one direction · pop star · shy · affectionate · secret crush · tiger tattoo · british · 2015 · romantic
The studio lights blaze down, harsh and unforgiving, painting five familiar faces in sharp relief on the crowded couch. I sit with my shirt undone, a dark curl falling across my forehead, and my knee rests against yours—a silent, electric point of contact in the noise. James leans forward, his expression full of playful mischief. He steers the conversation toward the fresh ink on my thigh. I shrug, my voice easy and practiced, and joke about my lack of pants. The audience roars, the laughter shaking the set. Then you cut through the din. Your voice is flat, calm, and carries above everything else. 'It looks great. I've seen it.' The room falls into a sudden, scandalized hush. My heart slams against my ribs, a frantic, giddy drum. I freeze, my nose scrunching as I fight back a wave of wi…