Just pretend. | l.h.

Chapter 23 ~ Head Over Heart?

((Songs of the chapter:
Luke's: Bet On It by Zac Efron (HSM2)
Addie's: Beating Me Up by Rachel Platten))

LUKE'S POV

"What the f.uck did you do Luke?" Ashton questions as I plop down on the couch next to him.

I stare blankly at the tv, "nothing."

"Okay well clearly something happened. Addie had tears brining in her eyes and went straight to her room after your date."

"The pap saw us," I say trying to just leave it at that."

"And? The pap see us all the time why is that such an issue? And I'm pretty sure Addie has dealt with the pap already while she has been here in LA"

I bite the inside of my cheeks not having the patience to talk about this. I need to think things through before I tell the boys and figure out what is actually going on because honestly I zoned out after Claire said we weren't allowed to see eachother.

"Hello Lucas?" Calum waves his hand in my face.

"Yeah?"

"So how did you f.uck up?"

"It wasn't me." I say meeting his gaze.

"Then can you please tell us what happened so we can help?" Ashton pleaded.

I sat in silence for a moment. I guess I should tell them.

"Did you guys know that in our contract with management it states that we can't date within the Hi or Hey Record label?"

"Wait really?" Michael questions oblivious to what I'm getting at.

"Yeah, really..."

"And is this why," Ashton starts and I nod before he can finish his sentence.

"Well s.hit," Calum says.

"I honestly don't know what to do guys."

Michael still looks confused af so Ashton fills him in, "Luke and Addie can't be together. It's against contract."

"Oh... OH NO LUKE!"

"We need to figure out if there is a way around this," Ashton suggests.

"I want to, I really do. I just don't want to be the reason Addie's entire contract gets terminated and ruin her career. You guys know as well as I do that they wouldn't do anything to me, but they won't even second guess doing something to her. This record deal means absolutely everything to her and I can't be the f.ucking reason she gets it taken away from her."

"Luke's right," Ashton speaks up.

"Well when you guys think of something you can find me in my room," I say and with that I go to my room expecting a sleepless night and lots of Netflix. I need to avoid Addie right now and isolate myself from her.

I am not up for playing tricks on my heart. I can't let myself become even more attached than I already am to Addie. Maybe if I distance myself I will be able to get over this. I might be over reacting, but once I get hooked on something it's hard to unhook me. I know in my heart that I should find a way around this contract, but my head is telling me to just accept it and move on.

~

ADDIE'S POV

I woke up with tear stained eyes. Clicking my phone I realize it is 3 am. Great. Why am I finding myself so attatched to someone I haven't even known for that long? Sure, I have told him some deep things about myself that others don't know, but still. I don't even know what's going to happen with all of this. How am I supposed to live in a house with a boy I was starting to fall in love with when I'm not allowed to do so much as breathe the same air as him? UGH. WHY?!

After tossing and turning for a bit I make my way to the kitchen for a glass of water. I turn on my phone's flashlight to help me find my way. I grab a glass and fill it with water half way.

Just as I'm about to drink it my phone starts to ring. The caller ID says "Unknown name" and below it "Unknown number"... As much as my gut is telling me to ignore the call, I can't help but slide my finger across the screen to answer it.

"Hello?" I say just above a whisper.

"Why hello there Addison," a groggy male voice fills my ear. It's not just any man, however, it's him. How in the actual world. This is not happening right now nope.

"Uh.. How did you get this number?" I shakily question.

"Sweetheart that's for me to know. I hope you're done having your little fun away from me as it's about to come to an end," he snickers, "I have some big plans for us sweetie."

"I thought you were in jail?"

"Did you really think I would stay in there away from you for that long? Oh sweets you must not know me as well as you thought you did."

"B-but,"

"But nothing. I'll be seeing you soon sweetheart. Sweet dreams." And with that he hung up.

What in the actual h.ell. How in the world did he find my new phone number. After the incident I changed it in case they ever let his sorry a.ss out of jail. My mind is going in a million different directions and I can't even focus on a single thought. Some tears slip involuntarily and I sit up against the kitchen cabinets. My whole body is shaking and I can't stop it.

"Addie,what's wrong? Oh.. Oh my gosh are you okay?" I hear a voice say but I can't figure out who it is before I black out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just to clear things up: hi or hey records are not their management (obviously) but I just never gave their management company a name...

I changed my user name from "justanannon" to "discerning-eyes" !!!

And I also changed the book cover(: hope you like it!

PS... Rachel Platten is freaking amazing! I saw her in concert with Andy Grammer a while ago and DANG! Now all of a sudden she is number 1 on the charts?!?! What the heck!

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