Chapter Four

At dinner, I was sandwiched between an upbeat Rhys Ryan and a very quiet Cameron. To my left, the conversation had been fun and easy. To my right, it was awkward and solemn. It hadn't only been noticed by Rhys, quite a few of the entourage had made teasing comments to Cameron about his glum mood as well. The sweet Hispanic nutritionist told him that he was in need of a wheatgrass shot to perk him up, to which Cameron strongly declined. After the comments had all been made, he did actually try to be a little more involved in the jovial conversations that were taking place around the table, but didn't look comfortable at all. I know I haven't known him for very long, but I also know when someone doesn't like me being around. Whenever I tried to talk to Cameron, he would answer me politely with only a one word answer. It honestly was like trying to get blood from out of a stone. In the end, I gave up trying. The thing is, I really liked Cameron when I first met him. I thought he was lovely. Now, I just think he's a moody git.

Anyway, moving on!

My objective for the night has become to ignore the gloomy Cameron and to focus on Rhys Ryan. I am wanting to get as many natural shots of him as I possibly can. Next stop is the backstage Meet and Greet before the show. I'll admit it, I had actually been dreading this concert, but after the interview on the balcony and now dinner, I am actually looking forward to it.

**

The atmosphere backstage is a total change of pace. It's organised chaos. There's the tech people, the sound, lighting and pa crew—all with very important jobs to do. The singers and dancers are in tight knit groups, warming up for the show. Cables are literally everywhere, I can't tell you how many times my heels have got hooked up on those damn things. I just follow Rhys, Cameron, Jules and Will everywhere that they go. Trying not to trip over or bump into anyone or anything. We eventually end up in a small dressing room. I was expecting something grander looking, but I suppose it's only a dressing room after all. "What do you usually do before a show?" I ask, scanning the small but fully functional room.

Rhys Ryan is looking at a small rail of clothing. "Uh, I guess the guys out there are the ones who do all the real hard work before the shows. I just like to hang out in my room." He glances across at the now closed dressing room door before carrying on. "We usually just all chill out." He adds, now looking at Will, Cam and Jules. "Sometimes we have the fans come backstage, but not all the time. About half an hour before I go on, I like to warm up with the backing singers. It's our bonding time before everything gets really wild." His eyes are wide and bright, dilating with excitement.

Without saying anything, I just start taking pictures of him. A shot of him trying on a jacket. A shot of him sat by his dressing table and looking back at me from the lit up mirror. A shot of him laughing with Will over something that had happened to them the other day. Every single picture is capturing a naturally relaxed Rhys Ryan.

We are soon leaving the dressing room, to head to another. The show organisers have laid on the Meet and Greet in one of the bigger dressing rooms just down the hall. As we approach at a fast pace, a couple of official people are waiting for Rhys. They introduce themselves, explaining to him that the fans are all eagerly waiting inside. I watch him warmly smile as he listens carefully, then he adjusts his posture by pulling back his shoulders before entering the room. He wants to look his best for his loyal fans. He wants to be the best. He wants to be—Rhys Ryan.

The room literally comes alive with his presence. He is welcomed with cheers, elated gasps and even tears of joy. With keen interest, I watch each and every one of his devotees. Some can't possibly smile any more than they already are. Some are simply too overwhelmed to say or do anything now that their idol is right in front of them. Some simply clap and squeal. Some giggle insanely. Some just start bawling at the mere sight of him. Then there are those who are really trying to play it cool, they don't want to blend in with all the other overexcitable fans. Age and gender doesn't seem to change how a fan reacts to Rhys Ryan. With my own eyes, I am seeing men, women, boys and girls all delighted to be meeting him. Then I start watching the man himself, move from one fan to the next with personable ease. With my camera, I capture the idol with those who idolise him. Each shot, shows just what he means to them and how much they mean to him. It's a two-way respect being forever immortalised within a sequence of photographs. The camera loves him, almost as much as his fans do. The lens lavishes it's love on him and it's reward is to have wonderful pictures of the sensational singer.

"Hey, Clara...come on over here!" Rhys Ryan calls out to me. Wondering why he would want me there just as he's wowing all of his followers, I start walking with slow and careful strides but wearing an amiable smile nevertheless. "Have you guys all heard of the magazine Fame-Us?" He doesn't even wait for their excited replies, he's on a verbal roll. "This is Clara, one of their leading journalists." Smirking, he puts his arm around me and pulls me closer against him. "Now me and Clara are cooking up something pretty special...so watch this space!" He's cuddling me in an overly familiar way, acting like he does it all the time. Oo's and ah's soon fill the dressing room. I think some of the fans are maybe getting the wrong end of the stick here. They appear to be staring and whispering between themselves, like there's something going on between myself and Rhys. A little embarrassed, I casually pull away from his hold on me and start taking pictures of him again. Of course, I know that he's referring to our future big spread on him in Fame-Us, when he said that we are cooking up something pretty special together. Unfortunately, he has also left his loud declaration kind of open ended as well. There was definitely mischievous innuendo coating every one of his words—and he seemed to enjoy it, too.

