I'm Right Here- SWM Sequel (Harry Styles)

Chapter 16:

“One way or another.” I sing the last line, out of breath.

As I try to catch my breath on my own, my bandmates surround me in a group hug. That was a great performance and we all knew it. Besides, it’s not everyday that you perform a charity single at the Brits. We get off the giant pinball stage and go backstage with the rest of our band. I still haven’t caught my breath and I lose it entirely when I see Bear running over to us with a smile on her face.

“Need something?” She says kindly while passing me my inhaler. A thank her with a nod and she talks to the others. “So, how do you guys feel about it?” My excited bandmates exclaim about great it was and Bear laughs while using her hands to calm them down.

“Well, it looked and sounded amazing. As always. Okay, so you guys have about 10 minutes backstage and then I’m taking the boys to their interview and you guys go take your seats and we’ll meet you there.” Bear explains to our band.

They go to their prep room and we go to our’s, Bear leading us through the confusing corridors.

“Niall, how’s your knee?” Bear asks worriedly as my blonde bandmate drops onto the couch as soon as we get inside the prep room.

“It’s alright. Cracked when I was skipping back to the stage but it’s alright.” Niall says through clenched teeth as he holds his knee in between his hands.

“Well at least you made an effort to be careful. But you,” Bear says as she turns to face me, anger creeping into her voice. “What the hell were you thinking?! I told you to bring your inhaler with you in your coat after soundcheck. But noo. You just had to be difficult.”

“I’m fine, Bear. I used the inhaler before we went on stage.” I tell Bear with a smile. Lie.

“No, you didn’t. Because I had it in my purse since you left it in the car. Don’t play games with me, Styles.” Damn it, she got me.

But she sure did look hot in that small black dress that she was wearing. It was simple and elegant but went to her knee and exposed her collarbones. Her black heels gave her an inch or two more in her height but I still stood high above her. Her hair was straightened and she had let Lou do her makeup dark, really bringing out her eyes and lips. Lips that I hadn’t kissed since my birthday.

We all try to calm down in the prep room but we’re all still buzzing from our performance. So during our interview with Laura, we’re immature and loud, but I feel that just makes the interview better. Bear gives us a few warning looks from off camera but we just give her a funny face and make her smile. After the interview, we go back to our seats, just as Bear told us we would. When Taylor Swift comes out onto the stage, things become extremely awkward. There’s a camera aimed at me at our table and several people around us turn to see my reaction.

I clap and act normal, just like I do for everyone else. Ever since Taylor’s little stunt at the Grammy’s people have been acting like I’m some sort of plague. I haven’t checked any interview or article that Taylor’s done but the way that Bear slams her laptop shut and walks off, I can tell it isn’t good. We win our award for Global Success and we go backstage to do our little press thing. After, we start to get yelled out by some lady who takes the awards back because Louis hid our award under his jacket. Bear and Paul come out of nowhere and save the day, Bear tickling Louis to retrieve the award and gives it back to the lady.

That night, we all go to Nick Grimshaw’s after party. It’s nice to see his and Bear’s reunion, Nick being one of the first people to meet her. While I spend most of my night talking to other celebrities, Bear goes around the party to get her name out there. Rule #1 about being someone- Make sure people know your name. If they don’t, you’re not going anywhere. But several people recognise Bear from the props she used to make, which makes her quite happy.