“Where’s Calum?” Luke yells, his voice echoing through his house.
“I don’t know!” Michael and I yell back at the same time.
Luke appears at the bottom of the stairs, slightly out of breath. “What the hell? He was supposed to be here half an hour ago! The show’s in less than three hours! We have to leave soon!”
“Don’t yell at us.” Michael says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Yeah, it’s not our fault Calum’s not here.” I add, low key high fiving Michael.
Luke groans, resting his head against the wall. “I’ve already called him like seven times.”
“Luke, it’s okay.” I tell him with a laugh as I walk over to him. “So he’s a little late. But he’ll show up.”
“But when?” Luke whines, taking my hands in his, turning to face me.
“Soon, okay?” I tell him with a small smile. “Michael’s here. So am I. Calum’s just a little late. He probably just slept in.”
“Yeah, man. Calum always shows up.” Michael reassures Luke from the couch.
“We don’t even have a drummer.” Luke mutters under his breath. “We’re gonna suck.”
“You’ll be fine.” I scold him. “And you do have a drummer.”
“But he’s not Ashton.”
“And that’s okay.” I tell him with an eyeroll. “The important thing is that you have a drummer and that he’s gonna be here in ten minutes. He knows all of your songs. You’ve rehearsed with him and-”
“But he’s not Ashton.” Luke repeats. “This is the first show we’ve played without him.”
“Yes, and I understand that it’s difficult, but you’ve gotta get over it, Luke. This show’s only gonna suck if you have a bad attitude about it. Don’t you want an awesome comeback?”
“Yeah…” He whines.
“Then you’re gonna have an awesome comeback. Just stop thinking so negatively. The car’s packed up and we’re just waiting on Calum and Ron.”
“Okay.” Luke says with a sigh. “Thanks, Hart.”
“No problem. Now go get a drink of water.” I say, pushing him away with a smile.
Luke drags himself into the kitchen and I let out a sigh of relief as I sit on the couch next to Michael.
“Is he always this nervous before shows?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s usually pretty bad. But it’s worse now because we have some random drummer instead of Ashton. It’s just not the same, I guess.”
I nod. “Yeah, I get that.”
The doorbell rings and Michael gets up to answer it. Calum walks inside with a half smile on his face, his hair messily swept to the side.
“Dude, are you high or something?” Michael asks.
“Someone got laid.” I call out from the couch.
“Shut up.” Calum groans, ruffling his hair and stepping inside. “Ron’s behind me.” He mutters before sitting down on the couch next to me.
“What’s her name?” I ask with a smile.
“Doesn’t matter.” He tells me with a half smile.
“Hey Ron.” Michael greets from the door.
“Ron!” Calum and I greet at the same time.
“It’s about time!” Luke yells, storming into the living room. “Let’s go!”
Calum and I exchange a look before getting off the couch and following Luke into the garage. Michael and Ron follow closely behind us as we all pile into the car.
“Okay guys, let’s do this.”
~~~
“See? That wasn’t so bad.” I tell Luke with a smile as he walks backstage.
“I cried.” He mutters, throwing himself on the couch.
“The girls went wild.” Michael says, taking his shirt off and throwing it across the room before taking a seat on the leather couch in the middle of the room. “They thought he was lost in his own music.”
“It was during Good Girls, Michael.” Calum says with a snicker, leaning against the wall.
“She’s a good girl!” Michael sings. “She’s daddy’s favorite!”
Calum lets out a hysterical cry from the corner of the room and they both burst into a fit of laughter.
“Hey, leave Luke alone.” I say with a laugh, taking a seat next to Luke on the couch, curling up next to him. “He’s had a rough day.”
“Yeah.” He pouts, his lower lip sticking out slightly.
“Look how punk you are, Luke.” I tell him with a giggle.
“Shut up.” He whines.
“Where’s Ron?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Probably out by the bar, flirting with girls.” Calum says.
“Which is something I should be doing.” Michael points out. “But I’m stuck here because Luke cried and I’m a good friend.”
“You guys are assholes.” Luke mutters.
“Aw come on, Luke.” Michael says with a laugh.
“We’re just messing with you, man.” Calum says, taking a seat on the armrest of the couch. “It was hard for us, too.”
“It’s weird playing without him.” Luke whispers quietly.
“It’s okay guys, he’ll be back soon.” I tell them with a small smile. “Just think positive.”
“Look at you, little miss sunshine.” Luke says with an eyeroll.
I roll my eyes back at him and smile. “Come on, how much longer can he be gone?”
“Hopefully he’ll be back before your date next weekend.” Michael mutters under his breath.
“Your what?” Luke asks, sitting up. “A date? You were serious about Ashton?”
“Well, yeah.” I tell him with a small frown. “I’m doing a lot better and I’m ready to move on.”
“Hart, you can’t be serious. You have a date? And Michael knew before me? What the hell?”
“I knew you’d be upset.” I mutter, standing up with a sigh. “But I’m over him, okay? I told you. I don’t know why you’re so surprised.”
“Because you love him!” Luke says, his eyebrows creasing together as he stands up. “You love him, Valerie!”
“I used to.” I tell him quietly.
“Valerie, what the hell? You two are perfect for each other! Dammit, Hart! You two were perfect together!”
“Luke, calm down.” Calum tells him with a sigh. “It’s her choice.”
“If Ashton and I were so perfect together then why the hell did you kiss me?” I ask with a scoff.
“You what?” Michael whispers, staring at Luke, his mouth open slightly.
“Dude, what the fuck?” Calum asks him, a confused look on his face.
“I-”
“Wow, okay, um, this escalated really quickly. I’m just gonna get a cab and go home.” I tell him, letting out a breath. “Great show guys, see you around.” I call out before walking out of the room and getting lost in the seat of people.
“Hey, you want a drink?” Ron asks, waving me over.
I let out a groan. “Why the hell not?”
YOU ARE READING
Gone || Ashton Irwin
Fanfiction"Her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes anymore." {Sequel to Life In Technicolor}