As I'm lining up some more shots, I happen to glance across at Cameron, Will and Jules. Oh my days! Cameron's face is currently shrouded in obvious disgust. With his arms crossed and a set of eyes so narrowed with disdain, he glowers across at me like I have done something terribly wrong. Cameron is actually beginning to make me more than a little angry now. He's glaring at me like it's somehow all my fault for being pulled into a very public cuddle. He is Rhys Ryan's publicist, so maybe he should be the one keeping more of a tight rein on his flirtatious pop star rather than giving me the evils. With my shoulders low and loose with indifference being aimed in only his direction, I blankly stare back at him. To make my point even more obvious to the sulky publicist, I give Will a sweet little smile before focusing back on my camera. I want Cameron to know that he's annoyed me and I also want him to know that I won't put up with his crap. We only have half an hour before the show and I want to enjoy it. I'm looking forward to seeing Rhys Ryan do what he does best. I need to have a clear head so I can remember all that is important, for when I write up some draft notes before I go to bed tonight. Then, I can get a little sleep before coming back and doing it all over again tomorrow. The show tomorrow night will be his final performance to his UK tour, so I think it's going to be a truly spectacular one. As Rhys Ryan will be wrapping up his UK tour, I will be wrapping up my time with him, so I need to ensure that I have more than enough pictures and content to work with. So far, I am happy.

It's soon a wrap for this Meet and Greet as well. Cameron is busily trying to get Rhys Ryan from out of the room as quickly as he possibly can. Will and Jules are already walking from the room but I decide to hang back. It's nice to watch Rhys say goodbye to his fans. He isn't at all uncomfortable if some kids want to kiss or cuddle him. He just happily takes it all in his stride before Cameron is literally needing to usher him from out of the room. I'm trying to keep up, as they hot foot it back to Rhys's dressing room. "Time?" He asks anyone who cares to answer him, as he and his stylist start getting him quickly dressed for the show.

Will pipes up. "8:30."

"Cam, can you go and grab the singers?" Rhys Ryan asks as he's slipping on a clean and funky T-shirt. Taking out a bottle of water from his bag, he takes a large sip and gargles with it for a short while before spitting it out in the small sink in the corner of the dressing room. "Salt water." He tells me as he's drying his mouth with a small hand towel. I smile, grateful to him for giving me a brief explanation. Then the stylist starts messing around with his hair, gelling and spraying it into a dirty blond creation of gorgeousness. "Does it look okay, Clara?" Rhys asks me from where he is anxiously standing. It's kind of sweet that he's actually trying to include me in his frantic pre-show routine.

I nod with an honest smile. "It looks great." I tell him, meaning what I say. He does look great. Anxious, but great. Noting his nerves, I find myself asking him about them. "How does it feel before a show like this, Rhys?"

With his fists nervously opening and closing, he answers with a fleeting smirk. "Pumped but petrified."

The small room suddenly becomes invaded with a swarm of beautiful bodies. Male and female singers are soon huddled all around Rhys Ryan and the atmosphere becomes electric as they all start doing their physical and vocal warm-ups: Breathing exercises. Relaxation of the shoulders and neck. Simple 'hmmm' and 'ahhhh' sounds. United hums. Lip trilling. Holding sustained notes. Working on both high and low notes. A Cappella scales—they do them all.

It's such a fantastic thing to watch, it really is. I wanted to just keep on watching but had to get as many pictures of it as I possibly could. Rhys and his singers obviously all share a strong rapport and they now know this warm-up ritual like the backs of their hands. Before long, it's all over and they become a group of buzzing beings all waiting for the show to begin.

"Five minutes guys...we need you by the stage." The stage manager says, just popping his head quickly around the door.

The room promptly starts thinning out, one by one. Enthusiastic chatter can be heard from outside in the hallway. It's finally showtime, and I'm actually starting to feel nervous for Rhys Ryan and his effervescent team. Taking in a deep breath, I prepare to follow behind Mr Mega Famous. I prepare to watch him immerse himself in the furore of his fame. To give his fans a thrilling night. A night that they will remember forever. "Wish me luck?" He has suddenly slowed down and is looking back over his shoulder at me.

There isn't a shred of sarcasm or silliness in his voice, he genuinely sounds like he just needs me to wish him well. I'm not sure why he feels the need to ask for it, I'm only glad that he has. So with a proud gleam in my eye, I don't hesitate with my reply. "Go and show them how it's done, Rhys."

Pulling in a deep and thankful breath, he flashes me one of his natural and assured smiles. And it was then, that I knew that smile was going to cause me no end of trouble.

**WHAT ARE YOU LOVELIES THINKING OF AAA?

VOTES AND THOUGHTS, MUCH APPRECIATED XXXXX