Megan had good intentions when she invited Murphy with her to watch the guys film a video. Murphy had been on the phone for the better part of a week, trying desperately to search for a tour that was only doing UK dates or a festival she could latch onto for longer than a single weekend. Anything to get her bank account looking healthier, because at the moment she could just about afford a car parking space. Cal had joked that he'd buy her the tent, just so she'd be out of the house, and it had resulted in him almost sleeping on the sofa that Murphy still occupied. But he was right, Murphy needed out, and a new job was the only way to go about it.
When Megan had walked in on her that morning, contemplating working at an Amazon Warehouse somewhere, she'd confiscated the laptop and forced her out of her hoodie and into something socially acceptable to be seen in. Murphy had argued against it, for a litany of reasons, but the first being who's video it was. If ChrisMD was filming, she could already guess who'd be there.
Play it off, just be friends. She told herself the same manta over and over again on the drive over. You're just friends, he doesn't want to talk about it. Nobody else knew what had happened, and nobody would at this rate. It was just a momentary lapse in judgement, it had to be.
When Megan arrived on the pitch, Harry was the first person she greeted. She hugged him politely around the shoulders, meaning that there'd be more questions than answered if Murphy didn't do the same. Yet Harry seemed entirely unphased, willing to hug her tight like they'd had no history at all.
'Didn't know you'd be coming today,' he grinned, one hand still around her shoulder as they walked.
'Didn't know I'd be here either really,' Murphy shrugged.
'She's been applying for jobs, had to get her out before she accepted work as a scare actor or something,' Megan walked alongside them, carrying a bag over her shoulder that Chris had handed her in their brief interactions.
'I could see you as a scare actor,' Harry stopped dead in his tracks. 'You've got that look about you.'
'Wow,' Murphy scoffed. 'Thanks for that one, really appreciate it.'
'How opposed are you two about being caught in one of the shots?' Chris interrupted, and Harry and Murphy separated at the sound of his voice. 'Probably not in focus, but if you're against it you might have to sit a bit far out.'
'I'm fine with it,' Megan answered. 'I don't know about-'
'I'm fine too,' Murphy grinned, trying to lift the bag from her friend's shoulder and missing the look Harry shot her. 'What the fuck's in this anyway?
'A shit load of alcohol, help yourselves but don't-' Chris started, but Megan had already taken off with it, the bag bouncing against her back before she dropped it in the spot her and Murphy would occupy for the day. Murphy quickly followed, almost tripping in her fit of hysterics as she chased her friend down, fighting with her to see who could open the bag first. 'This video's going to be over before it starts, isn't it.'
'That one might be on you, don't know why you told them,' Harry shrugged, walking over to join the rest of the guys. He cast a quick glance back over to where the girls were sitting, staring a little too long at the girl who was now laying on her back, shoulders propping her torso up slightly whilst Megan placed a can of cider into her lap. Their styles matched almost perfectly, both in cycling shorts and a baggy t-shirt, but he far preferred the way Murphy's shirt rode up her chest and showed off just a slither of the skull she had tattoos across her ribs. A moment in history flashed into his mind, a time when he'd kissed down every inch of the black markings, and he forced his eyes away before his mind could delve further into that memory. Not here, he told himself. He'd long felt guilty for still thinking about her in that way, but it was impossible not to. Best to leave those thoughts for better times, not when he was facing his group of mates and about to be on camera again.
'Is that Tom Grennan?' Megan sat up a little straighter, polishing off the last of her second can. Murphy sat up, shielding her eyes from the sun to get a better look. The guys had been filming for about half an hour now, but they'd both been content in soaking up the sun rather than paying attention to what they were doing.
'I think so?' Murphy turned her head slightly. 'He's just got an album out.'
'What a shit way to promote it,' Megan laughed. 'Speaking of Toms...'
'Don't you fucking dare,' Murphy warned.
'What, I said nothing?'
'Don't start.'
'Fine, fine, I won't,' she rolled over, reaching into the bag for one of the unopened bottles of spirit. 'Just, as funny as it was, I don't think it'd be that bad of an idea.'
Murphy thought about it for a second. Tom was a good friend, he was kind, and he had a lot going for him. He was in the industry, too, so he'd understand what it was like. On top of that, he was safe. She could message him right now and predict her entire future with no surprises.
'Or, there's that Tom,' Murphy nudged, gesturing to where Tom Grennan was taking a shot at the goal.
'Go for it,' Megan grinned. 'Have you met him before?'
'Once or twice,' she tilted her head. 'He's really nice, actually.'
