Immature moment for the day: Zayn singing "So c-come on, You got it wrong, To prove I'm right I put it in a so-o-ong"... my friend Christina and I were uncontrollably giggling over the fact that in a live version of it, it sounded like he was singing "To prove I'm right I pooted in a song."... i know. I need to grow up. but it was really immaturely hilarious.

anyways, ENJOY!

xxxxx

The crowd has dispersed for the most part, Doug is nowhere to be found (thank God) and Julie seems to have gotten control of herself for the time being. I'm helping to clean up the stage and am dragging a cooler down the hall toward the dressing rooms. This is going to be a bit different of a night for me since we have the same act two nights in a row. I reach the boys' dressing room and hear laughter and chatter from inside and I shoot Harry a quick text.

"I need to come in and do some replenishing. You decent?" I ask.

Shortly after, I receive a reply.

"Dunno know what you mean by decent, but you can definitely come in."

I roll my eyes and open the door in time to see Harry bent over with his ass in Niall's face and I understand the bathrobe now. It matches the fancy gold thong he's wearing perfectly and I don't know whether to be mortified or impressed.

Niall's is in hysterics, tears streaming down his cheeks as he swings back and slaps Harry so hard on his bare ass that he screams, clenches his butt cheeks and takes off prancing across the room on his tip toes. His robe has fallen down over his backside, but he's rubbing his cheek beneath it as if the faster he does, the quicker the pain will recede and I'm dying. The entire room is doubled over with laughter, myself included, and I have to sit down on the cooler I'm dragging to catch my breath.

Harry turns around and starts to make a pretty colorful remark at Niall when he sees me and his comment turns into more laughter. He strides over to me and folds his arms over his chest, quirking his eyebrow up and pursing his lips.

"Ah, ya think it's funny, do ya?" He asks and I wipe the back of my hand under my eye to clear the tears away. I nod and sniffle and wipe the other eye when he huffs and leans in, nearly growling, "I'll give ya somethin' to chuckle about, woman."

Suddenly, I'm squealing as Harry attacks me with his finger tips just below my ribs and I'm tumbling off of the cooler. We are a tangle of limbs and screams and laughter and I'm kicking my feet wildly trying to get away from him. I can feel the other guys' eyes on us, curious and questioning, and it's a little uncomfortable but at the moment I am just trying to get away from Harry's menacing hands and to steer clear of anything under that robe that could come flying out.

Finally, I get my feet about me and I have the bottoms of them pressed flush against Harry's chest, my knees curled into my own. There's about a second of time where we are just wickedly staring each other down but then I extend my legs with as much force as I can muster without really hurting him and Harry hurtles back into Niall's legs. My stomach aches from laughing and I scramble to my feet, trying to catch my breath.

"You're an asshole." I laugh between gasps.

Harry stays sitting on the floor, grinning at me like a Cheshire cat and then looks up at Niall and the rest of the guys sitting around him on the couch and chairs spread about and says, "Boys, this is Christina. Christina, this is Niall, Liam, Louis and Zayn."

The guys are all incredibly sweet and they stand to shake my hand. Niall is the only one who refuses to shake my hand and instead snatches me into a big hug. I giggle and blush at the attention and shake my head at Harry as I reach down for the cooler again.

"You're impossible, Herald. I have a job to do. You just worked so hard to save it for me and now you're going to go off and put it back in jeopardy?" I tease as Harry begins to stand.

Niall has one of those laughs that you can't help but laugh along with even if you don't know what's gotten him going in the first place. So, I'm uncontrollably giggling as Niall throws his head back, clutches his stomach, curls his legs up and falls over on the couch laughing.

"HERALD!" he chokes out, still giggling.

Zayn chimes in, all cute smiles and quiet demeanor, "I feel like ya need a big grey beard and a wooly overcoat to wear that sort of title."

"Herald sounds like someone who would date my Nan!" Louis adds.

"With his track record, he probably would." Liam laughs as he and Louis fist bump. Niall is now rolling back and forth clutching his stomach and I'm pretty sure he's about to piss his pants. Harry is shaking his head and I notice the blush that's coloring his cheeks as he looks at me like he can't believe what I've just started. I smile at him as wide as I can and wink and he finally cracks and starts laughing again.

He walks over and takes the cooler from my hands and I thank him as he nudges my shoulder and mumbles "thanks for that, jerk."

I head into the bathroom and lock the door, busying myself with replenishing the toiletries and thinking about the craziness of the day and my new found… friends? Acquaintances? As I'm finishing up, I jump as three sets of hands begin knocking rapidly on the door and screaming at me to hurry along. Scratch the former titles… my new found pains in the ass. That's a good word for them.

"I've got to POO, WOMAN! HURRY IT UP, WILL YA?" I hear Louis scream.

