Lost in Japan // lh+sm

chapter one

"This will be good for you."

"It'll be fun, Luke. Trust me."

"Now you can get your mind off of her."

If Luke had a dollar for every time one of their friends reminded him how positive this trip was and how great it was going to be, he would have enough to fly himself back home so he could be depressed all by his lonesome. But no. He had to come to this neon city, bright with energy and radiating everything he didn't feel. Pretty lights didn't make him feel better. Not being understand anything didn't get his mind off of the whole year of his life that was wasted on being a stupid teenager. Advertising signs and cute snacks didn't make him smile the way everyone else was.

He was still depressed and heartbroken, this time just inside a pretty city. He still felt low. He still felt lonely.

"Smile, mate." Ashton nudged him as he opened the door to their taxi. "I got you a sick hotel room. It's almost like a penthouse, only better."

"Luxury won't make me forget about being cheated on." Luke couldn't help but be sour.

"Just remember, you're in Tokyo surrounded by your best friends while living like a King and she's sitting at her friend's apartment, a girl she met through you, because she doesn't have her own." He visualized and Luke frowned.

"You don't gotta say that..." Luke told him as they put their luggage into the trunk of the car. "I'm the one who invited her to live with me. She didn't need one."

"Oh my God," Ashton ran a hand through his hair. "- Luke, you're so -"

"Just get in the car, Ash." Luke sighed as he got into the cab. "We can talk about this later."

"No, we aren't. You're gonna forget about her on this trip, even if it means staying here longer than I intended." Ashton stated. "Even if it means I have to ignore you every time you try bringing her up! If you don't talk about her, you won't think about her."

Luke scoffed. "You clearly don't get this."

"Just stop talking about it." Ashton told him before looking at the driver and giving him the address of their hotel. "Don't mention her."

Luke felt less like a friend, and more like a nuisance at this point. Maybe he should stop talking about it. It'd be best for everyone on this trip.

-

The hotel was gorgeous.

Sleek, modern, black and white with red and gold accent pieces, it looked so good that he was thankful of Ashton for using his own credit card to pay for it. Wide, large windows gave a crystal clear view over the city and dark skyline off one entire side of the room and the sizeable bed was just calling his name as he rolled his luggage against the shiny, dark wooden floorboards. Fur rugs created an almost homelike vibe and he could tell that although the couches looked like a stiff leather, he would be spending his time sitting down while staring out to the city when he should be asleep. Lavish silk, glittery chandeliers, intricate ikebana arrangements among the glistening cherry brown tabletops, and gorgeous block prints of floral patterns and ocean waves, if he didn't feel spoiled before then he certainly did now.

"Do you like it?"

Luke turned to his best friend. "It's gorgeous."

Ashton grinned. "Yeah, my room is a floor below with Jack."

"We aren't sharing?" The younger blond asked and the drummer shook his head. "You trust me to be alone?"

"I trust you to call me or knock on our door if you need me." He corrected and Luke stared at his suitcase. "You'll be fine. I think this will do you great. And uh, if you want to, you know, I won't be stuck hearing that."

"That's fair." Luke agreed and then set his suitcases by the bed. "Do you have anything planned tonight?"

"Um... drinks and games in Michael and Crystal's room." He told him and Luke nodded. "You change and then I'll text you the floor and room."

"Okay." Luke replied and Ashton smiled before shutting the door behind him. He looked at his hotel room and then sighed.

He hasn't been alone in so long. He hopes that he'll be able to stand it.

-

He forced a smile as he held his shot in his hand and then eyed it worriedly. "What's wrong?" His other band mate, Calum, asked and Luke looked at him.

"Nothing. Just thinking." He answered as he raises the honey colored liquid to his lips. "I haven't had a drink in awhile."

"You sure you want to be drinking then, bro?" He cautioned and Luke looked at the glass in his hand. "Have you eaten? It'll run right to your system."

"I'm running on empty." Luke pulled his lips into a sarcastic smile. "Lets get fucked up."

Calum hesitated, but nodded anyways as he watched as someone refilled the blond's glass until even the littlest movement made it spill over. "First night in someone different and we're doing the same old LA shit..." Luke trailed off and their friends looked around. "- this is why I love you guys. Everywhere feels like home with you."

They cheered and Luke threw his head back as he downed the strong liquor. It burned its way through his throat but he didn't care. He was here to have fun, to let loose, and that's what he was going to do. He was going to forget, and at the very least, he was going to focus on everything in the present rather than the past.

And maybe he was lying when he told them he loved the LA vibe they brought with them, but they didn't have to know that. Everyone was smiling, laughing, joking, and even if drinking wasn't the first choice on his list of things they could do, he appreciated the effort. He didn't love it, but he appreciated it because they took time out of their busy schedules to come here for him. That's why he loves them.