You will never believe what happened to me. I met my hero, my idol, the one and only Louis Tomlinson. For those of you who don't know, Louis Tomlinson is former a member of One Direction, my favorite band of course, and is now making solo music. Louis released his second album at the beginning of November, Faith In The Future, and spent the month of September doing promo. This promo included having private listening parties, where fans can hear 4 tracks from the album before it was released, and a meet and greet at radio stations around the nation.
We found out that the Bay Area's 99.7 NOW was going to be hosting one of these listening parties and I knew I HAD to be there. 99.7 held contests to win a pair of tickets to this super exclusive event. The challenge was to be caller 25 when you hear the cue to call on the radio. There were 3 chances a day at 9am, 6pm, and 8pm Monday-Friday for one week. Jada, Maya, and I spent the whole week glued to the radio and frantically calling the station in an attempt to win. We each called over a hundred times and received busy tones, call drops, and if we got through, we were the wrong number. Maya was even caller 24 once! After spending the week spam calling the radio station, we did not win passes to meet Louis and I was so sad I actually cried real tears. But, I found out the studio was in Daly City and I knew that Louis habitually greets fans outside events, so I knew what needed to be done.
On the day of the listening party, I was determined to at least get a glimpse of him in the flesh. I showed up outside the station like 4 hours before the event started because I am a little crazy. There were only two other people there that were waiting but they actually had passes to get in. More people started to show up and they all won passes. I made friends with the people around me and told them that I didn't win passes and I wasn't going in but was hoping to see him outside. And then, everything changed.
A beautiful angel on this earth, Arissa, overheard me say I didn't have a pass and she told me she doesn't have a plus one, that her friend wasn't a fan of Louis and backed out last minute. She offered me her plus one. I was stunned. She said she would rather her plus one go to an excited fan than go to waste. I cried. She cried. Everyone around us cried. So, all of a sudden, I would be meeting Louis Tomlinson in 2 hours. I had been wishing for 10 years to be able to meet the guys from my favorite band One Direction and it was actually going to happen. I was so unprepared. I never thought this would happen and all because of the kindess of a stranger.
So, 2 hours later, me and my new best friend Arissa, and all the other excited fans are being escorted into the studio for the listening party. Arissa and I ended up being in the first row of seats, right in front of where Louis will sit, and we were freaking out. Louis Tomlinson will be right in front of my face. We saw Louis and his enterage enter the side room and then it really sunk in. He was in the building. The radio host welcomed us and gave a quick spiel about the listening party, and then, he introduced Louis.
Louis walked into the room and I think I blacked out. It was so unreal to be in that room and see him right in front of me so intimately when that morning I was convinced I would be outside the whole time. The man who I had only dreamt of meeting was in front of my face talking about his new music and I would get a chance to hear it before the rest of the world. He was such a lovely person to listen to speak about his music. He really is as nice and charming as people say.
Getting to hear 4 songs before the rest of the world was also unreal. I had a euphoric moment when the first track came on. It was so good and nothing like his debut album. I remember I kept turning to Arissa and saying, "I can't believe I am listening to this right now!" It definetly hyped me up even more for the album. Louis did another interview about the album and his writing process and then, it was time.
We lined up outside the room the listening party was in and I was frantically touching up my makeup and fixing my hair before meeting him. We were the third group in line to get a photo. My heart was racing. Walking into the room towards Louis was so scary, but in a good way. It was him, he is real. I asked him for a hug which he said "Of course!" and then embraced me and I definitely blacked out then. There was no way I just hugged Louis Tomlinson. In my state of panic, I word vommited. There I am, face to face with Louis and I say "Your shirt is really soft, The fabric is nice, like a towel." and Arissa, also losing her shit internally, adds, "Yeah! It's terrycloth!" Louis looks down at his shirt and says, "Yeah it's nice isn't it." I was having a conversation with Louis Tomlinson about his shirt. I somehow was brave enough to ask him if we could pose for the picture and he looks me dead in the eye and says "yous can." Yes Louis sorry Louis I won't ask again. But, in the fandom Louis is known to be a sassy, sarcastic man and it's all lovingly. It was like a badge of honor to be rejected by him. So, Arissa and I pose next to Louis and we get our photo taken. I realize I had one chance to talk to him after 10 years and I spoke about the fabric of his shirt so I quickly blurt something along the lines of, "The songs were so good I loved them I can't wait for the album." and then go to sit down and watch the rest of the meet and greet with a pounding heart and in shock. It happened. I met Louis Tomlinson. I had loved that man since I was 12 years old and had wished to meet him on every 11:11, every shooting star, and every birthday wish and at the age of 22, it happened. It was truly a dream come true and I am eternally changed. I owe my new friend Arissa everything for her kind act and willingness to invite a stranger in with her to also meet her idol. I will be thanking her for the rest of my life. Sometimes I still can't believe it happened. Sometimes I just stare at the picture in awe. That is truly one of the greatest things that has happened to me.
I love Louis Tomlinson.
-Luna
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