chair.

"Erm, well I'm going to head in the tour bus already," Alison told while gathering her stuff.

"Ahh poor thing! Alone in the big bus," one of the girls which name she had learned to be Heidi said pouting her lip.

"You could always come to my house. I've got an empty guest room. The bed is so much better than the ones in the bus," Liam offered. She felt warm by his kindness but shook her head. "I got my stuff in the bus anyway so," she shrugged.

-----

Alison felt exhausted when she got in the O2 arena where the buses were still parked. It was past midnight and a security guard let her inside the bus. Her eyes grew wide when she walked in. She had never thought you could fit so much stuff in a bus. There was a little kitchen and a bathroom and enough beds for them to sleep. She wasn't sure what she thought about that she had to share the bus with a few men of the team but also with the boys. It would get cramped.

When she had explored the bus she went in the bathroom to wash her face and teeth. She stared at her reflection in the small mirror for a long time trying to convince herself she would make it through the tour.

She jumped when she heard some noises coming from the door. Her heart started to beat faster as she opened the bathroom door and peeked around but there was no one. For a moment she thought she had imagined the sound but then she heard some cursing from the other side of the bus.

She plucked up courage and stepped out of the bathroom. "Who's there?" she yelled ready to attack if there was some murderer.

"Fuck! Come to help me please," she heard unfamiliar male voice shouting and then a loud crash. She made her way towards the sound regretting that she had already changed into her pajama. She tried to pull down the hem of the pajama dress while she tip toed on the door.

Her mouth flew open when she saw a man trying to hold clearly drunk Harry. "Thank god there's someone!" he said with irritation in his words. He slumped Harry off him and just when he was falling on the ground Alison quickly placed her hand around his body and he took support of her.
"He almost fell!" she yelled at the man she didn't recognize.

"He's all yours now. Take care of him," he said coldly and exited slamming the door behind him.
Alison sighed heavily trying to support Harry's limp body. With step by step she dragged him towards the beds. His eyes had been closed but now he opened them and looked at her.

"Katy is that you?" he slurred when she finally managed to drop him on the bed. "No it's Alison," she hissed between her teeth. She didn't know who Katy was but thought she was probably one of Harry's one night stands.

She couldn't believe she was in this situation right now. She helped Harry get his shoes and jacket off and then tugged the blankets around him. She didn't know why he had got himself so drunk. It wasn't wise at all as they had a concert the next day.

"Noo you can't be Alison," he said while nudging his head against the pillow. Alison froze for a second and waited for him to say something else but his breathing started to become heavier. She gave a final look at the sleeping man before going to switch off the lights. But just when she was about to do it Harry shifted under the blankets.

"You can't be Alison. She left me alone ages ago," he slurred and then finally passing out. But something about the tone of his voice made her heart sank. She stared at him for a few minutes eventually switching the light off and climbing into a bunk as far as she could get from him.

Notes