Afraid • l.h

Chapter 53 • "Explain."

Luke's POV

It was ten thirty by the time we strolled into the studio for one hell of a day. We left Tilly in the hotel room and she was looking for a place to stay. Ashton broke up with Rosie earlier and she took it fine. Today we are rehearsing the set list non stop. After the third song Mark comes into the building to find us messing around.

"Boys. This is serious business. You're going on tour in just over a week there's no time for messing about." He announced. "And please Luke. What were you doing with a girl last night. Care to explain."

"That girl is... is my cousin." I say.

"Oh. Well carrying on practicing then." He says and leaves.

"Don't you think he is controlling. Like way too much." Ashton says after 5 minutes.

"He's too pressurising." Michael says.

I pull out my phone and dial my mums number. I don't even know what the time is back home but this is not acceptable.

"Mum." I say.

"Hey Luke. How's it going." She asks.

"It's okay." I reply.

"You don't seem so sure." She says.

"That's because I'm not." By now I was out in the foyer area. "Mark is really strict. He made Calum and Ashton break up with their girlfriends."

"What do you want to do?" My mum asks helplessly.

"I don't know. I just don't want it to be like this." I say.

"Leave it to me I'll sort something out with the other mums." She says after pondering.

"Thanks mum. Love you."

"Love you too." She says and I hang up walking back into the studio room.

"Tilly?" Calum questions.

"No. My mum actually. I told her that this can't carry on."

"What can't?" Michael asks tuning his guitar.

"Mark and all of this control." I reply.

"What can we do?" Calum asked.

"My mum said she'll sort something out with everyone's parents." I say.

**

6 hours later we returned to the hotel lobby being dropped off by an uber. It ended up being more of a relaxing day than a full blown practice but we did run through quite a few times. When we returned to our room Tilly had gone and there was nothing to say where to so Michael said he would text her. She replied not long after saying that she went to the airport hotel and is soon to fly back home.

Tilly's POV

My hotel room wasn't great but I wasn't to be in here for long so I grabbed a McDonald's before watching some rubbish on the TV and falling asleep.

**

I woke up with the sun in my eyes and in an uncomfortable position on the sofa. Luckily all my bags were packed and all I had to do was get ready and leave.

As I lugged my bag through the airport I found Starbucks and grabbed my favourite cold drink. Caramel frappé for those who are wondering. I pulled out my laptop from my rucksack and began to wonder how I was possibly going to keep myself busy all summer.

I boarded my plane after about an hour of looking for what cool things to do in the summer. Sitting back I closed my eyes and thought about home.