The Tour

38

"Why are you here!" I shouted as I ran towards my parents stood at the side of the stage

"Surprise!" My mum said holding me tightly as I felt a tear escape my eyes "we couldn't not see our girl perform live" she explained as I nodded feeling slightly overwhelmed by the surprise

"I only spoke to you like an hour ago" I laughed as they both looked at me smiling

"Yes you called when we were sat in Calum's dressing room, that's why we didn't FaceTime" my dad explained as his smile grew

"I'm so happy, come on let me show you my dressing room" I said grabbing both of their hands leading them away from the stage and through the long corridor

Although my parents had seen me perform hundreds of times before this felt beyond special. The fact they had got on a plane and traveled to the states meant more to me than they'd ever know, and it has come when I needed them the most. When I felt like I was at my lowest they had appeared.

"How long have you had this planned?" I asked as we entered the dressing room and I instantly sat in the couch

"We booked it a few days before you came back to London. It was so hard not spilling it" mum said as I smiled slightly shocked as she usually spilled all surprises due to her own excitement

"How'd James?" I asked as they looked at one another blankly causing me to panic slightly "mum? Dad?" I repeated before dad coughed lightly

"He's okay don't panic" he started as I nodded "he was meant to come with us" he explained as I looked at him confused

"What changed it?"

"Luke" mum blurted out as my dad eyes widened

"Not strictly true but he is a factor. Overall work is super busy for him but he also didn't want to see Luke. Didn't want to do something he'd regret" dad explained as I nodded

"He wouldn't hurt a fly" I mumbled as they both hummed in agreement

"I know but you also know how protective he is of you so I wouldn't put it past him" mum said before giving me another hug from the side "I've missed you so much Nic"

"Mum it's been a week since you last saw me chill out" I laughed as she pushed me slightly

"One day when you're a mother you'll understand that a week feels like a year"

•

A silence filled my tour bus as my parents and I sat and chilled before we made our way to bed. I was beyond thankful they were here but didn't want them to ever leave. They were only here for three days but that wasn't enough for me I needed them here longer. I didn't want them to ever leave. These two had been my supporters from day one. Every singing lesson. Every guitar lesson. Every school performance. Getting signed to a record label. They'd been there for so many milestones for me.

But at the same time they'd missed so much. I'd been in America for two years. First American show, missed. First album release, missed. My 20th birthday, missed. My 21st birthday, missed. Seeing mine and Luke's house, missed. But on the flip side they'd also missed my lows. The cheating. The arguments. The tears. The hurt. Hurt I would have passed on to them if they'd seen me as upset as I was.

"So when are you going to tell us the truth then" mum blurted as I looked at her confused

"What do you mean?" I asked as she sighed

"As much as what Luke did was horrible, this can't be something that happened overnight" she explained as I sighed not really wanting this conversation right now

"Do we have to?" I asked placing my head in my hands hoping she'd get the hint

"No, Nicola I want to be able to support you as much as possible and you've clearly not told us the whole story. Something doesn't seem right" she said as I rolled my eyes

"She's got a point Nic, we can't help you if we don't have the full picture." My dad butted in as I shook my head "you don't need to protect him" he said as I looked at him confused

"I don't need to protect him?" I said raising my voice slightly at the two of them leaving them shocked

"Correct, you don't" my mum said as I shook my head

"Yes I do! I had to protect him" I said standing up "you both were beyond upset a few weeks ago when I told you we'd broken up" I said as my dad shook his head at me

"Sit down Nic, we were sad for you"

"Bullshit" I snapped leaving them both gobsmacked "you both worshiped the ground he walked on for two years of course I wasn't going to ruin your happy idea of him by telling you what really happened" I shouted feeling a tear roll down my cheek

"He cheated on me, multiple times throughout the two years. Belittled me multiple times through arguments and insulting comments. Made me feel worthless for the majority of the relationship and has continued to make this tour hell for me" I snapped as the both looked at me gobsmacked

"Happy now?" I questioned as my dad pulled me in for a hug allowing me to cry into his chest. They finally knew the truth. My truth and although it hurt to tell them they still didn't know it all. I was never going to tell them the things he'd said to me or things he'd done such as the slap that was meant for Michael. It wasn't worth it and would only hurt them that I hadn't told them. I wanted to tell them more but i physically couldn't. Nothing else could come out of my mouth at this point and that was probably for the best.