Back in the dressing room, Arahae runs up and hugs you. “You made it through your first show!” You find yourself smiling the kind of smile that reaches up to touch your eyes. She steps back as deafening cheers from ARMY press through the walls.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. None of this feels real,” you say.

She laughs. “Well, get used to it. One down, twenty five to go!”

“Twenty five?”

“Yep! Welcome to tour life.”

Doyun keeps to himself in a corner. Eunji appears still wearing her headset, speaking into it occasionally.

“Where’s she been?” you ask Arahae.

“You didn’t notice her? She usually keeps an eye on everyone as much as possible. Her, Chin-Hwa, and Beom-Seuk communicate through the headset.”

“I guess I missed her in all the commotion,” you say, praying Eunji didn’t notice Jungkook’s antics.

BTS spills into the room this time without the swarm of makeup artists and stylists, basking in the afterglow of their time with ARMY. Chin-Hwa enters the room wearing a headset of his own.

“Congratulations, everyone,” he says, “for a successful night in our first sold out stadium show!” He smiles without restraint while members of the staff and BTS applaud. “Tonight, we’ll be celebrating at St. Cloud. I’ll send a text out with the details.”

Eunji walks over to you and Arahae, maneuvering around people. “I trust Arahae gave you sufficient training?” she asks, taking the headset off.

“Yes, definitely.”

“She managed to keep Jungkook in line on her first day!” Arahae adds.

Eunji examines you curiously. “Good. If you have any questions, you can ask me or Arahae.” She takes out her phone. “Ah, that reminds me. The medical staff will put their numbers in your phone. You need to get Jungkook’s and the others as well.”

Your stomach flips.

Taking her phone, you put your number in and hand it back to her.

“Good work today,” Eunji says, giving you a slight smile before leaving.

The makeup artists and stylists form clusters around the vanities, packing their supplies and slowly filtering out of the room.

Arahae takes your phone. “May as well add my number first.” After she hands your phone back, you find Doyun talking to Jin.

God, I really just want to avoid this guy.

Your legs feel heavier than usual as you trudge over to Doyun. They pause their conversation to look at you.

“Do you need something?” Doyun asks, his eyes cutting you down to size.

“Yeah, sorry, I just need to get your number. Eunji told me to.”

He holds out his hand, and you place your phone in it.

“Actually, I need yours, too, Jin,” you say.

Jin flashes a smile that soothes the sting of Doyun’s resentment. “Of course,” Jin says, taking your phone from Doyun. “But, first, I have a very important question.”

You stare back at him questioningly.

“How do you get a farm girl to marry you?”

He pauses.

“First, a tractor!” Jin bursts into his classic windshield wiper laugh which makes you crack up, and Doyun’s serious face falters. Some of the other members groan.

Jin hands your phone back as Jimin slides up to you already dressed in his street clothes. “I’ll take that,” he says, putting his number into your phone. “I’ll add you to our group chat, too.”

“Oh, thanks,” you say. After retrieving your phone, you see he added you to a group chat named Love Yourself Tour with Arahae, Doyun, and a few numbers you don’t have yet.

“See you at St. Cloud,” Jimin says.

You get the numbers of Hoseok, Yoongi, Namjoon, and Taehyung as they’re leaving. The air thickens as you’re alone with Jungkook dressed in his street clothes—an oversized black shirt paired with a large flannel and baggy jeans with black boots.

You approach him and hold out your phone. “Eunji said I need to get everyone’s number.”

He takes your phone. “I know why they hired you.”

You remain silent, unsure of what to say.

“I think it’s going to be a good arrangement.” He hands the phone back to you and leaves.

Arrangement?

In the hallway, you run into Beom-Seuk unlocking the storage closet with your suitcase.

“Stay out of trouble, kid?” he asks.

“I’m not sure…”

He chuckles and rolls your luggage to you before picking it up again, and you thank him.

Heading into the medical staff’s room, you find Arahae and Doyun packing up their things.

“I’m assuming you guys know how we’re getting to St. Cloud?” you ask, grabbing your backpack.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Chin-Hwa usually arranges rides for us, especially for something last minute like this.” Arahae says.

You follow them out a back door of the stadium where a black SUV is waiting and get in. You watch as Citi Field stadium, the place that is now home to precious memories, shrinks into the horizon.

The SUV cuts through tangles of bridges, overpasses, and cars, carving its way to Manhattan in concrete. In the darkness, the tallest skyscrapers you’ve ever seen tower over you so high that you can’t see where they end and the sky begins. Little kiosks of street food perch on every block as streams of people weave their way around each other.

The SUV stops at the glowing entrance of an older style building.

“Chin-Hwa asked me to take your luggage back to the hotel,” the driver said over his shoulder. You nod and grab your wallet from your backpack.

Arahae checks her phone. “It’s on the 17th floor. I’ve been dying to go to a rooftop bar again!”

The lobby is polished and classy, and the elevator takes you to the top floor. The cool October air wraps around you as you step off of the elevator. The skyscrapers loom like metal giants adorned with shimmers of yellow light as patrons circle in intimate corners.

“We usually have our own section,” Arahae says, peeking at her phone. “Oh, I see them!”

As you walk into a large reserved section, you’re greeted enthusiastically. Frosted glass half walls encase the area with a cutout on the ledge facing the city. There’s a large mahogany table in the middle with tea light candles lining the center, throwing soft light.

“Took you long enough!” Taehyung says.

“Just in time for the toast,” Hobi says.

