Holy Grail (discontinued)

VI. Hush

I wake up, still conscious of the now very sore bruise on my side. Thankfully, my curtain’s still closed, so I can lift up my shirt and examine it without anyone noticing. It’s now a reddish brown color and blotchy on the inside. At least the purple went away, though.

Suddenly, my curtain is ripped open and I can make out Luke kneeling beside my bunk. I quickly pull down my shirt, but he’s quicker than me. He lifts it up, gently running his fingertips over the heart shape. I flinch at the contact.

“Oh my God,” he says. He shakes his head, before dropping it down on the sheets. “I…Luc…” he starts, lifting his head up and staring at me. I look away, avoiding his eyes, not wanting to cry or anything. He grips me though, forcing me to stare at him. “Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…oh God.”

“It’s ok,” I sigh, grabbing his face between my hands. “I know I messed up. I shouldn’t have gone out when you said not to. Something could have happened to me. I could have gotten hurt or lost, or--”

“Baby, shhh…” he says, placing a kiss on my lips. I revel in the coolness of his metal lip ring against my skin. He  kisses down my body, leading all the way to the bruise. “I’m gonna get you some ointment for it, ok?”

I nod, trying to sit up, but he puts a hand out. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” I lay back down, trying to shift in a way so that it doesn’t hurt as much.

My eyes focus on the bunk above me, waiting for Luke to return, and when he does, he has a little bottle of ointment in his hand. He unscrews the cap and I watch him curiously, as he spreads the white liquid over my bruise. He gulps nervously when I close my eyes, a slight whimper making its way out.

“This’ll make it feel better. Now get some more rest, alright? There’s someone I want you to meet.”

**

“Luci, this is my mom Liz. Mom this is my girlfriend, Luci.” Luke introduces me to the blonde woman in front of me with the kind smile. Her eyes take me in before she engulfs me in a hug. I groan when her arm squeezes the bruise on my side.

“Oh sweetie, is everything alright?” she asks, releasing me at arm’s length. I glance at Luke whose icy blue eyes warn me not to say a word.

“Yeah, just a bit hungry is all,” I quickly lie to Mrs. Hemmings. She frowns in response, before a wide grin takes over her face.

“Well, we can fix that. Let’s have lunch.” She releases me with a pat on the shoulder before heading to the kitchen area of the tour bus. I look at Luke who seems to have relaxed; he gives me a warm smile that I return.

Mrs. Hemmings begins to prepare a quick pasta dish, just as the other boys come in.

“Liz! Yes! That means real food!” Calum jokes. They all run over to her and engulf her in a group hug and I smile. She must be like the mother figure of the band.

“What’re ya cookin’?” Ashton asks, resting his head on her shoulder.

“Ay, watch it. That’s my mum,” Luke warns, with a glare. Well, someone’s protective. But I guess I already knew that.

“Would you like to help me, Luci?” Mrs. Hemming asks, quickly looking up from the stove. “That way we can talk about Luke after I kick him and the rest of the boys out of the bus.” I laugh, but Luke just gives me that ‘you better shut up’ look. So I do.

“Mom, Luci’s tired, I don’t thi--”

“Nonsense. And Luci can speak for herself, can’t she?” She glares at Luke, who shrinks back into his seat. “Now. What do you say, Luci? And what is Luci short for, if you don’t mind me asking?”