Marina's POV:

When the girls and I finished with Overexposed, our driver had already shown up in the driveway, ready to take us to rehearsals. Right now, we were preparing for our upcoming album, dozens of lives shows to perform, and not to mention, Britney entered us in the Annual Vocal Battles of 2014. It’s supposed to be some competition for famous singers; we were taking part in the Band Edition.

Everything seemed a little too exhausting, but of course it’s always worth it, because Radio Active is planning to have a WORLD TOUR the following year, so at this point I don’t really care anymore. “Great job ladies! Now that you can pull off a Christina Aguilera cover, can you do Karmin no sweat?” Justin challenged with a fiery sensation glistening in his eyes.

I could tell he was trying to test us; Well, well, challenge accepted! “Bring it on!” We waved at him in unison, wanting the music to start already. The speakers inside the sound booth began booming a skippy, bubblegum beat. I leaned in closer toward the microphone in front of me, taking in a gush of air and matching the rhythm of the music by tapping my feet casually.

“This is a Radio Active cover, originally performed by Karmin.” Justin announced, recording his voice with some kind of tape. He lead his fingertips to the knob of the control panel, turning on the volume. The girls and I are ware there is a rap in this song. That’s why we have Courtney and Tammy!

Jessica:

This is more than a typical kinda thing,
Felt the jones in my bones when you were touching me, oh, oh,
Didn’t want to take it slow,

Avery:

In a daze, going crazed, I can barely think,
You’re replaying in my brain, find it hard to sleep, oh, oh,
Waiting for my phone to blow

Courtney:
Now I’m here in a sticky situation,
Got a little trouble, yep and now I’m pacin’,
Five minutes, ten minutes, now it’s been an hour,
Don’t wanna think too hard, but I’m sour,
Oh, oh, I can’t seem to let you go,

All:
See I’ve been waiting all day,
For you to call me baby,
So let’s get up, let’s get on it,
Don’t you leave me broken hearted tonight,
Come on, that’s right,
Honest baby I’ll do,
Anything you want to,
So can we finish what we started,
Don’t you leave me broken hearted tonight,
Come on, that’s right, cheerio,

Marina:
What’s the time, such a crime
Not a single word, sipping on a Patron
Just to calm my nerves, oh, oh,
Poppin’ bottles by the phone,
Oh yeah,
Had me up, had me down, turn me inside out
That’s enough, call me up
Maybe I’m in doubt, oh, oh,
I don’t even think you know, no, no,

All:
See I’ve been waiting all day
For you to call me baby
So let’s get up, let’s get on it
Don’t you leave me broken hearted tonight
Come on, that’s right
Honest baby I’ll do
Anything you want to
So can we finish what we started
Don’t you leave me broken hearted tonight
Come on, that’s right, cheerio

Courtney:
Anything you wanna do, I’ll be on it too,
Everything you say, it’s like a gold with a view,
Business on the front, party in the back,
Maybe I was wrong, was the outfit really whack,

Tammy:

This kinda thing doesn’t happen usually,
I’m on the opposite side of it, truthfully,
I know you want it so come and get it, cheerio,

All:
See I’ve been waiting all day
For you to call me baby
So let’s get up, let’s get on it
Don’t you leave me broken hearted tonight
ohhhohohhhoohhhh
Honest baby I’ll do
Anything you want to
So can we finish what we started
Don’t you leave me broken hearted tonight
Come on, that’s right, cheeri, cheeri, cheerio

Tammy:
When you gonna call,
Don’t leave me broken hearted,
I’ve been waiting up,
Let’s finish what we started, oh, oh,
I can’t seem to let you go,
Come on, that’s right, cheerio, uh!

Finishing the song, we were panting like dogs in need of water. Avery, Courtney, Jessica, and Tammy laid their bottoms on this comfortable, massive looking couch. “Marina, GO GET ME SOME COFFEE! I am thirsty!” Groaning angrily, I turned around only to find Courtney giving me her famous puppy dog eyes.

Sometimes I feel like the pack mule in Radio Active or the maid that never gets her pay check! “Fine!” I huffed, while slipping on a pair of pitch, black aviators, just in case the paparazzi were outside trying to earn a quick buck. Ever since the girls and I were signed a recording contract, I would always remind myself that I was going to be different.

