Brothers Bandmate

47

Luke's POV

Once I got home and ready for bed, I thought about the dinner. I think it actually went pretty well. Other then the small argument I had with Mr. Clifford at the beginning, everything seemed to go well. I tried my best to be polite, keeping in mind how Brie felt, and just tried to be the better version of myself.

I heard my phone ringing almost as soon as I lay down. I groaned, not feeling like talking on the phone. It was probably Calum wanting to keep me up to tell me about his latest hookup with Brook or Claire. I definitely did not want to hear about it. I ignored it and tried to sleep, but then my phone started ringing again. I just reached over and turned the volume down to vibrate. But of course when the ringing stopped, my phone started vibrating a second later. I sighed, not wanting to turn my phone off in case of emergency. I sat up and pick up my phone and saw the caller id read Brie. My eyes widened and I immediately answered it.

"Brie?" I answered the phone.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't ever pick up!" she sounded panicked. I swear I heard a sniffle too. Was she really that worried?

"Sorry, I was trying to sleep and I thought it was Calum or something. What do you need?" I asked her, rubbing my eyes.

"Oh...if you were trying to sleep then I'll just go home, sorry," she apologized, and I almost didn't catch what she said because it was so subtle.

"Wait, go home? What do you mean? Brie, what are you doing?" I stood up now, having a feeling of where she was but not sure.

As I moved my curtain to look outside, Brie answered, "I'm outside your house and I-I'm sorry to wake up and...and I know it's late b-but I just really need someone right now and..." she started sobbing and I saw her covering her face outside.

I moved away from the curtain, feeling really worried now. I put on some sweat pants and a t-shirt before running downstairs, my phone still in my hand. "Brie, don't worry! I'm coming right now," I told her in a soft voice so I wouldn't wake anyone up.

I opened the door, being face to face with a crying Brie who stared back at me. I hung up my phone and set it down on a nearby table before immediately taking Brie into my arms. She just cried, clinging onto me. The only time I saw her like this was when she told me about her mother. That means something was really wrong.

"Shh, Brie! It's okay, everything's fine! Shh!" I hushed, trying my best to calm her down. Things were a lot different from the last time I had to comfort her. I actually really cared for her now, and it almost made me want to cry with her just seeing her like this. It broke my heart.

Brie moved back, shaking her head. "No, everything isn't fine!" she cried.

I wasn't sure what she was talking about, but I know that I have to get her calm. "Well, everything will be, okay? Now, let's just try to calm down and then we can talk about it okay?" I told her, making sure to hold her in case she collapsed like she did before. Brie nodded, burying her face into my chest again, but still crying. "J-just...um...take a few breaths and...and...uh think happy thoughts and...try not cry..." I suggested, not really knowing how to stop someone from crying.

Brie looked up, sniffing. "You have no idea what you're doing, do you?" she asked, and I wasn't sure how to respond. I didn't want to make her cry again, so I gave a little shrug and an unsure look. I wasn't exactly saying no, but I wasn't lying either. Surprisingly, Brie gave a little giggle, shaking her head. She sniffed again and let go of me, wiping her eyes. I now noticed she was still in her dress from dinner. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Don't, let's just...go up to my room before my mom wakes up," I told her, shutting the door behind her. She just nodded and I took her hand to lead her upstairs.

Once we were in my room, I closed the door and turned the light on. When I turned around, I saw Brie standing and looking around. She seemed confused as to what to do so I walked over to my bed and patted the spot next to me. She sat beside me and I wrapped my arm around her as she lay her head on my shoulder.

"I really am sorry to barge into your house just crying and looking like a mess," she apologized again, speaking softly.

"Don't be sorry, Brie. You look beautiful even when you cry," I told her, rubbing her arm with my thumb. "You're always welcome to come to me, no matter what," I assured her. She nodded and we just sat there for a few seconds. "I do, however, want to know why you came to my house crying and saying everything isn't okay," I said cautiously. It seemed like she was so fragile right now, and I had to be careful not to break her.

Brie let out a shaky breath, covering her face with one hand now and probably trying not to cry. She wiped her face again before replying. "I...I spoke with my dad after dinner," she started.

"You did?" I questioned, looking down at her.

She nodded, staring straight ahead. "Yeah...he..." she paused, taking a deep breath. "H-he doesn't want me to date you," she finally said in a small voice that cracked at the end. I sat there now, not sure how to respond. I guess I can't be surprised, Brie is too good for me. I guess I just had some hope. "Luke?" she questioned, turning her body to face me.

My arm slowly slid down off of her and by my side again. "So...does that mean you're...breaking up with me?" I asked her, fearing the answer.

"I-I don't want to! I just...I don't know what to do..." she trailed off.

I looked down, feeling my heart shattering and a rock in the bottom of my stomach. I know what I have to do, and she knows it to. "You have to break up with me," I said softly.

"Luke..."

"No, Brie. It's what your dad wants and...and if he doesn't want us together than we can't," I cut her off, but not being able to look into her eyes.

"But when Mikey didn't want us together, we still dated!" she pointed out.

"Yeah but...now it's your dad and...I can't go against him," I said, wishing it wasn't true. There was silence and I wasn't sure what else to say. "I don't want to end it but...I guess it's how things were meant to be."

There was more silence that followed before Brie spoke up now. "Can I just stay? For tonight?" she asked softly.

I looked to the side, not sure if it was a good idea. "Brie...I don't know..."

"Please? My dad is already breaking us up...can we just have tonight?" she begged.

I sighed, but finally looked down at her and gave a small grin and nodding. "Yeah...we can have tonight. We can be together one last time," I agreed. With that, I got up and threw Brie some of my clothes to sleep in, turning around and letting her change as I walked to the light switch.

Once I heard her lift my covers and slip into my bed, I turned the light off and made my way over as well. I lay down beside her, wrapping my arms around her small body and our legs tangling together. It would be the last time to do any of this, the last time to call her mine, the last time for all of it. And because of that, I said the words I never thought I'd say.

"I love you," I whispered. The words were foreign for me to say, especially to a girl like Brie. But it really was how I felt, and I couldn't stop it.

But the feeling grew one thousand times more when she replied, "I love you too."