CHAPTER 4: Aboard the Bandwagon
The entire atmosphere changed in the blink of an eye. An furious fire ignited in the stranger's usually calm grey eyes. With no doubt, you knew his lips were pursed into a deep frown. On spur of moment, you felt like a midget sitting in the train beside the angered figure. Voices inside your head frantically screamed to run away and retreat while you still can. Get the hell out of there until all chaos breaks loose. Even the passengers surrounding you seemed to notice and avoided eye contact in your general area. The train halted to a stop. Your eyes followed him promptly standing up.
Nervously, you started to speak. "Look, erm, I didn't mean to–"
"Shut it, four eyes brat," he harshly cut your apology mid-way and swiftly walked off the vehicle, hands shoved in his pockets.
You blinked.
That guy's anger disappeared in a flash. What is wrong with him? Lee looked so mad earlier that you thought he just might have actually 'seriously injured' you. Well, that was what your instincts were telling you anyway. Why do you even care? He's literally just some rude, shorter than average stranger you happen to bump into while taking public transportation. You shouldn't bother to hold concern over somebody you hardly know. Come to think of it... You don't even know what half of Lee's face looks like.
Besides, there's much more important business to focus on. Tomorrow morning, you get the chance to meet the band you've been dying to see in reality. It truly was like a miracle was sent down from heaven. A wish upon shooting stars that actually came true. All those dreary days of longing to talk to the blessed members of No Name flashed in the back of your mind. Levi Ackerman, himself, resembled a dream too good to be true. You already felt light-headed at the sight of him online; who knows how you'll react when you see him in real life? Frankly, you wouldn't be so shocked if you fainted at the sight of No Name's renounced singer. Just the thought of breathing the same oxygen as the celebrity made you ecstatic, as creepy as that sounded. You're starting to sound like one of those super obsessive No Name fan girls who forcefully claim "dibs" on one member. C'mon, they're real people too. Being shipped with other people is something you don't want to deal with. The members of the band are most likely so used to all the crazy fans. For you, well, being overwhelmed and frustrated with the berserk crowds sounded like how you would react to all the fame.
The one thing you didn't want to screw up was his first impression of you.
Too bad you had to be in your usual manager work outfit tomorrow. Otherwise, you would have dressed up for the occasion. Meeting No Name was the equivalent to meeting the Queen of England in your world. There was one thing you knew for certain. Keeping a professional composure in front of the five hottest men on Earth will be the struggle of your lifetime.
Even though it was only 5:30 in the morning, you were surging with energy. Today would be one of the most memorable days ever! From the moment you rolled off your bed, a pleasant smile graced your face. Deep down, you felt anxious as well. What if they viewed you as a young, irresponsible bodyguard manager? What if you are not high enough for No Name's standards? So many questions swirled in your head, gradually increasing your worry level.
"Don't worry, _," you muttered while grabbing your black work trench coat and car keys, "the only thing you really should worry about is keeping calm around them."
Out of the five bodyguards, you knew Church would be the most rebellious one. Constantly ridiculing all your mistakes at the office, offering not so nice side comments, and basically acting like a dick was Farlan Church's motto at work. Ever so often, he was just a pain in the ass to deal with. From one perspective, he could be classified as bad as Leonardo - the midget at the bus - or, perhaps, even worse. But, things have died down recently. Church seems to have gained some respect for you. You remember that small smile of his when you praised him for his analytic skills once. It was kind of cute. Anyway, in all truth, you're so relieved his difficult attitude is simmering down.
Once you arrived, only Bertholdt and Church were present in the waiting area for the bus. After all, it was only 5:45 AM.
Bertholdt noticed you and gave a curt wave. "Good morning, Manager."
"Oi, Manager, I thought you'd be the first one here," Church remarked, frowning.
"Good morning, Bertholdt. Not even a good morning, Church?" You sigh, not surprised at all.
He gave you a look. "Greetings and farewells take up too much time. I'd much rather get straight to the point."
"Can you at least try to be polite with the band members and Mr. Pixis?"
"Of course, it's part of my job," the bodyguard let out a chuckle, "I don't fancy on getting laid off so soon."
Bertholdt interjected, "Especially, uhm, when we're about to meet one of the top bands in the world... That itself is a one in a lifetime opportunity."
In response, Church merely shrugged his shoulders. "Band members or not, they're still people. Well, in this case, people with inflated egos."
