I tug my coat around my bare shoulders as the bitter wind nips at my body. My fingers grip the keys as tightly as possible as the cold winter’s day numbs my fingers until I barely have control over them at all. Truth be told, it’s not far from Le Faubourg to the concert hall but on a day like today, even five minutes can feel like eternity.

I round the street corner and approach the dome, outlined against the sky with a black rim and iconic roofing. The street leading up to the venue where the boys will be playing tonight is practically deserted apart from a lone figure drifting along the pavement. I raise my hand in a gesture of hello, believing I knew them. After all, who else would be wandering down this street at 6 o’clock in the morning if not a team member of One Direction? But before they can spot me, whoever it was disappears down an ally to the side of the street and into darkness.

I look around curiously, the screams from outside of the hotel still audible even though I am more than a good few streets away by now. It would have been impossible to break through the crowds had it not been for the security stationed at points around the accommodation. How the fans had even found out the boys were staying there was still beyond me because management had purposely chosen a place that, while not too far from the grounds, the boys would be practically inconspicuous and well away from any psychotic fans wanting to rip their ears off. I’m literally not joking. The boys went out while they were on the Take Me Home tour and one girl latched onto Liam’s ear. I found it hilarious but Liam apparently didn’t because he’d shot me a dirty look. I think it’s documented in their film This Is Us but I’m not that sure.
I walked the remaining distance to the concert hall relatively quickly, eager to get out of the harsh wind. I run up the front steps and into the main hall where I can see the boys beginning to set up. Zayn’s missing but everybody else was running Little Things to check the audio worked properly and like it was supposed to. I stop and listen for a few moments my mind drifting to different places as the words echo about the hall. As the boys round the song off, Zayn reappears from the direction of the bathrooms and I hurry over to the stage where the rest of the band are greeting Zayn. I make a running jump and land on the stage as Niall turns around and thwacks straight into me.

I reach a hand up to rub where my head collided with his chest and glare at him. “Jesus, Niall! Don’t do that shit! You almost gave me a heart attack!”

“Kayleigh, you’re twenty-one years old and you’ve worked with us all for two years now. I think you should know that we will never not do that shit.” Niall shakes his head, biting back a laugh while I purse my lips in frustrating like I’ve seen Nevie from management do whenever she gets cross. As annoying as management are, Nevie’s not that bad.

I brush my fringe from my eyes and glare at them all as I see them struggling to contain their hysteria so I roll my eyes. “Oh, just laugh already would ya?” I sighed, exasperated. And that was that. Zayn looked like he was going to piss himself, Harry was practically rolling on the floor laughing, Louis had tears rolling down his cheeks but Liam just stood there. Out of all of them, I liked Liam the most at that minute.
When they’d finally calmed down, I knew it was time to get to work and had to drag them off to wardrobe. Lou was sitting lounging on a chair as she filed her nails casually. That’s what I love about Lou. The boys are over an hour late and she’s just sitting there, making them feel uncomfortable and telling them off in her own, silent way.

“Finally. The golden boys decide to make an appearance. I’ve been sitting here, waiting, for god knows how long, with Lux refusing to go back to sleep until she saw Harry. If you’ll please get your clothes sorted, we’ll get to work. Harry, go in there and get Lux to sleep would you please?” Lou said frustrated. Harry’s eyes lit up as she indicated the back room where Lux obviously was and he practically ran in there. Lou sat back down but not before adding to me “Oh, yeah, Kay, we’ve got to go and see Champs Elysees in the next two days before we leave.”

I smiled at her comment before taking the boys into the next room along and grabbing tops and trousers off the racks.

“Liam.” I muttered, scanning my eyes across the many hundreds of items of clothes and grabbing an orange and white top paired with black skinny jeans. “Do these fit? Try ‘em please.” I chucked the clothes at him

“Yes m’am!” Liam stood and did a strange kind of salute thing and walked over to on corner of the room. I rolled my eyes and moved on.

I was nearly done when I head a ripping sound coming from one corner of the room. I cast my eyes over to the source of the noise where Niall was wearing a sheepish grin and squatting down. I licked my lips nervously as I narrowed my eyes and focused on the large split running down the middle section of the pants.

“Too tight maybe?” Niall looked quickly from left to right.

“It’s a good job that I love you Niall or I’d throw you into that bin over there. Hand me the trousers and I’ll fix them up. Meanwhile, try these. And I chucked him another pair of skinny jeans to try on. Louis and Harry looked at me curiously, their heads tilted as though they were in the middle of an unexplainable problem. It was quite comical really to look at them both because they looked like they were studying for their GCSEs. And neither Louis nor Harry were ever that serious. “Meanwhile,” I addressed my next statement to Liam, shaking off the looks I was being given. “Please try and make sure they don’t trash this place.” Leaving the room, all I could hear was roars of laughter and Lou’s voice telling them to shut up or they’d wake Lux. This immediately quietened Harry and I could hear him giving them threats that if they did wake Lux, his fists would put them to sleep.

