"IN DEFENCE OF OUR DREAMS"
26.7.2011
I stood nervously in the meet and greet room waiting for Mars to arrive after what had been an incredible show. I remember feeling jittery and nervous. I had a feeling that I wouldn't know what to say and I wouldn't know what to do and that I'd just stand there staring like an idiot when they arrived. "I can't believe this is actually about to happen..." I thought. As I was thinking to myself, I looked over to the door and suddenly a very familiar face appeared in the doorway. I felt my heart leap out of my chest, my hands started shaking and my eyes widened as I fixed my eyes on him in complete disbelief... it was Jared.
Jared walked in first and asked how we were, everyone was really quiet... I guess we were all a bit star struck. He walked over to the fruit on the table and said “Hey, you didn’t eat your fruit!” and, out of nowhere I said to him “I ate some”. Shannon walked in next; he went to one end of the line and started signing people's stuff, whilst Jared was standing in front of everyone talking. Jared asked "So who wants something signed?" then noticed Shannon already signing things from one end of the line and went “Oh ok” and went and started doing the same.
As Shannon approached me I felt a bit freaked out, I think I was actually the most freaked out by Shan out of all of them (which surprises me). For some reason I felt totally at ease with Jared and I was cracking jokes with him and chatting to him like I’d known him forever (and all this time I thought he would be the one who I’d freak out over...) I took a deep breath as Shannon came toward me.
Shan stopped in front of me, wearing sunglasses which sucked (LOL), he spoke to me for a bit but I can’t remember for the life of me what he said. I was really nervous at this point. He signed my poster then I handed him his little gift which he took and didn’t really look at. I said to him “Make sure you check it out, I wanted to make you guys smile” and he smiled and said “It will” and that was kind of it and he moved on. I think the reason I missed a lot of the details was because of how nervous and excited I was, also because he was the first of the boys to get to me so I wasn't "prepared" for what it would be like.
I looked back and Jared was about 3 people from me, talking to a girl who was there who could barely speak a word of English. He was really making an effort with her though which was so nice of him. He talked to the two girls beside me for a bit which was quite an amusing conversation. They gave him a picture of some anime characters and he said “Oh, I look very feminine” and then, pointing to another picture; “Is that meant to be Shannon? Shannon looks like a hot girl!” LMFAO. I was trying not to pee myself laughing. Jay looked back at Shannon, waiting for a response, but he didn’t hear Jared say it, so he continued chatting.
At this point, because I had started laughing at Jared's comment, I had now somehow become involved in the conversation and Jared was kind of speaking to myself and the two girls beside me. He out of nowhere said "So should I do my hair like this?" pointing to one of the pictures "I was thinking of doing another mohawk." he added. Immediately, without thinking I excitedly said "Yeah, that or your 'From Yesterday' hair. That definately needs a revisit!" "Yeah?" he asked. "I was gonna do that or another mohawk. I'm growing it long" he said. I don't remember how he said goodbye to the girls beside me, but suddenly he moved along and stopped in front of me.
I smiled at him and (UH-OH!) I looked into the eyes!!!!! (I think my heart just stopped beating...) Hahaha. Just kidding!
Before he could do anything I said “Before you sign my poster...” and handed him his gift. He actually didn’t look at it straight away, he proceeded to sign my poster, but THEN he opened it up and had a look. “Oh the Terry photos...” he said. “I’ve always wanted to do something with these!”. I started saying how my shirt matched the 'Terry' postcards and I said “I had the melting Triad one at the airport too” [shirt] “I know" he said. "And this new one today. You design a good shirt!” he added. (OMG! At this point my excitement levels had sky-rocketed!) “Maybe we could make it.” he added. Holy crap! I thought to myself. I was just standing there smiling at him (I probably looked like a total nutcase!) as he was still looking through his present and then out of nowhere... “Is your email address in here?” In my ridiculous excitement I STUPIDLY said “Umm.. no but my Twitter’s on there.” and he paused then said “Oh ok.” (WTF BEC? JARED JUST ASKED YOU FOR YOUR EMAIL AND YOU DIDN’T GIVE IT TO HIM????!!!!!!! TOTAL BLONDE MOMENT!) For some reason it didn't even register in my head. It wasn't until I was on the phone to my Eche BFF Katie in Australia when I got back to the hotel and she pointed out that i'd just denied Jared of my email that I went "OH F**K!!!".
