Chapter 7

Theo's hard grimace had successfully turned to a smirk by the time Frank drove the car up the driveway and parked it in front of the front door. Bobbi hadn't even tried to say anything for the first leg of the drive but once they were out of the city and the buildings became less frequent, she tried her best to smooth over his sour mood.

Bernard had touched the wrong button, and as angry as it made her that he would even bring up such a subject, Bobbi had to focus on Theo and make sure he was okay. After she started talking logistics for the new album and their writing schedule, Theo was sufficiently calmed enough and distracted that she was finally able to make him smile, pulling out the worst jokes she knew, learned only from the pun-queen herself. Bobbi laughed along with Theo and could even see Frank shaking his head up front as he drove.

"Okay! Okay! Last one!" Bobbi said over the laughter. "What's red and bad for your teeth?"

Theo shook his head, his laughter barely dying down, his smile remaining wide as he kept her gaze.

"A fire truck."

Theo audibly groaned at that one, keeling over in response as Bobbi laughed at his reaction.

"These are terrible!" Theo said, his voice slightly muffled. He brought he head back up as the car slowed to a stop then rolled back slightly as Frank parked the car.
"Where do you get all of these?"

Bobbi shrugged.
"You hang out with Rosie long enough, they start to get lodged in your brain. She's brilliant but man does she tell the worst jokes."

Theo nodded in agreement, opening the door and climbing out into the warm sunlight. He held out his hand and Bobbi took it as she climbed down behind him.

"Hello?" They both called out, almost simultaneously, as Theo shut the door behind them and they were met by a completely silent house. Only the sounds of Frank driving away could be heard as they crossed the foyer and headed out towards the patio.
Theo only dropped his grip on Bobbi's hand when they reached the sliding glass doors and he stepped up to pull them open. They found their companions out on the lawn and walked out, taking their shoes off before stepping out onto the grass and towards the small group.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Bobbi had a hard time keeping herself from laughing at the sight before her. The backs of Sam, Alfie and Rosie were turned towards where her and Theo stood, all balanced on yoga mats laid out on the lawn. Sam was expertly posed, equally balanced as he stood on one leg, his arms bent in front of his chest. Bobbi could hear deep breaths smoothly circulating in and out. Rosie was doing her best to accompany his calm composure, a little bit more wobbling but seemingly just as serene. She was most definitely trying harder than Alfie. He stood behind and away from both of them a bit, balanced precariously on his own yoga mat. Bobbi could almost feel the frustration radiating off him as he almost fell over twice and had to quickly right himself again in the short time it took her and Theo to walk from the house.

"Who the hell knows?" Alfie muttered.

"We need to get to work and Sam suggested this to try and calm our creative vibrations." Rosie said. She didn't even bother looking back towards Theo and Bobbi but only once she saw that Sam was staying calm and in position, refusing to let anything distract him.

Bobbi tried to best not to laugh at the seriousness with which Rosie spoke these words.

"We've written just fine before without any sort of stupid yoga sessions." Alfie said.

He lost balance again trying to look between Bobbi and Rosie. He stumbled to his left but didn't bother trying to regain his sense of calm.

"This is stupid, Rosie."

"Deep breaths, Alfie." Rosie said. "You need to chill out your spirit. It will help your creative juices flow."

"Well, it's gonna get me killed if I keep trying so I'll let you and Sam finish." Alfie leaned down and started to roll up his yoga mat.

Bobbi turned to Theo from the scene before them and saw his mouth was in a tight line, his eyes wide and his nose scrunched up, trying his hardest not to laugh. Bobbi leaned against his arm and buried her head into him, letting the smallest of laughs escape. The release was inevitable as she felt she was going to burst at the sight of Rosie and Alfie in work out pants, trying to do yoga. It was a ritual and a common practice of Sam's that everyone had gotten use to early on in their life as bandmates. But the sight of Alfie in breathable fabric was too much.

As Bobbi started chuckle, she could sense Theo release his shoulders and felt him shake as the sound of his soft laughter filled the air.

"Ah, shut up." Alfie said, standing up straight from his crouched position on the floor. "We've got a long writing session this after noon. You two sufficiently calmed and fed and what not?"

Bobbi looked up, taking a deep breath and wiping away a stray tear. Theo nodded in response.

"We're good to go. We got food on the way back. When do you guys want to start?" He asked.

