Page 19 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘Good. I want us to wear them.’

‘You think we can get away with that? Legally, I mean.’

I offer him a small shrug. ‘Nobody has to know. At least, not yet.’

Chapter Six

‘Before the show, the boys do a meet-and-greet. I’ve printed off a bunch of consent forms for the ticket holders in Japanese, so whilst you’re filming I can get them signed. They’re providing a couple of translators anyway. The support act goes on at seven.’

Meredith keeps talking. I’m impressed by her level of knowledge and organisition. I watch out of the window of the people carrier, the air hazy. It rained all afternoon, but we all took a nap. We are approaching the Tokyo Dome, where the Rebel Heart show is due to start at eight p.m. I look across at Duncan next to me, who has a faraway look in his eye.

‘Who’s the support again?’ I ask.

‘Tonight, it’s a local Japanese band called Kyoto Smile. All the support acts for the tour will be from the home country.’

‘Thank you, Mer, you’ve been amazing help so far.’

‘I think Ziggy’s only just realised I have a direct line to the people at Silverpix, so he’s going out of his way to be helpful.’

‘Well let’s try and keep it that way.’ I look to Duncan. ‘You okay?’

He gives a shrug and rubs his stubble. ‘We’re filming a boy band. How hard can it be?’

‘Did you bring the spare memory cards?’

He nods.

‘Both gimbals? Panel lights?’

‘Lex. Relax. We’re gonna be fine.’

‘I don’t know why I’m nervous. I’m used to up close and personal. But this subject matter is new to me.’

Duncan reaches across and squeezes my hand, offering me a reassuring smile.

The first time I met Duncan, we’d been set up on a blind date in London’s Soho. At the time, I had no idea he would be about three years younger than me. We worked in the same industry, and my colleagues were keen for me to find a boyfriend, since I’d had very few serious relationships. From the start, I believe he liked me more than I did him. I always worried that this would affect our friendship later on. I suppose I’ve been too scared to ask. I was the one who broke up with him – after just shy of a year of going out – yet I always made it clear I wanted to remain friends.

‘You’ve nothing to worry about,’ he says. ‘They’re lucky to have you, remember, not the other way around.Thank you, I mouth.

In the bowels of the Tokyo Dome stadium, I wait near a line of excitable Japanese girls and their parents, a camera in my hand, three separate luminous lanyards looped around my neck. Together with his own lanyards, Duncan is on the other side of the room wearing his equipment vest, using the more expensive camera with a gimbal and our best-quality indoor microphones. We set up some LED lights at floor level. Duncan looks relaxed, still chewing gum, his usual reliable self, and the tallest man in the room. It doesn’t escape my attention that occasionally his eyes flit across to Meredith, Meredith who has cheerfully zoomed through the consent forms, actively using the translator, ensuring we have consent to film from every individual in the small crowd. Upbeat seems to be Meredith’s only setting. The room is constructed from dull, grey breeze blocks, yet the anticipation in the air is almost electric. I look over the faces of the waiting crowd, all of them with their phones at the ready, a lot of red lipstick, the mothers (and the odd father) in sleek coats. The smiles of the younger girls conceal raging hormones underneath, posters and books of Rebel Heart ready to be signed.

I yawn. It’s been the longest day, and it’s not even close to being over. Whilst we wait, Meredith wanders over to me.

‘Tell me what’s going on with the band,’ I say, trying to keep myself awake. ‘Like what’s on the agenda right now?’

‘Right now? Well, they’re all learning the lyrics for “Gangnam Style”.’

‘Why Gangnam? I mean… it’s kind of cheesy. If they’re going to tackle K-pop, why not perform something more current?’

Meredith breaks out into a grin. ‘Like… Lexi, did you live under a rock for years or something? How have you not seen the video?’

‘What video?’

‘Cal’s viral video. It’s on YouTube. It has, like, agazillionviews.’

I look blank. Meredith laughs again and gives a sigh at my ignorance, like she’s been tasked with explaining basic maths to a reluctant child. ‘When they were filming the final of the reality show in LA, about six years ago, someone in Cal’s family sent a home video to the press. It shows him when he’s about ten years old, wearing only his underwear and a pair of sunglasses, dancing around his living room in Bondi and singing “Gangnam Style” into a hairbrush. But, like, he’d learnedallthe Korean lyrics. It’s hilarious. At the time, he was really embarrassed, but it made people vote for him. Ever since then, the fans have been trying to get the boys to perform the track. So, the plan is to perform it in Korea, in the Korean language, when no one expects them toactuallydo it. It’s the opening number for the Seoul shows. But don’t tell anyone; it’s like this big secret.’

I blink at her, wondering if she’s actually telling me the truth. ‘Sounds like Cal is the showman of the group.’

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