After Midnight | lrh

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"I'm sorry, but I can't make it tonight. Something's come up.

Happy birthday xx"

Well, shit.

Cramming my phone back into my pocket, I sigh heavily.

So what if my friends couldn't come, then fuck them- they're the ones missing out on 5 Seconds of Summer's first big tour of their new era. I may be running late, and now alone, but I am determined to have the greatest night of my life. I shift in my seat and lift my chin defiantly to no one but myself- I'm the birthday girl, and nothing is going to stop me from enjoying the night ahead.

I step out of the train station, determined and excited, as I wait for the walking directions to guide me through the city blocks.

"Walk east."

Ok, Siri. I march along with the little blue bubbles for what feels like miles in the stifling heat. I glance again at my phone, just in time to see it flash a low battery warning. There are only three more turns, and I feel confident I can remember them so I pocket the dying device and start walking again.

I guess I took a wrong turn somewhere, because 20 minutes later I still haven't arrived. Turning down the next alley, I tug my phone from my pocket only to find it unresponsive, the screen black. A curse under my breath sinks my spirits and I glance around as if the brick walls and dumpsters may offer up some kind of moral support.

This isn't going my way. It's my birthday and birthdays are always supposed to go my way. For months I've anticipated this very night, since the day they'd announced a tour following a long hiatus and it was now so close I could taste it. Instead of being excited, I feel defeat. I just want to be there already.

I can feel the hot tears pricking at my eyes and tip my head up to blink them back and regain my composure, determined to preserve what's left of my make up. It probably would have been a great idea to stop walking while I did this, but you know. Heat and stuff. I walk full force into a wall.

"FUCK!" I yelp, and the wall vibrates as if it were... laughing?

Oh. The wall isn't a wall at all, I realize when I glance up- and up some more to look at the man in front of me, instantly recognizing the vibrant blue eyes and golden curls as he laughs AT me. Not with me, because I am definitely not laughing as I gape up at Luke Hemmings, lead singer of 5 Seconds of Summer.

I probably should have said something, but I was wholly unprepared to plow into a huge (figuratively, and literally- the man was basically a giant) celebrity on the street. OHMYGOD ITS LUKE HEMMINGS OH MY GOD I-

"Hey, you alright?" He's talking to me.

I shake my head, clearing the brain fog a little, "Yes, shit. Yeah. I'm fine. Are you.. I'm sorry.. Are you alright?"

"All good, thanks. So... where you headed?" he smiles, his tongue darting between his teeth and dimples flashing, clearly amused at my disheveled shock.

"Ah well. Your show, honestly. But I've gotten a bit turned around and my phone died so.. I'll just ah.. I'll be on my way."  I smile tightly and step back, ready to turn away from him and this embarrassing confrontation. I really wanted to meet the band, but this isn't quite what I had in mind.

"You don't have to go. Do you want a picture or something?" Luke leans against the actual brick wall next to him, watching me with a half smile and sparkling eyes. I look away, and attempt to cool my fangirl jets. 

"Oh um, I mean. Directions would be cool."

DIRECTIONS. Did I just ask Luke Hemmings for directions, instead of accepting a photo? I definitely did, and he looks just as surprised as I feel by my weird request.