RARE (THEROCKAFELLABOYSSERIES#1)

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

Zoey Kagel

I stare at Luke. At his inky black hair which is dishevelled and in his eyes. The baggy Guns N' Roses tee which gives me a peek of his oblique muscles from the rip at the side sending me over to him.

Leo watches us from the corner of the room, giving off so many vibes at once. There's tension. Of the extreme kind. Luke didn't come home until late last night and wasn't very forthcoming with information when I asked him about it this morning.

The scent of cigarettes on his breath takes me back. Always so used to him puffing on the electric cigarette, it's completely unsettling. My chest presses into his when he moves me forward with his palm on my lower back.

He kisses the shell of my ear. "You good?"

My nod is about the only thing I can manage. It's hard to know how to tell him I'm sinking. I've been thinking a lot over these past twelve hours. It's all I've been doing, actually. The thoughts getting crazier by the hour, and out of all of those wild thoughts, my mind goes totally blank right now.

"Zoey." He needs my words, but I can't give them to him, so we end up standing here in each others arms until Erica barges into the tour bus with about a thousand demands.

"Chop, chop! We have a sound check to attend," she says, her tight fitting tweed suit not moving an inch as she shuffles towards the bunks to hurry the others along.

When Luke lets me go, I head for the bathroom to take a shower. It's clear to see he's been thinking a lot too as he watches me in silence. A blank expression showing on his face. It sends a sharp chill up my spine and for some reason tears spring into my eyes.

"Luke, you'll have to hurry up if you want to chat to me before rehearsal," Erica says, standing at the open door of the tour bus.

It doesn't feel good when he turns to leave without looking at me. The plastic door closes and I stare at it, listening to their voices until they fade away.

Is it a sign of the times to come?

After I get out of the shower, I dry my hair and curl up on the couch. It's eerily quiet in here so I ask Alexia to play some relaxing music. A tune starts, sounds of whales calling out to each other.

According to my work schedule, Erica didn't pencil me in until later today. It gives me even more precious time to overthink everything.

I feel empty after yesterday. Lost. Scared. Numb. If I'm being completely honest, I want to go home. I can decompress there. Maybe hide out in my bedroom for a few days to get my head around the past twenty-four hours.

My phone blares from the coffee table in front of me and I lean over to pick it up. "Mum?"

"Oh, baby. Oh, my god. Luke just called. Are you okay? Are you hurt? I'm on my way to you," My mother blurts out all at once.

In spite of myself, I smile because her voice is just what I need. "I love you, mum."

"I love you. I love you, baby. Please tell me you're okay, darling?" she replies.

I shuffle my aching body around to find a more comfortable spot, not able to describe how I feel. "I think I'm in shock."

She makes a panicked sound. "I'm not surprised! We're coming to you. Mummy's coming. It will all be okay."

Hearing this pulls a sob from my chest, because that's all we ever want isn't it? Someone we love saving us. I need her. "I love you, mum," I repeat.

She sniffles. "Oh, I love you. I just need to see you're okay with my eyes and I can stop worrying."