"As soon as possible." Alfie replied, tucking his yoga mat under his arm and taking a few steps towards where Theo and Bobbi stood. "Alex is seriously breathing down my neck to get our butts in gear and bust this album out. Label is exactly happy we didn't work in Jamaica. They're not mad, because they know we'll give them a good record. But we're still behind."

The humor in the air dissipated at Alfie's words and Bobbi had no more laughter to hold back. She stood up straight and started mentally listing everything she would need for the afternoon. She could see Sam and Rosie both bow to each other, and then start to roll up their mats. They joined the small group just as Theo was responding and Bobbi's phone started to ring out from her back pocket.

"Okay. That makes sense. We've got Rosie and some work already started. I think it'll be best to dive in head first. We've got a few PR-" Theo stopped talking and turned to look down at Bobbi.

She winced at the name of Alex lighting up her phone, knowing she had at least 10 text messages unread on her phone. She held up her finger to the group, "Just give me a sec. Keep talking, I just gotta take this."

Theo nodded and kept talking as Bobbi took a step away from the group and held the phone up to her ear, answering Alex's call and bracing herself.

"Bobbi! Finally."

"Hi, Alex. I meant to call on the ride home. We just-"

Alex cut Bobbi off.

"It's fine. I talked to Annette and got all the details. I've already sent a message out to Aaron in reply from his question this morning. He's free this week to meet up and seems extremely eager. He's got a shoot this weekend apparently so if we can get you two together before then that would be preferable. Annette made it very clear that they want you two seen together again as soon as possible."

When Alex finally stopped for a breath and Bobbi saw it was her turn to respond, she fumbled with her words for a millisecond, trying to sort everything into place.
She was finally able to mutter a "Uh, yeah. That sounds good."

"When are you free to meet up with him?"

Bobbi could hear the others continue talking behind her and glanced back at their small group, everyone nearly huddled, their brows knitted, deep in discussion.

"Uh, anytime this week after tomorrow. Preferably sometime in the late afternoon so I have time to work in the morning." Bobbi rang her hand through her hair and brought it down to flow past her shoulder.

"Great. That gives me enough time to send over a NDA. I'll have a messager out there in the morning. Make sure you take it with you when you go to see him. Where do you want to meet up?"

" A non-disclosure? Really? Is that necessary?" Bobbi said. Her hand flew up to her hair again and stayed there, entangled in the long strands as she slowly started to pace back and forth.

"I don't make you do it with the others because they never stick around long enough to need one-"

"Thanks, Alex. You make it sound like they're the ones to run away."

"You know what I mean, Bobbi. It's a traditional part of this sort of arrangement." Alex said. "I'm sure Aaron will understand."

"Except he doesn't know this is all arranged and he'll just think I'm some sort of diva."

"It's for your own protection, Bobbi." Alex said, her voice softening. "Yours and Theo's. Trust me on this one."

Bobbi exhaled a long breath and came to a stand still.

"Fine." She finally said. "I'll do it."

"Great! I'll send it-"

"But I'm not doing it on this next date. I just want to go get some fro-yo and it would only make our interaction more awkward if I pull out a NDA in the middle the most casual date ever. Tell him we'll meet at the fro-yo stand in Malibu, along Ocean Boulevard. And make sure Frank's driving me there."

"I'll let it go for this date." Bobbi let her shoulders drop a bit at her words. "But I need you to get him to sign it as soon as possible. I'm serious, Bobbi. If not this date, then definitely the next. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I do."

"Great. I'll talk to you later, then. Text if you guys need anything and make sure you get to work."

Alex hung up before Bobbi could say goodbye. She stared down at her phone for a moment after the call ended, her mind filled with a million and one thoughts. She finally tucked it back into her back pocket when she heard her name being said aloud.

"Huh?" She turned back to the group.

Alfie and Theo were looking over at her. Alfie's eyes were wide and his arms were crossed over his chest as he spoke again.

"Earth to Bob." He said.

Theo's eyes were dark and his eyebrows low as he looked over at her, his head cocked to the side a bit. Bobbi could read the question in his expression but stood up straight and turned her gaze to Alfie instead.

"What's up?" She asked, stepping towards them. She crossed her arms in front of her and stood in between them, not resuming her spot at Theo's side.

"I talked to mom. She was wondering when we were planning on making it back home."

