Adopting The Superhero

Chapter 18

Nyssa's pov

"What if I don't want to go on tour with the boys?" I ask, trying to shift my position so that my ribs don't hurt so badly.

"Who the hell doesn't want to go on a world tour?" Mark questions, raising his eyebrows at me.

"I don't. I thought that was kind of clear," I snap. Michael and Ashton look a little hurt and confused. Calum and Luke are both sitting there with their gazes fixes to their laps. They know why I can't leave.

"Look, Nyssa, you do remember that you're a publicity stunt, right? And do you realize that if they don't take you on tour, the boys would get bad publicity? We need you to just cooperate and stop being difficult," Mark replies, looking down into his bag. I roll my eyes.

"I know what I am to you guys, but I didn't ask for that. For about the millionth time, I was perfectly happy in that orphanage," I respond, standing up.

"Go up to you room, Nyssa. The grown-ups are trying to have a conversation." 5SOS look a little scared for Mark after he said that and half of them don't even know my secret identity.

"Grown-ups?" I shout, losing my temper, "I'm almost 18 years old! I'm way more mature than you'll ever be! And I have more responsibilities than you will ever have!" Calum realizes what is about to happen and jumps up, cutting off my angry rant. This conversation is headed in the same direction that mine and his conversation did right before he found out my identity.

"You know what, Nyssa," Calum starts, laughing nervously, "why don't you go call your friends or something?" I give in but glare at Mark as I walk upstairs. I really hate him.

~

"I get that you don't like us or whatever, but why don't you want to go on a world tour?" Michael asks, sitting down on my bed beside me. He and the other three boys had invited themselves into my bedroom after Mark left.

"Because I can't leave this city," I answer simply. Calum and Luke both wince slightly, disapproving of how close to my secret I am dancing. Neither of them knows that the other one knows. It's kind of funny.

"And why can't you?" Ashton questions, sitting on my other side.

"Because," I reply, flipping through a magazine. Next thing I know, Michael and Ashton are squishing me in between them. My ribs, which were finally starting to feel better, crack loudly, sending flares of pain through my body. I cry out and shove them away.

"Oh my God," Michael gasps out, "I think we just broke her ribs! I heard them crack!"

"We have to get you to a hospital now!" Ashton shouts, just as freaked out as Michael.

"No hospitals!" Calum, Luke, and I all yell simultaneously. Luke and Calum give each other a weird look.

"Nyssa, we need to take you to the hospital. This is important," Ashton argues.

"I'm fine," I lie, trying not to wince. The boys look unconvinced, but leave me alone, going downstairs to call their parents to tell them about the upcoming tour. I lay back down on my bed, wondering what the hell I'm going to do.