Thanks to StaceyStonier for the request! Hope you enjoy!
The February weather in Los Angeles was strange this year. Instead of the usual sunshine, residents had been blessed with a wet chill for weeks on end. Luke Hemmings was currently cursing this unfortunate weather as he sat in traffic on his way home from a meeting with their band's management about their upcoming single release and promo tour. The chilly weather and constant drizzle had given Luke a headache that had started a few days ago. Luke groaned, leaning his elbow against the inside window, propping his aching head up.
By the time he pulled into his driveway, he had begun coughing, his throat raw and irritated. Thinking he was just coming down with a cold he went inside, made a warm mug of herbal tea and sat on his couch. Petunia came over to sniff his tea, and he pulled her close, feeling thoroughly worn out. How was he going to manage to survive another tour if a single meeting left him so worn out? He let out another weak cough and closed his eyes.
He woke with a jolt, his body shaking slightly. Luke rolled over to check his phone, the time on the screen showing 11:24pm. An ache seemed to have settled in his bones and he shivered again. Deciding that he wasn't hungry, he went up to his room to change into more comfortable clothes. As he was pulling a tshirt over his head, his phone buzzed.
"Hey man, we're going out tonight-want to join?-Ash"
Luke knew he should go, the boys would be disappointed if he ditched them for the umpteenth time that year. Currently, he thought he'd rather go back and repeat the 7th grade for a year than go out to a club. The idea of loud noises and crowded dance floors made Luke want to cry. Sitting on his bed and pulling his blanket up over his shoulders, he typed back a response.
"Thanks for the invite but I'm not feelin' so hot, maybe next time"
Ashton responded back the next second.
"What's wrong? I was just telling Cal you seemed a bit worn down today. You need anything?"
"Not sure, I'm coughing a bit and my head hurts. Probably just a bug....think I'm going to bed early"
"Feel better dude! Let us know if you need something"
Putting his phone back on his bedside table, Luke rolled over and shut his eyes. He drifted off to the gentle hum of the traffic outside.
Waking up was not a pleasant experience. His cough and headache hadn't gone away overnight, and there was a new wheeze in his breath as Luke struggled to put on clothes the next morning. His suspicion that he had a fever had been confirmed when he saw goosebumps on his arms and legs after pulling on his warmest sweatshirt and beanie. He went downstairs to pull on his shoes and grab his keys, bypassing his kitchen. Luke still wasn't hungry and decided he didn't have enough time for breakfast anyway.
Coughing harshly into his elbow, he started his car and merged into the ever-present traffic of Los Angeles, heading to yet another meeting about the promo tour.
When he arrived at the building, he bumped into Ash and Calum heading up the steps. The brief walk to the office where their meeting was had left him out of breath and dizzy. Cal and Ash greeted him warmly.
"Hey Luke, you feeling any better?" Ash gave him a small smile. Luke coughed before responding.
"Umm, not really. I think I just need an extra nap and some Nyquil though, no big deal," Luke tried to placate his friends. " Probably just caught a cold from that server at that Mexican restaurant we went to last week."
Cal and Ash glanced at each other before responding. Luke was a sheet white, dark circles lining his glossy red eyes. He looked like he could fall over at any given minute.