"Right. We promised we'd come visit after tour." Bobbi mumbled, bringing her thumb up to her mouth and biting on her thumb. "I forgot."

"We've got the Rolling Stone's profile coming up soon." Theo said, turning his gaze from Bobbi to Alfie.. "They wanted to do a home town interview anyways. Tell her we can come out a few days early."

Alfie nodded. "Sounds good. I'll check dates with Alex."

Alfie turned towards where Rosie and Sam stood chatting.

"Alright, well, I'm successfully lost any chill you tried to instill in me with that ridiculous yoga session. Let's go get writing."

Rosie and Sam nodded, all three heading off towards the house set at the end of the lawn.

"We'll be right there." Theo called out after them.

He turned back from the furthering trio and positioned himself a few feet in front of Bobbi.

"Was that Alex?" He asked. He had his arms crossed in front of him as he stared down at her.

Bobbi nodded, dropping her hand from her mouth.

"Yup." She said, in the midst of a large exhale of breath.
"She, uh, called to set up the next date with Aaron."

Theo nodded, quiet for a long moment.

"You okay?" He finally asked.

Bobbi nodded slowly.

"Wanna go write?" He asked, nodding in the direction of the studio.

Bobbi looked past him but the sight of the small house and the other bodies that would be occupying such a space sent a burst of nerves running through her body. Suddenly her legs started to twitch and her hands felt like they should be shaking. She shook her head.

"Uh, no, actually. Why don't you guys go ahead and get started? I'm gonna go for a run. I'll join you when I get back."

Theo stared down at her for a moment before answering.

"Okay. I'll let the others know." He took a step forward and leaned down to place a kiss on the top of her forehead.

"Be safe." He whispered, pulling away, giving her arm a quick affectionate squeeze before turning and following in the footsteps of the others.

Bobbi watched him go for a moment, smiling when he turned back to wave goodbye. But the moment neared too long too soon and her body was rearing to go. Within five minutes, her hair was up in a ponytail, her running shoes were laced up and she had loud hard core music pulsing for through her headphones as she hurried out of her cottage, headed towards the empty road.

*********

Bobbi didn't let herself stop moving until her feet hit the marble steps that led back up to the front door of the main house. She slowed downed just barely to open the door but was over at the fridge in a flash with her body still moving at its quick pace. Taking several long sips from her cold water bottle, she headed out towards her cottage, already showered and changed in her mind. Running over the list of things to do, preoccupied with the millions of other thoughts running through her mind, Bobbi didn't even notice Theo standing out on the patio, changed into his workout clothes. Nor did she notice the lack of furniture usually in her path as she neared the edge of the lawn.

"Birdy!"

Bobbi turned towards the sound of her name, pulling her headphones out and returning to reality. She stopped moving finally and started to let her breath and heart rate regulate themselves. Theo started towards her, tightening the strap on his boxing mats covering his hands as he came to stand in front of her.

"Hi! Sorry. Didn't see you there." Bobbi finally glanced around her then back up at Theo. "Why did you move all the patio furniture?"

In reply, Theo leaned over and grabbed a pair of boxing gloves sitting on the table pushed up against the wall of the house. Bobbi barely caught them when he threw them her way.

"I'm fine, Teddy." Bobbi protested.

Theo didn't say anything. Instead he turned and took a few steps away and started in again on tightening the straps around his wrists.

"Seriously, Theo. We don't have time for this." Bobbi glanced between the gloves in her hand, her cottage, the writing studio then back up at Theo.

Theo stood up straight and stared at her from a few feet away, his arms crossed in front of him. Bobbi tried her best to stare back but his gaze was harder than hers and she found herself setting her phone and headphones down on the table slipping on the gloves.

"This is ridiculous." She muttered, shaking her head.

"No. It's a necessity." Theo said.

"We have work to do, Theo."

Bobbi moved a few steps closer and Theo held up the boxing mats.

"I'm well aware of that, Birdy. Now, come on. Hit me."

Bobbi sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I'm just as serious as you are, Bobbi. Trust me. Now, come on. One-two. Let's go."

Bobbi hit the mats on Theo's hand, the left one first then the right one, barely swinging her arms, little force behind the strikes.

"Harder. Come on."

Bobbi hit them again, planting her feet and striking out.

"Nope. Harder."

Bobbi raised her gloves up to her face, her body settling into it's boxing stance. Her gaze locked with the pads and she stared at them.

