Something About Us

"Dating?" Dave asked, his eyebrows shooting up, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice.

"Who are you dating?" Henry chimed in, his gaze fixed on Rhys, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. They both asked at the same time, their voices echoing in the otherwise quiet training room.

"Hey, you wouldn't believe what I saw on his phone," Emmett said, his eyes wide with excitement, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "It was from… someone interesting."

"Why? Who was the message from? What did it say?" Dave asked, his curiosity piqued, leaning forward in his seat.

Before Emmett could answer, Rhys interjected, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice. "I'm not dating anyone," he said firmly, his gaze sweeping across his bandmates. "We're not even allowed to, remember?"

The contract, a constant reminder of their professional obligations, loomed in their minds. Five years after their debut, the clause stipulated, no romantic entanglements. It was a rule designed to keep them focused, to protect their image, and to ensure their undivided attention to their music. Rhys, ever the dutiful member, intended to adhere to it.

Just then, the door swung open, and Tony's voice boomed through the room, cutting through the lingering tension. "Are you guys done with warm-ups? We'll start in five minutes."

"Yes," they responded in unison, their voices laced with a mix of relief and anticipation.

The next few hours were a blur of synchronized movements, sweat-soaked routines, and the rhythmic thump of their music. They practiced with a focused intensity, their bodies moving in perfect harmony, their minds locked on the intricate choreography.

As the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the training room, Tony announced that they were done for the day. They were allowed to go home early, a rare treat. But before Rhys could slip out the door, Tony called him back.

"Are you going back to the hotel?" Tony asked, his gaze fixed on Rhys.

"Yes," Rhys replied, glancing at his watch. It was now 5 o'clock in the afternoon. "But I plan to stop by at Auntie's café to buy some snacks for Heather."

Tony nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Okay. Why don't you go to the café first? I'll drive you to the hotel." 

Rhys shook his head and waved his hand dismissively. "No need. I can just take a cab."

"It's better this way," Tony insisted, his voice firm. "You might get photographed if you take a cab to the hotel. What if a scandal breaks out before the next release of the album?"

"Ah… You're right," Rhys conceded, realizing the potential consequences. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle." 

At the café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the air. Rhys ended up not paying for anything, as Heather's aunt, Marjorie, insisted on treating him. But before they left, Marjorie gave Tony a surprisingly heavy box.

"What's inside the box?" Rhys asked, lifting the box, surprised by its weight.

"What else, Heather's books," Tony replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "She asked me to send her a few of her books as she has already read the ones at the hotel."

"How many books are inside for it to be this heavy?" Rhys asked, his eyebrows raised. 

"I don't know, really. I just filled the box with books," Marjorie said, kissing Tony on the lips. "Thank you, honey. I'll see you at home later."

With that, they went straight to the hotel, the city lights blurring past the car window.

When they got inside the suite, they found Heather curled up on the sofa, fast asleep, the book she had been reading resting on her chest like a slumbering cat. The soft glow of the lamp illuminated her peaceful face.

Rhys placed the snacks on the coffee table and gently lifted the book from her chest. He was about to fold the corner of the page but decided against it, remembering Heather's near-meltdown the last time he had dog-eared a page. The girl really treasured her books. He instead retrieved the bookmark that had fallen to the floor and placed it on the page she was reading, closed the book, and placed it on the coffee table.

"Hey, I'm back. I brought some snacks from the café," he said, lightly shaking Heather to wake her up.

Heather groaned, pushing his hand away and turning her back to him. This girl… Rhys sighed, placing his hands on his waist.

"Let her rest," Tony chuckled, watching the scene unfold.

"Where are the books that she finished reading? I'll take them home now."

"Oh, right. I'll get it," Rhys said, lifting the box of unread books and carrying it to the bedroom. He placed the box on the bed, then gathered the read books and placed them inside the box.

When he was done, he returned to the living room and, before handing the box to Tony, asked, "Shall I accompany you to the parking lot?"

"No need," Tony replied, taking the box from Rhys. "This is much lighter compared to the one I brought in. Then, I'll be going. I have to return to the agency."

"Thank you for the ride, Uncle. Please be careful on your way back," Rhys said, opening the door for Tony. 

Once Tony entered the elevator, Rhys closed the door. He went to the bedroom and moved the books from the bed to the closet, creating more space. Then he gently lifted Heather from the couch, carrying her to the bed and tucking her in. 

Instead of resting beside Heather on the bed, Rhys went to the living room and lay on the couch. He turned on the television, finding a movie already in progress, and watched the flickering images on the screen. He didn't know when he fell asleep, but when he woke up, he saw Heather watching him, her arms wrapped around her legs, her chin resting on her knees. 

"Hey," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

Heather smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hey."

Surprised, he turned around, checking if he had any sleep in his eyes and removed them. God, so embarrassing… When he was sure he had removed all signs of sleep, he turned back to her and asked, "Why are you watching me sleep like a creeper?" He stood up and went to the bathroom sink to splash water on his face, then wiped it with a towel.

"You know that feeling that someone's staring at you but when you look back or around there's no one around? I just wanted to test and see if you'll feel uncomfortable enough to wake up if someone's staring right at your face," Heather replied, a playful smile on her lips. 

"Seriously? Maybe I'll do that to you, too," Rhys retorted, grabbing the paper bag with the snacks from the coffee table and reheating them in the oven. Once they were warm, he placed the snacks on a plate and brought them to the living room. Heather grabbed the plate and placed it on the coffee table. "Waaahhh~ I could get used to this. You always taking care of me," she teased.

"Huh, savor it while you can. Once you return home, I won't be looking after you anymore," Rhys said, taking a bite of the french toast. 

"Let's just stay here, then," Heather said, moving closer to Rhys.

"No way. I'm not even getting paid to look after you. What kind of babysitter does not get paid, huh?"

"What babysitter? I am your future wife!" Heather playfully pinched Rhys's hip.

"What future wife? We are not even lovers," Rhys retorted, raising an eyebrow. "Besides, you might find some other guy you'll want to marry during college."

"Hhmmm… You're right. But if I can't find that guy, then I'll marry you for sure," Heather said, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Rhys looked at her, unable to believe what she just said. "Wahhh… What am I, your backup guy?"

"No. You're my number one guy. You will be the basis of my standard when it comes to guys!"

Rhys laughed, shaking his head. "What the hell are you even saying. Just eat your food," he said, ruffling Heather's hair affectionately.