The Tour

47

"I believe my girlfriend has asked you to leave" a voice echoed diverting both mine and Luke's attention to Oli stood at the entrance of the bus looking at me with nothing but concern

"Don't worry I was just about to go" Luke said standing up and making his way towards the exit not even giving me a second look "I wouldn't want to spend another second in the same room as her pathetic ass" he muttered as he walked past Oli causing him suddenly move and grab Luke by his hoodie.

He held his hoodie in his hands tight ensuring he wasn't leaving his grip. A strong look of anger was written all over Oli's face whilst Luke's looked back at him with nothing but fear. I'd never seen Oli like this but there was a part of me that didn't mind. Someone needed to treat Luke the way he treated me at some point.

"You're lucky you're security are wondering about outside or you'd regret what you've just said and everything I heard walking up those stairs today" Oli practically shouted as Luke turned to me emotionless as colour drained from his face

"Put him down Oli" I mumbled as Oli looked at me confused "Please" I said wanting this whole thing to stop.

Oli slowly released his grip from Luke allowing him to straighten up his own hoodie as he continued looking at me. The colour was slowly returning to his face but his gaze was consistent as if I had something on my face he was stuck staring at.

"Nicky" Luke suddenly blurted as I diverted my own attention to the wall craving an end to this whole thing

"Get out of here" I heard Oli say followed by a light thud causing me to sigh worried about what the noise had been.

"Lay a fucking finger on me again I dare you" A voice that was clearly Luke's practically shouted as I took a deep breath trying to fight the urge I had to turn around. My involvement would only prolong this situation

"I gave you a light shove to get you to fuck off mate. Not my fault you're a bit sensitive" I heard Oli retaliate causing my eyes to widen at his words. Shock was the only thing I could feel. I'd never seen or heard Oli be like this to anyone.

"Think you're the shit do you?" Luke asked as I heard another light thud. He'd pushed Oli back.

"You're pathetic Luke" Oli mumbled back as Luke let out a laugh

"Me? Pathetic? You're the one stuck with my sloppy seconds. You're stuck with a slag who couldn't wait to jump in bed with someone new" Luke spat back as a tear began to roll down my cheek at his harsh words. I knew this is what Luke does but he rarely goes this far with others in the room. His harshest words are usually for my ears only. That way only I know the truth.

But Oli wasn't used to his ways. Not used to the continuous harassment or the harsh words that he creates. Wasn't used to the poking and small jabs to get a reaction he craves. That's all he wanted right now. A reaction from Oli to divert the attention from himself and the things he'd been caught saying to me when Oli walked in the room.

A loud smack overtook the room causing me to flinch slightly before turning myself around to see Luke cupping his cheek whilst Oli looked at me sheepishly.

"He fucking punched me" Luke said looking at me with water in his eyes

"What do you want me to do about it? I'm not your mum?" I suddenly sassed back as a weird sense of happiness overtook me as I stood up and walked towards the two of them.

As I walked closer my eyes fixated on the water in Luke's eyes. He was in pain. A significant amount to reduce him to wanting to cry. Although I was happy someone was giving him a taste of his own medicine a sudden realisation came over me that this situation was becoming all too familiar. All the shouting, the aggression and violence. I was so used to it from Luke but I'd now seen it in Oli as well. The shouting, the aggression and the violence.

But Oli was different to Luke. He's always been different to Luke. Nice dates, constant compliments, positive attitudes, actually caring about me, wants what is best for me. They were all things he did and continued to do for me. This was all just a blip. Luke had aggravated him to that point. That wasn't Oli, just his anger that had been provoked by Luke.

I felt my panic begin to calm down as I locked eyes with Oli who was looking at me as if he'd seen a ghost. A slight look of guilt ran over his face signalling to me he hadn't meant for things to go this far. But that's how everything starts and I'm sorry I didn't mean to wouldn't pass in a court of law if needs be. But it was an accident he was better than this.

He was better than this. I started to re list the things he was and did that Luke wasn't for me. Caring, affectionate, kind, caring, affectionate, kind, caring, affectionate, kind, caring. He was those three things. But so was Luke at the start. Luke used to do everything Oli did. He was everything to me and slowly started showing his true colours over time. But that wasn't happening here, surely. Oli is different

"He's different" I muttered as I felt my heart begin to race as my eyes suddenly felt heavy alongside my legs becoming weak

"Nicky?" A male voice said as my eyes began to close as my legs gave way beneath me allowing my body to slam against the tour bus floor.