"We haven't made it this far because you stuff your feelings."

Bobbi gritted her teeth and tried to take a calm breath. All the emotions she had felt at the start of her run and worked so hard to pummel down with each beating footstep started flaring back up again. Her heart rate was accelerating and her eye sight got narrow as she kept her eyes on the pads.

"That meeting pissed you off just as much as it did me. I know it did. You can't stuff it, Bobbi. Now hit me!"

With one last exhale, Bobbi struck. Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right and then right again for good luck, the blows hard, fast and in quick succession.

She stood up straight and took a step back, her breathing labored and trying to right itself. The red that had started to form around the edges of her vision as she pictured first Bernard's face in one pad and then Aaron's smirking expression in the other started to fade.

She finally looked up at Theo when the pad her eyes had been locked on moved and started to shake back and forth. He was nodding down at her, smiling and then winced with the movement of his wrist.

She immediately took a step forward, her shoulders relaxing, all pent up emotion released from her body, replaced now with only concern and affection.

"Ooh. You okay?" Bobbi slid off her gloves and reached out to grab a hold of Theo's hand. She gently laid it in her own hand and started to loosen the straps around his wrist, making sure to go slowly as she slipped the mat off his hand.

"You still pack a good punch. It's a good thing we don't have to do that as often as we used to." Theo said, laughing softly then wincing as Bobbi touched the palm of his hand.

She kept her eyes on his hand as she spoke.
"The worst yet?" She asked.

Theo laughed. When she looked up, he was shaking his head, his smile soft.

"Nope. Nothing beats your dad's wedding."

Bobbi smiled and scrunched up her nose a bit.
"Yeah, still sorry about that one."

Theo shrugged.
"I just wish we had thought of the punching bag earlier." He paused before speaking again, looking down at her for a long moment, observing her. She could only keep his gaze for a moment before turning her attention back to his hand.

"Do you want one for here?" He asked, his voice low.

Bobbi exhaled, long and low. She shook her head but her voice said otherwise.
"Yeah. We need you to be able to play if we're actually gonna get this album finished."

"I'll text Alex."

Theo pulled his wrist back and took off his other matted glove. Bobbi stayed in place and watched him as he gathered up his things. He caught her staring and turned back to face her, wrapping up the straps on his gloves and then hers as they spoke. He didn't even have to ask the question he wore on his face for her to start talking.

"Is it worth it?"

"Aaron?" He asked. Bobbi nodded.

"What do you think?" He asked.

Bobbi looked out to the lawn expanding out in front of them, bringing her thumb nail up to her mouth.

"I don't know. I think so." She finally said. She could sense him moving closer and when she looked back at him, he was standing right next to her.

"What do you think?" She asked.

"I get to travel the world, play music that I love and get to create, all while living with my best mates and with you. I really couldn't ask for more."

"And the situation with management?" She asked, eyes flicking between his, trying to read their green depths.

"Honestly?" Bobbi nodded for him to continue. Theo shrugged. "I hate it. But I hate the whole situation anyways. You know that. I want to be the one to walk you down the red carpet, to hold your hand for the cameras. I can't stand it when anyone else gets to and I've barely gotten use to the fact that that can't be me right now."

Theo took a deep breath before continuing.

"But at least those jerks were temporary and gone before I even had the time to try and remember their name. This, this is different. This feels more permanent and I don't like it."

Theo shook his head and stared down at the ground, breaking his gaze with Bobbi. Bobbi leaned down to try and regain it, knowing the cause for the look of shame and regret that crossed his face as he spoke.

"But, for right now, it's worth it. Isn't it?" Theo looked up at her words. "We get to be together. We can to live together. We get to travel the world and do what we love, together. Doesn't that make it all worth it?"

"Birdy, I don't care what we do, I don't care where we live. As long as I can come home to you at the end of the day, as long as I can go to sleep knowing, without a doubt that you are mine, the rest of all this crap is worth it."

Bobbi sent him a small smile. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, her arms finding themselves wrapped around him. They exhaled at the same time as they fell into one another.

"I like that sound of that." Bobbi said.

After a long quiet moment, Theo spoke again.

"If it ever gets to the point where we can't be together because of this life, because of this band, then nothing is worth it." Bobbi stood up straight and leaned back to look up at him. "Our situation works because we've made it work and have been able to control a certain amount of who we see and who we're seen with and how long it lasts. But this is different, Birdy."