I don’t want my face slapped on every gossip magazine or tabloid out there so I try to avoid the media every now and then; Avery, Jessica, Tammy, and Courtney as well. “ME TOO!” A mixture of voices added, overlapping their sentence. The other four were huddled together like penguins and kneeling down as if I was some kind of god. “ARE YOU SERIOUS?” I spat. Tammy flashed an innocent smile while fluttering her eyelashes all flirtatious like.

“Please?” She begged high pitched, holding out her words like gum. Finally, I waited so long to hear someone say that! “Thank you, Thank you Tammy and I will, only because you said please.” I promised as a glimpse of satisfaction lurked beneath her. “PLEASE!” Courtney, Avery and Jessica echoed with their voices mixing like cake batter again.

I sashayed out the door with a smile of victory. There was a near by Starbucks right beside the studios and a crowd of people living their daily, normal lives. Luckily, I was able to make it out alive without any flashing lights blinding me. I’ve heard stories about other celebrities getting seizures because of that same reason!

Wrapping my fingers around the door handle, I noticed there was a sign that said, ‘Push’. Seems a bit odd, but I just went along with it as if it was nothing. Inside the café, there were modern like table sets and couches as if it was just a regular household. Menus and price tags were hung high in the air while customers filled the mini store. “Whoa..”

A woman in uniform stood behind a green and brown colored counter where the cash register sat. “Hello ma’am, welcome to Starbucks! How may I help you today?” She politely greeted hyper like. The girl’s smile definitely said something, but her eyes said otherwise. I bet the whole time she was working here, her cheerful mood was just as fake as Nicki Minaj’s body.

Avery gave me a piece of notebook paper with the others’ order written across it, but it looked like just a bunch of chicken scrap. Trying to read the slightly crumbled sheet, I gazed upon the menu above me. “Yes, I would like a Frappuccino Mocha, Hot Coca, Vanilla Latte, and Iced Coffee.” I listed as clearly and slowly as possible.

Her fingers skidded across the keyboard of the cash register and screamed a few demands at her fellow co-workers. I handed her a bundle of dollar bills while dropping a few coins for the final touch. Right before giving me my cups of coffee, the woman placed the change on the counter. “Thank you.” I mumbled, sweeping the money up like a mop.

Picking up the card board, cup holder, I tightened my grip on the box as I tried my absolute best to keep balance. The liquid inside each drink rocked like waves in the ocean as I clumsily past the long line of waiting customers. “Oh god!” I yelped out as feeling of pain shot through my arm in result of slamming my shoulder against the exit. Then I realized that I was supposed to pull instead of push. BLONDE MOMENT!

Thoughts on how to solve this sticky situation circled my mind as I awkwardly stood there with both of my hands occupied. “Here let me get that for you!” A kind gentleman offered as I moved out of his way. Thanking him first, I gratefully walked outside of the café, determined to get this stuff to the girls as soon as possible.

“IT’S ALREADY TWO?” I started to panic, looking down at my wrist watch. My fellow peers hurried their way past me like a swarm of honey bees. I dodged every obstacle while fast walking toward the familiar building. The sight of the studios only encouraged me to pick up on speed, but just suddenly, a very large figure collided into my body like a car crash.

A mixture of icy cold and steamy hot trickled against my skin as ice cubes from Courtney’s drink fell into the hem of my shirt, causing me to flinch from the feeling. My sun glasses dropped to the concrete floor along with myself stumbling downwards. Sadly, I decided to wear a white shirt today, now it’s drenched with spilled coffee not to mention my hair was caught into the accident too. “How amazing!” I sarcastically grumbled.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I uh d-didn’t see you there.” A thick, British accent apologized. Just by hearing the person’s voice, you can automatically tell it was a man. The way he spoke was slow and deep; puberty must’ve hit him hard like a bus! His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back on my feet. In result of avoiding the man’s gaze, he lifted my chin upwards and pulling the strands of hair away from my eyes.

