Chapter Two

"Hello, my names Amber Blair from Starz Publicity how are you today?"

"I'm very well, how are you?"

"I'm good thank you. I'm just calling to make our first appointment."

"I can free up the boys schedule for whenever works for you."

"Ok, how about Monday, 9am sharp."

"Sounds wonderful. See you then."

"Bye."

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"He made the front page again."

I shuffled in my seat and stared at my coffee.

"Amber if you can't even look at Danny in a tabloid, how are you going to look him in real life?" Lana questioned.

I removed my eyes from my coffee and stared out the window of my local café instead. "I don't want to see him with blond of the week. Its torturous."

"Actually it's a brunette this week," Lana informed me.

"Wow he's broken his track record," I remarked bitterly, "six months of blonds."

"Amber," Lana began as she slid the tabloid into her bag, "I love you. But you have a meeting with McFly and their management tomorrow morning. You need to pull yourself together."

"I'm fine." I insisted.

"No your not." Lana retaliated, "whenever Danny is mentioned you go to pieces."

"That's not true."

"It is true!" Lana replied, "You pretend that you're fine and that you're over it, but you're not. How in the world can you walk into that meeting tomorrow without knowing what to expect? You could walk into that room, take one look at him and burst into tears."

I rolled my eyes, "please, I'm a professional Lana."

Lana shoved the tabloid into my face, "then prove it Amber."

I glanced at the tabloid. Images of Danny and an unfamiliar female adorned the page. The title "Danny Jones finally finds love" was splayed across the centre. I trailed my eyes slowly over the page, forcing myself to look at the images of them laughing together, holding hands and kissing.

I couldn't stop the tear that ran down my cheek.

Lana put the tabloid away. "Were you in love with him?" she asked quietly.

I shook my head and stared into my coffee, "it doesn't matter anymore."

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Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap

"Amber?"

I ceased my nervous tapping and looked up at Julie, "yeah."

"Your 9 o'clock is ready for you now."

Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap

"Amber?"

I ceased my tapping and smoothed down my hair, "sorry. I'm just…" I sighed and bit my lip, "did you see them into the meeting room?"

Julie nodded, 'I did."

"How did they look?"

Julie looked at me strangely.

I laughed nervously, "sorry. It's just… I knew them… a long time ago."

"Oh," Julie laughed, "well in that case, they looked well. I think."

I shook my head and stood up, "I'm being a baby. Take me to them."

We got halfway down the hallway when I panicked.

"Wait!" I whispered.

Julie stopped and looked at me.

"I can't do this. This is too weird. Quick give me some inspiration," I whispered.

"Amber you don't need any inspiration," Julie replied softly, "you are a strong and intelligent woman, and you look stunning today. You are going to blow them all away."

I pointed at her, "you are a really good assistant."

Julie nodded, and opened the door for me.

Summoning together every piece of strength and confidence I possessed, I stepped over the threshold.

The boys and their manager were standing around happily munching on chocolate chip cookies and sipping coffee when I stepped into the room.

My eyes immediately flew to Danny.

Seeing him for the first time in six months caused mixed emotions. Half of me wanted to take off my shoe and hit him with it, while the other half wanted him to take me into his arms and explain why he hadn't called.

Neither of those things happened of course. So instead I took a few more steps into the room.

It took them awhile to notice me, but when they did I wish I had a video camera to film their reactions.

Tom's mouth dropped open, Dougie dropped his cookie, and Harry's eyes were so wide they were like saucers. The only person who hadn't moved was Danny who was frozen staring at me like I was a ghost.

Somehow I got the feeling they weren't expecting me as much as I was expecting them. I smiled cheerfully, "good morning."

"You must be Amber," their manager smiled getting to his feet and shaking my hand, "I've heard so many things about you."

Clearly not from Danny, I mused inwardly. "All good things I hope."

"Wonderful things, you come highly recommended. I'm Fletch"

I smiled, "Fletch, a pleasure to meet you."

"This is Tom, Dougie, Harry and Danny," he introduced.

I forced a natural smile, "pleasure to meet you all."

Tom looked at Harry, and then back to me in disbelief, "meet?" he echoed.

I ignored him, "well lets get started shall we? Take a seat everyone."

Half an hour later

"I've devised a three week press junket," I informed everyone as I walked around the room handing out booklets. I had really hit my peak by this point. Public speaking always relaxed me. "Talk shows, interviews, photo shoots… you guys know the deal. I'm sure you've done it all before."

Tom nodded. Harry was flicking through his booklet. Dougie was still eating cookies. Meanwhile Danny was slumped so far down into his seat he was about to disappear under the table.

"I've also arranged a number of appearances. The main goal is to just get your faces out there. You've been on tour for a while, and you've been in the studio, it is time to get back into the limelight. Parties, movie premieres, restaurant openings. My personal goal is to just generate as much publicity for your new album as possible. We want maximum sales, and maximum chart potential."

God I was good at what I did.

Fletch nodded, "what about girlfriends?"

"What about them?" I asked casually, meanwhile my heart was thumping so loud I swear everyone could hear.

Fletch shrugged, "our last publicist felt that sales would increase if the boys remained single."

I flicked my eyes around the room. Tom, Dougie and Harry were all looking at me curiously, while Danny was looking everywhere but me.

I shrugged, "I think you are all big boys and you can do what you like. I'm your publicist, not your mother. Do whatever you want, I'll put a positive spin on it." My eyes flicked to the clock, "well I guess that wraps it up for today. Same time next week?"

Fletch nodded and shook my hand, "thank you."

Danny practically ran out of the room, followed closely by Dougie, Harry and Fletch.

I was just packing up my laptop when I noticed Tom was still in the room.

I looked at him curiously, "yes?"

"Look," Tom began, "I know this is awkward, but we didn't think we'd be working with you in particular and…"

I waved my hand, "look, lets not make this personal alright. I'm a publicist and you're my client." I shrugged, "lets just leave it at that."

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"How was it?"

I bit into a Tim-tam, "horrible."

Lana plopped herself down on my desk, "really? I heard it went well. According to Julie, Fletch was really impressed."

I shrugged, "well from a professional point of view it went great. From an emotional point of view…" I trailed off.

"Oh," Lana murmured, "that bad huh?"

"He wouldn't even look at me," I murmured.

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To be continued...

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