"I know that." She said, nodding.

"It works now. This works right now. But one day," Theo said, "it might not."

Bobbi leaned back into his embrace, letting his words sink in.

***********

"Just make sure they don't kill each other."

Before Bobbi could even finish her sentence, she heard screams in the background echo through the phone. Theo stopped mid-response.

"Shut up, you two!"

His frustration was evident even from so far away, Bobbi could hear it in his voice.

"Who knew they didn't work well together?" Theo groaned.

Bobbi couldn't help but laugh as the shouts continued. They only died down when Bobbi could hear movement and then a door shut.

"It doesn't help that Alfie keeps calling out Rosie's lyrics and claiming she doesn't know what a perfect rhyme is." Bobbi said. "If I'm honest, I don't think anyone ever has."

"That's the thing. Alfie's totally right and Rosie's lyrics didn't work." Theo replied. "He just usually ends up declaring that everything's crap and then that sets Rosie off. It's just a huge mess."

Bobbi smiled at the image of Alfie throwing a temper tantrum. She was convinced he had it in him, it just didn't quite fit with the image of Alfie she held in her mind.

"How has this not happened before?" Bobbi asked. "We've written with Rosie before."

"Yeah, babe. Me and you. Not Alfie. I just think he does better as a lone wolf. It was a bad idea to try and make this more of a collaborative album."

Bobbi leaned her head against the cool glass of the car window and watched as the palm tress flying past slowed their hurry.

"Okay. Well, we tried. A week of them fighting is enough, I say. Try and get them to calm down. I, unfortunately, have got to get going. I'm just pulling up now." Bobbi said.

She sat back up straight in her seat as Frank pulled the car into a parking spot and the car came to a complete stop.

"I don't even know how I'm gonna do it. I've never seen Rosie so pissed." Theo said. "Her cheeks are nearly as red as her hair, I'm almost afraid she might catch on fire."

Bobbi laughed and started to gather her things. She tucked her phone under her chin but then sat back once she was ready to go, not really wanting to hurry. Sitting on the phone with Theo held so much more appeal than the night waiting for her outside.

"Get Sam involved. He'll have cookies in their hands and soothing yoga breathing techniques going in no time. That dude never seems to run out of chill."

"Seriously." Theo said, laughing. He paused before speaking again. Just a breath but Bobbi heard it nonetheless. "Don't forget my fro-yo, okay?"

"I won't."

"And don't let him get too handsy. I don't know what it is with that guy and tactile contact."

"He'll be sitting across from me the whole time and I've got Frank here with me just in case."

"I know. It's just..." The line went quiet.

Bobbi waited to make sure he wasn't ready to speak again before talking.

"You can't be there for every encounter I have with a guy who isn't you, Teddy." Her attempt at mood-lightener and her soft laugh didn't do much to help dispel the tension pulsing through her phone.

"This was gonna happen eventually. We've just been lucky it's taken this long."

Still nothing. Theo's breaths were the only sound coming through the phone but even the thought of sitting in the car listening to him not talk to her seemed more appealing then finally facing her date.

"Plus," Bobbi finally said. "I've got a nasty right hook and I'm pretty sure I could take his skinny ass."

Theo's laughed shocked her just as much as she was sure it shocked him. The sound was fast and loud and bright, right in her ear so she had to pull her phone away a bit to make sure it didn't hurt her ear drum. She was laughing when she put the phone back and could hear his muffled chuckle as he settled down from his outburst.

"Hey," Bobbi said, softening her tone. "I love you."

The pause was welcome this time and Bobbi could hear Theo sigh.

"I love you too."

Bobbi caught Frank's eye as he tried to get her attention through the rear view mirror and her stomach immediately sank.

"I gotta go." She whimpered. She rested her forehead in her hand and leaned against the door.

"You got this, Birdy." Theo said, his tone immediately light. "Just an hour to two, you get seen together. That's it. Then it's back home to me."

"It's the hour or two I'm dreading. I actually have to talk to this guy. What do I even say?"

"Well, hopefully, he lives up to his reputation of being completely self-absorbed and he talks about himself the whole time."

"One can only hope." Bobbi sighed. Frank pointed to his watch again and Bobbi groaned, sitting up in her seat.