I chuckled quietly to myself as I walked down the musty corridor, my feet hitting the smooth tiles. The walkway was a long connecting passage that ensured both ends of the venue were linked together. You could pretty much pass down here without anybody noticing you. Or so I’d been told. I might have been fluent in French but the guy on the phone must have had ADHD or Dyslexia or something because all I could hear was mumbling. I did the best I could in the end.

Wires hung down from the walls and wooden boxes lined them, full of sound equipment the band had brought with them. Two days to go. They would never be able to unpack 30 crates alone in that time would they? As it wasn’t my place to intervene, I continued on down the passage, so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice Paul coming towards me. Apparently, neither did he because we crashed straight into each other.

“Sorry Kayleigh. I’m a little…preoccupied. We’ve got intelligence somebody’s going to sabotage tonight’s show by pelting the audience with eggs from the stage. Like a repeat of Britain’s Got Talent.” I nodded. Paul certainly did seem a little spaced out. I felt sorry for him most of the time. He did so much for the boys but he didn’t get much in return. I alone knew he had debated quitting after his bust up with Zayn last week but who could blame him? He was only looking out for the kid.

Kid. What am I saying? He’s the same age as me and I’m definitely not a kid, not by a long shot. I think I’d better listen to what Paul is saying but I’ve already missed a lot of it so I nod my head understandingly and pat his shoulder as he disappears behind me.

I turn back into the hall that’s only occupied by a few sound and lighting assistants trying to get ready and grab a box that’s sitting to the left of the stage. It contains my sewing machine and I sit down quickly and begin to sew up the trousers. When I’m done, there’s no evidence that there was ever a rip and I hurriedly shut down the sewing machine and race back to wardrobe. I’ve been gone no more than five minutes and Liam has already failed in his task.

The clothes are everywhere and Niall and Louis are having a shoe fight while Harry and Zayn are dressed up like they just stepped out from the 1970s. Mr Liam Payne just sits there, reading his phone like he’s oblivious to the world around him and all that is going on. Later I’ll make sure I kick his arse. I clear my throat and narrow my eyes as everything going on around me slows and I see realisation upon their faces.

“Just dawned on you I’m here?” I shook my head as Niall slowly put down the shoe and looked defeated. I rolled my eyes. “Go on. Go and let Lou practise hairstyles for Saturday. I’ll tidy up here.”

Harry looks pointedly at Niall and they share an unreadable look for a moment. Words seem to pass between them through their eyes and the rest of us stand there awkwardly before Liam coughs, says thank you, and turns to leave. Niall sighs loudly but turns to me and smiles brightly.

“Do you want a hand Kayleigh?” he asks, his eyes helpful.

“Well, uhm, if you’re sure. I’m sure Lou won’t mind working on you last. Besides,” I reach up and ruffle his hair. “I’m sure your hair doesn’t need much doing to it.” He blushes bright red for a second before he clears his throat.

“Thanks. Uhm, where should I start?”

“Over there would be great. I’ll get started on clearing up the shoe fight remnants while you pick up the clothes. Okay?”

“Sure. Not a problem. Oh, and by the way, Kayleigh? I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have been mucking around like that. It was silly and childish and ended in you having more work to do.”

I shrug. “It’s okay Niall. Besides, you guys were just trying to have fun. I don’t blame you but I’m sure Simon will be annoyed you broke that vase.” I indicated the smashed pieces.

“Eh. We can pay for it.”

“That was his mother’s favourite vase. Ya know, the one who’s dead?”

“Shit.” And that’s all it takes for me to forgive him completely.

“I won’t tell if you don’t” I promise.

“Deal.” And we pinkie swear with me shaking my head and him laughing. Oh this is going to be one fun show!

---

2 Days Later
I'm walking back to the venue the exact same way I did two days ago. This time, it took less time to get through the crowds because they were significantly smaller than last time. I think it was because of the snow. Yes, Snow. Right here in Paris. Luckily it wasn’t too severe or the boys’ show may have had to be cancelled but I still insisted on walking despite Niall constantly pestering me to take his car. As if! It’s a wonder that boy even got his UK licence, let alone his international one!

Last night I packed my suitcases along with everybody else. Lou and I had been to Champs Elysees that day and it was one of the most beautiful places in the world. And I’ve been to most countries of the world. Heck, I’ve even been to Ghana when the boys did their song for Comic Relief. I loved meeting the kids, they had so little yet still remained positive throughout their daily life. They were my idols now.

As I trekked along the streets that contained far more people now, just out for a casual stroll, I tugged my suitcase along behind me leaving identical tracks in the snow. I would miss Paris but it wouldn’t be long until we were back for the On The Road Again tour. Only a year to go. As I had been doing for the past few days, I hurried through the front entrance to find security at the doors.

I smiled politely and began to walk between them but they grabbed my shoulders and yanked me back.
“ID please Miss.” One said in a very gravely voice. What? ID? I didn’t have any form of ID on me other than a ticket for the plane. Oh, and some bubblegum too. It seemed as though everybody had been given some sort of card to prove who they were and I had been missed out. Great. I’d find Lou later and ask her to get one for me. I was way to shy amongst new people. For now though, I was going to have to turn on the charm.

