My Heart's a Stereo

eight

Did I hear him correctly? What kind of accident? Why isn't he answering me

"Miss Watson, are you still there?"

"Yes. Yes I'm here. What kind of accident?"

"Do you know a Frank Roberts?" He asks me sounding unsure of his name.

"Yes, he's my foreman. What happened?"

"He's been attacked by a dog. Does he have any family other than you?" Shit! Not Frank!

"Uh... not, not that I know of. can you tell me what's going on?" I'm on the verge of tears.

"I can't over the phone. you need to get here as fast as you can."

"I uhh I'm on the other side of the country and my flight doesn't leave until 3 your time." I can't lose him. I just can't. "Just tell me one thing, will he survive?"

"I honestly don't know ma'am."

My heart breaks into a million pieces. I hit the floor and sob. I can't lose Frank. He's been like a father to me. Hell, he's been really the only father figure I've ever had in my life. He can't die.

"Lauren?" NIall is on the floor with me. "What happened?"

I bury my face in his shirt. I know I'm making everyone uncomfortable but I can't stop. I can't make my mouth work. I need to go home. Now not tomorrow. I need to get back to Frank.

"There's been an accident." I say as I stand. "I need to get back home now. I have to get back."

I try to run but Niall pulls me back into him. He wraps his arms around my shoulders and I continue to cry into his chest. This has gone from the best day to the worst in less than ten minutes.

I pull away, "I really do need to go. I have to check on my flight and see if I can change to an earlier one."

"Ok, let's go do that." He grabs my hand and leads me to the computer.

After an hour of searching for a flight and trying to change my original one, I'm out of luck. I'm stuck here in LA for 17 more hours. The longest 17 hours of my life!

"I'm sorry you couldn't get your flight changed." Liam says as he looks down. "Can we make it up to you somehow?" He holds up a bottle of wine

"Thanks but I'm ok. I don't think being hungover on a cross country flight is the best idea, you know?" I hug him and walk away.

"How about we all stay in and just watch a movie?" He asks.

"I not gonna make y'all stay in just because something awful is happening to me. I've already put you through a lot and it hasn't even been a week since you met me." The truth in my statement makes me realize just how bad of a person I really am. Fucking hell Lauren! How did you corrupt them in such a short time? "Y'all go out. I'm gonna head back to my hotel and go to sleep. It's been a long day."

"You're leaving?" I hear Niall say behind me.

I turn to meet his gaze, "I feel like I need to. I'm holding you back from having fun with your band mates. You go have fun and I'll see you tomorrow before I leave."

"No!" He steps to me and takes me in his arms. "I'm staying with you. They can go out if they want. We can order pizza and watch HBO all night."

"I'd like that." My mouth says what my heart feels but my brain is telling me to run for the hills of North Carolina and never look back.

The others head off to some restaurant. Niall orders a pizza and we curl up on the couch and try to find a movie. We argue over a romcom or action packed. When we pass superman returns I gasp and he chooses it. We stay in each other's arms and fall asleep. I hear something and it startles me