Unpredictable (A Lashton Fanfic)

Chapter Twelve - We need to find a new drummer.

An hour and a half later Luke, Michael, Calum, Austin, and Cody were on the tour bus on the way to the arena, along with Harry, Liam, Zayn, Louis, Niall, and Josh.

            “I really hope we can get through practice today without any problems,” Austin was saying. “because our first soundcheck Luke and Ashton both stormed off the stage, and at our last soundcheck we were worried about Nathan the whole time.” He turned around in his seat to look at Luke, who was staring out the window with his headphones on. “I just hope he’s able to focus okay without Ashton being here. Are you, Hemmings?”

            Luke responded by turning up the volume of the music he was listening to and closing his eyes. The vehicle was filled with nothing but the sound of the rock music coming from his headphones until they reached the large arena, which was situated in a field between two mountains. “This is a nice arena,” Zayn commented as he stepped off the bus behind Liam and Louis.

            Harry nodded and held open the door for the others, who walked inside and immediately climbed up on the stage, where their instruments were already set up. “Who’s practicing first?” Austin asked.

              Michael shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
               “I think we should go ahead and get ours over with.” Luke picked up his guitar and walked over to stand beside Calum. “Are you guys ready?”

                 Calum was about to say something, but stopped when the curtain behind them opened and Ashton stepped out, carrying a set of drumsticks. “Everyone knows this band can’t practice anything without their drummer.”

            “I thought you were spending the day with Hunter,” Calum said in confusion. “and I also thought you said you wouldn’t be able to come here to practice with us.”

            “I am spending the day with Hunter,” Ashton smiled, sitting behind his drum set. “He’s backstage right now. I realized this morning after we had our little argument that it was wrong and selfish of me to miss practice, so here I am. Plus, Hunter gave me a new set of drumsticks. They glow in the dark. I can’t wait to try them out.” Just as he said that the curtain opened again and Hunter stepped out, along with Danielle and Dan and Shay.

            “Hey guys,” Dan said, walking down the stairs that led off the stage. “I hope you don’t mind, but we’re going to watch you all practice. Shay and I are big fans of your band’s music, actually.”

            “I promise we won’t interfere with your soundcheck,” Danielle said sweetly, sitting down beside Hunter.

            Luke rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He turned around to look at Ashton, who was staring at him. “Do you have a problem?”

            “No,” Ashton replied carefully. “I was just waiting for you to give me the cue to start drumming.”

            Luke nodded once, turned back around, and began singing.

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After they were done performing, Luke, Ashton, Calum, and Michael took their seats in the audience while Austin and Cody climbed onstage and began their soundcheck. They sat in silence for a while until Ashton suddenly leaned over and tapped Luke on the shoulder. “Lukey, can I talk to you outside for a second?”
            Luke sighed, but reluctantly stood up and followed him out the glass doors that led to the parking lot. “What do you want to talk about, Ash?”