You lightly punched him. "What happened to the whole polite act, Church?"
"I don't know if you can see; but, they're not here," he gestured to the three of them, "therefore, it doesn't apply, Manager."
"You know, Church, I feel bad for whoever will end up dating you," the words flew out of your mouth before you realized it.
Bertholdt began to modestly chuckle while Church directed a dark glare towards you.
"Not like you have any boyfriend yourself,_," he retaliated, daring to use your first name in the workplace.
The other bodyguard stopped laughing and nervously stared at us. "G-guys, we're supposed to be a team," Bertholdt apprehensively spoke, "not opposing enemies. Please."
"Bertholdt has a point," you stated, still holding your displeased gaze at Church. "We are required to cooperate and work together."
"Manager, on the contrary, that's all I've been doing here ever since day one," he bluntly replied.
"That is what you think you have been doing," you couldn't help but shake your head in dismay.
Bertholdt quietly added, "Sorry Farlan, but, I. . . it's kind of true. You tend to have a habit of, um, starting arguments in our room."
"Those were reasonable arguments, Hoover," his eyes traveled from you to his fellow bodyguard, "I can't help but correct mistakes people to around me. I'm merely doing them a favour."
"To the extent you're taking it to," he mumbled under his breath, "everyone feels constantly bombarded with his critiques."
Church raised an eyebrow and cupped his left ear. "Excuse me, Hoover? Couldn't quite hear you through those incoherent mumbles."
At that moment, Bertholdt glanced at you in a way where it seemed he just thought, 'See, told you so.' Footsteps of loud running echoed from a nearby hallway and all three of you turned to look in that general direction. A brunette with glasses and a buff blonde bodyguard came sprinting towards your way. You waved at them, a knowing smile spreading across your face. It wasn't unusual for those two to be late all the time.
Still smiling, you greeted, "Good morning, Hanji. Reiner."
"Sorryyy I'm late, Manager!" Hanji screamed, trying to fix her disheveled brown hair into a ponytail, "my alarm was turned off! Or maybe I forgot to turn on my alarm?! Anyway, you know how I'm literally the only girl in my room! Wait. . . wait, it's only 5:56 AM! Never mind, I'm just on time-"
"Shut the hell up, Hanji, it's only six in the damn morning," Reiner yawned, stretching his arms. "I could hear you panicking in your room! Do you ever realize you could speak a bit softer?"
"Maybe if I was Berty," she grinned and nudged Bertholdt playfully.
"U-uhm yeah," the shy bodyguard uncertainly said.
"Do you see the people I have to put up with five times a week, Manager?" Church reasoned, "This is what I mean by having to correct mistakes regularly."
"Sometimes, we don't want our mistakes to be corrected," Hanji argued. "Some inventions came from accidents! And accidents are technically mistakes!"
With disbelief, Church retorted, "I can't even comprehend what she just said. Her logic is too far from the norm."
"Well, excuse me, Mr. Perfectionist-Criticizer," Hanji frowned and poked his chest. "But, not all of us can act the way you want us to. We're all individuals with our own separate mindsets. You're definition of normal is most definitely different from mine, Reiner's, Berty's, Manager's and everybody else!"
"Nonetheless, standards, common sense, and the law are still important to keep this society from going crazy. If everybody one day decided what was legal and illegal, all of us would lose our safety and security."
"Gotta agree with Church on that one," Reiner crossed his arms. "A lawless world. . . that's a place I wouldn't want to be in."
"Me too," Bertholdt nodded his head curtly.
Soon enough, a tour bus came rolling in. The windows were tinted the darkest shade of black. Was the band and Pixis inside? You thought they'd be waiting for you at their apartment away from Metro. Guess not. You prayed for the best as you climbed aboard the vehicle. After all, what's the worst that could happen? Find out No Name is actually a group of arrogant douches? No, they'd still have their good looks. Whatever happens will happen. That is that. After what seemed to be an eternity, you entered through the doors, trying to slow down your accelerated pulse.
Three words made you stop dead in your tracks.
". . . . Four eyes brat?"
A/N: Cliffhanger! Man, I'm evil. I haven't updated this thing since last year. Same goes to my other fanfic Handcuffs. What do you think of the plot so far? Good, bad? I'd love to hear what you guys think through comments or PM. Feel free to suggest whatever or point out silly mistakes of mine, haha. ^^
By the way if any of you are confused, I changed Avalon Security Services to Stohess Security Services.