Uncontrollable (Punk Luke Hemmings)

Chapter 11

I wake up at 10:30, and yet, am still up earlier than these fools. Luke's words last night about how I'm not a game are still spinning around my head. It's funny how just a few words from him can send the world upside down. I'm not sure if I believe him. Maybe I'm an idiot, maybe I'm a genius for not taking his words at face value.

But when I go downstairs, it's kind of adorable, the way they ended up sprawled all over each other. Calum and Ashton have their arms thrown over each other, and though I guarantee they'll deny it if I ever mention it again, Luke and Michael are cuddling.

I take a moment to just watch them, taking in the idiots I can't really help but love. The way Ashton is smiling, dimpling even in sleep, curled up like a cat next to Calum. Calum, who is restless, twitching every few minutes. Michael, still muttering with his head on Luke's shoulder. And Luke. Looking innocent and young, hair messy and completely relaxed. For once, I feel like I need to protect him. Like I need him. After I left Luke on the balcony last night, reeling from his kiss, his restraint, his words, I fell into my bed, and dreamt. Dreamt of them. Standing in front of me, traveling the world with them.

It's a bittersweet feeling, realizing you need someone. Realizing you need 4 teenage boys who are actually kind of stupid but you wouldn't trade for the world.

I'm jolted out of my stupor by the pounding on the front door. It doesn't stir them, but at 11:00 am, they should probably think about getting up. But no. They sleep like the dead.

I swing the door open, conscious of my messy, sleep affected hair, the fact I'm not wearing a bra (not the best idea, considering I'm in a house full of teenage boys, holla for just rolling out of bed), and that i am indeed alone in a house of teenage boys. Let's just hope it's not the post man or someone who would probably be equally shocked at the situation.

But no, it's just Rose.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, thrown completely off guard.

"What am I doing here? Please Andy." She rolls her eyes, walking past me into the living room, throwing her bags, of which there are many, onto the couch, taking in the nerf guns and other assorted leftovers from our adventures last night.

It slowly comes to mind that she wanted to get ready with me. The things I'm forgetting lately.

"I'm so sorry Rose, it totally slipped my mind. The guys are here, and-"

"That band is here? Oh, how interesting." She cuts me off, surveying the room again, shaking her insanely long hair out.

Rose stops and takes a good look at me. I remember exactly what the state of my appearance is and cross my arms over my chest self consciously.

Rose smiles at me, and my conflicted feelings rise to the surface about Luke again.

"Uh huh, sounds verrrryyyyy interesting." She drawls out, wandering back outside, predictably to grab more of those bags full of whatever it is she carries around.

I sigh, whirling around at a creak behind me. It's Luke, looking tired, hair a mess, but to me, it's the best I've ever seen him. I'd definitely be lying if I said something hadn't changed between us last night. You can't talk like that with someone and not feel something.

He smiles at me, opening his mouth to talk. "Andy, I-"

He stops abruptly, looking over me towards the door where Rose has reappeared, carrying more bags and giving me a look that was a not so subtle 'I told you so.'

She shakes her head, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Andy, love, we're running out of time here. Move your lovely little friends along. We have things to do they can't be part of."