in your arms

t e n

james's pov.

i love being in a band.

i mean, it's time consuming, yes, and soon enough i'm going to be a Dad so i need to focus less on band and more on that— but wow. being in a band is so cool.

i know i'm 'only the drummer' but, hey, the drummer is always the cute one. and in this case that's definitely correct.

today when luke comes to band practice he has a different 'exciting story' to tell than usual. usually it's a stupid story about video games, or his cat, or something ridiculous that john did or theo said or something.

but this...? this is crazy.

good crazy. but kind of scary...

~~

"riley! you home?" i shout out when i walk in, "i have something to tell you."

"i'm in the bedroom!"

i walk into where she is, and find her sitting on the bed in sweatpants and a hoodie, eating doritos and watching something on her laptop.

this is basically her life since she got pregnant.

"what's up?" she asks me.

"well, luke was talking to our agent yesterday," i start off. "and you know how we wanted to start doing bigger performances, get more recognised?"

how could she not? we've always talked about being a big band, that everyone knows and everyone listens to. all the fame, the glory, the screaming fans...

"yeah," riley replies, bringing me out of my daydream.

"well. he booked us to be the supporting act for brighter brightests tour!"

"really?" riley jumps up. "that's amazing!"

"i know!" she wraps her arms around my neck.

"but..." i continue. "there's one more thing. the concerts are all across the country. we'll be gone for like a month, or maybe more, and i know the babies coming in, like, 2 months? but—"

"james, it's okay. you have to go."

"but the baby–"

"won't be born. not until you're back."

"but—"

"no buts. you're going."

"are you sure?—"

"james!"

"okay, okay!" i smile, hugging her again. "i love you, riles."

"i love you too."

rileys pov.

to be perfectly honest, i'm terrified about james going away. but i can't stop him. i can't tell him not to do this and follow his dreams just because i'm scared to be alone when i'm so close to giving birth to a real life human being.

"i'm proud of you," i tell him. "this is your dream."

"yeah, it is," he smiles. "but just so you know, as soon as this baby is born you've got my full attention. if i'm gonna raise this baby i'm doing it right."

i grin at him. "you're adorable."

"i know i am," he says.

james's pov.

"she said yes, guys!" i say, walking into luke's place. "this is really happening."

"i know! this is crazy, man!" luke says, bro hugging me. "brightest brightest supporting act, imagine."

"and you're not worried the baby will come while you're gone?" theo says to me. "and riley will be alone, giving birth, and you'll be doing a concert somewhere? that will probably ruin your relationship. aren't you worried of that?"

i narrow my eyes. "well i am now," i tell him. "thank you for putting that thought in my head, theo."

"no problem," theo smiles, seeming pretty genuine. i roll my eyes.

"james. it'll be fine," john reassures me. "you'll be home long before the babies born."

i nod. "i know. i mean, there's still, what, 2 months?" i say. "it takes 9 months for them to, you know, arrive, right?"

"i think so," luke replies.

"but they can come early—"

"theo!" me, john and luke all shout.

but it's okay, becuase i know i have nothing to worry about.

but that won't stop me from worrying.

yes, i'm a pretty chill guy. but this is my family on the line... and also my career. going on this tour could really do something for me and the band, and i don't want to risk not going.

i guess i'll just have to hope for the best....

~~

this was really bad, but i have the next two chapters wrote so i'll hopefully be updating nearly everyday until this book is over :)
- emma x