"It's just for a little while." Theo said. "What did Alex say? Just while we're in LA?"

"Yeah."

"It's not permanent. I promise." Theo said. "Just while we're making the record."

Bobbi let his words fill her head and let his voice fill her heart. She nodded, knowing he couldn't see her but sure he knew she was really listening.

"You're right." She said. "This isn't permanent. It's just part of the job."

"Atta, Bird." Theo said, his voice radiating the smile Bobbi was sure he was wearing. "I'll see you soon."

"Not soon enough."

Bobbi opened her door and stepped out. Immediately a warm wind blew along and whipped through her jacket. She pulled it tighter, closing the door behind her. She stepped up on the curb and headed towards the fro-yo stand, Frank falling into step behind her.

"I love you." Theo said.

Bobbi smiled, his words echoing in her ear just as she spotted the blonde head of her date a few yards away. With his phone up in front of his face, Aaron hadn't even noticed Bobbi yet.

"I love you too. I'll see you at home."

Bobbi hung up and slipped her phone into her purse. She looked back up and plastered a bright smile that didn't even bother to try and reach her eyes as Aaron finally put his phone down long enough to notice her. Her posture straightened and her jaw set itself as he approached, her teeth gritted tight together behind her smile.

*********

Aaron's bright orange sports car was easy to spot but that didn't keep him from making sure Bobbi knew which one was his. It drastically contrasted the black SUV Frank had driven her in, in that her ride didn't hurt or offend one's eyes. Bobbi nodded and smiled along with what ever Aaron was trying to tell her about his car and focused on making her way to the fro-yo stand. The thought that the sooner they get what they came for, the sooner they can eat their frozen dessert and the sooner she can leave. Also, without the distraction of fro-yo, Bobbi strongly doubted she would be able to actually make it through the whole night.

The sun was setting low over the horizon, it's last rays for the day peaking up over the edge of the water out beyond the beach and the ocean that stretched out in front of where Bobbi and Aaron stood. She had a nice view and appreciated it as Aaron didn't even seem to be paying her much attention. His car was still the main topic of conversation.

Somehow Bobbi ended up paying for their dessert and Frank's as well, choosing to remain silent about Aaron's lack of etiquette and instead focusing on seeing whether or not she could, at that instance, control time and make it fly by like the seagulls overhead.

Fro-yo in hand, Aaron led the way towards a table set out in the open, one of the many available, located amongst a group of others filled with on-lookers. Bobbi nodded for Frank to stay close and he took a spot at an empty table a few feet away. Bobbi made sure to give small smiles to the few people she made eye contact with as she followed a few feet behind Aaron.

He barely even noticed she wasn't right behind him and plopped himself down on one side of the table, continually talking and already starting in on his dessert.
Aaron lived up to the conclusion Bobbi had already come to about him in her mind from their brief encounters. He was self absorbed. And fame hungry. Very.

The only time he grew more animated about anything other than himself, his career, his new house in Venice or his car, was during the few times some fans actually gathered up the courage to walk over and say hi.

Bobbi gladly welcomed the interruption and felt her smile actually slip into the realm of genuine when a few young girls came to stand by their table. Aaron was up out of his seat the minute they asked for a photo that Bobbi barely had the chance to ask their names and give them a hug before he had a phone outstretched and was ordering everyone to say "Cheese!". He was kind enough to the fans that stopped by and made sure to give them all a smile and a wink that sent most of them back to their tables blushing. Bobbi kept a closer eye on him during the following encounters and was surprised at how personable he was to others. Each person left with a photo of both of them only and his name on their lips.

Bobbi spent half her time during those two very long hours checking the time on her phone and trying desperately to figure out something her and Aaron might have in common. Most of her speculation was silent and an inner dialogue she held in her head. Her nods and tights smiles and instinctual ascertains to make sure he knew she was listening only encouraged his endless chatter.

Bobbi learned about every part and detail and responsibility of being a social media influencer, particularly for one trying to move his modeling career forward and focus on the more serious side of his growing industry. Bobbi eyes slowly grew wide as the night went on as useless information she didn't need to know filled her head. But she was shocked at just how much information he did seem to have about his field.

