Back On Stage [Harry Styles]

Nearly Midnight

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

CHAPTER ONE: NEARLY MIDNIGHT 

''Two minutes and we will go live! Repeat, two more minutes and we will go live!'' A loud voice sounded through the speakers. I looked around, trying to find the boys through all this madness. There were a lot of people shouting, trying to get some attention from the boys. People were pushing and pulling, almost like it was that Black Friday after Thanksgiving and they were all desperate to get that one thing on sale.

I was backstage at one of the many Christmas specials the boys had to do, but this one was the most important performance of them all, the Christmas' Eve Show. They would be singing live with an American Christmas choir, broadcasted in many countries, which meant that millions of people would be watching them sing the well-known Christmas songs. I was standing near the door opening of the huge dressing room while the boys were somewhere in a corner on the other side of the room. There were at least hundred people in here, all trying to get an interview with the boys. 

I didn't know how they did it. They had been giving interviews since two hours ago and they were all still smiling at the cameras, still answering the questions. I could notice they were a little bit tired of it, but that was mainly because I had to work around them on a daily basis, so I could easily tell how they were doing. 

''This is insane.'' I mumbled. I pushed my way through all the people standing in the way between the boys and I, but before I could reach them someone pushed me away. It was some camera crew, probably belonging to an important TV Channel. I took a deep breath and decided it was impossible to get through the crowd, so I turned around and walked to the other dressing room, opening the door with my backstage key. I saw Kyran, a manager from the opening act who toured along with us, and smiled. ''Ky!'' I said, glad I found someone who I was comfortable hanging around with.

''Elaine, how are you?'' His thick Irish accent pealing across the room. I walked towards him quickly and gave him a hug. He was a bit shorter than I was, which annoyed him occasionally. 

''I'm okay, it's just a bit hectic with all the media backstage, you know?'' He nodded, probably because he was used to it by now. Me on the other hand, couldn't really get used to all the media. It was madness every single time. Sometimes I ended up with bruises, which were caused by the pushing media at a concert. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a big bruise on my upper arm already.

''They will leave as soon as the lads will go on stage, which won't be long now.'' He told me, which made me feel a little bit better. As soon as the guys started performing, all the media had to leave backstage. I sat down next to Kyran on the big blue couch, similar to the one where the boys were sitting on in the other dressing room, except this one was a little bit older. 

''I know, I know.'' I said. I looked at the big television across the room, which showed everyone backstage what was happening on-stage, so that if something went wrong, we all would know and could help. There was some well-known artist, which looked familiar but I couldn't recall the name, talking about One Direction, while the fans were going nuts. ''I don't know how the lads can stay calm with all those people wanting to talk to them.'' I shrugged. Kyran nodded, understanding my point of view.

''You know, I was wondering..'' Kyran's voice surprised me as I had zoned out a bit when I started watching the screen. I blinked my eyes and looked at him. ''Have you ever even met the lads?'' He asked. 

''Well, of course I see them on a daily basis because I work here for them.'' I started, while I was looking at my Christmas-inspired, red-polished nails. ''But I have never really sat down with them or had an actual conversation with them, if that's what you mean.'' I looked at Kyran and I couldn't be more thankful for the fact that he was with the boys on tour. I was sometimes a bit shy, but he was always interested in how I was doing and over the past few months I had really gotten to know him. I considered him as one of my closest friends, but I didn't tell him that because I didn't know if he thought about it the same way. ''What about you, Ky?'' I asked him.

He nodded. ''Yeah they know me, I see them a lot when the lads from my band are having dinner with the boys before the show. I usually join them and we talk a bit, they're really nice.''

Suddenly there was a loud, male voice coming from the speakers. ''Could all the press and the people without a backstage-pass go to the exit, please? Repeat, could all the press and the people without a backstage-pass go to the exit, please? Thank you.'' It was probably William, the backstage-coordinator. He was responsible of the interviews, making sure everything happened smoothly. Well, as smooth as it can go with aggressive press. I smiled, thankful that the press would finally leave. I heard a lot of footsteps down the hall, which were mostly complaining reporters who didn't get the shot they wanted. 

''Look, El.'' Ky pointed towards the TV. ''It's about to start.'' He grabbed the remote control and turned the volume up. I saw the artist from earlier walk off-stage, while the fans were screaming louder than before. Ky handed me a mug filled with hot chocolate and placed a bag of crisps on his lap. 

''Good evening, New York!'' Niall yelled. The five lads ran on-stage, smiling and waving, while the intro of  a Christmas song started playing. 

Showtime.

---

It was nearly midnight and the show had just ended. The boys were great, as usual. This had been the last show in the States and we were going to Singapore in two days, giving us a spare day to pack our things and say goodbye to some of the crew members who weren't going to Singapore. I wasn't really tired, maybe because of the fact that I didn't need to do a lot today, because the crew and I had set everything up a few days ago. 

I was sitting outside, my back against the tour bus of the crew with my earbuds in my ears, listening to some Indian band. It was quite dark outside but I didn't mind. It was too hot in the tour bus and I needed fresh air. I closed my eyes while I let my head rest against the tour bus.

Most crew members, including Kyran, had gone out, or celebrated Christmas' Eve with their families if they lived near-by. They had asked me to come along, but being the shy girl I was, I thanked them but refused. I was feeling a bit homesick, which was very weird because I lived on my own in an apartment in London. Most crew members here were American or lived in America and were only here for the America Tour, which was a shame, really. They were all very friendly and I made some friends here and there.

I missed my best friend, Lea, who I haven't called in weeks because of my busy schedules and annoying time differences. We texted each on a daily basis, but it wasn't the same. I was really scared Lea and I will grow apart because of my job. I haven't seen her face to face for two months now, she visited me in Vancouver for two days but needed to go home quickly again to go to Uni in Wales. I couldn't imagine how the boys were feeling. Sometimes during a tour I could take a week off and go home, but I knew the lads couldn't. Their life wasn't glamorous at all. It was a lot of working and they couldn't go home for birthday parties, family gatherings or Christmas.

I couldn't remember how long I had been outside for, but suddenly I heard some footsteps coming towards the tour bus. I realized my fingers were feeling numb and I was really cold. The footsteps were getting closer and closer and closer, but I didn't really feel the urge to look up because it was probably a crew member going to bed or getting their things in the bus. I was surprised when the footsteps stopped next to me. The person kneeled in front of me, grabbing my ice-cold hands in one hand. The hand was bloody hot against my hands. The other hand grabbed my chin, slowly, lifting it up a few centimeters, making me look into his eyes. My eyes opened and I was a bit disoriented  because my eyes had been closed for a long time.

''I don't think it's a good idea to sit here in the freezing cold, love.'' Said the mysterious guy with an English accent. I frowned, the voice sounding really familiar. I blinked a few times and saw the face of the guy in front of me. The green eyes, the dark curly hair... My jaw dropped when I realized who it was.

No way, it's Harry Styles.