Arahae takes the seat next to Jimin and Doyun next to Tae, so you sit in the only available chair next to Yoongi at the end of the table. Chin-Hwa claims the head with Beom-Seuk and Eunji at his right and left. A sweating glass of champagne already rests on the table waiting for you, so you pick it up.

Chin-Hwa stands and raises his glass. “There’s much to celebrate tonight—our first sold out stadium show, the end of the North American leg of the tour, and Jasmine’s first show with us.”

The sudden recognition makes your breath catch.

He continues, “May we always have a thirst for uncharted territory and gratitude for the path that led us there.”

Shouts of agreement spring up, and everyone sips from their glasses. Smaller conversations pop up around the table.

“Who’s doing a whiskey shot with me?” Yoongi asks.

“I will,” you say.

Fuck it.

The day wears heavily on you and something to take the edge off sounds delicious even though you’ve never done a whiskey shot in your life, but this seems like a night for trying new things.

“Alright, Jasmine! Anyone else?”

Arahae, Jimin, Doyun, and Jungkook join in. When the shots arrive, you hold the viscous dark liquid in its sleek glass, the bite stinging your nose.

YOONGI RAISES HIS SHOT. 원샷! “WONSYAT!”

You hit the glass on the table before tossing it back, the whiskey burning your throat like caustic hairspray on the way down. Realizing why you’ve never drank whiskey, a sick shiver rattles you, and Arahae stifles the same bodily reaction. Yoongi looks like he’s just drank water, his face stone cold. Jimin and Jungkook flinch a little but quickly recover.

“Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad,” Yoongi says, looking amused and leaning back in his chair.

“Says the guy who can drink absinthe,” Taehyung says.

The effects of the shot start to sink in as a warmth unfolds in your abdomen and spreads through your body.

You excuse yourself to find the bathroom, feeling like you’re floating.

How strong was that shot?

On your way back, you’re cut off by a young man in a suit.

“You should join me at my table.” The smell of liquor is strong, and a warning flares inside you.

“Oh, no thank you,” you say, plastering a smile.

“Let me buy you a drink. Or at least get your number.” He steps closer to you, and you take a step back.

“I have a boyfriend.”

“Then where is he?” He sees right through your lie, and panic creeps up your chest.

“Jas, there you are.”Jungkook appears from the shadows leading to the reserved room. “Can’t let you out of my sight for one second,” he says, slinging an arm over your shoulders. He’s tense.

The man sizes Jungkook up. “This your boyfriend?”

Jungkook’s eyes slice the man to shreds. “Problem?”

After doing a few quick mental calculations, the man scoffs and wanders further into the bar.

Jungkook removes his arm and pulls you to a vacant corner with skyscrapers jutting into the stars.

“You okay?” he asks, his eyes skimming you.

“Yeah, I think so,” you say, feeling a little shaken up. “That guy was a total dick.”

“He was really pissing me off,” he says in a low voice, an icy intensity building again.

“Thank you.” The words felt heavy like a thousand different meanings were folded into them.

“Any time,” he says, thawing.

He looks as if he wants to say something more.

“Let’s get back before they wonder where we are.”

When you return to the reserved room, people have broken off into their own groups, admiring the city and having their own conversations. Grabbing your glass of champagne, you join Jungkook, Jimin, and Hobi where they stand looking out at the city that never sleeps.

Jimin and Hobi fall on each other laughing, holding their glasses of champagne.

“What’s so funny?” Jungkook asks.

“Look at Yoongi,” Jimin says, struggling to breathe.

Yoongi sits where you left him with two more empty shot glasses around him. Eyes squinty, he deliberately raises a glass of water and takes tiny sips.

“The more alcohol he drinks, the more catlike he gets,” Hobi says through fits.

You and Jungkook burst into laughter, catching a few stares.

When you begin to catch your breath, Jimin says, “I know something you don’t know,” in a sing-song voice. Hobi and Jimin snicker.

“And what could that possibly be?” you ask him.

Jimin gives a shit-eating grin. “Jungkook wouldn’t shut up about you after the airport.” Hobi cackles.

Jungkook’s eyes widen as he shoves Jimin. “What the fuck?”

Your heart thumps against your ribs as you wonder if it’s true or if they’re pulling a prank. Both possibilities make you giggle.

“Aw, don’t be too mad at me, Kookie,” Jimin says. “It’s cute! Right, Jasmine?”

Your chest squeezes. “Yeah, it’s pretty cute,” you say, the whiskey mixing with champagne making you bold.

Jungkook’s dark eyes search yours.

“See? Nothing to worry about,” Hobi says, enjoying the teasing.

Chin-Hwa taps the edge of a knife on his champagne glass, and conversations fade. “As much as I love celebrations, it’s time to get some rest for the flight to London. Tonight was fun. I’m sure we’ll find another reason to celebrate soon.”

You take one last look at the sparkling night of city lights before walking through the candlelit bar. Stepping onto the elevator, the members pack in, and you end up next to Jungkook along the back wall. As the elevator plunges you to the first floor, the movement makes your hand graze Jungkook’s. Heart fluttering, you blush at the accidental contact.

Then, you feel it—a stroke, a finger running against the back of your hand. Jungkook stares straight ahead.

Your heart pounds.

The elevator dings, the doors opening. In the lobby, people bid each other farewell for the night. Needing some fresh air, you push through the revolving door into the night. You press your back against the exterior of the building and focus on breathing.

Jungkook must’ve followed you outside because he’s in front of you. Placing a hand on the wall near your shoulder, he leans in close enough that you can smell the champagne on his breath.

“Goodnight, Jas.”