As the sun finally said its last farewell and left the beach and all its occupants to bathe in the warm glow of the street lamps, the small crowd of paparazzi that had occupied them on their date started to gather in. They seemed to have grown in number over the evening, doubling from the small group Bobbi had spotted when she first arrived. She knew Alex had called a few trusted agencies but she was sure word had gotten out and that they had only attracted more of the vultures. It didn't help that Aaron insisted on posting on social media at the beginning of their date. Bobbi's expression stayed in a smile but she chose to stare out at the water when he turned the camera on her, and let her hair help block half of her face.

After the third camera flash went off, several more pointed in their general direction, Bobbi turned her attention over to Frank, raising her eyebrows and nodding towards the fro-yo stand. He sent her back a wink that helped her smile relax and stood to leave as Bobbi turned back to wrap up her date.

Her sudden awareness of the cameramen had sufficiently distracted her that Bobbi hadn't noticed how quiet Aaron had gotten. When she looked back at him, she saw some sort of expression cross his face. His pretty features did a good job of hiding any real emotion and his demeanor had stayed peppy and upbeat the whole night that the sudden shift in mood proved a puzzle. Bobbi didn't bother to think about it and instead started to clean up and gather her things.

"Here. Let me."

Bobbi stood up from her seat and froze when Aaron reached out to grab her fro-yo cup and went to throw it away for her. He rejoined her and walked along side her as she started back towards where Frank stood leaning against the SUV, a small brown bag full of fro-yo to-go cups in hand and ready to go.

Bobbi turned her gaze back from her destination and turned towards Aaron. He stood in silence and Bobbi had the chance to feel what awkward felt around him. His mouth was clamped shut in a tight line and his eyes didn't even try to meet hers.
Bobbi shook the confusion from her brow and broke the silence.

"Okay, well this was fun." She said. Her words were merely ones of habit at that point.

"Really?" Aaron said.

Bobbi didn't bother to respond and instead looked around for a napkin. Finding one of the nearest table, abandoned by the previous occupants, Bobbi grabbed a pan from her purse and scribbled her number down, passing the napkin to Aaron as she stood back up.

"Here." She said.

Aaron took it but his brow remained creased from where it had been for the last few moments.

"What's this?" He asked.

"My number. So we don't have to set up these meetings through our managers anymore. It'll be easier this way."

Aaron glanced down at the paper in his hand then back up at her. A smile started to form at the corner of his mouth and his eyes had a bit of light in them again.

"So this isn't a three dates and dump thing?" He asked.

"What?" Bobbi asked, confused and trying hard not to get offended. "No."

"Cool." Aaron nodded.

His mouth went full blown smirk now and he switched his glance down at Bobbi to a gaze, his eyebrows low and his eyes wide. He even made a subtle half step in her direction, bridging the space between them.

A flash out of the corner of Bobbi's eye caught her attention. She glanced back to see a photographer standing only a few yards and when she turned back to face Aaron, she saw he was looking that way as well.

He glanced between the camera man and then back down at Bobbi. Bobbi just stared back up at him, her arms crossed in front of her chest. Just as the realization that she could actually just say goodbye and walk away, the flash went off again and Aaron spoke.

"Might as well."

Aaron flashed her a smirk before he leaned down and planted a kiss on her cheek. Bobbi's immediate reaction sent her back a few steps but the sound and the sight of another camera flash kept her from going to far.

She tried really hard not to glare up at him, his face wide in a cocky smile and his eyes dancing with laughter at her shocked reaction. She took a few breaths and managed to un-ball her hands from the tight fists they had formed.

"Good night, Aaron." She said, her tone staying even. She turned and started for the car before Aaron responded.

"See ya later, Bobbi!" Aaron called after her, his voice thick with humor.

Bobbi reached the car in no time and didn't even wait for Frank to round the car and open the door like he usually insisted on doing. She was in the back seat, seatbelt on, rearing to go when Frank climbed in front and glanced back.

"Take me home." She said.

Frank nodded and pulled the car out of the parking lot of the beach and out on to the freeway headed east within the minute.

Bobbi did her yoga breathing that Sam was always telling her to use when she got upset and used it as a way to eat away the time it took to drive back to the house. By the time Frank pulled up, Bobbi was able to calm herself and channel her focus.

The night outside was dark and the moon was bright in the sky, the temperature dropping as it rose. The lights of the houses they drove past were illuminating the dark and even a few of them started to go out as Bobbi neared her own.

But even with the later hour shining out from the dashboard clock at the front of the car, Bobbi focused on the two jobs she still had to do before the night was over.

