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That was the story I’d told her, anyway.

“Come here,” Sihyeon demanded imperiously. “Your hair is lopsided.”

She fixed the two clips she’d lent me to keep it out of my face.

“Are you sure it looks better down?” I asked, fiddling with it. “It’s getting a bit long.”

“Leave it,” she said matter-of-factly. “It suits you. Now, stop complaining. You look great, you’re going to have a great time, the movie will be great.” She sighed again. “I’m very jealous.”

“No, really? I couldn’t tell.”

She gave me a droll look and shoved a bag at me. “Use this one. It’ll go with your bracelet. It’s beautiful, by the way.”

She pulled my wrist towards her to look at it again, twisting my hand to watch it sparkle in the light. “Where’d you say you got it from, again?”

I pulled my hand away. “Thanks,” I said cautiously. “My folks got it for me.”

She made an ‘mm-hmm’ noise.

“Anyway. Go. Everyone will be downstairs by now. Have fun,” she said, half-convincingly.

I needn’t have been worried about anyone seeing us together. The group were already through the corridor of photographers and interviewers by the time our cars pulled up, and though we technically walked the red carpet, no one paid us the slightest bit of interest, except for the Vibers who had packed in against the barricades.

To my never-ending shock, some of us were recognised. Mostly the dancers, who stopped to talk to some of the Vibers. I lingered close by, out of interest, reading some of their signs.

“You’re Kaiya!” someone called, and I nearly tripped over my own feet in shock.

I looked for the person who had called out. It was a young woman, maybe a little younger than me, and she was holding a sign with a Jihoon meme. I read it and laughed.

“I read your blog!” she declared, drawing the attention of others now. “I love your articles!”

“Oh, blimey,” I spluttered, “thank you. That’s really cool.”

“Are you a Viber?” she grinned at me.

“Of course!” I replied. “I was a Viber long before the tour.”

That was evidently the right thing to say, as it was met with a few cheers from the people now paying attention.

“Can I have a photo with you?” she called.

I blinked, looking behind me like I might see a member of the group, or one of the dancers who were a little further down the line now.

“Me?” I clarified, frowning.

She laughed. “Yes! Please. I’ll tag you.”

“Oh, er, yeah, alright. I guess.”

Awkwardly, I approached the barricade and turned around, trying to pose myself next to the young woman and look casual. We took a few pictures, switching up poses, and after a few it became fun. We did some cutesy hand gestures, finger hearts, and then a few more people wanted photos. I was just getting into the spirit of it when one of the managers had to come and collect me, because apparently everyone else had gone in. I waved goodbye to the Vibers with something suspiciously like reluctance.

Sihyeon was asleep by the time I got in, which considering it was close to two am, was fair. I was a little fuzzy around the edges, and I kicked off my shoes clumsily. After the premiere there had been an after party, and while not normally my scene, I couldn’t pretend that I hadn’t had an awesome time. It had been filled with various members of the production crew from the film, and a few of the main cast, but I’d been more interested in the press in attendance because I’d known some of them. I’d fangirled because these were people I read and admired. I’d gathered my courage and approached a few to express my admiration, and they’d reacted in much the same way I probably had when that Viber had recognised me. I’d left the party with my purse stuffed with business cards and my heart full.

I collapsed onto the bed after having managed to tug my dress off and yank on a tour t-shirt.

I’d just rolled over when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I reached for it, swiping it open to see a message from Jihoon with a link.

Joon