Night shift - Completed

Chapter 49

Calum's PoV

I stormed out of the apartment and called the lift, leaving everything and everyone behind me as fury fuelled my body. Was I going to regret this? Probably. Did I care? No. I impatiently waited for the lift to take me down to the ground floor and flew out of the lift, straight out the front doors of the apartment building where a bunch of paps were waiting for a good story.
You want a good story? You're about to fucking get one.

"Oi!" I called out as I shot through the doors and headed for the group of paps. Camera lights started flashing straight away. This was the content they wanted. "What is wrong with you all? Huh?" My eyebrows were furrowed as I stormed at them, blinded by rage. "If someone is in trouble, you're meant to help them! Not take pictures! You guys are animals." I spat, angered venom aimed right at them. "Don't think I'm ignoring this one like I do all the rest of your dumb articles. Poppy is an amazing girl and you all just sat there and let her get beaten up just for a story! How dare you publish something like that... don't think I'm not gonna get every lawyer and solicitor I know on the case. You can all say goodbye to your damned jobs!" I ranted as they continued to photograph me, all enjoying the show. Good. Cos soon you're all going to be in trouble. The smug look on my face was soon wiped off though. Before I knew it, a couple of big arms had grabbed me and were pulling me away from the crowd and back into the complex.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Dave snapped at me, letting me go quick enough that I stumbled a little trying to steady myself.

"I was telling the paps what I thought of them!" I snapped back. "Cos no one round here seems to really care other than me." I looked at him up and down in frustration. He literally told me that Poppy wasn't a priority to him, so I knew there was no way for him to argue his case.

"I do care Calum!" Dave said as he looked away, his hand rubbing over his mouth in frustration. "Contractually i couldn't help her and leave you all vulnerable. Don't think I hate her, Cal. I regret that moment every minute. But I'd have been fired otherwise!" He was trying to fight his case to someone who really didn't care. I was like I'd snapped. I just wanted to prove that the only people that cared about Poppy were Mavis and myself. Yeah, the boys were being helpful but was that more for my gain? Most likely. Luke talking to management was for the band too. It was probably just how Poppy thought it would be. Everyone would care about the bands reputation now that I was dating someone with a violent drug history. All of that was bullshit of course, but paps made stories out of anything.

"Whatever. She's stuck in hospital now because no one helped her quick enough." I said as I headed to the lift, calling it. The lift doors opened straight away and I jumped in, pressing the button for our floor quickly. Dave ran over and slid into the lift just before the doors shut, to my disappointment. I huffed as I realised I was now stuck in the lift with him for this long journey.

"Cal. Blame me all you want but I know you're mad at yourself too." Dave said, his tone harsher than it meant to be as he crossed his arms over his large chest. "We probably could have both done more, but she brought that situation upon herself." Dave shrugged and instantly, my raged glare was on him again.

"Did she?" I asked with attitude, my eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Well he was from her past, no?" Dave said, making it clearly obvious how little he knew about her. I let out an almost evil laugh as I shook my head. What an idiot.

"You know, I'd tell you but it's not my story and it's not my place to say. I'll wait til she's discharged from hospital and you can sit and hear the story. You can see the hurt and fear in her eyes as she speaks about it and how much it affected her. Then come back to me with your fucking bullshit." I snapped before turning my back to him. Unbelievable. How on earth could he be so ridiculous? I thought he was understanding and a good judge of character? That was surely wrong.

"She's not safe for you Calum." Dave said, voicing his thoughts. "She's a great nurse and a sweet person but her history clearly isn't as clear as we'd been led to believe. She's dangerous Calum and she's going to ruin you and this band." The door pinged open and Dave strode our, letting himself into the apartment without even looking back to see if I was there. He'd distracted me from the anger I felt towards the paps because now I loathed him. Who was he to tell me Poppy wasn't good enough for me? None of them knew the story. None of them knew the real her, the one I loved so much from the moment I saw her.
I headed back into the apartment to three unimpressed looks. Luke, Michael and Ashton stood with their arms crossed over their chests.

"Just don't." I held a hand up to them as I shuffled past and headed for my room, only for Ashton to overtake me and slam the door shut before I got there.

"Cal. We need to talk." Ashton said gloomily and I let out an almighty roar of a sigh, irritated by all of them.

"Don't worry! I've already had a talk with Dave, he told me everything." I said as I shoved Ashton to the side, opening the door to my room. I went to slam it shut but Ash held it open, Luke and Mike filing into my room before Ashton did, closing the door behind him. "What the fuck do you want? I just said I've already spoken to Dave. He's already told me Poppy isn't good enough for me and is a danger to our band. I don't need you all to say it too. I fucking get it. None of you like her." The boys all exchanged confused glances before Luke stepped forwards.

"Cal, that's not it at all. Management spoke to the lawyers, they're throwing out lawsuits about those pictures. They're all getting taken down." Luke said, a smile finally growing on his face.

"We just wanted to give you some good news for once." Ashton shrugged, looking guiltily at the floor. I sighed regrettably, looking at my brothers.

"Thanks guys, I'm sorry. This has been tough on me. I owe you guys." I held my arms out and the three of them jumped me, bundling into a group hug.