Love me the way I love you

13

Calum

Me and the boys were freaking out about Gia, she's had the most emotionally exhausting week ever. First me and her, then the hate, followed by these stupid headlines, and on top of it her dad is dying. Especially since she went blank on us a week ago really sudden, we been giving her space, but it's concerning to not hear from her. Gia said she was gonna call and text, but she hasn't in a week from our last call.

We hung out at Luke's house having lunch and conference calls with Kim. I checked my phone again and still nothing from Gia still.

"So what's going on with Giovanna? Does she plan on coming to the ARIAs? You guys are opening that night and we need answers" someone in the management said on the other line.

We shrugged "I don't know, we knew he was sick, but Gia is saying he's basically in hospice care at home now."

"Does she know how long?" Kim asked me.

I furrowed my eyebrows and Ashton gave her a dirty look "You know her dad dying is more important than an award show" he snapped.

Luke cut in "Maybe it's time for a break, we been doing this for a good two hours now."

"30 minutes."

We all got up and sat in the balcony "Let's call her."

I looked up her contact and called her, baby girl😍😘. It ring for a while and went to voice mail, then I called again. Gia answered "Hello?" Her voice was groggy.

"Hey, were you sleeping?" Ashton asked.

It was quiet "Uhmm... Yeah. I was taking a nap, I'm exhausted..." she mumbled.

"We just wanted to check in with you, how's your dad?" I asked cautiously.

Gia sighed "I don't know, he's acting like everything is going to be okay. I just... Why do I have to take all the hits?" She mumbled.

I sighed and we looked at each other "I don't know, Gia. I wish I had an answer for you" Luke answered.

We could hear her crying on the other side of the phone "I'm so exhausted, I just want to catch a small break from life" She cried.

I wiped my eyes with my shirt letting out a long breath. We just sat there teary eyed, "I know, Hun, it's tuff and you're going to get past it all because you are one of the strongest girls I've met in my life" Ashton told her.

"You could fall apart and we'll all be here to put you back together babe. We're family for a reason" I added on.

Gia didn't say anything but just soft cries. We sat there in silence not knowing what to say to her.

"I can't do this anymore, I can't" She cried.

"How about we get on the next flight to Italy?" I said.

Luke and Ashton nodded "We're coming weather you like it or not."

"Please come..." she choked.

Ashton ran inside and came back in with his laptop ready to book our flights to Gia. "And the flights are book, we'll be there in like a day and a half."

Kim walked out to the balcony "To where?"

"We're gonna go see Gia, she needs us right now" I said confidently. "We need to get packing too, babe we'll call when we get on the plane" I said picking up my phone walking out.

"Okay, Thank you guys" Gia said and hung up.

Kim stared at us "You're in a middle of a conference call, you don't just leave."

I rolled my eyes "What's your problem?! Lately it seems like Giovanna's problems are an inconvenience for you. Regardless, of what's going on we're best friends before a band."

"My problem is that she's making my job five times harder than it should be!"

We stared at her and Ashton scoffed "Then I guess you'll need to find another job. We're a package deal."

We headed to the living room gathering our keys and wallets "How long should we pack for?" Luke asked.

"Well, I only booked us one way flights."

I nodded "Maybe a week or so." I put my jacket on and stuck my wallet and phone in my pocket.

"Alright, we'll meet at my house and I'll ask Kay to drop us off at the airport" Ashton said as we walked out his house. Luke gave him a thumbs up and waved as we left.

//

We landed in Verenzza Italy, we had a driver meet us there and drop us off at Gia's house. We all piled into a car and just leaned back looking out the window.

I looked over at Ashton and he just looked sad "You okay?"

Luke and I watched him as he sighed looked out the window "Did you know my dad left when I was 2?" He asked us and we nodded. "I haven't seen him since and Gia's dad really treated me as his own kid... for once I knew what it was like to have a dad around" he mumbled.

I sighed "He's a great guy like that..."

"Yeah..."

"It just got me thinking about life and all the what if's..." he mumbled.

"About what?"

Ashton looked down "My dad. Like where he is or if he's okay or not, if he ever thinks about me or anything."

I didn't say anything, neither did Luke. Luke parred Ashton's shoulder "Your dad is ridiculous for not wanting to know how you are today. You're amazing, you have the kindest heart, and you proved that you're better than what anyone would think of you" he told him.

"He's the one missing out on getting to know you" I added. "Don't think it's the other way around."

Ashton just huffed and nodded, we started to pull up to Gia's family house and it was still pretty early in the morning to be her. I felt my heart race and I'm not entirely sure why, but it was most likely because I'm not ready to see Gia's dad in the condition she says he's in.

We got out the car grabbing our luggage and carry on bags, then walked to the door knocking lightly. We waited a while, but no answer so we knocked again a bit louder.

We looked at each other and Luke stepped back making sure we were at the right house "It's probably because it's so early still."

Ashton knocked and mid knock, the door opened revealing Gia's sleepy Nonna. "Ohh, boys! Gia fell asleep waiting for you guys" she smiled.

We chuckled and went in giving her a hug "Dang, we'll how are you guys and Gio?" Ashton asked.

She just sighed "It's been a long few days... he's my baby boy and there's nothing I could do..." Nonna mumbled.

We set our bags in the lounge area off to the side. "You guys go up to Giovanna's room and get some rest, you boys look exhausted" she added leading us up to Giovanna's room.

We went in her room and it looks like a teenagers room still "Wow" I laughed looking around at all the posters and the girly things hanging around the room. Gia's room was everything you could ask for though, it was just big with a bed and a pull out couch against the wall.

Nonna helped us settle down in the room "Thank you guys for coming out here, it means a lot to us, especially Gio. He really appreciate you boys taking care of our little girl."

We gave her a smile "We're all family that's what we do" Ashton told her before she walked out the room going back downstairs most likely.

All three of us laid down getting some rest, Luke and Ashton on the bed and I was on the futon against the wall.