Luke's POV
I threw my suitcase in the corner of my hotel room and landed on the bed with a thud. I stared at the tiny dots on the ceiling, trying to picture them as the stars in the sky back in Australia.
It was impossible though with the constant noise of the city below. Why did we have to get a hotel in the heart of downtown? The unfamiliar buzz of people talking and cars honking was far different than back home.
None of this was ever going to be the same, and guilt began to overtake my demeanor.
"This was a bad idea." I thought outloud, not knowing if I actually wanted to be heard or not.
"Oh come on Luke," Michael said jumping next to me, a giddy smile covering his face. "This is a brand new start. We have three weeks before the competition and we might as well get use to the city. There's no going back now."
He had a point but I just couldnt find the excitement anymore. We had been a band for three years and never had a decent shot, but this could actually be it. This could potentially land us the dream we've been shooting for.
"C'mon mate just try not to think about it. It might just be the jetlag getting to you." Ashton laughed but I didn't even flinch a smile. "It's past midnight already, try to get some rest."
And with that he turned off the light. Minutes felt like hours as I sat wide awake in the pitch black, listening Calum's snores across the room. I couldn't help but feel irritated by the constant noise, being a person who enjoyed peace and quiet. But I knew now I wasn't going to be getting that for quite some time.
I did my best to exit the bed without waking up Michael and walked to the window. The city was still lit up, giving from what I could see from our third story view. Despite how late it was the occasional person would walk by or a taxi would race past.
I open the window and pull myself up on the ledge, semi shutting it behind me. Most people would assume it insane but I've always been the type of guy who didn't mind a risk. I guess that's just who I am. Very reserved, yet willing to throw a punch if confronted. Taking a risk no matter the consequence and doing it all over again. I don't really care what anybody thinks of me.
Except my mum and Brody.
They're by far the two most important people in my life, and I'm suddenly reminded why I agreed to come here in the first place. To create a better life for them. The troubled past that we all had been through would seem like nothing compared to the joy I could bring them through my success with music. That's why I took it so seriously.
I pulled the small picture I had in a pocket of my wallet out and stared at it with longing. I could see my mum smiling brightly while she held little Brody in her arms, his light brown curly hair and blue eyes shining as he grinned. My heart ached at the sight and I felt tears pricking at my eyes.
At almost the same time I hear a sob, from below that snaps me out of my trance. I quickly return the picture to where it was and swing my feet over the edge so I can sit up and get a better view. I see a figure curled up in ball, laying their head on what seems to be a large bag on a metal bench. They have to be freezing.
They wail out again and I can hear the shudder in their voice as they breathe. Whoever this person was they were crying hard, like they had bottled up their feelings for too long.
Same.
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and fought the urge to help the stranger. That's not who I was, not what I was about.
"Why?" They screamed out at nobody. "Why?" It was a girl. The pain in her voice made me cringe. Was she hurt?
Of course she's hurt dumbass.
But physically or mentally? I continued to just watch her and listen to her screams, some furious and some desperate.
I almost wanted to scream a response, anything to make her suffering stop. But I couldn't. She slowly got quieter until she made no noise at all, and I could see tears reflect off her face from the lamp post.
Tiredness came over me out of nowhere and my eyes felt droopy. I climbed back in the window and before I shut it, looked down at the girl one last time, and although she couldn't hear me, whispered to her.
"I feel you."
