As I ventured into the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, my eyes scanned the packed crowd filled with screaming fans and teeming with estrogen. A sea of hormonal teen girls buzzing in anticipation of seeing the British, Irish, and Australian boy band members (what variety!). But something I didn’t expect to see: girls dragging their boyfriends around like puppets, simultaneously grasping their man’s hand while their eyes glazed over at the sight of their actual true loves: One Direction and their opening act, 5 Seconds of Summer.

I just can’t wrap my head around why girls would bring their boyfriends to a One Direction concert. Not to say that all guys don’t like One Direction, but most guys would not say 1D was their #1 choice favorite band, especially when their girlfriend melts at the mere sight of them, drool spilling out the corners of her mouth. One boyfriend’s eyes met mine and I give him a half-pitiful, half-“run while you can” look. Poor boy.

I am impressed, though, by the fact that the guys are so dedicated that they would attend a One Direction concert with their girl. They must get major boyfriend points for that, but to the girls: think a little of the boyfriends! Surely there must be something else the pair both love to do together…something more worthwhile to the relationship than being in a stadium filled with 60,000 people, all to watch foreign, sweaty boys (albeit attractive), sing songs into the night.