Luke's POV:
"Luke, wake up!"
"What?" I groan
"It's time to wake up, we have to get to the studio and meet everyone. Today's the day they decide wether they want to sign us!"
"5 more minutes!"
"Now!"
I throw the covers off of me and swing my legs over the side of the bed.
I check my phone and automatically smile.
Mary💕🙈
I hope you have a great day. I decided to text you before I go to bed so you can see this as soon as you wake up. I love you and tell the guys I said good luck 😊
I get up and get ready, making sure to text her back.
Have a great first day, make sure to not crash my car😂 I love you so much and I can't wait until I come home lots of love 💕
Mary's POV:
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I wake up to the sound of my alarm. I start college today and I'm not really ready.
I roll over and look at my ceiling, starting at the glow in the dark stars I put up there when I was like 12. Man that seems so long ago...
I think about not going. Going to college means growing up and growing up means getting older and getting older means getting a job. But finally I decide getting older is inevitable. So I get up and start to get ready to start the next four years of my life.
I go downstairs to eat breakfast. My first class isn't until 9 and its 7:30. Mom got today off and sits down in front of me at the table. We eat in silence.
"Are you nervous?" She asks
"Terrified." I say
"Don't worry," she says while reaching over and patting my hand "you'll do just fine. You're so smart and I know you'll be the best you can be. Remember what I used to tell you and Ash? You-"
"Can be anything you want, but always be your best." I finish
We go back to eating but she breaks the silence again.
"How's Luke?" She asks
"Um, he's doing great. I haven't talked to Ashton yet. Have you?"
"He called me when they got settled in, he says he loves us."
I look at the clock: 7:45
"Mom, can I talk to you?"
"Of course."
"Ok, so Luke and I went into this thing pretty fast. I mean, two years ago we hardly knew each other and now...I just, I need your advice . Do you think we should try to have a long distance relationship or just say 'someday'?"
"Honestly, the boy is capable of being in a long distance relationship. Sure, he'll meet people and who knows, you may meet people. But you just don't see the way you two are. Whenever you two even look at each other I can see that spark, it's like there's some kind of connection between you two."
"I just don't know if we're capable of doing it. Don't get me wrong, I trust Luke, but I just...can't help but think 'What if?' What if he meets some beautiful super model who makes him forget about me?"
"If he does, it's his loss."
***
A month has gone by since they left, but it seems like it was just yesterday. College is getting easier, it's much better than high school. The guys are already getting popular, which doesn't surprise me. I've seen their follower count on Twitter skyrocket, and it's unbelievable. Every now and then I'll hear people talking about them, and it reminds me of just how much I miss them...all of them.
Luke said they should be home by the end of next month. I don't even know what all they're doing, but it's taking a pretty long time. I can't wait until they start letting me listen to their songs, Luke said there's one he hasn't finished yet, it might be a while.
I'm just really happy they aren't in that phase where paparazzi chase them 24/7.
Luke's POV:
I told Mary we wouldn't be home until the end of next month, but that all depends on how it goes out here.
I feel my phone vibrate and see she is calling me.
"Hey!" I say
"Hey...how are you?"
"I'm good, yeah, we've been working and things should be taking off soon. But it may be a while before we can get home."
"Oh...that's fine. Whatever it takes, right?"
"Pretty much."
She's really quiet and I can tell something's up.
"Are you okay?" I ask
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine it's just...things are getting a bit- a bit hard lately."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know," she sighs "people just don't make things any easier. And I...I miss you."
"I miss you too, I'll see you soon."
"Bye, see you soon."
"Oh and Mary,"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
God it kills me to say that. I don't want to just say it I want to show her. I want to just hop on a plane right now and go home to hug her for as long as I can, but I can't.
I love music, but I love Mary way more. I'd hate to lose her, but I'd also hate to lose music. I know I could still make music back home, but I wouldn't be able to share it with as many people as I could here. If only there was a way I could stay here but also maintain my relationship with her.
Things are pretty good music wise, we have some companies interested in having us sign with them. I think may be able to live our dreams.
I get up, get ready and go downstairs.
"Morning sleeping beauty." Michael says
"Morning." I mumble
I poor a bowl of cereal and sit down at the table. I don't really bother to taste it because I keep thinking. How are we going to make this work?
'Duh, idiot. You could ask her to travel with you!'
No, I can't do that. She'd never leave her mom.
'Then I guess it will be like this forever.'
But it can't, not if I can help it.
*
"Whooo!"
"Part-ayyyyy!"
"I can't believe we did it! We're going to live our dreams!" Ashton says
We did it, we got a record deal. We just have to meet with them tomorrow and then we're free to go home.
"Hey, no one tell anyone at home so we can surprise them." I say
"Come on, man! I want to tell the whole world!" Michael says
" I know," I say patiently "but I want to surprise Mary."
"Fine." he says like a little kid who is disappointed
"Hey Luke, can I talk to you?" Ashton asks
"Of course." I say
We walk outside and he sits down , I sit down beside him.
"I don't know how to say this easily, so I'm just going to say it," he says "I don't want Mary to get hurt. Do you feel...indifferent towards her?"
"No, not at all." I say, shocked
"Okay," he says "do you think you guys will become...an actual...couple?"
I think about this for a second before answering.
"I honestly don't know, we might, we might not."
"Just...please don't hurt her. I couldn't bear to see that. She's my little sister, and since our dad walked out, I've become a father figure to her."
"I swear, I'll never hurt her."
*
We're beginning to land and I can't hold in my excitement. When we touch down I jump up and get off as fast as I can.
We get into the airport and I run to get my bags and run to the car.
"Luke, wait up!" Calum yells
We get in and it feels like a million years before I see Ashton's house.
"See you guys later." I say to Michael and Calum
I sprint to the front door but Mary must have seen me coming up the sidewalk. She flings the door open and runs to me. I throw my bags down, she tackles me and I fall onto the ground.
"Oh my god, Luke!" She says
"I missed you so much." I say
She kisses me over and over and I'm surprised. She never really showed this much affection when we were around other people.
I untangle myself from her when I realize I need to get to Mom and Dad.
"I'll be back," I say, kissing her "I swear."
I walk down the street, smiling, and feeling like the luckiest guy on Earth.
