Live, Laugh, Luke

Chapter 5

She sits at home with the lights out. Seeing life in different colours. I think it's time that we wake up. So let me take you away

Luke's POV

"And she just disappeared?" Michael laughs after I recount the story from last night. "I mean, I know you're pretty awful to hang around with, but still," he laughs.

"Hey," I exclaim with a laugh, grabbing a pillow off his bed and throwing it at him where he's sat in front of the TV, playing Xbox.

"Well did you at least invite her to the show tonight?" he asks.

"I didn't have time," I groan. "She practically ran out of the place."

"Don't know what to tell you then mate," he says with a shrug, never taking his eyes off the screen.

"Ugh" I groan, flopping backwards onto the bed, grabbing the second pillow and pressing it over my face. There's a knock on the door followed by the sound of a key card being inserted and our PA sticks her head in.

"I'm about to go for a coffee run, either of you want anything?"

"No, I'm-" I start saying. I stop short, quickly sitting up and letting the pillow fall off. Coffee. "Yea," I say changing my mind. "Yea, Actually, I'll come with. I could use some fresh air." Michael pauses the game, looking at me with a raised eyebrow. "Yea? Fresh air?" he teases. "I'll come with. I could use some, what did you say, fresh air?" he adds. The PA seems confused by our exchange but nods her head anyways, letting the door close as we begin throwing on shoes. We stop by the other boys rooms, getting their order before heading out. Two of our security accompany us and we head out a employee entrance. There was no point taking a car when there were multiple coffee shops on every block.

"No! Not that one!" I shout a bit too loud, trying to keep the note of anxiety from my voice as the PA heads to the closest one. "Lets go that way," I say pointing down a side alley which lead back towards Grafton Street. The PA looks at me with a raised eyebrow, wondering what is wrong with me,but she doesn't say anything. Michael looks like he's trying not to laugh but eventually heads in the way I'm pointing. I'm feeling a bit more relieved, until I get to Grafton Street. There were multiple coffee shops more if you include the ones on the side streets. She had said it was ON Grafton right? Plus it was loud. The street was packed with people walking up and down and tons of music. We head into the first coffee shop and I look around to see if she was here.

"Not this one!" I blurt loudly as the PA takes a step towards the register. I'm pretty sure she must think I lost my mind as I burst back through the door, moving towards the next coffee shop. They'd follow, I know. I haven't been able to just wander around on my own since our last break from tour. I pause outside the next coffee shop, peering through the window to see if she's in there, shaking my head and moving on when I don't see her.

"Hey," Michael calls, jogging up to me, "Isn't that her?" he asks nodding ahead.

"Where?" I ask, craning my neck to find the nearest coffee shop. He chuckles, grabbing my head and pointing it at a busker a couple shops ahead. It takes me off guard. That was not what I'd expected, but it was definitely her. I walk up to her, half dazed. I watch as shock registers on her face but she quickly replaces it with a smile.

"Three times in 24 hours? Must be my lucky day," she says as she stops playing.

"I thought you said you worked at a coffee shop,' I manage to say.

"At, in front of, semantics," she answers with a shrug before nodding behind me. I turn around to see there is in fact a coffee shop right across the street.

"Why didn't you just say you were a busker?' I ask. Apparently this is funny because she starts to laugh.

"Yea, like I'm going to tell a professional musician I play on street corners," she answers with a trace of sarcasm. Her eyes flick around behind me and from the corner of my eye I can see we've started drawing attention. Girls were drifting closer, phones up in anticipation of getting a picture, but for the moment I ignore them.