Page 58 of I Knew You Were Trouble

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

‘He has norovirus,’ the hotel doctor says, packing away his kit bag. ‘There’s no treatment. It should resolve itself in a few days. He’ll need to make sure he stays hydrated to replace any lost fluids. It’s contagious; I recommend just one of you checking on him.’

I glance at Duncan lying in his bed in the darkened room. He’s already moved from there to the bathroom several times this morning, his face pale and sweaty.

‘I can do it,’ Meredith pipes up next to me. ‘I can look after him.’

The doctor hands me his card. ‘If his condition worsens, please contact me, or call down to reception.’

‘Thank you,’ I tell him and see him out.

When the door is closed, Duncan groans.

Meredith looks my way. ‘You should focus on filming. Keep your distance. We don’t want you getting sick as well.’

I give a worried frown. ‘You’re sure? I feel guilty leaving him.’

‘He’s got me. We’ll be fine.’

‘Dunc, did you hear that? Meredith’s going to make sure you’re looked after.’

He groans again.

‘I’ll go out and get him some Gatorade,’ she says.

‘Message me if you need anything.’

‘You should go grab some breakfast from upstairs. That’s where the boys are at.’

I bid them both farewell, following Meredith’s instructions to get to the suite where all five members of Rebel Heart are currently having breakfast. If the past roughly forty-eight hours have taught me anything, it’s that it is very hard to get a member of a famous boy band on his own. I’ve drafted several dozen messages to Aidan’s phone, yet I’m too anxious to send any of them. He’s supposed to be my subject. I keep telling myself that it’s not appropriate that I should get personally involved.

I know I’ve reached the right suite when I hear raucous voices from outside. Since Aidan told me he liked my jeans, I’ve made a point of wearing them whenever I’m due to be in his presence, except this morning is the first chance I’ve had. The band travelled via a private jet from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, whereas Duncan, Meredith and I, together with the tour crew, travelled on a commercial flight.

I give a loud knock and Bodhi answers the door.

‘Hey, Lexi, come on in,’ he says.

When I walk in, I note that Aidan’s eyes are on me immediately. All the boys wish me a good morning. Ziggy stands at the foot of the table, a coffee and a piece of paper in his hand, whilst I wander over to survey the breakfast buffet.

‘Right, schedule for today,’ Ziggy announces.

‘I got my underwear shoot,’ Miller cuts in.

‘We know!’ the other boys all groan in unison, Cal throwing a bread roll in his bandmate’s direction.

‘Aidey, Rav,’ Ziggy says. ‘You’re doing that Google autocomplete interview thingy.’

‘I can’t,’ Aidan says. ‘Lexi’s interviewing me today.’

I stiffen. I feel Ziggy’s eyes on me. ‘I thought Duncan was ill.’

‘He is,’ I respond. ‘But Icanstill set cameras and lights up on my own, you know, Ziggy. I have done it before.’

The boys all snigger. ‘Suit yourself,’ Ziggy says. ‘We’ll set you up with a room. Right, J.B., you can go with Rav then.’

J.B. looks irritated. ‘I thought I had to go with Caleb.’

‘Cal, can you handle a Malaysian TV interviewer on your own?’

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