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By: Jules
She smiled at him from across the room. He of course didn’t notice he was far to busy, lost in his own thoughts. She let out a small nervous laugh. Her hand shook with anticipation. Her palms were clammy and sweaty. She couldn’t believe she was here. She couldn’t believe he was here. It was like a never-ending stream of giggles and nervous fidgeting. He would filter out the random outbursts of “I love you”, “You’re my favorite”, and make sure to look up and acknowledge the enthusiasm with a smile or a nod before turning to the next person. She listened to the sound of his laughter permeate the whispers of excited girls buzzing around her. She inched her way forward. He laughed. But it was only laughing to be polite. He was only half paying attention. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to. But he was just so tired. His hand scribbled his name. He could barely make out his own handwriting, much less if he was writing it right. It was all so monotonous. It seemed never ending. But he remembered to smile. She felt the butterflies start. Maybe she should turn away. This was overwhelming. He was right there. They were so close to each other. His bandmate took the CD cover from her outstretched hand. He asked her how she was. She just smiled weakly and squeaked out a fine. He gave her a wink as he passed down the square slip. Sign and smile. Sign and smile. He posed for a quick picture. The girl was crying. He didn’t know what to say or do. He mustered another grin as she wept harder and told him that he was her amazing and so much better looking in person. He simply nodded and smiled brightly saying thanks before turning and reaching out for the next CD cover to sign. Two more to go and she’d be right in front of him. Her knees felt a little weak. She watched a weeping girl head away from the table from the corner of her eye. What went through his mind as he signed away fervently? A cough. A pair of brown eyes met hers, and a chuckle escaped his lips. He took her hand in his before she could move farther down the line and gave it a small squeeze. She squeezed it back quickly before releasing it and moving down. One more. He handed back the CD and cheerfully uttered the phrase he normally did. “Thanks for coming down” he echoed to another girl before he would reach for another one and once more place the sharpie against the paper to scribble his name. Moments away from what she had come down for. He looked out at the line that wrapped around the store, the fidgeting girls. He calculated how long it would take to get through them all. Then, he silently cursed himself for acting ungrateful. He knew better than that. These were the people that made him who he was. So he did what he was supposed to do. He smiled. He signed. And he looked up. She felt her heart beat a little faster as his eyes twinkled. He looked down at the CD cover and looked back up at her again. His grin was real. It wasn’t practiced. It was heartfelt. “I’m looking forward to the concert,” she whispered shifting her weight from one foot to another. “Thanks,” he answered, signing with an energetic flourish. “Been waiting long?” he inquired as he handed the signed sleeve cover towards her. “No not really. The line moves pretty quick…” she replied letting her fingertips linger against his briefly, as she grabbed the slip of paper. “Thanks for coming,” he uttered tapping the marker idly against the tabletop. She nodded in response gazing at him a moment longer, breaking eye contact with him only when she heard the girl behind her gush about how cute he was in person. He smiled as she turned and headed towards the exit. She passed his bodyguard. He gave her a once over before she walked out of his line of vision. Once outside she looked down fingering the signatures that adorned the shiny square. A feeling of contentment passed through her as she slipped it in her bag. She looked through the window. She smiled at him through the pane of glass. He of course didn’t notice he was far to busy, lost in his own thoughts. She’d come to see him.
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