After he asked me for the email and I ridiculously didn't give it to him I got a bit cheeky with him and I said “Yeah, seriously... Hire me.” (haha) and he said “It would probably be faster, I’ve been asking for new shirts for months!” I don’t know if I said anything else, I don’t remember due to the excitement... but for now we’ll say that’s how it ended. When he walked off I was grinning like a total idiot and still looking at him in awe until Tomo came up to me. Jared turned to the group at one point and asked “Why do so many people in Hong Kong wear glasses? I noticed a lot of people wear them.” Nobody responded... except me because I was doing the nervous over-talking thing. I think I may have said "They must be smart." but I'm not entirely sure.
Tomo arrived to the Meet and Greet quite a while after the Leto's but got round to me pretty quick. He stopped in front of me, looked at me from under his black hoodie and smiled and said “You’re the Aussie girl aren’t you?” and I didn’t register what he was talking about so I asked “From the airport?” “No, from Twitter” he said and I went “Ohhhhhhh!! Yeah the Aussie Echelon keep tweeting about me. You saw that?” And his reply; “Yes! We did.” (WOOHOO!!!!!) Tomo signed my poster and I handed him his gift. He had a quick look and said “Thankyou” so I was smiled and said “You’re more than Welcome.” and on he went.
There were only a couple of people after me so after quickly putting my stuff down ready for the photo, the boys were already standing in front of the backdrop. Jared was looking through his present I gave him again and he pulled out the ‘Aussie Echelon Airways’ ticket I’d made so I yelled over to him “OH! The Aussie Echelon all say Hi!” hehehe. Then the girl next to me asked for my facebook name so I looked away and I missed seeing where they put their presents. *Since I’ve got my Golden Ticket photo from the Meet & Greet, I have discovered where their presents went. Jared and Tomo were holding theirs in all of the M&G photos!!! YAY!*
It was then time for the M&G photos to be taken. Jared looked at the group and asked “So who wants to go first” and I threw my hand in the air in a nervous fit of excitement (embarrasing myself AGAIN hahahaha) but Sarah had already started making us go in the order we were lined up in. I was about 4th last.
Everyone sort of walked up quietly to the guys, not really saying much and just stood there smiling. When it was my turn I walked up with a massive, stupid grin on my face and said “Ok... photo time with the crazy Aussie!” I jumped in between Shannon and Jared and put my arms around them, they both had their hands on my back... then *SNAP*! Just after the camera had gone off I said “Oh crap! Yeah... I was gonna say feel free to pull crazy faces!” As I went to walk off Jared said in a cheeky, semi-whisper voice “Oh... I did” Oh. My. God. LOL! Woohoo!
I *think* I felt him lean in as if he was going to bite my face hahaha but I could be wrong. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow when I get the photo!!
After Jared said that to me, I laughed and Sarah (the awesome chick co-ordinating us all) said to me “Yeah, why not? You’ve got a few more yet.” Haha so she obviously knows I have 4 Golden Tickets hahaha.
When the photo had been taken [I will admit this...] I let go of Shannon but I kind of kept hold of Jared for a few seconds too long. It was only because I went to take my arm away then he spoke to me so I sort of put it back around him. I didn’t really want to let go to be honest. I could have happily just stood there between the two of them for hours. haha
Shannon was playing with a finger puppet someone gave him in the photos too haha. *Update: Since I’ve got my photo back, Shan and Jared did pull faces, in fact my photo is the only one that Jared changed his facial expression for so woohoo! I got crazy Jay and crazy Shan (and I liked it!)*
After the photos had been done the guys thanked us and started walking toward the door. Jared was the last one to leave and I had a dumb moment where I said “Jared; Tweet me.” I was actually talking about in relation to the shirts but then when he left I was like, crap... that was SO lame.
Emma walked in just before the boys left and I said Hello to her. She said “Hi” but kind of looked at me like I might have been crazy cus I was talking to her. LOL. Shannon, Tomo and Jared made their exit and as Jared was walking out the door I said “Thankyou so much for playing Revenge” and he said “You’re Welcome.”
Once the boys were gone, we got our stuff and were led out of the room. Shannon was standing in front of his dressing room; aptly signed “Shannon’s Sanctuary” hehe, and was saying Goodnight to us as we walked out. I snapped photos of some of the backstage signage etc. then I said a sad Goodbye to all the incredible HK Echelon and jumped in a cab back here to my hotel room. The first thing I did was talk to Katie who I just blurted out everything I could remember to. Then I got my ipod out, put Mars on and jumped on the bed hahahahahaha. Now I’m writing this.
The guys were so lovely and despite me being one of those people who apparently talks too much when they’re nervous (I over-compensate!) they were so sweet and nice to me and I loved every second of it. It's something I will remember for the rest of my life, even though it felt like it was all over in about 2 minutes.
Now, all I can think is that I can’t wait to do it all over again in Taipei!
Until then.....