"You'd better squeeze those cheeks, buddy! I'm getting paid to do my job here and when it's done, you can do yours."

I hear Louis whining on the other side like a child and I laugh as I scoop the toilet paper wrapper from the s floor and shuck it into the trash can just my phone goes off in my pocket. Reaching for the bathroom door handle, I pull my phone out to see a text from Julie asking me to meet her by the stage in five minutes. I think I hear Louis now banging his head against the door and I can hear Liam telling him to knock it off before he ends up with a concussion. I rip the door open to keep him from knocking himself out or crapping his pants and he dashes past me with a polite bow and a "Thanks ma'am. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to have a go at making this lovely restroom you've just tidied up smell like a real man lives here!"

…Seriously?

I step through the door way and leave him to his business, heading for the dressing room door. Time to go have a chat with the bride of Satan.

Before I can leave though, Harry is at my side and has me by the arm. He's really good at that.

"Wait. Where are you off to?" He asks and I look back at him, feeling very suddenly worn out. I offer him a tired smile and lift my phone.

"Gotta go face the music." I say half-heartedly. Harry nods and twists his mouth up.

"Ah. Got it. Well, let me know how it goes. And if you've got time after, you should come back and hang out. We're thinking of ordering a pizza or something." He stares at me, all hopeful and adorable and how the hell could I say no to him? I smile, still not understanding why he actually wants to hang out with me, and promise to text him when my conversation with Julie is over and I'm cleared to be off work for the night.

He seems appeased and releases my arm, turning around to yell at Zayn who has fallen asleep on the couch.

"Hey! We'll have none of that, Zayn. Wake up, you!" I hear him yell as he sprints across the room and jumps on top of the poor, sleeping boy. I shake my head and head down the hall.

This was not going to be a fun conversation.

Xxxx

"I don't know how you did it, but don't think for a second that I believed a word of that bull shit your boy band buddy was feeding me. I wasn't about to argue though considering I'd been the one having to deal with Doug's ranting and raving for over an hour while you fawned over some guy who you don't have the first chance with!" Julie spat as I followed her down the hall and toward the garage with my head down. I was too tired to retort and while her remark stung, I knew she wasn't far off.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled.

"HA! Yeah, you really are. Do you have a clue what the word 'professional' even means?" She scowled as we reached the Element and she demanded the keys. I set them in her perfectly manicured outstretched hand and she climbed inside.

"Get in. We're going into town tonight to get set up for the morning. Since I obviously have to baby sit you in order to make sure things get done correctly, I'll drive."

She really was pissed off. I mean, I understand it being stressful and all and I'm sure having Doug breathing down your neck wasn't the least bit fun, but come on. It wasn't like I set the damn venue on fire, I'd accidentally dropped a receipt. A receipt that I went out of my head trying, and succeeding, to find!

Two hours and a whole lot of emotional chastising later, Julie and I returned to the venue with way too many bags and a hell of a lot of work ahead for the following day.

As she locked the doors she turned toward me. "I'm exhausted. I'm going home to get some sleep. I'll be hanging onto the keys for now. You get to come in two hours early and deal hands on with Doug in the morning since I've had to stay late to make sure things were actually done right. You screw it up tomorrow, you're done. Got it?"

I watch as she storms off and out of the building and I lean against the Element and fall apart.

Was this really what I wanted? To be picked apart at a job that I liked okay, but I wasn't super passionate about? To be bullied and berated when I messed up even though it was my first day on the job and I hadn't really had a whole lot of training? I wasn't even planning to be a stage assistant or even work in a venue. I just needed the experience. But I could find some other way to do it; some way that was fulfilling and rewarding.

Granted, it was only the first day and I was no quitter. I'd push forward. I'd stand up under the pressure whatever that looked like. But my heart was heavy and my head was spinning and I had a lot to think about.

I wiped my eyes with the sleeves of my sweatshirt and took a deep breath, reaching into my pocket as my phone buzzed.

Text Message from Your Hero Harry Edward: Hey you. Did you abandon ship on us?

I smile to myself. Say what she would about Harry, I knew I wasn't up to his caliber, but I wasn't pursuing hanging out with him, was I?

Me: Coming, sorry. Got an earful and a whole lot of extra work dumped on me because of earlier. Been a rough one. I hit send.

YHHE: Sorry, love. Want me to set someone on fire?

I laugh and the sound echoes through the empty parking garage. I head for the door and keep typing.

Me: I may. I'll let you know. For now, I just need a good laugh and some food.

YHHE: Got you covered on all counts. We're at the bus. Where R U?

Me: Was headed for your dressing room. Probs should have known you'd be out by now. Heading your way. I type and send as I turn back around for the garage.

YHHE: Give us ten minutes. And be prepared! Is all he responds with and I don't even know what to expect tonight, but I'm excited.

xxxx

Thanks for reading:)