Nate winks at me, then turns, heading for the girl with the sticks. She hands them to him, and he leans in to hug her and take a selfie. The look on her face is pure jubilation. I can’t help but stand back in awe. I love how much the crowd adores these guys. I hadn’t realized just how popular they are. I guess Ithought being in their video meant I was helping them. Maybe they will be the ones helping me?
“Zaria, can I get a picture?” someone calls out.
I nod, feeling like, finally, someone knows who I am.
I walk over to the fan who called my name, and her smile is bright, lighting her eyes.
“Hi, honey, what’s your name?” I ask.
“Heidi.”
“Well, Heidi, it’s lovely to meet you. Thanks for coming out to support the guys.”
She smiles. “I do love them, but you’re my favorite actress. So having you both here together is like all my dreams come true.”
“Aww, you’re sweet. I hope you enjoy our video when it comes out. Be sure to keep an eye out for it.”
“Oh, I will. I’ll be watching it on repeat over and over again, sooo many times. Don’t you worry about that.”
I laugh. “Thank you for your support, Heidi. It means so much to us all. In fact, Danger…” I call out to gain his attention.
He looks at me and smiles as I wave him over.
Heidi tenses up as he walks up to us.
“Hey,” he says, smiling wide.
“Can we get a pic with me and our biggest fan, Heidi, here?”
Danger smiles. “Biggest fan, hey? Of course.” He moves in behind Heidi as I shift to her side. She freezes with the biggest smile on her face and pulls her cell up, snapping some selfies of the three of us together.
“Okay, got it, I think. Thank you, guys, so much. You’ve made me so happy.”
“Anything for our biggest fan, right, Zaria?” Danger says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders like we’re the best of friends, and believe it or not, it’s actually comforting.
“Exactly. Have a good day, Heidi.”
“Thanks again, guys.”
“You’re welcome, honey,” I reply as Danger drags me off toward the massive double doors of the radio station. The security guards are trying to usher us inside, and we’re laughing at their bossy tones.
“Thanks for coming over to have a pic with Heidi and me. I think we might have made her day.”
He smiles. “It was worth it to see her smile. Plus, you’re damn easy to work with, Zaria. You’re not such the hard-ass you portray.”
“I’m not a hard-ass at all, really.” I giggle. “I’m actually quite different from that movie star I portray once you get to know me.”
Danger smirks. “We have two months to get to know each other, and I have a feeling we’ll be having a lot more Heidis in that time. So we better get along, right?”
I nod, wondering if it’s possible to become friends with all of them.
We walk into the radio station and are introduced to the producer. He tells us the interview will last around ten minutes, and they will primarily talk to Danger and me about how we liked working together, then play a couple of the band’s songs in between. The band members will be there but won’t get any on-air time as the focus will be on Danger and me as theheadliners.
I glance over to Nate to check if this is something the band knew about, but the look on Ryan’s face makes it clear they did not.
Chewing on my bottom lip, we slip into place as the others sit in the back of the room, away from the soundboards and mics.
I feel terrible.
