Imagine A World (Luke Hemmings a.u.) [in editing]

17 Anxiety

Madeline's POV

"You're so amazing!"

"Teach me how to sing like you!"

"I love you!"

I'm overwhelmed at the signing. Once each person has gotten their CD signed, they come over to me and give me a hug. I don't know why. I didn't do anything special.

I look over at the table where the boys are sitting in a line, smiling and talking with their fans. Every once in a while, Luke glances over at me. I give him a small smile to tell him that I'm okay, and he goes back to his fans.

The line moves again, and a new girl comes over to me. She has a streak of electric blue in her otherwise brown hair, and she looks at me with piercing green eyes. She looks a couple years younger than me.

"Hi, nice to meet you, what's your name?" I ask her.

"Riley," she replies, her voice dull and monotone.

"Nice to meet you, Ri-"

"Are you and Luke together?"

I open and close my mouth for a moment, like a fish out of water.

"Sorry?"

"I said, are you and Luke together? I could see the way he looked at you while you were onstage earlier, and he keeps looking over at you now. So, I'll ask again: Are you and Luke dating?" She crosses her arms in front of her and looks at me expectantly.

"N-No, we're just friends. I'm just friends with all the boys, really," I reply, trying to keep my cool.

"I don't believe you."

I bite my lip, take a deep breath, then shrug. "Believe what you want. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion."

She snorts. "You don't know what the hell an opinion is, do you?"

I glare at her. "Get out of here. You got your CD, now leave."

"Now, now, Madeline, don't let Luke hear you say that." She taps me on the nose, then turns to leave, but not before whispering, "I'll never ship you two, by the way."

Then she struts away, laughing an awful cackle that contradicts her pretty face horribly.

I narrow my eyes after her. Something tells me that this isn't the last of this Riley girl.

I notice Luke looking over at me, a puzzled look on his face.

"What was that?" he mouths, pointing after Riley.

I shake my head and return to the now growing line of people in front of me, continuing with the hugs and pictures.

Suddenly, reality punches me in the face.

There are so many people here.

What am I even doing here? I shouldn't be here! I don't deserve any of this.

There are so many people watching me.

So many people.

Too many to count.

I start shaking violently. I hear a familiar voice call for me, but I can't distinguish it through the scream.

Everything goes black.

Luke's POV

My eyes grow wide as Madeline screams and collapses.

"MAD!" I yell, rising from my seat and rushing over to her. I feel her pulse. Still alive, still very, very alive.