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

23 Flight

Luke's POV

"Luke, hurry up, we're going to miss the flight! Put down the chocolate bar!"

I look up from the large display of candy in the small airport store to see the boys and Madeline already running for the terminal. I groan, then hurry after them.

International travel can be such a drag sometimes.

"God, we still have, like, 15 minutes, what's the rush?" I pant once I've caught up with them.

"They're already boarding first class. We're going to be late!" Calum replies, checking his watch.

We find the terminal in time, though, and hurry to get through the tunnel to the plane, showing our passports first.

"Have a nice flight," a smiling Australian woman says before the five of us climb the stairs to first class.

Everyone finally calms down once we're all seated. Ashton and Calum immediately put their earbuds in, and Michael picks up a magazine from the pocket attached to the seat in front of him. Madeline turns to me.

"Excited?" I ask her, squeezing her hand gently.

She doesn't reply, but she looks out the window next to her, her eyes wide with anticipation. "You have no idea," she finally says.

I laugh. "Better for you to be excited than nervous. You do realize you're meeting my mom when we get there, right?"

She tenses up slightly. "Yeah, but, I mean, we've FaceTimed her and stuff before, she seems like a lovely woman."

I smile. "She's really excited to meet you. She's going to love you."

Madeline doesn't look so sure, but she doesn't say anything else. I sigh and wait for the pilot or head flight attendant to come over the intercom with the safety message thing. It feels like forever until it does.

I glance back over at Mad. She's looking out the window again, her arms crossed to warm herself from the cold air conditioner blowing on her from above. I reach up and turn it off for her. She gives me a grateful look, then goes back to ignoring me.

The plane is fully in the air now, and everyone has settled down for the long flight. I don't really know what I want to do, since I'm not in the mood for a movie and the others seem to be ignoring me. I glance around the cabin.

Ashton is nodding along to something on his phone, probably Nirvana or Blink 182. Michael is playing a game on the screen in front of him, furrowing his eyebrows in frustration every once in a while. Calum is just looking out his own window, a strange, dreamy look on his face. I wonder what he could be thinking about.

Home, probably.

Madeline has already drifted off. I smile softly at this. It's been a long week and a half for her. Ever since the two of us went out in the open about our relationship, mine and the boys' Twitters and Instagrams have been blowing up, as has hers (the boys and I had set up a Twitter for her in August). She's been handling everything pretty well, but I caught her breaking down a little a few days ago from some hate comments. I managed to calm her down, but that day I realized that I won't be around forever to keep her safe.

I stroke her arm lightly, causing her to stir and squint at me.

"I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep. You'll be pretty jet lagged when we get there," I tell her, but she shakes her head, moving a little closer to me.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I know I've been a bit on edge lately," she whispers. "I don't like that people make everything so overly dramatic. The two of us...I know we love each other, I just wish people would accept that. I'm tired of hate. I've never done anything to any of them."

I kiss her forehead quickly, causing electricity to jolt through my body. I feel more alive, and I squeeze her shoulders.

"People are weird like that. Some don't know any better. We can't blame everyone's actions on them. We don't know everyone's stories," I say, looking out the window at the bright, white clouds that the plane is skimming over.

"I don't like people," she confesses, holding my hand tightly.

"Aw, now don't say that. You like me, don't you?" I ask, batting my eyelashes jokingly.

"No," she replies, turning away and looking out the window. I slump down slightly in my seat, until she kisses my cheek. "I love you. And I love the boys. And I love my family. As for everyone else..."

She moves her hand side to side in a rocking motion.

"Meh?"

"Meh," she confirms.

"We can't change other people actions to suit our needs. Not everyone is going to agree with you," I remind her.

"I know. I just-" she freezes, looking a little further down at someone sitting in another aisle ahead of us.

I follow her gaze and tense up a little bit too. I'd recognize that electric blue stripe anywhere.

"Riley," I growl, clenching my fists.

She looks back at us just then, a terrible grin on her face. She puts a finger to her lips, motioning to the preoccupied boys.

"Luke...h-how did she f-find me again?" Madeline stammers, not taking her eyes off the other girl, who I've only just noticed looks about 2 years younger than us.

"I don't know, Mad. I don't know how she got first class, either, but don't worry. Everything will be okay. How about you try to take another nap now? I'll keep you safe, don't worry," I assure her, and she nods, turning to the window, away from Riley's gaze, and closes her eyes.

I narrow my eyes at the brown haired girl, and she returns the glare. Then she turns back around in her seat, leaving me alone again.

*******

I wake up to nervous breathing in my ear.

I open my eyes, blinking from the bright light shining through the windows.

"Madeline?"

"I'm glad you're awake. We're landing soon. I wanted to wake you up. And...she's staring at me again."

It takes me a minute to remember what she's talking about. Riley.

I look over at her just as she turns back around, but I catch a smirk on her face.

"What does she want?" I mutter. She couldn't somehow know...no, only the boys and I know. I still haven't even told Mad. They said September, but I still haven't found the right time or place to tell her. I feel so bad hiding things from her.

"I don't know, Luke. I want her to go away. Please, please go away." Madeline sounds like she's talking to herself more than to me. I feel awful for her. Riley is trying to ruin her life. I place my hand on top of hers and look over to check on the boys.

Across the aisle from me, Ashton is singing "Boom Clap" by Charli XCX quietly, but still loud enough for me to hear. Michael has returned to more video games (he had taken a "nap" earlier, like me, but intentionally. I have no clue as to how I managed to sleep on a plane). Calum is fidgeting excitedly in his seat, gazing out his window again. I notice that we're flying lower, and over land.

Australia.

Finally.

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Hey guys! Sorry this is kind of short, but I wanted to do it all Lukey's POV since last chapter was all Madeline's, to sort of balance it out. Also, over 500 reads!!! I love you guys! ❤️❤️❤️

I'm super excited, because my parents are considering letting me buy tickets to 5SOS's 2015 tour in the USA, and I think I have the money to pay for the m myself. I got like $200 from my grandad for my birthday (and please don't say I'm spoiled, because it was my birthday, a once a year thing, and I have no clue what else I would spend it on).

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