Some Day We Might (Muke)

Chapter Twenty-Three

We're finally leaving to London today. I'm more than ready to go back. I'm tired and I need things to return to how they were. Maybe I'll start to get better again. Maybe I'll stop feeling like an open wound.

We now stand in the front of the airport in front of the expansive glass doors with the headlights of cars blinding us with each passing drive. Only my mum came to say goodbye and give me a few things I left at the house before ditching to stay with Luke the whole time, not that I expected my dad to show up. I'd be lying, though, if I said I didn't feel bad for how things went down between all of us.

Calum's the only one whose dad is present since Luke already said his goodbyes to his family before Liz drove the both of us here.

"Bye mum." Luke says, giving his mother a tight teddy-bear hug.

My mum embraces me, even though I tower over the small blonde woman. "Sweetie, please don't be upset with me." She sniffles. "I'm so sorry about everything that happened that night at dinner."

I'm not mad at her. I'm mad at my dick of a father. "It's okay mum." I say quietly. "I'm not mad at you."

"Your father--" She sighs. "I'm trying to help him understand. He'll come around."

"It doesn't matter." I shake my head and pull her in for another hug. "Bye. I'll call you when we get back."

"Okay, I love you."

"Love you too."

- - - -

The flight was long, as usual. Luke slept for most of it, and spent the rest of the time showing me stupid memes that he knew would make me laugh--I'll never admit to laughing at those things.

Now here we are finally back in London. Things feel much more settled now, like everything is finally in order. But I'm not stupid enough to believe that. Because let's be honest, nothing is in order, except maybe our music.

Though, music is even failing to make me feel normal again. Sure, I can be happy or somehow enjoy certain things, but there's always that underlying depression that's like a cast, only removed when things are healed.

Unfortunately, mine is like a full body cast. It'll take the removal of every single cast-covered limb until I'm right again, and even then there will still be irreversible damage.

I tug at the laces on my leather boot while Luke get's some smoothies and pretzels from the food court of the airport. We're waiting for a cab, and since it's started snowing--in freaking October--we're going to be waiting a while with all that traffic.

He approaches our metal table that is crowded by other seated people. The chatter among us is a loud and constant hum. "I just got you a strawberry banana smoothie." He voices over the sound.

"Perfect." I smile and take it from his hands before he sits down in front of me. "Are Ashton and Calum still waiting for subs?" I ask, taking a bite out of my warm and buttery pretzel.

"Yeah, the line's pretty long."

"I swear, those two have been attached at the hip." I pause before saying my next sentence. "You don't think they're dating behind our back like we were, do you?"

"Not really. I mean, obviously I'd never know, but I don't think either of them have any interest in guys."

I shrug. "Just suspicious to me, but you're probably right. I think they just have an intense bromance."

"It's the Doctor and Donna of bromances." Luke laughs.

"Oh my god, a Doctor Who reference. I couldn't be more proud of you, Luke."