Definition of Promise

Chapter 4

After another couple hours on the plane, we had finally landed and were in the midst of driving to Michael's house. We were mobbed by a bunch of girls at the airport. I really wanted to tell them all to 'fuck off', but I kept my cool.

After sleeping several hours on the plane, I was ready to party. But obviously, Michael wouldn't allow that.

"Remember, I don't want you to tell your mum you're here until you meet your daughter," Michael commanded more than said. His eyes were focused on the road as he drove.

"I don't get why you don't want me to tell my mum."

"Because I don't want the word to get out that you're in Australia. If it does, Hayden would be a nervous wreck." Michael pulled into a driveway, which I assumed was his house. His own house.

"Why would she be a nervous wreck?" I asked curiously, glancing over at him.

"Because, I haven't told her you were coming." He turned the car off and observed at me.

"What? Why?" I practically yelled. I unbuckled my seat belt so I could fully face him. He was trying to think of the right words to say back to my questions.

"Like I told you she would be a nervous wreck and this way, when we tell her tomorrow, she won't have any time to freak out." He climbed out of the car and grabbed the bags from the back.

I was feeling extremely jet legged due to the time change, but I could handle it. I got out of the car and met Michael at his front door, which he swiftly unlocked and walked inside.

"Cal and Ash are the only ones who know about you coming back. They are the ones who helped me plan it."

So not only was just Michael in on getting me back here to meet and get to know my own daughter, but so was Ashton and Calum. After I treated them like shit, they were willing to help me know my own daughter? Why would they do that for me?

My thoughts went back to Hayden as I tried to picture what she looked like now. For once in my entire last year, I was staring to have feelings again. Not only did I feel jealous that she has a fiancé, but I also felt broken.

"Luke? Did you hear me?" Michael asked, snapping his finger in front of me.

"No, what did you say?"

"I said that we are going to see your daughter tomorrow morning, so no sleeping in until noon. Got it?"

"Yep." I put my belongings into the room that Michael had prepared for me. He said I can stay at my parents' house after tonight if I wanted to, but I think I would rather stay with Michael. I could learn a few things about Hayden and what her life has been like. My parents' house is about hour away anyway and Hayden's house was about 10 minutes from here, as what Michael told me.

The rest of the day slipped away as Michael told me what he, Ashton, and Calum did for the last year while I was in California. I was surprised to hear that they didn't play any shows or gigs without me.

After finding out that Hayden had a fiancé named Thomas, I had the urge to be better than him. But I had more wanted to beat him up. The thing that really got to me is when Michael said that Thomas was a good guy. No wonder she fell in love with him.

I still felt like Hayden was mine and that I have a claim on her. Even though I was the one who left her, I still felt like she belonged to me; that no other guy could have her.

As I laid in bed, the first thing and last thing on my mind was her. After all of these years of not seeing her, she was the only one I could think about. How could that possibly be?

I closed my eyes as I drifted to sleep.

"You know when you can't stop thinking of someone, it's because they can't stop thinking of you," Hayden smiled softly.

"Is that why I couldn't stop thinking of you last night? Because you couldn't stop thinking of me?"

"Yes, it very well is," she said, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Everything I do reminds me of you and then I start to think of you again." She laughed.

The shade felt great as we laid on the grass under a big tree. Hayden's head was on my chest with her arm wrapped around me.

Her laugh was the only thing I could hear as I picked my head up and looked down at her. It was like it was in slow motion and she was the only thing I see. She was absolutely gorgeous and she didn't even have to try.

I couldn't help but smile as I laid my head back down on the grass and looked up at the gigantic tree above me. Her smile, her laugh, her everything was mine. I had her wrapped around my finger and I was wrapped around hers.

"Why are you smiling like that?" She asked looking at me with her beautiful green eyes.

"Like this?" I smiled, tucking the hair that had fallen behind her ear.

"Yes, like that!"

"Because I'm happy." I pulled her up closer to my face and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I'm happy because of you...I promise."