Live, Laugh, Luke

Chapter 10

There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.

-Freya Stark

Luke's POV

I can see her hesitate for a second before following me out onto the stage. It wasn't quite as empty as I thought. There were people cleaning up the chairs further back in the crowd, but it was still quiet enough for me to hear the echo of my shoes on the ground. Her expression goes to shock as she takes in the view. Even I paused a second to take it in. It looks a lot bigger empty than it does when it's full. I've seen empty arenas almost every day for the past couple months, but you forget just how big they are after a while.

"This is... wow. This is incredible. You get to see this every night? This is amazing!" she gushes when she finally has the words to speak.

"You have seen it before, you know," I tease. She'd been up on a similar stage in Dublin.

"Yea, but I didn't really pay attention to the crowd then. I was a bit preoccupied, plus the lights and it was over so fast." she answers, finally tearing her eyes away from the empty arena to look back at me. Her eyes were bright with excitement. She looked excited to be up there. Like she belonged. I glance back to the side of the stage to check if the guitars were still there, but they'd already been packed up to be shipped back to Australia for the next leg. It was a bummer because I'd have loved to see her playing something on a different sort of stage from the one she was used to.

"Have you ever considered trying to do something like this?" I ask. She was good enough. If she wanted one, she could've had a solo career a long time ago. She pauses, considering my question.

"I have..." she responds slowly. "But the answer has always been no. If I did, then travelling becomes the job and it loses its fun."

"What do you mean?" I ask with a frown. I didn't know if I was supposed to feel insulted by that.

"Well, like... how often do you actually get to see things when you're touring or get to enjoy it without people mobbing you?" she questions."Like, did you do anything besides the concerts in Dublin? When I saw you, you had about 20 girls following you. That day was probably the best day for tips I ever had and I fully believe it was because people wanted to come see the girl you had stopped to talk to." She has a point I realize. I don't respond to the question, just nodding my head. I let it drop for now, but the idea had already planted in my head. She really would be great. People would love her. If she signed with us... I shake the thought from my head for now. At the very least it was something I'd have to discuss with the boys, and that was assuming I could even get her to agree to this. I'd love to help her out finding her career in music, but if it wasn't something she wanted, I couldn't force it on her. I watch as she pulls out her phone and at first I think she's just checking the time until she holds it out to me.

"Would you mind?" she asks, holding it out for me to take a picture. I nod, taking it from her and taking her picture as she poses in front of the empty stage. She looked adorable with her hands on her hips and her raised eyebrow in a 'can you believe it?' attitude. "Thanks," she says with a grin, taking it back after I take the picture. I take out my own phone to check the time. It was already 11:30. The cast was probably already mid party, celebrating the end of the first leg of our tour.

"Hey do you want to head back? There's a party going on and-"

"Thanks, but I probably shouldn't stay out too late."

"Well you could stay the night..." I offer. She chuckles, raising an eyebrow and I begin to feel embarrassed for just asking.

"That feels a bit too groupie-ish to me. Seeing your show in two different countries and sleeping with a band member?" she questions. "Besides," she says stifling a yawn. "I'm tired and I've got work tomorrow." Shot down. Oh god this was embarrassing.

"Alright, we've got cars out back, I can get one of them to bring you home if you want." I head towards the stage exit.

"Are you serious right now?" she asks causing me to turn back to see she hadn't moved an inch. "You make me wait until the show is over and bring me backstage, ask me to stay the night, but when I say I can't you don't even ask for my number?" I pause a second. So I wasn't getting rejected? It truly was just a case of her needing to get home?

"Could I get your number?" I ask. "Or maybe we could do something tomorrow. We're off a few days before we head back to Australia." I say as I slowly walk back over to her.

"Well, that depends. Are you going to call me this time?" she teases.

"I did call you last time," I protest. "You just had already fled the country." She laughs.

"I'm kidding," she assures me. "Here," she continues, holding out her hand for my phone. "I'll just give you my kik. That won't change no matter where I am."

"Why didn't you just give me that in the first place?" I ask as I hand over my phone.

"Very few people have it. Only my family and a couple friends back in the States. I don't really make permanent friends when travelling." I knew that feeling all too well. "So you should consider yourself lucky," she tells me as she types the number in before handing it back to me. I look at the phone, texting the number she gave me a quick 'hi'.

"There, now you have my number. This way you won't be able to use the excuse you had no way to contact me," I tell her. She nods her head, pulling out her phone as it buzzes with my message, saving my number. We finally leave the stage as I walk her towards one of the exits. We had cars waiting out back and I could get one of them to take her home at the very least.

"So... maybe we could get lunch tomorrow?" I ask.

"Well, I've got work," she reminds me. "But if you wanted to stop by during my lunch break..."

"Sure. Where do you work?"

"It's a cafe called Notes. It's not too far from Trafalgar Square."

"And you work in it?" I ask, double checking, accentuating the in.

"Yes, " she laughs.

"Just checking. You and your semantics," I joke. She chuckles, giving me one last long look before looking at the door we've arrived at.

"I really should get going..." she says. "Or else I'll end up drinking more coffee than I serve." I nod, a bit disappointed that she was leaving again. At least this time I knew she couldn't just disappear on me. She pauses a second before stepping up to me and giving me a hug, pressing her lips briefly to my cheek before stepping back, giving me a quick smile before walking out the door.

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What do you think? Can you imagine Freya on stage? I know exactly who I can see playing her vocally, but you'll have to wait and see for that ;)

Let me know what you think so far and don't forget to vote and comment :D It might be a bit longer before I have a chance to update next because I'm going on holiday for a week but I'll definitely update when I get back.