Want You Back

1.

By the third play-through of the music video, I had every lyric memorized.

As Audrey made to play the music video for the fourth time, I finally managed to tear my eyes away from the screen. "Stop," I whispered, screwing my eyes shut.

Instantly the music was cut, and when I opened my eyes the screen was frozen over my ex-boyfriend's face. He looked so much older without his hair in that high quiff, and the lack of his signature lip ring made him look less childish, more rugged and mature. I absolutely hated it.

"It might not be about me," I offered weakly.

Audrey smiled sympathetically. "Hun, I may not know the ins and outs of your relationship with that kid, but I can tell when something is about my client. Those lyrics just scream 'Jasmine'."

"But is there any chance it's about someone else? Maybe the fans haven't caught on yet."

Again, that sympathetic smile. "Unfortunately, it seems your former flame is ahead of you on that one. 5 Seconds of Summer explained in an interview that the song was written about and dedicated to one of Luke Hemmings' exes. Don't worry, they didn't name you, but they did mention it was a girl that he wronged and that the band was fond of. The year 2015 was also brought up."

I perked up instantly at the mention of an interview. "Why hasn't anything been in the tabloids?"

Audrey sighed and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "The interviews have been pretty much on the down-low - mostly just Aussie radio stations and magazines. Which is good, it means the press here is none the wiser, but they'll catch on soon."

"Show me the interview." I demanded, my chest tight at the idea of hearing Luke's voice again. It was one thing to hear him sing, it was another to hear him talk.

My agent hesitated for a brief moment, but upon catching my gaze, finally relented. She clicked a few buttons on the remote and suddenly the flatscreen was lit up with the band members of 5 Seconds of Summer.

The interviewer on the screen was a young, brunette women with vibrant magenta lipstick smeared over her lips and long, spidery lashes. She held out her microphone to Michael - who looked so much older without his signature coloured hair - while shuffling through a stack of papers on her lap.

"So, Michael, perhaps you can finally reveal who 'Want You Back' is written about?"

Michael and the boys chuckled, Luke's deep laugh standing out. My heart felt so tight in my chest; it was like my ribs were a corset, squeezing it.

"Well, I can't," Michael chuckled, "but, maybe Mr. Luke Hemmings can," he smirked as he turned to his bandmate.

Luke grinned and unconsciously crossed his ankle over his knee. He was nervous; that's what he always did when he was nervous - fidget and shift.

"I wrote the song," he confessed, flashing the interviewer a dazzling smile. "And I can say that it is about one of my past girlfriends, however I think I'll have to hold off on naming her."

The interviewer pouted in response. "Even for your favourite radio station?"

Luke chuckled and ran a hand through his long hair. "Unfortunately."

"But!" Ashton interjected excitedly, "we can say it was written about a relationship of his that ended in 2015."

Luke shouldered the older boy while the other two whistled and chuckled, the brunette interviewer looking as if she was having the time of her life.

Then the next second, the screen went black; Audrey didn't need a verbal cue from me to get the message.

"What next?" I asked, my thoughts already on the defence. I wouldn't let a stupid song tarnish my image that I'd worked so hard for.

"Well, Jazz, here's the problem. We don't want the press connecting you to Luke Hemmings right now - you're on your way towards being an A-lister, whereas he's at like a B at best. If the the press finds out the song is about you, that puts 5SOS in the limelight, and places you on the back-burner, make sense?" Audrey explained.

I nodded, "it makes enough sense. But how do we prevent this from reaching the States?"

Audrey shrugged, "that's the tough part. The bands following is pretty hardcore here, so eventually the fans will make the connection - if they haven't already."

I put my head in my hands. "So we're doomed?" I asked, my voice muffled by my fingers.

"Not yet. If we take control of the situation, that could be huge for your image!"

I frowned, looking up at my agent in confusion. "I'm not following, Aud."

Audrey braced her forearms on her desk, staring at me with wide, borderline crazed eyes. "My plan: contact that bands manager and convince them to shoot something with you. This puts the song in your hands, and wouldn't be a scandal anymore. So, whaddya think, toots?"

I chewed at my bottom lip. "I'm not sure about that Audrey. Maybe just start with a meeting..?"

Audrey held up her hand, "sounds good hun! You're the boss, remember. But! If you do change your mind, I can schedule another meeting in a jiffy. I'll call their manager ASAP. Always good meeting with you, Jazzy!" She paused to activate her bluetooth headset, "Charlie! Baby, I need me a meeting with 5 Seconds of Summer this week. Yup, with my client. Which one?! The one, baby."

I sighed as Audrey continued to ramble into her headset. Feeling defeated and weightless, I grabbed my purse and lowered my sunglasses as I left Audrey's office, my head a mess. A meeting with 5 Seconds of Summer? Seeing Luke again?

I don't know if I can face him again after what he did to me.