Oblivious Hearts (Luke Hemmings)

Chapter 8

        "So, you know we're going on tour for the next couple of months." Calum started to explain. I nodded. "You told Luke that your dad was away for three months...so."

        "I'm not following." I said.

        "You should come on tour with us." Michael stated the obvious.

        "And while you're with us, we're stopping at Brisbane for a show. You could meet your mother then." Luke put in.

        "Also, once we get back we're going to help you look for an apartment wherever you like and we'll pay for it. You don't have to worry about anything. You could leave your father for good." Calum said with a nervous expression on his face.

        I buried my face in my hands. This, this was definitely a new start. "You really thought this through didn't you?" I softly smiled.

        "We care about you, Cali." Luke admitted.

        "I would have to talk to my mother about finally living alone and if it's even possible: college." I sighed.

        "We've got two months ahead of us. Let's worry about now." Ashton reassured.

        "Okay." I said.

        "Does that mean you'll come with us?" Luke grinned.

        "Yeah. I'll come." I grinned as well. Calum rushed over to me and hugged me as tight as he could.

        "And Gracie can come too." Ashton said, looking at her. She squealed and they hugged.

        That was that. The week passed and I packed for my two month vacation, as I liked to call it. I tidied up the house, knowing I wouldn't be here for a while.

        The day before we were supposed leave, the boys had gone out to dinner with their crew to prepare and talk about the upcoming tour. I had stayed home and cooked macaroni and cheese for myself. I was watching the TV when a loud bang came from the front door.

        I was confused at first then I realized. I got up from the couch and quickly rushed to the door to prevent it from being opened. My heart raced as I ran. No, he couldn't be back yet.

        "Nasty!" The front door slammed opened as I reached it.

        "Dad what are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here for another 2 and a half months." I started to panic.

        "I missed my baby girl." He slurred. He wasn't 100% drunk but he still was a bit. He tried to reach for me but I took a step back. His face changed.

        "Come here." He urged. I stood where I was and did not move an inch. He walked slowly towards me and I moved back. I realized that all this time, I had never fought back. This was new territory for him.

        One more step back from him and that did it. He lunged for me, starting to chase after me. I ran from him, room to room trying not to cry but it was too late. My throat was closing and I was trembling. I knew once he got me, I would regret taking even a step back.

        He caught hold of my jacket so I wiggled it off as fast as I could and threw it in his face. I noticed the front door was open. The only way to it was to jump over the kitchen table, breaking possibly the whole thing but I didn't have a choice. I jumped, knocking the table over and the vase that was on it and it broke.

        I ran outside, the wind in my eyes making tears come out faster than before. I slammed hard into something or someone. Luke held me by my shoulders, confused. They glanced at the open front door and my father came storming out.

        "You are fooling around with four boys?" My father raged. "FOUR?"

        Calum stepped between me and him, blocking the path. "Easy. You don't want to hurt her."

        "She needs to be taught a lesson." He spit back. Luke was gripping me so tightly I thought I was going to break. I was shaking like mad and he held me close to him.

        My father took one step towards me and Ashton came out from the car, which I didn't realize was there, joining Calum. "Take one more step and something ugly is going to happen." Ashton warned.

        I was holding onto Luke's shirt so hard it might as well have torn off him. What happened after that was a blur. Suddenly, my father ran right at me and somehow, got me by my waist. I felt a blow to my face and my father's grip loosening. When I look up after my fall towards the floor, I see Ashton pinning him against the wall. Then I see him punching my father's face. Then my father falls to the ground, in pain much like me. Luke lifts me up and holds me tightly in his arms, not willing to let go.

        I can't hear anything. Everything was moving too fast. My jaw hurt like crazy and my head was spinning. I barely make out the words of the three boys around me, asking me if I could speak. I couldn't. I see Michael on the phone with someone.

        Over the span of what felt like the next minute, there was an ambulance at my house and the police had showed up. I was sitting in the ambulance when the police were questioning the boys. The doctors treated me but my jaw was going to take some time to heal.  The police came over and asked me a few questions so for the first time, I told them the whole truth.

        They gathered information from me. They asked me what my home situation was like now and I said I was most likely going to live alone since I was technically an adult. They told me to talk to my mother and get the proper paperwork done and I told them I would.

        They took the boys and I     to the police station to get a head start on the paperwork. "Do you want us to get your mother down here?" A policeman behind the desk I was sitting in asked.

        "No, that won't be necessary. I'm planning to visit her soon." I told him.

        "Okay, bring these papers to her for her to sign and go the law offices to get it approved." He told me. I nodded my head and signed. I felt glum for most of the time I was there.

        My jaw was numb, my breath was shaky and I was still trembling. I felt so anxious and like I was going to burst out crying at any time. I really wanted to be alone as of now.

        I suddenly heard my name being called from a distance. "Calista! Calista!" My father yelled from down the hall.

        I walked slowly towards him. He was being held on either arm by two policemen. "Calista they are going to lock me up for 10 years and if you sign those papers I'll be locked up for 30. Please don't sign those papers, Calista."

        I just looked at him. "Calista, you won't sign those papers would you? Calista, please." He begged.

        "Goodbye father." I turned away and walked back to desk. I almost choked on my tears when I heard him screaming my name. I could hear them shoving him away so I crossed my arms and took a breath.

        I finished signing the papers and walked out of the police station as fast as I could without looking insane. Once I got out I saw a tree nearby and I steadied myself on it. I started to sob and I sat down on the grass. I felt like hours had passed when Luke came up to me.

        He didn't say anything he just sat next to me. I was still crying. I didn't know why. My father just got arrested and I was finally free. I was going to see my mother soon and I was going on tour with my favorite band. Why was I so upset?

        After a couple of minutes Luke put his arm around me and pulled me close to him. I let myself just cry into his chest for a while. My emotions were a mess. He rubbed my back up and down trying to comfort me.

        "I'm sorry." I could barely get the words out.

        "For what?" Luke asked me. I looked into his baby blue eyes and I shrugged. He rubbed my cheeks with his hands. "It's going to get better, Cali."

        "I don't know how to feel right now." I admitted.

        "This tour thing, it's going to help you take your mind off things for a while. I promise."