transcendence || 5sos

nine

"Let's do something new and unpredictable."

-5 Seconds of Summer//Unpredicatable

* * *

Luke was excited.

Actually, excited wasn't enough to describe what he was currently feeling.

Their failed attempt to play before had left a hole inside of Luke; he was so desperate to just let everything out with his guitar and voice. And now that he would finally get that chance, hopefully without anything getting in the way this time, he was feeling greater than ever.

"Mike! Ash! Where are you guys?" Luke shouted from the couch, his guitar straddled to his body. His voice echoed throughout their huge hotel room, but even then, Luke didn't think they could hear his bubbly urge to play. When no response came, Luke groaned and pushed himself off the couch. "Are you guys ready?" He shouted and searched the room at the same time.

Ashton came out of the bathroom, looking flustered. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah."

Luke furrowed his eyebrows, "What's up with you?"

Still looking distracted, his eyes darted back and forth, never staying in one place for more than one second. "Nothing, I'm fine."

Not wanting to get sidetracked, Luke just sighed. "Okay, where's Michael?"

Ashton's face suddenly became unreadable. "No idea, dude."

Luke narrowed his eyes. "Where is Michael?" He repeated.

"I said, I have no idea!" Ashton shouted, gradually letting his temper slip.

Taking a step back, Luke held up his hands, wondering what he had done to make his band mate so pissed. "Chill, man. I just want to get this show started. Don't you wanna play?"

Ashton ran his long fingers through his curls. "I'm really not feeling it today, Luke."

Luke could start to feel his own resolve slipping away at Ashton's words; this had been put off for too long and he was getting sick and tired of waiting. "So when will you be?"

"I don't know, okay?" Ashton said, exasperated.

"Oh, so maybe when your mom suddenly isn't some psycho maniac you'll be ready? When you're not worrying about your family 24/7? Or maybe when you're done fooling around with a fifteen-year-old?"

That was the last straw for Ashton. His day had started out rough, and he most definitely did not need Luke's selfishness to make it worse. However, the deed was already done, and Ashton felt his fists clench tight in anger. "Goddamn it, Luke! Will you ever grow up? This world doesn't revolve around you!" He took a deep breath and continued his verbal attack. "You don't know anything about my mum, so stop acting like you do! And acting like a hypocrite makes this even worse - one day you're telling me to go after Kira, another day you're telling me that I'm some pedophile. Who are you to try and control my life?"

Luke shut his eyes, how did things turn so sour so fast? The boys used to never fight, but ever since they got to this town, tensions have been higher than ever, and it was making Luke tired. "Look, Ash, I don't want to fight. All I'm saying is that I think we need to let go of all the shît that's been piling up on our shoulders by doing the thing that we love." He glanced into Ashton's hazel eyes. "I'm sorry."

Ashton rubbed his temples, obviously not in the mood for a fight, either. "I know. I'm sorry too; I have so many things on my mind right now, and I think I just need a break. Maybe later today?"

He wasn't going to lie, Luke didn't know if he could wait any longer. But for the sake of his friend, he would have to try. "Fine. But make sure you're ready by tonight." He leaned his head both ways, to stretch out. "I'll go text Cal to tell Tia to come a bit later, and also let me know if you see Mike, okay?"