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

22 Interview

Madeline's POV

I wake up with my head still on Luke's chest, his body spread-eagled across the double bed. He's snoring lightly, and I giggle a little.

His eyes flutter open and he looks down at me, a small smile on his face.

"Good morning, Sunshine," he says, his voice raspy with the morning.

"Morning," I reply, cuddling closer to him.

"Have any more nightmares?"

I shake my head no.

"You chased the monsters away," I tell him with a grin.

"No, I didn't. I just reminded you that there weren't any," he retorts, running his pointer finger along the bare skin on my arm. I sigh, and he starts stroking my hair gently.

I shiver at the thought of my dream from last night. Could it have been some sort of message? But how could Luke ever forget me? He loves me...right? Of course he does. He's bringing me to Australia. He's told me that's what he's been keeping from me.

But what if he's lying?

He can't be. I would know it. I know him well enough by now to know when he's telling the truth or not.

"Hey, the boys and I have some interviews and stuff we have to do today. Want to come?" Luke suddenly asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Really?" I question, slightly confused. I've always stayed home when the boys have stuff to do. After New York, we were all scared that I would hurt myself again.

"Really. I want you to start getting out there a little more. You want to be famous. I, personally, would rather that you aren't just because you know us and you passed out at our signing," he says, smiling a little. "What do you say?"

I hesitate, contemplating. What if I get anxiety again? "Will I be participating in any of this stuff, or will I just be on the sidelines?"

"That's up to you. Come on, you can't stay in the house forever."

I take a deep breath and sit up, causing Luke to as well. "What if they ask about us?"

I've obviously startled Luke with this question, because he looks at me with his eyebrows raised.

"That's up to you," he finally replies. "I won't spread anything without your permission."

I smile lightly. "Then I guess I'll go with you."

*******

"I'm nervous, Luke."

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Mad."

"No, I'm...I'm getting better. I can go through with this."

The boys and I are walking down a long hall to the radio station, where all of us are to be interviewed. Luke had told them that I was coming, so the people at the station had jumped at the opportunity for more excitement.

Me.

"Madeline, don't worry about it," Michael says, putting an arm over my shoulder, earning a protective glare from Luke. "All of us were scared our first interview. Plus we had to perform. And we were about three years younger than we are now. So...yeah."

The other boys and I laugh, but I feel like mine is forced.

We reach the doors to the interview room, and Luke sends me one last look of assurance before we enter.

"And here they are, 5 Seconds of Summer! And...company?"

The DJ pretends to be confused, even though she was forewarned of my coming. The boys and I share an eye roll, then sit down in our seats. I sit in between Ashton and Luke, and I find myself holding onto both of them under the table. I try to avoid looking at the cameras that I immediately notice when I enter, but it's a lot more difficult than you'd think.