Chapter 10
Shawn’s POV
“So, after you’ve performed, you’re going to have a chat with Ant and Dec,” Jayne explained while we were getting dressed for our dress rehearsal of Britain’s Got Talent. “You’re going to announce the details of the competition, just say about how you’ll be doing a Twitcam on Wednesday evening, after the flip’s gone out and the mailer, Jess, you really need to get that to me to proof-read it before it gets sent out. We don’t want another #WantedWednesdayWank trend starting again. The record label could’ve killed you last time. Or at least cancelled your contract.” I looked over to Jess to see her smirking. Her and Tara were the ones who liked to see how far they can push our record label; see them sweating underneath those expensive business suits they were always wearing. “Do I need to go over the details again?” Jayne asked. We all looked to Tara.
“Nope,” Tara grinned. She’s not the brightest of people but she definitely remembered everything we needed to know. “Answer the questions by Ant and Dec, tell the fans watching to watch our twitcam Wednesday evening about 8-ish and say we’ll be announcing the competition we’re going to run.”
“Good girl, Tara,” Mal said in her creepy way and rubbed the top of Tara’s ear. Nichole saw Mal’s ear fetish come out and moved away from her and to the other side of me, which had us all laughing.
*
Nichole’s POV
The first sight anyone sees on Wednesday evening is Mal and Tara pulling stupid faces at each other while only being about 2 inches away from each other’s faces. Jess and I were completely gone. We were giggling in each other’s arms as this happened while the Twitter feed was going crazy. This was surely going to be a gif on Tumblr. No doubt. “Hey,” I smiled at the camera, pushing Tara and Mal’s faces out of the way. “How is everyone this evening?”
The twitter feed went crazy with “fine”, “wicked”, “amazing now you’re online” and others. “We have had a bit of a hectic week,” Tara shouted from the floor where I’d pushed her. “Did everybody enjoy their #WantedWednesdayWanks last week?”
“Tara!” Jayne warned from the corner of the room where she was simultaneously on her phone, laptop and PDA.
“Sorry, mummy Jayne,” Tara bowed her head as she sat back next to me. “So, we’re actually online tonight to all 59,687 of you, to announce the competition we let slip about a couple of weeks ago at the beginning of our radio tour.”
“So, basically,” I smiled, “we’ve got some super, geeky, computer nerd set up a computer game so we don’t have to look through all the answers and calculate it all ourselves. But basically-”
“Baby Nic isn’t the best with words,” Mal chuckled. “Our competition will be a general knowledge on us. The fan who answers most of the questions correctly – and you only get one go at each question – will win the grand prize of an all-expenses paid trip to LA where you will get VIP tickets to our gig and hang out with us between sound check and before the show starts.”
“Jayne,” Shawn asked across the room, “when are we doing this competition?”
“In a couple of weeks,” Jayne shouted, loud enough for the microphone on the webcam to pick up.
“So, should we do it at a time that’s the most convenient to all our fans?” Shawn asked. Jayne nodded.
“How will that work?” Mal asked. She had a point. We have fans all across the globe. If we do it at midday, fans will either be in school, asleep or it will be a ridiculous time. “We need it to happen on a Saturday or a Sunday at a time suitable for all our fans, which let’s face it, it’s gonna be a time that’s not suitable for half of them. If we do it at 8pm London time, where it’s like 3am, they’re not going to be up to do it.”
“Unless they’re Tumblr fans,” Jess laughed. “They’re fucking nocturnal.”
“Language, Jessica!” Jayne warned.
“Sorry,” Jess bowed her head. She gave the camera a wink and a cheeky grin.
“Right, here we go,” Tara smiled. “Saturday 15th at 4pm London time; we’re going to do the competition then. Okay, for the people in Australia, New Zealand and that time zone, we’re really sorry it’s so late. West coast of America and that time zone, if you complain it’s too early, suck it up and deal with it. If you wanna win those tickets and the whole winner’s package, you’ll be up. Now, the winner’s package includes ....” Tara looked in my direction.
