ʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ- ᴄ.ʜ

Vol 25: Won't leave her side for a wee

Lacey was twisting her hair. An old habit. She used to do it when she was in kinder garden; being to scared to talk to the other kids or ask to use the bathroom. She had no where to put the nerves- so it rattled up inside her fingertips and she had to release it somehow. But the thing was though, she forgot the last time she did it. So when she started to do it again in the darkness in her room where her brother left to get sleep, it became more violent.

Luke didn't wanted to leave his sister alone. He was also rattled with nerves and he didn't know what to do with it. Questions and assumptions were racing around his mind. What did she see? Why did she have a panic attack? Why the fuck are they starting again? Who the fuck did this to her? He wanted answers. But, he knew that being viscous and irrational wasn't a way to handle things, so all he could do was make sure Lacey got to her room and helped her under the blankets. Usually the older boy isn't this cautious or alert, but right now, his main focus was on keeping his sister okay.  Lacey didn't even question it even though the only thing Luke was making sure to do most of the time was to boss and annoy the living shit out of her.

He stayed beside Lacey, perched on the side of her bed until he knew she was sound asleep; but even when sound asleep- he didn't leave. He made sure to leave a little crack in the door so he could hear anything if something were to happen again- he was going to make sure he was there if something did happen. He was going to make fucking sure of it. Instead of leaving- he pulled up Lacey's desk chair right next to her bedside table, making sure that she stayed in her slumber. Maybe it dwelled easier on his conscious to know where she was and to be next to her at all times, but even then he couldn't help but feel his heart heavy.

The moonlight flickered on her dark blonde curls and her eyelashes, making her innocence seem much more tainted than it used to be. Her pale skin shimmered as well in the darkness, illuminating her tear stains down her cheeks. This agitated Luke's limbs. Seeing his little sister alone, helpless and drained- in the middle of an audience; crying her eyes out, he didn't know what that would eventually do to him. It felt like a kick to the head. He was so focused on getting his little sister out of trouble that he forgot to actually look after.

What a selfish prick, he told himself.

He was on the other side of the globe for years, embarking on his own glory and his lime light; he forgot about his little sister he swore he would not let in harms way. He was too invested in his own problems he forgot about her. He forgot who she was. He can't remember the last time they spent quality time together. And it was no secret she looked so different since the last time Luke got off tour. It was like something in her eyes, her aura, shifted. That once innocent energetic young girl full of passion was laced with something more cynical- and Luke felt like he failed as a big brother.

He was a self indulged ignorant coward. That's what he repeated to himself.

He was going to figure out who did this. He wouldn't take another fucking route.

Ashton, Micheal and Angie did their best to keep the party going;  after all it was Micheal's birthday. Everyone settled back in and the music resumed- but not too loud; as it was Luke's orders. Everyone returned to where they were initially twenty minutes ago; except for one. Can you guess who?

* * *

"Babe." Luke's head slowly turned behind him to Lacey's front door which was slightly creeped open with a head poking out. He didn't even realise that the soft voice traveled in-front of him to where he was sitting.

Angie kneeled in-front of him, with tired sympathetic eyes- her hands planted on his knees.

"I think she's asleep now." Angie nodded towards the door, indicating to Luke that she thinks his job is done and that he should let her sleep.