Oblivious Hearts (Luke Hemmings)

Chapter 13

I went to see my mother on the second day of the Brisbane stop with Gracie. My mother was thrilled to see Gracie again. Now that Luke wasn't here, my mother wanted to know about the boys and everything that has happened since my father was sent to jail in detail.

Gracie had no problem filling the gaps for her. After a short lunch my mom made sure that she had thanked Gracie properly for taking care of me. "I don't know how you managed to hold it together seeing her so broken." My mother had said.

"I didn't." Gracie had answered.

After lunch, my mother had showed us around the mansion. I could barely keep up with how many rooms there were. She was married to a very successful man with two sons. Her husband had come home from work for a couple of minutes to pick up something and I met him for the first time.

He was tall with dark hair and wearing a suit. We shook hands and he apologized for being rude and left quickly back to work.

My mother had to join him at work in an hour so we bid goodbye for the final time with promises of seeing each other again.

I walked with Gracie to a nearby park and sat down with her.

"I'm happy for you, Cali. Things are finally going to work out." Gracie smiled at me.

"Thanks Gracie." I smiled back. "The last three years would have been torture without you. You're the one thing that got me through it."

"Aw Cali." She hugs me.

"I mean it; even if we're not friends in 30 years I want you to know you were significant part of my life for a long time. I'm thankful we're friends." I embraced her hug.

"I know me too." Gracie pulls away from the hug. "So you came here with Luke yesterday?"

"Yeah. He was up early and I asked him to come with me."

She raised her eyebrows at me. "You and I both know him getting up early isn't the reason you asked him to come with you."

I looked down at my sneakers for a long time. "What is it?" She asked me.

I thought back to the first time Luke and I met. It was messy, I had just been beaten up and things were still a blur. He had taken me home, caring for me. He had given me his white sweater that was now ruined.

I remembered our date that one night before tour started. It was a great night for the first part. The second part was when I told him about my father. He was so concerned and afraid at that time. He took me to a hospital to get properly taken care of. I remember his face when he saw my wound; it's clearly an image I'll never get rid of.

Then there was the night of the carnival. It might have been one of the happiest nights of my life. I had never felt so loved and happy like that night and I remember every second of it.

I looked down at my hands and think about how Luke always held them in his. He always held my hand as if he was afraid I would run off and get hurt. Oh and his eyes, those baby blue eyes. Every time I looked at them I got butterflies in my stomach because I could hardly believe he was real.

Many tour nights we had spent together, sharing jokes and memories. He would sit on stage with me and play his guitar, softly singing and I would complain, urging him to sing louder. The amount of time we spent together was insane but somehow never felt like enough.

I snapped out of my trip down memory lane because Gracie was expecting an answer. "I love him." I said, my voice trembling.

"I know you do." Gracie said, rubbing my back but smiling big. "You finally realized it."

"Am I stupid?" I threw my hands up. "How can I be in love with Luke Hemmings, lead singer of one of the most popular bands out there?"

"You're not stupid, Cali. You're not in love with Luke Hemmings the lead singer. You're in love with Luke Hemmings the guy who was always there for you. The guy who has cared for you like no one ever has. Not even me." She said.

"You're right." I rubbed my hands. "I have to tell him."

"You do." She agreed. "I think it is best if you tell him before the tour is over. I don't think we'll be seeing much of them once it's over." She had a sad look on her face.

++++++

After Gracie and I went back to the Brisbane venue, we had dinner with the boys backstage. I see Michael and Luke leaving the room and I decided to join them. They were walking on the stage, taking in the view of the audience seats.

"It's going to be one hell of a show." Michael said and Luke nodded. Michael turned around and saw me. "I'm just gonna go get something to drink."

He leaves but not without giving me a wink first. I laugh it off and walk next to Luke. Was this it? Was I going to tell him? I look at him for a second and I know it isn't the right time.

He looked like he had been crying. His eyes were red, the hoodie he had was pulled over his head and his mouth was turned into a frown. "What's wrong?" I asked, stepping closer to him. He shook his head and looked down.

I took his hand in mine and led him to the edge of the stage and we sat down. "I miss my family." He says, tears welling up in his eyes. "It sucks to be so far away from them and I miss home cooked food, I miss spending time with my siblings, I miss roadtrips, and I miss everything."

"I know. Being famous is hard but it's the way things are. At least you get to see them sometimes. It's better than not seeing them at all, Luke." I pull him in for a hug, sideways.

"I know. It's just tough sometimes. I don't really talk about it much because it hurts." He sighs as he puts his arms around me. "How do you get through it? Knowing you don't have a family?"

I thought about it for a moment. "I have a family. One that includes Calum, Ashton, Michael and Gracie. It also includes you, Luke." He smiles slightly at his name. "Sure I miss the times when my father wasn't abusive and when my mother was around. But it's life. Things change and you just got to make the most of it you know?"

He nodded and we sat for a while in silence in each other's arms. "I'm glad I'm part of your family." He said.