396 Miles From Home- an original story

Chapter Sixteen

"I guess I kinda like the way you numbed all the pain

Now the day bleeds

Into nightfall.

And you're not here, to get me through it all.

I let my guard down

and then you pulled the rug

I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved."

~ Someone to Love, Lewis Capaldi

Alec's POV

The next day, Liam and I spent part of the day gambling down in the casino while the others spent the day by the pool. We all met up in the evening to go to dinner with the crew and for a tour through Zac Bagins' Haunted Museum. Our flight to Pittsburg left at 11:30. It was unreal to think that we had only three more shows left before the end of tour. Before everything changed.

But, I guess that happened sooner than I thought it would.

"She just seems off. I don't know any more Li. I'm scared something's wrong. Every time I ask, she just shuts me out," I said.

"Probably because you're a nosey git. If something is wrong, I'm sure she'd tell you. She loves you man, no matter what." He said. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair.

"I'm not so sure anymore." I mumbled quietly. Liam gave me a surprised look but didn't say anything. We stopped right outside our green room door. We could hear Nelly yelling Ethan's name. Liam and I looked at each other in shock then ran into the room. Ethan was frozen on the couch, eyes cloudy with unshed tears, hands shaking as he dropped his phone on the ground. Andrew had rushed into the room with the girls gathered in the doorway.

"Ethan Mark! What the hell happened?" Nelly yelled, finally breaking through to him.

"My-my grandma... She died." He whispered. Nelly's hand flew to her mouth as she sat down heavily. Ethan grandma was amazing, and she treated us all like we were here grandkids, especially Nelly. We all loved her like she was our grandma too. She had been fighting cancer for two years. Ethan knew the end was coming but that never made death any easier to bear.

"I'm so sorry Ethan," I mumbled. He looked up and smiled weakly.

"Thank you. I gotta leave guys. I gotta be at home with my family." He said, looking at us each in turn. Andrew finally spoke up.

"Okay, that's fine. I will get Sam to find you the earliest possible flight home. Do you wanna head to the hotel with him and gather up your stuff?" Andrew asked him gently. Ethan nodded.

"Hey man, do you want us to come with you?" Liam asked. He shook his head.

"No, the funeral isn't until Monday, and you guys will be home by then. Stay and finish out the last two shows. I'll be fine." We nodded. Andrew left to go get Sam and Ethan a flight. The girls came in to tell him good-bye.

"I'll be back for the final show. I promise. I just have to be home right now." He explained.

"We understand Ethan. Don't feel bad about leaving. You have to do what's right for you." Kit said.

"And don't feel like you've gotta come back for the final show either." Finley said. Ethan gave her a smile and wiped his tears.

"I am not missing the final show. I'll be fine by the end of break. Yeah, it'll still be rough but I wanna be at the final show." He laughed.

"Yeah, but don't feel pressured to come back if you aren't ready." Emma added.

"I won't Em. But I made a promise to you all when I sighed on for the tour and I won't break it. I don't wanna miss these two shows, but I have to go home. I can't do this right now. I need to be with my family."