forever // m.c (book 3)

27 - i swear everything will be alright

song for the chapter: sanctuary by paradise fears

Summer's POV

I was concerned because Michael had never contacted me after arriving in Australia. I knew there was a time difference and he was going to be jet lagged, but he had become quite good at updating me. He should've at least let me know that he landed.

I checked his flight information and found that it did land; in fact, it had seven hours ago. I took a deep breath and sat up in bed, my phone light illuminating the space around me. I clicked on twitter and searched Michael's profile to see if he posted something, but there was nothing. His last tweet had been saying how much he liked staying in bed all day, which was a couple weeks ago before they started rehearsals. I pulled up each of the other boys' twitters and on Luke's there was a picture from about an hour ago. It included all of the boys in a dimly lit bar, arms slung around each other and it was clearly noticeable how drunk they were. I examined Michael, seeing that his eyes had become somewhat bloodshot.

After looking at the picture for the longest time, I pressed the home button on my phone and threw it next to me. Lying back in my bed, I covered my face with my hands. I knew I was overreacting somewhat, but I knew what alcohol did to him. I didn't want to stop him from having fun with the guys, but I also didn't want him to do something stupid. I'd rather have him come back in one piece.

Since it was the middle of the night and I had to get Hope to school and give violin lessons to middle schoolers in the morning, I tried my best to go back to sleep. It was useless though, and I ended up lying awake for another four hours.

Michael's POV

I woke up in my hotel room, not quite sure how I got there. I was no longer in my jeans and t-shirt, but instead just my boxers. My head was pounding and Calum was snoring loudly in the other bed. I groaned, covering my head with a pillow, trying to drown out the annoying sound.

After five minutes, I got up to find some aspirin and drank three whole glasses of water. I was feeling a little better, but still not great. Before laying back down, I pulled my phone out of the pocket in my jeans that were strewn across the floor next to the bed.

The battery was red, indicating my phone was close to dying. The bright light from the screen hurt my eyes, but I ignored it when I saw that I had three missed calls and five text messages from Summer. I opened the texts, finding that she was worried I didn't make it to Australia. Damnit, I thought to myself, knowing that I had forgotten to tell her we made it safely.

I hoped the other boys didn't post anything on social media about last night, but sure enough when I checked, our drunk faces were all over it. There was no way Summer was going to miss seeing these.

I chucked my phone at the wall, wishing that I had stuck with water and not gotten shit-faced. It wasn't just that I didn't want Summer to worry, it was more that I was going to want it more. I missed being a "party animal" and going out and not remembering the events of the previous night.

"Whoa mate," Calum said, waking up from the sound of my phone hitting the wall. "What happened?" He rubbed his eyes to become more alert, a concerned look crossing his face.

"I screwed up," I answered shortly. I pick up my phone and find the screen cracked and it wouldn't turn on. "In more ways than one."

"What did you do now?" Calum sat up in his bed.

"I shouldn't have had anything to drink, or at least not as much. It's all over the media and Summer is going to think I have a problem."

Calum let out a loud sigh. "She would've understood if you just explained we were having a kickoff celebration for the tour. But now you've ruined your phone..."

"I just can't seem to do anything right," I shook my head. "Can I borrow your phone?" Calum nods and pulls his phone off the charger, handing it to me. "Thanks," I half smiled and went out into the hallway.

Summer's POV

Just as I drive into the middle school parking lot after dropping Hope off, my phone rings. Calum's face lights up my screen, confusing me.

"Cal?" I answered.

"No, babe, it's me," Michael's voice fills my ears and I sigh with relief.

"Oh, thank god. You scared me to death, Michael."

"I'm sorry. I know I messed up, but the guys wanted to go out and I didn't plan on drinking but they ordered me one and I couldn't stop."

I stayed quiet, hoping that he would realize how dangerous this was. I remembered back in school when I first met him that he was drunk most of the time or more recently after we separated.

"I don't have a problem, ok? I just wanted to take the edge off," he explained. "I promise I'm going to do better."

"My only concern is that you don't realize you aren't the same young, twenty something anymore. You're a father as well as still being in the media's eye. Your decisions and what you do is public, especially now being on the tour."

"I know," he said softly.

I felt like I was treating him like a child and that wasn't what I wanted. "I just want you to be safe and come home to us. Hope and I need you and I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you."

"I know and I don't want to hurt you anymore. I've done enough of that. I'll keep it under control."

"Why are you using Calum's phone?" I asked, remembering the name that had shown on my screen.

"I kind of threw mine against the wall..."

I wasn't sure why, but I found this extremely funny and couldn't stop laughing. I knew he didn't mean it that way, but it lightened up the mood.

"It's not funny, I was angry at myself," Michael said. "I'm going to get a new one today. After this horrible hangover is gone."

"Ok," I told him. "Make sure to get some rest and not to throw your new phone into anything. I love you."

"I love you more," he said, and I knew he meant it and everything was going to turn out alright.

sorry for switching pov a lot, but I hope you like it. only a few chapters left! please vote and comment. xx zoe