Chapter Eight. Adonis by Day, Annoyance by Night #2
My eyes flicker between them and my page as I continue to draw, but I pause when Felix takes off his shirt for “Day Three.” The sun cuts through the sky like a spotlight, tracing every line of his six-pack, and a slight sheen of sweat catches in the light.
He looks like an effin’ marble statue. An Adonis-like figure whom entire temples would be built for. Good lord.
Unfortunately, being demiromantic doesn’t make me immune to thinking some people are absurdly hot. Which means my carnal meatloaf brain is more than happy to remind me that someone—even as insufferable as Felix—can be an aesthetic masterpiece.
It’s horrible. He’s horrible.
Distracted, I press down on my pencil a little too hard, and it leaves a smudge where a seagull is supposed to be. For my sanity’s sake, I pry my eyes away from him and refocus. He’s not a work of art. He’s a work of irritation. My brain just needs to catch up.
I finish the sketch right as it’s time to leave. We were at the beach for only an hour, but it soon proves to be the most relaxing part of the day.
The rest of the day is a whirlwind of going from location to location—the grocery store to fetch ingredients for #ChefMateo’s cooking video, a café for a staged songwriting session between Lachlan and Felix, a pond where Will snaps pictures of baby ducks with a red Nikon.
The boys switch shirts, Bhavani slightly changes their appearances, and they film dozens of clips on their phones that’ll eventually be edited into five “Day in the Life of a Boy Band Member” videos, and several more on the GoPro for the music video.
When we get back to the apartment, we’re all exhausted.
The boys from creating content, and me from being on the brink of total auditory overload most of the day.
Spending this much time around people who almost exclusively voice is more challenging than I thought it would be, and all I want is to lie down and not be vertical again for at least eight hours.
Will is the cameraman while Mateo cranks out a final video of him cooking chicken tikka masala for dinner. When dinner is ready, everyone, save Felix, takes plates to their rooms, completely done with human interaction.
After I give Ginger her kibble, Felix and I sit on the couch to eat.
“I’m sorry today was so hectic,” he apologizes, followed by circling a fist on his chest. “I promise we’ll practice soon. I’m not making excuses.”
“I know, I know.” I stifle a yawn. I might not trust his commitment yet, but I trust him in this moment. Today was unexpectedly busy. Though, I suppose tomorrow will be, too. With two back-to-back interviews, then a flight.
“Oh, I forgot to ask, you alright sleeping here tonight? It’s nothing much but…” He trails off, gesturing to the plush couch.
“As opposed to what? Sleeping with you?” I only realize my innuendo when I notice the pretty crimson color blossoming on his face and spreading to his ears. “Uh … yeah. I’m fine,” I choke out. The sectional is both comfy and massive, bigger than my twin bed at home anyway.
We eat the rest of dinner in silence. When we finish, I’m half asleep, and Felix takes my plate and cleans it.
He disappears into the hall, and I start to settle in for the night, only for him to reappear a minute later with a pillow and fluffy pink blanket.
He hands me the pillow, then gently drapes the blanket over me.
To my horror, an enormous, blown-up version of Felix’s face smiles up at me from the fabric.
“Do you … sleep with a blanket that has your own face on it?” I balk.
“’Course not.” He chuckles. “But we have a bunch of different ones in our hall closet. Figured you’d prefer mine, for obvious reasons”—he winks—“but I’d be happy to supply you with a different member. Cal’s is pretty cute.”
“It’s okay.” I sigh. “It’s just surprising, and sometimes disturbing, how many things have your face on them.”
“Wait ’til you see the bobbleheads,” he says, and I can’t tell if he’s joking. “G’night, Nat.”
“My name is Na—” I cut myself off. He’s already halfway down the hallway. “Goodnight, Felix,” I mumble, watching him close the door to his bedroom as I snuggle underneath the blanket.
“Nat? Hey, Nat?”
I wake up with a jolt, nearly punching whoever was gently shaking me awake. Luckily, Felix reacts quickly and stumbles away as I swing my arm.
My brain takes a minute to adjust to my environment. While asleep, I forgot I crashed in America’s Sweetheart’s living room. From the other end of the L-shaped couch, Calum laughs in between mouthfuls of a PB the others are questions— — ROLLING STONE. Give some thought— —answers so— —don’t embarrass yourself or the label.
” He speed walks down the hall, and the boys follow him in a single file line.
Felix stares at the paper, mouthing the words and tracking the sentences with his finger, like he did with the book I gave him. He only manages to read half a page by the time we reach a small room where staff members are rushing around, pulling together outfits, and setting up makeup stations.
Without any warning, the boys are whisked away to get ready. Felix sits in front of Bhavani, and they apply a light coat of BB cream and sweep his hair into a half-up ponytail while a stylist puts dangly gold earrings in his ears.
I try to move closer so we can continue the ASL practice we started on the commute, but staffers push me aside, and Felix is preoccupied with trying to read his list of questions.
I can’t help but be suspicious of how meticulously he’s poring over the pages. Maybe it’s a clever ruse he came up with to avoid ASL practice.
After an hour of the boys getting glamorized, Necktie barks, “Let’s go! Y100 Miami is patching you in in five minutes!”
DAYDREAM lines up behind him with militaristic precision, looking every bit as dreamy as the name implies, with their array of pastel clothing and makeup.
Deviating from the lineup, Felix approaches me. His light pink sweater matches my hair and Ginger’s vest. “We’ll … practice … soon. Promise. Sorry, sorry!” He’s pulled away by Necktie.
He glances back, casting me one last apologetic look, before he and the band disappear into the hallway, heading off to fulfill the duties of stars.