Wherever You Are // A Luke Hemmings fanfiction

Part 2

(Mikki POV)

“What do you mean you’re not going on tour with us?”

“Mikki!”

“You’re like our good luck charm.”

I sighed as I saw the three sad faces of my best friends around me. I’d been sat on the sofa in Ashton’s basement for the past hour, listening to them go through a long list of potential songs they could play on tour, and it was after my favourite song of theirs, Beside You, that I couldn’t hide my tears anymore.

Ashton had immediately joined my side on the sofa, leaving his drumsticks on the floor and wrapping his arms around my waist before I’d even told him what was wrong. Michael was next, sitting on my other side and moulding his torso into my back, resting his head on top of mine. Calum had soon gotten the hint and sat at my feet, extending an arm out to grab my hand. Luke had remained where he was, but even he had the decency to look mildly disappointed, his lips curled into a frown, an unreadable emotion in his blue eyes.

“I know, I know, and you know I love you guys, and I would love to come with you. But I just can’t afford it, and I can’t ask my parents to fund the whole trip like they did last time.”

“You know it’s not gonna be the same without you,” Calum said, resting his head on my leg. “Like, who’s gonna make sure we get onstage on time? I always feel a lot better after I’ve had a pep talk from you before we go on, Ash always hugs you for about five minutes before and it helps calm him down. And if you didn’t make Michael laugh before he went on, there’s no way he’d be relaxed enough to joke with the crowd.” He paused, lifting his head to smile sadly at me. “Luke even looks out for you in the audience when he’s got a serious stage of stage fright.”

I looked over at the blonde-haired boy who hadn’t said a word since the boys had rushed over to comfort me, raising an eyebrow in surprise. He was glaring at Calum, his cheeks flushed slightly. I hadn’t ever noticed Luke looking for me at their concerts, but the fact that he wasn’t denying it was evidence enough. He crinkled his nose slightly as his eyes locked with mine, and despite my usual disdain for the boy I felt my stomach flutter slightly. “It’s nice seeing a familiar face in the crowd.”

I bit the insides of my mouth to stop myself from smirking at what could only be considered Luke’s idea of a compliment towards me. “Look, you boys are gonna be amazing, even without me there. I promise I will call you every night before you go on, regardless of the time difference. You’re gonna be so good and do all your fans proud. Trust me, you guys can do this.”

I looked around at all of them as I spoke; Ashton, Calum and Michael nodded understandably, their forced smiles matching my own, whilst Luke looked away, his jaw clenching for some inexplicable reason. As I felt a vibration in the back pocket of my jeans, I pulled my phone out, swearing as I saw the time. “Look, I’d better be going anyway. I’m seeing Joe tonight, and I was supposed to be getting ready right about now. He’s gonna kill me if I’m late.”

“I’ll drive you home,” Ashton said, jumping to his feet and swinging an arm around my shoulder. Even after eighteen years, the simple gesture made me feel a lot more comfortable and at ease; it was going to be a hard summer without that reassuring feeling. I smiled up at him, standing up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek lightly. “Thanks Ash.”