hotline // luke hemmings

ten.

Skylar

"What do you think about starting a band?" Luke asked from beside me. The two of us were currently lying on my bed, shoulder to shoulder, talking about nothing in particular.

"Us starting a band?" I joked, making him chuckle slightly.

"That would be interesting, but I was thinking more along the lines of Calum, Ashton, Michael, and I."

"I think that'd be awesome. Calum and Michael are killer on the gui-" I started, but was stopped by the door flying open.
On the other side stood the last person I'd expected to see, my stepfather.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to make myself sound like I wasn't scared out of my mind.

"Oh, Sky. You really thought you could hide forever?" he sneered, laughing humorlessly. He took a step closer to me, causing me to back up into Luke's chest. I felt his hot breath as we both stood frozen in fear.

"You need to leave," I said sternly. He took another step toward me, raising his hand and striking me across the face.

"I'm not leaving until you come back home," he spat before striking me again. Once he'd started he didn't stop. He continued to beat me. My screams and sobs were the only thing to be heard until Luke spoke out.

"Don't touch her," he growled. I felt the weight lift off of me as I watched my him lunge at Luke.

"Hey!" I heard someone scream. I moved my neck just enough to see that it was Calum. He grabbed Richard by the arm and ripped him off Luke.

As I watched, I felt Michael's strong arms wrap around me.

"Shh," he soothed. "It's all gonna be okay."

"Get out of my house!" Calum yelled, pushing Richard towards the door.

"Okay, I'll go. But I'll be back," he sneered before walking out.

We all sat in silence, watching him leave. Calum spoke up once he was finally gone.

"Sky! Are you okay? Oh my God," he said, looking me over.

"I'm fine," I whispered, attempting to sit up but falling right back to where I was.

"You're obviously not okay. Do you need me to call an ambulance?" he asked. I shook my head.

"No. But will you check on Luke? He hasn't said a word," I pointed out. In the back of my mind there was a crushing fear that he was going to leave me because of this.

"I'm fine. I've gotta go. Bye," Luke said hurriedly, nearly sprinting out of the bedroom.

A fresh wave of tears came over me, spilling down my cheeks and onto Michael.

"He's gonna leave me," I sobbed. "I should've been more careful.I'm so stupid."

Michael pulled me closer to him, rubbing circles in my back as I soaked his shirt.

"This isn't your fault. He's not going to leave you. He's probably just in shock. Give him some time, okay?" I nodded.

"Let's get you comfortable on the couch. I wanna keep an eye on you," Calum piped up. I groaned, but let him pick me up, trying not to show how much pain I was in.

He set me down on the couch and grabbed me a pillow and a blanket.

"Thanks, Cal."

"Anything for my best friend. Oh, and Sky?" he said, turning towards me.

"Yeah?"

"He'll be back. I promise."