Unexpected ~ An Ashton Irwin Fan Fic (COMPLETED)

Chapter 23

*Luke's POV*

During our tour, I've visited Claudia on multiple occasions to check in on her. Rachel and Sarah always assure me that I don't need to, but I can't help but feel that I have to. I care about her...

Ding dong!

The door opened and I was greeted by a confused face. "Luke? What are you doing here? I thought you had a show!" She said and stepped aside so I could come inside.

"I did, but we just finished. How are you feeling, Claudia?" I asked.

She sighed, "I'm tired. Like, really tired. All the time. It sucks."

"Do you need me to get you anything? I can run to the store for something or-"

"I'm not gonna risk you getting spotted and mobbed by fans because I'm craving something stupid, Luke," she replied and smirked at me, but then her face became serious, "have you talked to...him yet?"

I looked in the mirror in the hallway; my black eye was healed, but the area still tender when pressure was applied to it. "I'm working on it," I answered without making eye contact.

"I need to talk to him soon," she said quietly, "it's time we confronted this and move on with our lives."

"You're right. I'll talk to him tonight," I promised.

"Thank you."

She sat down slowly on her couch and bundled herself in a blanket, "so...how have you been lately? It's been a while since I last visited you," I changed the subject.

She smiled at me, "it's only been a couple days, Luke."

"I know, but it feels like a long time!" I said and sat down next to her.

She fondled with the tassels on the blanket, "I've been...thinking a lot lately," she admitted.

"About?"

"Where my life is going to go, what I'm going to do for a career, how I'm going to raise this child. It's all so stressful but it's all I can think about."

I pulled her hands away from her blanket and held them in mine, "you should take a break for a while," I suggested.

"What do you mean?" She furrowed her eyebrows at me.

"Oh, I don't know; take a vacation. Travel to somewhere you've never been before! Get away for a while..."

"Luke, I don't know..."

"I remember the day you told me you were leaving

I remember the makeup running down your face

And the dreams you left behind,

You didn't need-"

Her phone rang with the ringtone of our song, and she grabbed it quickly, "hello?" She answered, but made eye contact with me.

"Hi Pezz!" She said and smiled immediately, "what's up?" She mouthed an excuse me and left the room to not be rude.

Her voice was muffled in the other room, so I couldn't hear what she was saying. Not that I could understand much anyway, since I would only be able to hear half of her conversation.

I sat alone on the couch, thinking about how I should tell her. You've gotta tell her how you feel...she has a right to know...But what if that screws everything up? My friendship with her, Ashton...she would be even more stressed out.

When she came back into the room, she was grinning from ear to ear. "What's up with you?" I asked.

"Little Mix's drummer quit, and Perrie just offered for me to replace him!" She squealed.

I smiled and opened my arms to hug her, which she accepted. "I'm so happy for you! Are you going to do it?"

"I would really like to, but what about the baby..?" She became concerned suddenly.

"You'll be fine! I believe that by the time you'll need maternity leave, their tour would be over; especially since they've postponed their American tour to focus on writing new music," I assured her.

"You really think I should do it?" She asked.

"Of course! You've definitely got the skill for it, and you have the experience from playing with us, too!"

She smiled again and hugged me. She squeezed me tightly for a little too long, and when she realized it, she let go awkwardly and blushed.

She looked down at her phone again and texted Perrie a quick reply. "She said that they're going to pay for me to fly out to where they are now," Claudia told me.

"When?"

"August 15th," she said.

"Listen," I said and sat down next to her, "I think you should come to one of our shows this week."

"Luke, I don't know-"

"No, Claudia, listen," I interrupted and she made eye contact with me to show that she would listen, "we are playing at Gillette Stadium this week. Three shows. You should come to one of them; Sarah and Rachel are going as well."

She sighed and thought about it for a minute. "Alright I'll go," she gave in.

I smiled at her, "good! We've got front row seats for you."

"You didn't have to...some fans could've had those..." she mumbled.

"Oh I know, that's why we waited until they were sold out. These seats were opened specifically for you ladies," I winked at her and she gave me a small smile.

*Claudia's POV*

Luke looked at me nervously, as if he was trying to figure out what to say next. "Is...something wrong?" I asked.

He stopped fidgeting on the couch and looked up at me, realizing that I had noticed him being uncomfortable, "uh...uh no. Nothing...nothing's wrong."

I furrowed my eyebrows at him, "are you sure? You seem a little....tense."

He sighed, "I have to tell you something."

"Okay. Go ahead."

"I, uh...I..." he hesitated, "well, the boys will be happy to hear that you're coming!"

I had a feeling that's not really what he meant to say, but it didn't matter. "And you'll talk to Ashton tonight?" I reminded him.

"Yes, yes I will," he repeated, "it was nice seeing you again, Claudia, but I really must go now."

Like stood up and walked out of the living room towards the front door. I followed him, "you too."

He held his arms out and I hugged him for the third and final time, "call me anytime you need me, okay?"

"Of course, Luke," I said and broke our embrace.

I opened the door for him and he walked outside to his car, where Calum was leaning against its hood. "See you in a few days!" Luke waved and the car drove out of sight.

I shut and locked the door. About an hour later, my phone rang again loudly throughout the empty apartment. "Hello?"

"Claudia, it's me," the voice sounded urgent.

"Rachel? What's up?"

"It's Ashton. He's in the hospital."

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Cliffhanger ;)