'He has a tour starting in a few months,' Megan raised the bottle, taking a quick swig and wincing at the strength of the alcohol. 'Might not be a bad shout.'
'You've got a point,' Murphy snapped her fingers. 'Knew I kept you around for a reason.'
They watched as Cal and Chris went to collect pop up tunnels from the side of the pitch. Most of the guys were starting to look a little tipsy, particularly the ones who had polished off either spirits or the two pint stein, and Murphy wished she could be a little closer just to join in with the laughter they were all sharing. As soon as the next challenge was set up, Megan used her shoulder as a prop to stand herself up.
'Let me and Alice have a go first?' She shouted across the pitch, catching the attention of everyone on it.
'You know what, go for it,' Chris laughed, standing up to demonstrate how it was supposed to be done first. Megan helped Murphy up, pulling at her arms with as much weight as her body would allow. Without even a discussion, both girls removed their oversized shirts, leaving them in shorts and sports bras.
'Fuck sake,' Harry muttered to himself, concentrating solely on the goal in front of him. The guys behind him were arguing about who should be on what team, eventually deciding that because Murphy was taller, she should be on the six foot team. At least with that, it would be Megan jumping up and down before their table, and it was far easier to look at her than it was to his right.
'Nice to meet you again,' Megan leant across the table, shaking Tom's hand and ignoring the rest of the guys on there.
'Likewise,' Tom grinned. 'You're the two tour gals, aren't you?'
'The very ones,' she winked. 'You worked with Murphy at Big Weekend last year didn't you?'
'There it is,' he slapped Chirs on the arm. 'Knew I knew her from somewhere. Did she do Atlas too?'
'She did. She's actually just finished the Yungblud tour, no other ones on the books.'
'That so?' Tom joked. 'My tour's almost staffed, but if she needs the work, send her my way after.'
'After this embarrassment she might not want to,' Megan laughed, turning around to face the course.
Harry buried his head into his arms for a second, fighting the urge to look over, and losing. Chip had his arm around her shoulders, reiterating that the giant white net was where she should be aiming to kick the ball. She was already smiling over at Megan, bouncing slightly on the spot, and the second they started he couldn't keep his eyes off her. She moved between each agility pole and only knocked one over, jumping over the hurdle and almost tripping. Megan wasn't far behind, both of them reaching the pint at the same time. Really, Harry didn't know why he expected anything else, but he still laughed as they both sipped the drinks and took their sweet time finishing them before launching themselves into the tunnel. Megan was first out, taking a step back to try and line up her shot, hitting the ground before she could from the weight of Murphy landing against her.
'That's gotta be a foul,' Cal yelled out.
'She's your team,' Chris raised his hands. Together, after laughing at themselves for a little while, the girls made their way back to the table to lift the remaining drinks that sat on it. Megan was rubbing her arm, but both seemed in good spirits, to the point it made Harry stand up to greet them.
'Murphy?' Tom shouted from beside him, intercepting them before they could reach. 'You did the Yungblud tour, right?'
'I did,' Murphy nodded politely, glancing at Megan briefly, stepping out from behind her carefully.
'Do you wanna do Glasto with us?'
Say no. Harry's blood ran cold. Beside him, Chris was hitting his arm and laughing at something Chip had just said, or done, he didn't quite know. He forced a laugh out, trying hard to pretend his attention wasn't solely fixed on the conversation taking place across the table. Tom was offering her so much more than he realised, and the way Murphy was rubbing her arm and swinging from side to side made him sick. Maybe it was the drink, actually. Yeah, the drink, that's what he had to tell himself. Tom had a girlfriend, anyway, so there was no chance of that happening. Did that matter? Did he care? Looking up, her face was red. It had to be at the question, nothing else. He was reading too much into it. She'd kissed him back, there was something there. Say no. Or, maybe it was gone. Maybe she'd gotten tired of him messing her around, and this was her out. She could be across the country in a matter of weeks, not long after he'd just had her back in London. She wasn't going to say no, she'd say yes. It was in her blood, one thing she'd always go back to. It would just be easier, so much easier, if she wasn't stuttering like a teenager at how close he was to her.
'Yeah, absolutely, if you're sure,' she stammered.
''Course I am,' Tom threw his arms around her, and Harry stood up out of instinct.
'You up first Bog?' Cal shouted from the other table. He didn't answer straight away, but finally Murphy met his eye. Was that fear? Doubt? Pity?
'Yeah, yeah,' he was first to break contact. Fucked it, again, but they were the only two people there that knew the realities of it. He'd seen it in her face as he'd stood, she knew what was going through his head.
And he was really starting to hate anyone named Tom.