I felt his rough hands cup my cheeks softly as a pair of green orbs looked down at me completely dazed. Then I soon realized that I was in the arms of Harry Styles. Coughing uncomfortably, I shoved his warm touch afar; silently wring the fabric of my blouse. “I eh, think you dropped these.” Harry stated the obvious while running his fingers through the mop of curls sitting on top of his head. Was his hair even biologically possible? There were a few small cracks forming on the rims of my aviators; I just stuffed them in the pocket of my shorts.

After giving me yet another long lasting glance, his eyes dramatically widened from shock. “WAIT, y-you’re Marina Kelly from that band, Radio Active!” I covered his big mouth with my now, coffee scented palm, giving him an angered look. With my free hand, I lightly placed one of my fingers over my lip, telling him to shush. “Are you crazy? Don’t just scream my name like that! How would you feel if I did that to you?” I put the joke on him.

He tried responding, but all it did was come out as gibberish, making me release my left hand. “I’m sorry again for spilling your coffee, but why were you carrying so many cups?” Harry questioned while raising an eyebrow, gesturing to the pile of Starbuck labeled drinks crushed on the floor. I let out a tired sigh, recalling the girls’ orders.

“When my friends and I finished rehearsals, they asked me to go get some coffee from next door. Then you happened!” I explained, biting out my words at the end harshly. He gave me a guilty smile and apologized some more. It was kind of getting annoying, but I decided to shrug it off. There was no need to stop him anyway; I mean he did just run into me not to mention his rude twit about me.

“I-I can pay for them. I-If you want.” He offered, while stuttering as if it was a million degrees below zero outside. (It’s Los Angeles, of course it wasn’t cold outside) I can totally tell that he was afraid of me or just feels stupid. Either way, I couldn’t care less. With no other choice, I agreed to do it. If I didn’t, Courtney would probably slaughter me and get the coffee herself. Lazy butt!

After buying another set of drinks and waiting in line yet again, Harry and sat alone together near a store window. "So...Erm...Uh...Radio Active, huh? I-I uh really like your music." He awkwardly trailed off, tapping his finger nails against the side of the coffee cup. I thought long and hard if I should ask him about the tweet he broadcasted. Letting my mind take control, I unexpectedly blurted out.

"Do you really think I'm in over my head?" Harry uncomfortable drew back, slighlty shocked from such a question. I let out a sigh. "The tweet. You mentioned me in a twit." I beamed, making my words come out loudly at the end. A little too audible might I add. His lips formed into the shape of an 'o', meaning he probably figured out my concept.

"Oh, that." He dropped; a sign of guilt and panic washed over him. Harry ran his fingers through his hair once again, it seemed like some kind of routine for him. "Uh-I uh didn't mean it like THAT. It was just a simple word of advice?" The way he said his sentence was unnatural and made up, or just a simple excuse. I can't just read his mind like it was normal, no it's not that easy. Maybe I was over looking this whole situation.

Harry wasn't SO BAD, but his image said otherwise. The media made him look like a filthy pimp, a heartbreaker, not worth any woman's time. This is the main reason why I wanted to keep myself and the tabloid as far away from each other. Sadly, I can't sign a restraining order for the paparazzi. You know what? I'm going to give this guy a chance, maybe my impression of him will be different. I won't ever know unless I actually try so...

"Anyways, what brought you here to Los Angeles?" I asked suddenly, breaking the distant pause of the room. A smile stretched across my face as Harry blinked his eyes rapidly in shock from my surprising change in mood. He returned the look and our eyes met for a lot longer than I intended. They're just so...Pretty? Snap ot of it! "Just a few live shows, so I guess we'll be staying here for awhile until next time."

When I arrived it was around five, in other words I was seriously late. As I entered the building, I couldn't help myself but smile for the hundreth time already. Entering the room, everyone jolted from their seats and shot different questions at my face. "Marina, where have you been? Why did it take you so long?" Jessica asked anxiously. I tried my best to think of an excuse. Then again I shouldn't lie about what happened, but part of me wanted to keep it a secret.

"The line was just really long. Busy Starbucks!" I managed to choke out, using the method of laughing to cover any signs of bluffing. I decided to give away the cups of coffee Harry bought, it was already evening and from the looks of it, no one looked like they were in the mood. What they don't know won't kill them. Right?

Notes

Oh my god, Harry finally met Marina!
What do you think will happen next?

This week's song: Karmin: Brokenhearted
*Credits to artist