Flying pigs, girl gangs and brothers

Senna's POV

It had been three days since I spoke with Harri, and despite my best efforts to call again the next day Zander had packed our schedule so full I hadn't found time to call her. There was the occasional text but nothing that felt as good as hearing her voice.

As I crash on the bed of yet another hotel room, I press dial. It's barely on the second ring when I hear the sound I've been craving.

"Hello," her voice sounds from the other end.

"Oh, I get a hello this time do I?" I tease recalling how our first call started.

She laughs. "Did you just snort?" I ask amused.

"Oh god. Kill me now," she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I smile to myself. "I'd prefer not too. Then who would I talk too?"

"Well, after I'm gone Jazz will need comforting," she says with a giggle.

"Won't she be busy with Jax?" I tease remembering her friend's obsession with him.

She snorts again. "Ha! she wishes. Despite her instance that he'll one day turn up at our school to sweep her off her feet, I truly doubt he even knows she exists."

I smirk, thankful that she can't see me. This is just what I needed after the week I've had.

"Well, you never know stranger things have happened." I tease.

"Well unless he can hear her on a subliminal level I'd say it's pretty safe bet," she replies matter-of-factly.

I run my hand through my hair, pulling the stands away from my face. If only she knew, I think trying to stifle my laughter.

"Each to their own I guess. Not really my scene," she continues.

Curious, I ask a question I'm not sure I want to know the answer too, "what scene is that?"

"The whole celebrity thing. Wayyyy to much drama. I mean Jazz showed me the clip of some singer's girlfriend being beaten up by his fans in an airport. Not to mention social media."

Shit. This isn't good. She's right though. Joanna copped a lot of flack online for dating Beckett, and that was before it came out that she was selling information. They tore her to shreds once the truth came out. I mean our fans are great but they can be ruthless and there really isn't much they haven't managed to undercover. They're great detectives. Too good, really.

It is one of the reasons Zander is as protective as he is. There have been many times that fans have shown up in places they really shouldn't have been. We even had one hide in the rubbish bin at a hotel. It was hilarious at the time but I think we all know how easily things could have gone wrong.

I swallow hard. This isn't good. This really isn't good. I mean I guess this is what I wanted, someone who doesn't talk to me just for the fame. How can I ever tell her who I am now knowing how she feels?

I hear her speak again, her voice low. "SJ, are you there?"

Shit. I must have zoned out.

"Yeah.... I'm here. I don't think it's always that way though," I reply.

"Maybe not, but still it is too much drama for me. Not that that will ever be a problem I'm ever gonna have. I mean the teachers barely know I exist let alone anyone remotely famous." She chuckles, snorting again.

"But what if?" I ask afraid to hear the answer.

"Well I don't like to rule anything out, so yeah, if pigs started flying and some celebrity found their way to me hiding deep in the crowd in good old Chapeldown I would have to consider my options."

"Phew," I mumble under my breathe. Luckily I don't think she heard me.

I can almost hear her thinking as the line goes silent for an uncomfortable amount of time. "But... um honestly, I would have a hard time with it. I hate that Cleo and her girl gang know who I am, let alone the world."

"Oh," I sigh a little dejected.

"Anyway enough about me. What about you?"

"What would I do in that situation?" I ask clarifying her question.

"Yeah."

"Um... you know I've never thought about it," I blatantly lie.

My eye twitches. Jax is right, I am a terrible liar. What am I supposed to say? Oh yeah, it's great the media follow you everywhere pushing for a story and if you don't give one you're rude and if you do you're just after attention. Then there are hangers-on and the yes men. It's enough to drive you wild. The only saving grace is getting to do what you love, and the hope that the people that you chose to have around you are people that push you to be your best self.

"SJ?"

Shit, I zoned out again.

"Sorry, Harri. It's been a busy couple of days," I answer trying to cover for my lack of attention.

"Want to tell me about it?" she asks, her voice gentle.

Everything in me screams yes. It's been such a long time since someone outside the band or Mum asked me that and genuinely meant it. But rather than scare her away I give her my well-practised response and brush off the question answering something along the lines of being busy with back to back appointments. It's not really lying since we have been busy with touring and interviews, but a part of me still feels guilty.

"Want to tell me about your love for the popular girls ?" I tease, changing the subject.

She sighs deeply, "to honest, I don't really know."

"Try me," I encourage.

"Well, so ummm, I've always struggled to fit in. I'm not very outgoing and a bit awkward, okay I'm lot awkard as I'm sure you've worked out. So it's hard to make friends. I'm getting better but like I said I only moved here a few years ago and I guess they don't really like new kids..." she trails off.

"I thought that stuff only happened in the movies."

She sighs again, "yeah, me too. Who knows. I mean my brother is pretty popular, so maybe its just me... I dunno. I think at one stage Cleo had something for him and he brushed her off, and somehow she thinks that's my fault."

"Wow. I almost forgot what high school drama was like," I say thankful that I don't have to deal with it anymore.

"Have you told him?" I ask.

"Who, Theo?"

"Yeah," I confirm.

She lets out a small dry laugh. "No. Like he'd care anyway. He'd probably be happy that they're continuing his life work of making my life hell."

"Brothers, hey?" I say making light of the situation.

"Yeah, brothers," she mumbles.

We talk for a little longer about everything from music to sport. Now I've heard her voice, all I want to do I see her face. What is wrong with me? Like, who even am I? Since when have I been whipped by a girl, let alone a girl I've only ever seen in a photo. One single profile pic at that.

I want to see the way her lips move when she talks, the way the speckles of colour in her eyes change in different lights and the way I imagine her cheeks flush with embarrassment when she snorts.

I contemplate FaceTiming her, but that would mean she would see my face too. I guess I'll have to work something out. In all likelihood, I'll probably just ask Jax, as playful as that guy is he does have some good ideas.... sometimes at least.