She was out of the car and up the front steps, with the small brown bag in hand and a goodbye to Frank. Opening the front door, she saw the subject of her first task sitting at the nearest barstool along the kitchen counter, leaning over a plate of food, his smile wide and his eyes bright as his laugh filled the air. Bobbi felt a rush of affection at the sound and he turned his gaze from his companion across the counter at the sound of the door closing behind her. Sam looked up as well, still in his cooking apron, standing over the sink, washing dishes.

Theo's smile widened somehow and his eyes softened as he stood up from his seat. Bobbi was in front of him before he had the chance to take a step towards her.
She was grateful for the heels that had been killing her feet all night as she was able to throw the bag of fro-yo down on the counter and immediately wrap her arms around Theo's neck.

Nearly three years of such an embrace had created a natural reaction in Theo and his arms went around her waist, pulling her close until his lips met hers.

Only breaking from each other once the moment had past, Theo smirked as he looked down at Bobbi.

"It went that bad?" He asked.

Bobbi shook her head.

"You have no idea."

"Wanna go write?" He asked, cocking his head towards the open patio door and the studio lit up in the night across the lawn.

He let go of her waist and dropped his hands down to grab ahold of one of hers. She took a minute to appreciate the sight of his smile shining down at her and then looked down at his hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze, happy to see it wrapped up tightly in her own.

She sighed and looked back up at him, letting her shoulders relax and her smile fixate itself naturally on her lips.
"More than anything."

**********

Author's Note:

So I've decided to take advantage of my author's note platform to talk to you about something very important. Something I know you've all been wanting me to talk about for a long time now. So, I appreciate your patience and I think its best if we dive right in.

Now, we all know we've moved past the post-modern age and have really started to see the beginnings of a more art-nouvea era in current society. Not only in art and sculpture but also dance and theater. But I am more interested in the world of music especially. Now, while these terms may be applicable to the world of art at large, I see the world of music in really only three eras.

Pre-One Direction (if there ever was such a time. It's hard to image a life before July 2010. Yes I know the date. Don't judge me, Cordillak .)

The golden years of One Direction.

And finally, post One Direction.

Now, due to the countless hours of videos and the endless amount of material I have read about them, I consider myself an expert on One Direction. And, if there were such a thing, I'm sure I would have my Ph.D in One Direction-ology. So I feel I have the authority to determine, once and for all, the true winner of the One Direction breakup.

As you all know, we are currently in this third stage. And we can all call ourselves troupers, as 2016 was a dark year for us all. There was very little One Direction activity for the majority of the year. And yeah, an orange lizard in a toupee became president.

But a light was shown down upon us in September of 2016. And that light was Niall Horan's fading ombré blonde hair when he smiled down at his fandom and granted them a song.

Yes. Niall. I declare Niall the winner of the One Direction break up (hiatus, sabbatical, whatever you want to call it. I'll believe they're actually getting back together when I see it.)

Harry is the Justin Timberlake, there is no doubting it. He's got several tongs in the fire, with his acting, his new album, his amazing comedic chops and his wonderful songwriting skills, the guy has got the fame market covered. So, he'll be fine.

Niall, however, just wins. I propose that Niall is the Niall Horan of this breakup. In that he is making a new path, going his own way, following his own success trajectory and absolutely killing it. I loved This Town. I love Slow Hands. I've heard On the Loose and I can't get the guitar rift out of my head. I am sure I will have it on repeat just as much as I did his other two songs when it becomes available on Spotify.

Niall, I congratulate you on your win. A true Cinderella story. Readers, let me know your opinion on the topic.

Who do you think won?

Who lost?

Who had the best single?

Who's gonna have the greatest career?

Oh and if you liked the chapter or not? (That one's not nearly as important. I would much rather hear your thoughts on One Direction.)

P.S. I loved Louis's single, I thoroughly enjoyed some of Harry's songs from his album, (except Ever Since New York, but there's a very good reason I absolutely detest that let down of a song) and Liam's song definitely exists. So, love to all the One Direction boys. Even you, Zayn.

The song for the week is Wake Me by the Bleachers. I adore Jack Antonoff (the lead singer) and I adore this song. Its so good and I die every time I hear it. I hope you do too. Love it, that is! Not die, because I need you to keep reading my story.

Hail Zagathor,
Maria

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