the only reason // l.r.h. [under construction]

two

Luke

“Have any of you boys got girlfriends?” The interviewer asked. The boys and I all exchanged a look, all silently telling me to raise my hand. I don’t do anything and just wait for the lady to move on, but the boys have a different plan. Michael starts to make kissy faces in my direction whilst Calum pokes me in my side. Ashton just watches in amusement.

“Knock it off! Yeah, I erm, I have a girlfriend,” I say, glaring at the boys. The lady smiles.

“Does this girlfriend have a name? How long have you two been together?”

“Yeah, her name’s Kaylie. We’ve been together for about six months now I believe,” I replied, smiling.

“How cute! Why have you kept it a secret for so long?”

“I was afraid that the fans would go after her and send her hate. I’ve seen that happen before, along with some hate we’ve received. It’s ridiculous and I think I speak for the group when I say it needs to stop. I sincerely hope that she doesn’t get hate because of this, she doesn’t deserve it,” I stop, realizing I had been ranting. The boys nod along with the interviewer.

“I hope everything goes well with your girl and the fans finding out about you two. Now onto a slightly lighter subject,” she said with a laugh, “what song on the new album are you looking forward to performing?”

Ashton answered first. “Well we can’t give away our set list just yet! But I think Rejects is going to be a fun one.”

“I think we’ve made a great set list this year overall actually, and we hope the fans like it too,” Calum added.

“How do you feel about having your own headlining tour after touring with One Direction these past couple years?”

“It’s amazing. Just to think about how we started with a few covers on YouTube and maybe a hundred subscribers, to opening for the ‘world’s biggest boy band’, and now to be performing in arenas everywhere is crazy. Surreal really,” I answered.

“That’s great! It was fun getting to know you boys, but it’s time to go!” The interviewer stood up to give us hugs and we followed suit, turning to leave the set.

Once we were out of the building, Michael gently shoved me. “So how are you and Kaylie really doing?” I sighed. Since the day I came back, there’s been some kind of... tension? I mean, the first day was fine. But I snapped at her the other morning because I couldn’t find a shoe. A shoe.

“We’re fine,” I muttered. Mike just shook his head. “Mate, you better get your act together before I beat the shit out of you. She deserves better.”

-

When I walked up the steps to my front door, just as I was about to turn the handle, the door flew open and a wide-eyed Kaylie stood there. We said nothing for a solid two minutes just avoiding eye contact.

I couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “Where are you going?” I glanced down at the car keys in her hand, which she tried to hide behind her back. I took a step forward and she stepped back inside, closing the door behind us.

“I, uh, nowhere...”

“Where?”

“Just a friend’s house! It’s no big deal.”

“Why? You knew I was coming back soon. What’s so important that you couldn’t tell me?”

She just shook her head and kicked the ground with her toes.

“Tell me!”

“You told, Luke. You told the whole world about us and now... well, why don’t you just check Twitter?” She explained. I just stood there. “Whatever, Luke. Thanks for the sympathy.”

She pushed past me and out the door, slamming it behind her.

And I did nothing to stop her.

I'M A TERRIBLE PERSON K BYE -anna