Mallory’s POV
Nic went into silent mode. Clearly she didn’t want to mess up her words again and have us all laughing at her. I gave her a sympathetic look as she looked at me and pleaded for me to talk. I could feel my phone buzzing in my pocket but chose to ignore it; knowing who it was going to be. Anytime a twitcam was on in the last couple of weeks, he was always calling to see if I would pick up.
“The winner’s package is for the winner and four friends to fly or be chauffeured to their hotel for three nights,” I started to explain. “If the winner doesn’t have four friends who are our fans, we’ll discuss that when we have the winner. The winner and their friends will stay in the same hotel as us. The first night will let you settle in and maybe explore the beautiful LA as you wish. The second day will be spent with us. Well, during the day you will do as you wish and then you’ll come and see us sound check at the Staples ... is it an Arena or stadium or something?”
“It’s like Wembley Stadium, but a bit bigger,” came Jayne’s voice.
“So, Staples arena, stadium, whatever it’s called-”
“Center,” Tara pointed out on the feed.
“The Staples center. You’ll see us sound check and then be invited backstage as we have dinner, which you’ll join us for, and then you’ll hang out with us while we have our hair and makeup done. Then, when our first support act-”
“Which is none other than Mr Olly Murs.” Jess announced.
“-has started performing, you’ll be escorted to your front row seats and will enjoy the show. After the show, you’ll come back to the hotel in our minivan and our sweaty...”
“Smelly...” Tara laughed.
“Disgusting....” Nichole joined in.
“... selves.” I glared at the other two. They just pulled their Cheshire cat smiles at me. “Then, we haven’t cleared this with our manager but oh well, you’ll hang out with us until we’re too tired to function.”
“Can we do it in rounds, actually, Jayne?” Tara asked. “Like, have one round about live performances one day, next day could be how well they know us, next day would be general knowledge about our music and then the last day could be Wanted Wednesday knowledge.”
“It would be a bit long-winded if we carried it out for a few days. How about just a whole afternoon?” Jayne suggested. We all looked at each other, thinking it over. “And it would mean you’d have to come back here every day and we all know that a couple of you are too lazy for that.”
“Well, Nic’s too lazy,” Jess laughed.
“You too slag,” Nic retorted.
“We’re all pretty lazy,” Shawn said, becoming the peacekeeper. “So, keep your eyes peeled on our Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr accounts for the exact time it will be happening.”
“Now, we expect you to brush up on your knowledge,” Tara laughed. “We want interesting people to hang out. And, if you’re up for it, we’ll be pulling a few pranks.”
“You girls better not be pulling any on me and Martin,” Kev said from the corner. “I’ve had enough of your jokes and it might come back and bite you on the arse one day.”
“Threat or promise, Big Kev?” Tara winked. Always flirting with everyone.
I felt my phone vibrate yet again in my pocket and pulled it out, looking at the screen. “Nathan, stop calling me,” I laughed as I rejected the call. “You know I don’t do personal calls during the twitcams.”
“So, Mal,” Jess asked, turning to face me, along with the other three girls. “When are you going to officially announce that you’re no longer single?”
“Hang on,” I coughed. “You were with Harry for how long before you announced it?”
“That’s different; we’re two “celebrities”. Nathan’s a normal guy.” Jess crossed her arms across her chest and sulked for a bit. Well, she was playing it up a bit for the webcam.
There were a few moments of silence until my phone buzzed on the table. A message from Nathan.
From Nathan. To Mal: If you want to say you’re single, it’s fine with me. If you want to keep this a flirting matter, that’s also fine. :) xx
I couldn’t do it. I just wanted him to call me his so badly. “I’m officially taken,” I smiled at the text.
“Awww,” the girls all chorused. I blushed as Tara put her arm around me and kissed my temple affectionately. “Our little Mal is finally growing up,” she teased. “I think she’ll be having a WantedWankday today.”
“Tara!” Jayne tried to warn but ended up laughing. Five minutes later and it was number one worldwide trend.
From Nathan. To Mal: I’m coming to yours ;) xx
From Mal. To Nathan: Can’t wait :D xx