“Oh,” I said in a ridiculously flirty voice. “I seem to have left my card in wardrobe. I’m the stylist you see. Kayleigh Michaels. You may know me, you may not. So, if I could just squeeze through here……” I made to move in between them but one caught my arm and narrowed his eyes and glared at me.
“No ID, no entry. Now go away before I make you.”

I turned to move away and call Lou to ask her to get me through but suddenly somebody grabbed my elbow. “She’s with me gentlemen.” An Irish voice said softly, pulling me through the two guards.

“Are you alright?” Niall asked, genuinely concerned.

“I’m fine, truly. Since when did those guys appear?”

“This morning,” Niall replied grimly. “Paul’s so worked up about some sort of egg attack that he’s even been tailing us five.”

“That can’t be right. Paul’s never this paranoid. I’ll go find him, see if I can talk some sense into him.”

“Okay, but good luck. We’ve all tried but he won’t listen to reason. Oh, and you’ll need this.” He chucks me a lanyard with a card attached to it. “I tried to give it to you last night but I couldn’t find you. Did you go home when we started playing spin the bottle?” I nodded and something flashes across his face. But it’s gone as quickly as it appeared and I tear off through the hall.

My feet pound the tiles once again as I dash around looking for Paul, my red hair flying out behind me. I locate Paul relatively quickly and notice a steely look in his eyes.

“Hey Paulie. Listen, I thought we could talk about something, I……..” He cuts me off midway.

“Like the fact that you lied about your parentage? Yes, Kayleigh. I know you’re an orphan. You did pretty well hiding it from us in the initial checks but I’ve been doing some digging and, it turns out, you parents AREN’T Morgan and Catherine Michaels. You actually don’t know who you’re parents are, do you?” He spits acidly. “You’re done, Kayleigh Michaels. When I’m finished with you, you won’t ever get another stylist job EVER!”

“Paul! But, why is it so bad that I lied? I was embarrassed okay? Everybody hated me as a kid, I didn’t want to be hated as a working professional!”

“It’s bad, Kayleigh, because all records of One Direction employees are run through MI5 to check nobody’s somebody they shouldn’t be! You’re practically a whole different person and MI5 now don’t know where to find you should you ever be hurt, kidnapped, taken or killed. It’s really bad Kayleigh. I’m going to have to report you.” And he turned and stalked away, leaving me standing there with tears rolling down my cheeks and my eyes burning like fire. I walked slowly back to the venue where the boys were goofing off. I lowered myself slowly downwards into a seat and sat there, tears pouring down my face.

I let out a tiny sob but the boys’ ears catch it and they spot me sitting in darkness. They rush over but Niall gets there first.

“Kayleigh! What happened? Did he say something to you? Should we fire him?” I look up at Niall’s expression, hovering somewhere between anger and worry. He sits down beside me while the other One Direction members crouch around me.

“What happened Kayleigh?” Zayn whispers softly.

I hiccup but give in as Niall pulls me into him and starts stroking me hair. I begin to explain my story to them all. How my parents abandoned me on my aunt’s doorstep. How she couldn’t cope so she gave me up. Yet as I sit there spilling my dirty secret that could be (and will be) my kryptonite to the boys who’s mouths are slack with pure shock, Niall’s caressing of my hair is the thing I’ll miss. And with every stroke, it becomes more and more painful, because I know that I will never see him again.

As much as I enjoyed the concert, I couldn’t concentrate and it was soon time to go back to the tour bus to travel to Germany. I walked along in Niall’s arms struggling not to burst into the imminent tears I knew would come some time. He was trying to get me to quieten down as best he could but I think he knew he was getting anywhere so eventually he let be, falling into the familiar rhythmic pattern of stroking my hair. Niall and I have a weird bond that’s different to the bonds I share with the other guys. That’s not say I like Niall more, I certainly don’t, but from the moment I met him, I felt like we clicked. And now we’re best friends.

The other guys keep glancing back at us, whether or not it’s to check I’m okay I really don’t know but every so often I see a grin thrown casually over a shoulder and I know that I’ll be getting teased in my final days here. But as of right now, I simply don’t care. I just walk with Niall letting him keep my bare arms warm as we trudge through the light snow around the block to where the tour bus is on.

I spot footsteps leading up to the tour bus and immediately assume that Paul must already be here, thinking that he’d come back early to tell the guys everything he knew about me. But I’d already told them, so he didn’t have that one over me any more.

Louis knocked on the doors but got no answer so delved deep into his pocket to retrieve a set of keys flashing in the pale, milky moonlight. I slotted them into the key hole and opened the doors. He paused as he was about to step inside.

“Guys.” He whispered. “Something’s very wrong. Zayn, mate. Come with me to check it out?” Zayn nodded and they slowly advanced forward. As they entered the tour bus, I caught a pungent whiff of something metallic.

“NIALL! HARRY! KAYLEIGH! LIAM!” The boys on the bus roared in unison. “Do not come on, we’ve got to call the police!” Zayn and Louis scurried down the steps.

“Why?” I asked, my eyes wide. Had Paul told them something I had forgotten about?”

“Because,” Louis said, his eyes wide with fear and panic. “Paul’s dead.”

Notes