Chapter 1
Willa
It’s late. I was still waiting to hear from Theo or any of his bandmates so i could get access to the venue. I pull my dark jacket around me tighter. It wasn’t cold, but I was nervous.
Willa: Hello? Your photographer is going to freeze fo desth out here.
“Sorry, sorry!” Eli, Theo’s older brother finally opens the stage door. “Theo’s still showering and the others refused to get up.”
“Remind me to kick their asses,” I huff, pulling my camera bag further up on my shoulder. “I can’t take photos when I’m an icicle outside.”
Eli flicks his hair out of his eyes, the weight of the stress from tour was getting to him; the bags under his eyes told me more. As I follow him, I notice the CAL band members lounging or warming up. Teddy is strumming his gituar while trying to ignore the obnoxious drumming of sticks on the nearby vanity. Keaton drums his sticks faster, clearly wanting to press Teddy’s buttons.
“Willa! There’s our-“
“Save it,” I cut Keaton off, holding up my hand. “I am not your favorite photographer when none of you came to my rescue from the cold.”
“In my defense, Lia, I was in the shower. Don’t hold it against me.”
I turn to find Theo dressed in his usual stage attire: jeans, boots, and a flannel button-up. His hair is still wet from his shower, but he doesn’t seem to mind.
“Yeah, L—”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Don’t call her that.”
Theo and I speak at the same time, my cheeks flushing pink.
“I’m the only one allowed to call her Lia,” Theo says, plopping down into one of the empty chairs. His hairstylist mutters something about being behind schedule, but Theo ignores them.
My heart gives a little thump-thump, my palms growing sweaty.
Did he really just say that? So confidently, too, like it was the most obvious thing in the world?
My stomach does a flip, one reserved specifically for Theo.
“CAL, you’re on in a half hour!” The stage manager pops his head in before disappearing moments later.
“That’s my cue to get my equipment ready,” I quickly advert my gaze from Theo’s, which I was holding even in the mirror. It’d been nearly seven years of us knowing each other, but I still get the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach when he smiles. Which was what he was doing now, but it was the smile he reserved for me- a lopsided goofy grin.
“Lia, why don’t you take the night off?” Keaton suggests as I drop a lense cap, the plastic clattering to the floor. “You’ve been going nonstop between our tour, your booked shoots in those cities and exploring shots, you’ve not had a night off.”
I swallow hard, I didn’t like having days off… But my body eas screaming for the hope of extra sleep. Instead of showing how truly exhuasted I was feeling, I slap on my happy mask and pretend it’s fine. I ignore Keaton’s comment, continuing to uload my camera and lenses. As I reach the battery packs, I can smell Theo’s signature cologne. (Some brand he collabed with and has been obsessed wirh ever since.)
“Lia,” His voice is quiet and soft, making goosebumps appear across my arms. “Kea has a really good point.”
“I’m fine,” I give Theo a smile, but the immediate frown on his face tells me that he’s reading right through my lies.
“You’re lying,” His hands land on either side of me, stopping my hands from unloading my camera equipment. He brushes a strand of hair back that had fallen out of my clipped up hair. “Lia, take the night off.”
“Theo—“
“I insist.”
“Well, I don’t. I’m fine.” I reply quickly, my hands shaking as I reach for my back up battery packs. The moment I sent them down, he’s picking them back up and putting them away. “Theo James Callahan, stop.”
“Willa Jane,” He grabs my wrist, making me turn around to face him. My heart hammers in my chest, he is extremely close to me. “I can see how exhausted you are. You need a break, I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”
“Let me work, I’m—“
“I’m taking your camera and it’s case. I don’t care if you rest in here or the tour bus. You’re not working tonight, end of story.” Theo grabs my camera and the bag, disappearing out of the room with them.
“Theo!” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Lia,” He mirrors my posture, crossing his own arms over his chest.
“You are ridiculous,” I sigh and when Theo hands me the keys to the tour bus. “Thank you for being a pain in my ass.” I say quietly, not wanting the others to hesr me admit defeat.
“You’re welcome, Lia. Go get some sleep.” He presses his lips to the middle of my forehead, dropping the keys into my hand. It was a habit he picked up after noticing how it calmed my nerves. I tease him over it because it reminds me of my mother kissing my forehead when I was younger.
I wave goodbye to the others, walking out of the room. As I walk down the hallway, I hear the openers starting their closing speech. I was sneaking out just in time, I knew if I heard the opening bars to Midnight Sun, I’d loose myself in the lyrics and wonder who exactly was referenced in the line, You’re in every photograph I never meant to keep.
