Jess’s POV

I couldn’t sleep that night for obvious reasons. I was up until the wee hours of the morning, tossing and turning as I replayed the events that had transpired during the day.

After Sven’s revelations, there wasn’t much time to react or talk because the café started getting really busy. He gave me 24 hours to think about it and respond before I assume he “offers the position” to someone else.

My first thought after Sven left was that this was all one big joke. The cameras are capturing every reaction I had and at any given moment now, the show’s host (Maybe Ashton Kutcher?) will come out and say that this was a cruel prank they decided to test out to poor gullible girls like me.

When the cameras still didn’t pop out four hours later, that’s when I started believing that it was real. Or maybe it was all just a dream and a product of my hallucinations? I have been sleep-deprived lately – I underestimated how long the body adjusts when you move to an entirely different country. The change in climate was just another one of the things I have been dealing with since relocating from Hawaii. I also drank 2 strong cups of coffee already beforehand so maybe that added to the delusion?

By the time my shift has finished and cameras have still not appeared, I was positive it was not a dream. As if to further support that thinking, I emptied out the pockets of my apron and found the card Sven handed me. I didn’t realise how tightly I’ve been holding it until I saw that the card was so worn out that if I crumple it even more, I wouldn’t be able to see what was on it. I kept it in my wallet and decided that I would not think of the matter anymore until I get home.

Of course that was impossible as these guys are simply just everywhere! They were big back in Hawaii although I was never really knew much about them. At 21, I felt way out of their age bracket and felt awkward to be a part of that fandom. Yet admittedly, I liked their songs and admired them for doing something amazing like that. I never realised how big of a band they are until I moved here.

I passed by a magazine shop on the way to the tube and saw that the band was on the cover of at least three publications. I picked up a special edition One Direction magazine, convinced that I needed to do research before I thought about it further.

“It’s for my sister,” I said out loud as the lady handed me my magazine.

“Oh love, you’ll be surprised how popular this is among all ages.” She said with a wink.

-

I’ve heard the phrase “A lot can change in 24 hours” numerous times now but it has never rung true for me until now.

I looked at my reflection for what seemed like the hundredth time this morning. I finally gave up trying to sleep when I woke up from a very brief nap and saw that it was already 6 am. I decided to get up and start my day early. The earlier I start, the sooner I could get today over with, right? Well that was my logic at that time.

I made myself a pot of tea, hoping that that would make me feel a bit better. It didn’t. I tried tidying up the flat’s kitchen, before my flatmate Lani screamed at me to stop making too much noise. That annoyed me so much, especially since it was Lani and her boyfriend who turned the place into such a pig site anyway with their mess.

I was too uneasy to eat so I settled for taking a quick shower instead. As much as I tried to relax as I felt the warm water against my skin, I just couldn’t bring myself to do so. My mind was full of questions as Sven did not explain anything to me. All I knew was that I was absolutely not allowed to tell anyone about any of this.

Right because who would I tell? I don’t know anyone here except for the people I work with. The only one I’m really close to is Kate, my other flatmate. I stressed about what to wear too. Should I try and make a first impression when they obviously have already checked my blog out so they know how I dress. Or do I go corporate like I’m dressed for a job interview? Because if you really thought about it, this is what it was anyway.

In the end I decided to go for my nice black dress, an oversized cropped cardi, and black boots. I played around with how to do my hair. I was afraid that leaving it down would make my outfit too dark with my medium length black hair just blending in with the rest of the outfit. Then I tied my hair up and was horrified at how tying all my hair up emphasized my double chin and chubby face.

I am reminded again of how much weight I’ve gained. I was a size 14 bordering on 16 and while that rarely bothers me, I found myself too self-conscious about every inch of my body at that moment.

Convinced that I have done the best I could to make myself look at least presentable, I adjusted my glasses and pulled out the card again. I typed in the address on my phone in case I get lost and can’t read the card and prepared for battle.

I knew that after I got out of that building my life would never be the same again no matter what decision I chose.

-
Harry’s POV

“So what are you gonna do about it?” Louis asked.

We were sitting in the studio’s makeshift dining room and lounge, eating lunch. It was another busy day for us recording in the studio all day and preparing for the new album launch. The rest of the guys are taking a break after working intensely, and now is the time for Louis and I to deliver our parts well.

“I don’t know man. It’s not like I can do anything.”

I shrugged. It was true anyway. I tried arguing, pouting, brooding, flat out refusing, but Sven knew how to play his cards well.

“I just don’t see how they could make you do that. It is your personal life after all!”

“Yeah, but he made great points that this would be what’s best for all of us.”

“Not if it’s in exchange for your happiness, Harry.”

I had to smile at that. Louis can be so mature sometimes (when we need him to be) that I forget I could talk to him about everything.

I took a bite from my chicken sandwich and downed a glass of the lukewarm water sitting there. “Man, I can’t wait to drink cold water again.”

“You can say that again. Funny how it’s the little things that we miss the most from all of this.”

“Like ice cold water and having a private life.”

“Harry, just put your foot down and say no. I’m sure Sven can find another way to sort things out that wouldn’t involve such extreme measures.”

“No I can’t. I’ll feel too guilty, Lou. This is what’s best for us.”

“And your happiness isn’t?”

“I am happy, Lou. I truly am. I understand now that these are just the prices I have to pay for all this. Yeah I do wish that I wouldn’t have to do this, but except for that, I’ve never been happier.”

“You can drop this anytime though. I hope you know that,” Louis assured me. I appreciated how supportive he was of me not pushing through with Sven’s plan. The thing about these boys is that they know me more than anyone else do and at the end of the day, we really are just like a family looking out for one another.

“Thanks Lou, I appreciate it,” and that was that. Whatever doubts I had at the start seemed to be a lot less after talking to Louis about it. It’s amazing how talking to really good and trusted friends can make you feel better.

“Has Sven found a girl yet?”

“I think so. He’s being secretive, that cheeky bastard.”

“Who do you reckon will it be? Model? Actress? Musician?”

“No idea. He knows my type, but really, it could be anyone with Sven. I just hope she’s hot.”

We laugh at my own shallowness. It would definitely make this a bit better if she was eye candy.

“What if you end up falling for her for real? Wouldn’t that be great?”

“Like I do love, man. You know me! You can’t tame the hazza!”

“There is nothing quite like being in love, though. To have that someone that makes life just more amazing? That’s what it’s about. . .” he trailed on. Louis, ever the romantic, was obviously a man in-love. The way he lit up talking about her was so evident that I almost felt jealous of what he had.

I quickly removed those thoughts from my head. I haven’t felt that way in so long and really, who has time for that? In between touring, recording, and everything else, there’s no time for real feelings in my life anymore. This fake relationship would have to do.

I just hoped that Sven made the right decision on this. As if reading my thoughts, my phone beeped and showed that I had a message from Sven.

“Meet at my office 2mrw at 9. Urgently need to run the plan with you. Sven.”

Great. Just great.

Notes

So I know pacing is quite slow but I can't imagine it being really fast paced without losing its meaning and the way we understand these characters. Bear with me, I promise to provide you with good stuff! Also some Larry mention here. Thoughts?x