Chapter 7

Hello my lovely readers! Believe it or not, it's been almost two weeks, but I don't usually update this soon. Although, recently, you guys have been flattering me with your reviews—honestly unbelievable, thank you all so much—and after a couple strongly asking me to update, I decided to do just that. Here is the result!

Enjoy!

"Guys…" I wring my hands together, suddenly nervous. Raini, Calum and I were about to leave Teresa's apartment to head to the concert, and my inner panic that I had been forcing down the entire flight had finally bursted out.

I was pacing around the front entrance, already in my outfit: knee-length blue dress, with a sweater overtop, brown ankle boots and my brown hair now obscured by the blonde wig. It was supposed to make me unrecognizable to R5, but what if that didn't work? What if they didn't let me answer the three questions because I already tried once? On the other hand, when I got my phone back, wouldn't there be press all over the story of who the mystery girl is? Did that mean I had to wear my hair blonde all the time now to keep people from realizing who I really am? More questions were swirling around in my head, giving me a headache. I was still pacing around, but now Calum and Raini were standing in front of me. Raini grabs me shoulders, forcing me to halt.

"Laura, you're fine," Raini soothed. "You know the plan, you're completely disguised, and you will get your phone back, alright?" Listening to Raini gently reassure me did help, and I took a deep breath, nodding.

"Okay then," Calum suddenly pipes up. "I hate to ruin the moment, but if we don't leave now, we might actually miss the Meet & Greet." My eyes land on a clock hanging on the wall and see that it was half past 5 already. The Meet & Greet starts at 6. We had originally decided to have an hour head start in case we got lost, but that's not happening anymore.

"Alright…" I take a couple deep breaths, steeling myself for tonight. I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready. Like Raini said, I knew the plan from beginning to end, I was well disguised, and apart from the sudden panic attack, I was feeling confident enough.

"Let's go."


The venue looms in front of the three of us: a large building illuminated by multi-coloured spotlights and crowded with hundreds of people. I look at Raini and Calum, kind of like a last minute pep talk: Love you guys. Thanks for doing this for me. We silently communicate for a moment before joining the crowd. As soon as we step in the huge twisting line, we can no longer hear each other over all the screams and animated chatter. Instead, we stand silently and are left to our own thoughts.

I think about everything that has led up to this: the game of Truth or Dare all those years ago, my first R5 concert in Miami, and all the regret I felt after the concert for losing my phone and not creating a great memory like I had wanted. I remember that on that night, my only worries were the dare and not embarrassing myself in front of R5, but nothing turned out like I had expected, did it? I had also promised myself that one day, I would go back to a show and not have anything to worry about at all. Maybe just my limbs sore from dancing—nothing else. I wondered if I would fulfill that promise tonight. But I better not get my hopes up. I really don't want to deal with that huge disappointment again. I don't think I can bear another déjà vu moment…

"Laura!" Raini screams over the crowd, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turn to her and see her lips moving. Even though we were standing right by each other, I had to strain my ears to catch her next words: "…starting to let people in!"

My head snaps up to see the line begin to shuffle up. Against my will, I feel a small burst of excitement crawl up my veins. I mean, even if this was mostly business, I still couldn't help the quiet squeal that came from the part of me from before all this drama happened.

Slowly, as if to taunt me, the line crawls forward and all we can do is move up along with everyone else, when all I want to do is run—forward or away is still undecided. Subtly, I wipe my palms against the skirt of my dress, nerves spiking up again. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Finally, we make it through the doors and into the cool, air conditioned hall. I silently continue to walk, giving myself mental encouragement. I can do this. No problem. Everything is fine. Then, I scold myself. I can't believe this! I am so paranoid, it feels unhealthy.

We follow the group down the hall towards a pair of doors. There stood two guards who were ushering people in groups at a time. So lost in my thoughts, I jump when someone touches my arm.

"Sorry," Raini apologizes, pulling me out of the line at the same time. At my confused look, she explains, "We think it'd be better if we were the last ones—more privacy, you know?" I nod. That did make sense. I could say that we didn't want anyone overhearing, but my suppressed motive was having a clear getaway in case things turned out bad.

"Laura, stop thinking like that!" Oops. I direct a sheepish smile to Raini, who had heard my thoughts spoken out loud. Obviously, Raini didn't think I would listen to her, but she let it go nonetheless.

Calum was waiting at the very end of the line, an usher just walking away from him. When we join the line beside him, he informs us that since we were the last group, we could essentially head in at our own pace.

So, Calum, Raini and I spend the next long period of time talking, shuffling forward and occasionally giving words of encouragement (mostly directed at me) until finally, we find ourselves being the last three people in the hall, save for the two guards at the doors.

We have our tickets scanned and walk in through the set of doors. Immediately, déjà vu slaps me in the face, making me wide-eyed as I look at the setting before me. Different time, and different state, but everything here was still exactly the same. The large R5 poster hung as a back drop on the wall, and in front of it sat five chairs. Forcing my eyes up, I hold back a squeal as I see R5 sitting there, smiling expectedly at us. After the initial glance at the band, I then look only at Ross, comparing him with my image of him from only a few days ago.

He was still stunningly attractive with his disheveled blonde hair, light eyes and easy going smile stretched across his pink lips—but wait. With a more detailed glance, you could see just how much this phone situation has taken a toll on his, which makes me incredibly guilty. His soft hair was sticking up in a way that made it seem like he had run his fingers through it…many times, his lips were pulled up but didn't reach his eyes, and his eyes—what they held surprised me. I expected disappointment and tiredness, and I was right, but there was also a glimmer of hope and excitement gleaming in those orbs, as if something amazing had happened.

A forceful nudge snaps me out of my thoughts and I blush. Here I was standing in front of my favourite band, and I decide to zone out? Great…

Raini and Calum walk first, heading towards Riker, Rocky, Rydel and Ratliff sitting on either side of Ross, clearly indicating where I should go. Slowly but boldly, I make my way up to him, watching his amused smile on his face, and catching the way his eyes linger someplace other than my face. I blush, glad his attention was currently elsewhere, and the next thing I know, I'm standing right in front of him.

"Hey," Ross greets me, his eyes twinkling from the bulbs above us. Learning from my past mistake, I reach out suddenly and give him a brief hug, something that I regret not doing last time.

"Hi," I breathe out after I pull away. Ross looked taken off guard, which I found highly amusing, but a second later, he asks, "so, would you like a picture?"

I grin. "I would love too—," I start before I remember a very important factor, "—but I lost my phone…," I trail off when I notice Ross' face. It wasn't the oh-great-another-fan-who-says-the-phone-is-hers look that I had expected. Instead, his features were scrunched up, as if he was focusing really hard on something. He trails his gaze slowly down my face, expression still thoughtful, and all of a sudden, he questions me.

"Have we met before? You seem very familiar."

His words knock the breath out of me, and all I can do is stare.

Whoa! Who saw that coming? A bunch of you probably did...

Anyway, for chapter 6, I got almost 20 reviews and it was honestly amazing. I don't expect that many reviews, but when it happens, it makes me very happy, and motivates me to write faster, knowing how many of you take your time to tell me your thoughts:)

Thanks in advance to all of you who review! You guys rock!