The Tour

17

My eyes slowly flickered open as my usual 10am alarm went off causing me to groan and roll over to turn the piercing sound off. Once the noise ended I laid staring at my ceiling trying to calculate how much longer I had on tour.

Every day and every time Luke made a jab at me I felt less and less like me and I just wanted it to stop. But it wasn't going to stop until I was back home and away from him forever. This tour was meant to be an enjoyable experience I'd never forget but slowly was becoming something I wanted to erase from my memory.

Swinging my legs off my bed I quickly grabbed a blanket and wrapped it tightly around my body before making my way to the front of the bus wanting a coffee as soon as possible if I was to make it through another day of tour.

"Morning" a voice said making me jump slightly "shit sorry I didn't mean to make you jump" they said as I turned around and smiled seeing Oli sat on the couch

"Morning...Not trying to sound rude but why are you here?" I questioned extremely confused as I saw he was wearing the same clothes as last night.

"You fell asleep in my arms last night while we were watching tv and I didn't want you to be left alone with a chance of that psychotic ex of yours coming in so decided to stay. I put you in bed and just slept on the couch as I also didn't want you to think I'd tried anything by staying with you in your bed while you were asleep." He explained as I nodded and smiled appreciative of his constant kindness to someone he'd had just met

"Thank you" I said as he nodded "do you want a coffee?" I asked as he nodded

"I'd love one, these couches aren't comfortable" he explained as I laughed

"There are spare beds you could have slept on"

"I know but again I didn't want to intrude your personal space" he explained as I nodded before passing him his coffee followed by a thank you from him

"Did you want to do something today?" I blurted out not wanting an awkward silence to occur between us

"I'd love to" he started as I smiled "but u can't" he quickly finished causing my smile to fade as quickly as it appeared

"Not because I don't want to though" he said clearly seeing the look on my face "come here" he said patting the space next to him and raising his arm so I could cuddle into him.

I quickly sat down and allowed his arm to wrap around my body and placed my head slightly on his chest hearing his heart beating. His usual aftershave smell was dull but still present giving me that usual sense of relief and comfort.

"I've got to go back to England, there was a slight schedule change. Our tour rehearsals have been brought forward a week" he explained as I nodded understanding how frustrating it must be for him as a similar situation had happened with the tour practice for 5sos. The dates were changing here there and everywhere with no one actually knowing what was going on for ages. Maybe that is why this tour had been so messy. A bad omen from the start.

"When's your flight?" I whispered as he began playing with the ends of my hair

"10 tonight I need to leave for the airport in a few hours" he explained as I picked up my phone looking at the time and sighing seeing 10.30 knowing I had to go to my own soundcheck at 11.

"Best make the most of this last 30 minutes together then" I smiled just wanting to make the most of his company before he left.

•

"We were about to send out a search party" Michael shouted as I shook my head walking into the venue seeing the bright LED lights flash on and off whilst one of the 5sos songs played in the background

"I'm 5 mins late Michael not 50 I'm fine" I laughed as he caught up with me walking to my dressing room.

"How was the date?" He questioned pushing me slightly and smirking

"It was perfect till someone kicked off" I said pointing to Luke's dressing room as we passed it to get to my own

"Has anyone told you about him?" He questioned as a seriousness over took his face and I shook my head in response "he thinks he's got tonsillitis, can barely talk let alone sing. A doctor is in there with him now" he explained as I raised my eyebrows

Prick didn't have an issue talking last night when he was shouting his mouth off in the street.

"Fingers crossed he's okay" I said trying to be as polite as possible knowing people pay good money to sees these boys live and people would be devastated if tonight's show was cancelled.

As I walked into my dressing room Michael disappeared after someone shouted his name leaving me alone waiting for my call to stage to run through soundcheck. I began flicking through my stage wardrobe trying to pick out my outfit for tonight wanting something as comfortable as possible. There weren't often days I didn't want to perform but this was one of them. I simply couldn't be bothered. My energy was at an all time low.

"All performers and crew to main stage please" an announcement rang through the venue making me jump slightly before I began following the crowd of people to the stage, not seeing any of the 5sos boys as I did so.

Entering the main stage the 4 boys stood there with faces like a wet weekend, especially Luke, with their manager beside them. Once everyone was in the room a loud knock on a microphone sounded causing the small chatter in the room to stop and draw their attention to the boys manager. I quickly caught eye contact with Luke who was looking my way whilst the manager started talking.

"Look I'm really to sorry to say this to you all but we've just had to announce a weeks break on the tour due to health reasons. The doctors have said Luke can't sing and the boys don't want to perform as a 3 so we're going to take a week off. We've offered fans new shows but for now you all have the week off. Go see your families take a break and we will see you again in Colorado. Thank you."

I quickly moved my feet in the direction of the music venue exit. 'Go see your families' echoed through my mind. My family wasn't in this country. I had no one here to enjoy this break with and I sure as hell wasn't going to spend it around a sick Luke.