only for you // l.h.

|14|

         

We got back to the room and everything was a disaster. Food and clothes were everywhere, and music was playing loudly. Ashton was humming along and tapping his hands, on his phone. Michael was eating off a plate.

"I ordered room service," Michael said through a mouthful of food. "I was starving and these guys ate all the food."

"How can you make a mess in the span of ten minutes?" I asked, slightly amazed and slightly repulsed.

"It's easy," Luke said.

Ashton's tapping increased in intensity Michael burped loudly. Luke shuffled some wrappers around.

"We're going to the park," I announced. I shut off the music. "Put your shoes on. You guys are going crazy in here."

They all gave me guilty looks but listened. A minute later, we were all riding the elevator down to the lobby, Calum complaining how he was wounded and he should stay in bed.

Michael came up to me. "I'm actually happy that you're staying, Emerson," he told me. "Girls are sort of scary, but you're not."

"Yeah, and we don't really hang out with anyone but the crew and our band," Luke said. "Unless we have a break."

"The crew's great," Ashton argued.

"Calum gives us love," Michael said.

"Thanks, Michael," Calum said.

Ashton laughed.

I rolled my eyes, wondering how I'd gotten myself sucked into this in the first place.

The elevator dinged and we rushed off, taking the exit through the cafeteria.

"We are so sneaky," Ash commented as we were welcomed by fresh air and a cool breeze.

"Hell yeah," Calum seconded. "Where is this thing?"

I turned a corner. "Is it true you guys can't see fans anymore? Because of that thing in Norway?" A girl had been hit by a car trying to see the band.

Luke slowed down to walk next to me. "Yeah. It really does suck. But things get crazy, you know? People get hurt."

"But you're still hunted down," I said, confused. "How does that work?"

"As the tweet said, not all who chase after us are friendly."

"They keep us in shape, though," Ashton said. "Things have just gotten crazier and crazier." 

I took a left, and then we were at the park. The boys immediately rushed onto the slides and swings, shouting happily.

I watched them go. "God, it's like babysitting," I told myself. Luke and Calum proceeded to fight over the second swing while Michael stood on the first. Ashton was getting himself stuck in a tunnel.

My phone rang, the caller ID my mother.

I swallowed, prepared to get an earful from her.

"EMERSON HAYLEY SCOTTS," my mother boomed. "Why haven't I heard from you since BEFORE PHYSICAL THERAPY?"

I winced. "Hi Mom. Don't worry, I'm safe."

She sighed. "Thank goodness. But that doesn't mean I'm not mad. I've gotten nothing but radio silence from you. What's going on? Are you alright?"

Michael fell off the slide, a loud swear coming from him. Ashton laughed loudly.

"I'm fine," I said. "There's been another attack, though."