Note- Loves, Please do not skim the chapters. They all have important little details and there is always something important happening that you'll need to remember. I don't want you to be confused later on. Thanks!

***

"Are you okay?" Addy worries, giving me a concerned look.

It's Monday and here we were, waiting for the tour crew meeting to start any minute now. It took three coffees this morning to get me going and I was more nervous and fidgety than ever. My anxiousness at not wanting to see Luke has peeked its head and was gnawing away at my insides. I knew there was a reason why everyone always hated Mondays. 

"Fine," I mumble. Montana is sitting on my right and Addy on my left, acting as my support beams. 

I watch people fill into the room one by one, taking a seat wherever they can find space. Addy and Montana busy themselves, discussing costumes with another woman while I zone in and out of the conversation. The band comes in a little while later, without Luke to my great relief. Ashton has a worried look plastered on his face but the moment he spots Addy, he brightens like the sun. I catch Calum wink at Montana. 

Michael smiles at us with a wave but he too is deep in thought I can tell. Where was Luke? Stop.

"Alright everyone, settle down!" Sammy, the band's tour manager claps his hands loudly to get everyone's attention. He was a friendly, middle-aged man with a humor but also a professional look that screamed strict business.

"Welcome, before I start explanations, I'll be introducing everyone so that we're all a bit more comfortable."

He proceeds by pointing at the band first. "I hope everyone knows, this is Five Seconds of Summer." 

"Luke, however, seems to be missing?" he gives the rest of the band a questioning look.

Calum perks up, "He wasn't feeling that well." 

"No worries, I'm sure we'll all see him soon enough then."

Moving on, he introduces the production manager, advanced person, stage manager, sound crew and about fifty other people I couldn't keep a track of.

"—and then we have the boys lovely new designer and makeup artist, Sierra McKinnon," he introduces, extending a hand to me. All the eyes in the room turn in my direction but I don't keep the self-consciousness from letting me wave a simple hello. 

"—and these are her assist—"

"She's a pretty one, isn't she?" Someone interrupts Sammy, the voice cracking down like a whip. 

Everyone's heads turn away from me and towards the doorway where Luke is standing near the entrance to the hall, leaning against the wall. He looked as if he couldn't stand up straight, his eyes bloodshot like he has been crying all day.

"Luke." There is a hiss from Ashton as the boys get up quickly, rushing towards him. Michael throws a hand over his shoulder casually but Luke shrugs it away and pushes himself off the wall, stumbling in my direction.

"She's going to ruin me, just like Ana did. They all ruin me." He glares in my direction as murmurs spread through the crowded room and I feel my cheeks heat up involuntarily.

"She's not here to do our makeup! She's here to ruin me!" he slurs, coming even closer and that's when I notice the dried streaks on his face, proving my earlier thoughts correct, he had been crying.

I stand motionless, staring back at him.

"Luke, we need to go." Ashton grabs him but he doesn't protest this time, letting his band mates drag him out while never taking his eyes off of me. He looked lost in his anger. 

A second passes and then another in silence...

"Alright everyone, let's get back to our meeting shall we? Please take your seats." Sammy orders loudly with a stricken look on his face. He was trying his best to move past the nasty situation at hand.

"Sierra, love, sit down." Montana whispers in my ear, tugging at my arm.

I drop into my chair, not taking my eyes off of the now crumpled schedule in my hand for the rest of the meeting which lasts an agonizing hour long and by the end of it, I could tell no one's hearts were in it. Everyone was too distracted to plan or discuss anything.

"Who the hell does he think he is?!" Montana protests the second we get into Addy's car, out of earshot of everyone else. 

"He has no right to say those things to you, and in front of all those people!" I was angry too. I didn't know what his problem was involving me but I was determined to find out. I never could stand getting pushed around by other people. 

"Take me to their hotel." I stare out the windshield. 

"I don't think that's such a good idea. Ashton just texted me to apologize, Luke is really drunk."

"I don't care! I need to know what his bloody problem with me is, and I need to know right now! So either you take me or I'll go by myself." Angry tears well up in my eyes and I wipe them away. 

"Sierra, I know you're angry, none of us understand what he's doing right now alright? But we'll have to wait till he's sober. Now is not the time."

I take a minute to calm myself down, the rational part of my mind realizing that she had a point.
"Take me back to the office then."

---

Luke's Point Of View

Three years ago

"Dude, are you ready?" Calum whines from the doorway. He was clad in our usual attire. Black ripped skinny jeans and whatever t-shirt we could find that didn't smell bad and was hopefully laundered.

"Yeah yeah, just a second." I pull my boots on and tying the laces hurriedly. 

"Where's Michael?" I question, seeing as I haven't seen him around all day.

"He's in his room. Let's get him on the way out, now hurry up." Calum bounces on the balls of his feet, losing his patience. 

I chortle. "Simmer down, Hood, simmer down." 

He stares at me with his eyes squinted until we both burst out laughing. "That used to be funny." Calum shakes his head.

"Screw you. I'm ready, let's go." I close the door behind me and slip the room key into my pocket. Michael and Ashton's rooms were on the next floor so we take the elevator up, walking into Michael's room without knocking because we know his door is always open. It's weird no one has robbed him yet because he never closes his damn door.

"Knock knock, jackass, are you ready to go?" I half-shout, straining my ears. 

"Oh, Michael." A girl's moans fill the room and it's too late to turn around before we're in the open space.

Shit.

"Dude, what the fu—" Calum starts but yelps as we turn around immediately when we spot Michael on the couch with a girl on his lap.

"What the fuck you idiots can't you knock?" Michael shouts, anger evident in his voice.

"Sorry man we didn't know you were busy in here! The door wasn't locked!" I try to reason. 

"We're running late," Calum adds, amused. 

"I don't fucking care! Get the hell out of my room before I knock you both out!" He was angry and we were on the verge of hysteria. A tTypical day at Five Seconds of Summer for you. 

I decide to tease him, "Aw Michael, but aren't we Muke AF baby?"

"Spank me, I'm Malum AF." Calum mimics in a high pitched girly voice.

"Get out!" Michael screams yet again and we start to move, bodies shaking with laughter. 

"Fine! But you have ten minutes or we're leaving without you." I say matter of factually and we walk out laughing, waving at the groupie behind us.

~

It was nice being in the states for the weekend to attend the X Factor finale. California was sunny and bright as usual and we finally get to the venue with an hour to spare and a very grumpy Michael trailing behind. 

We never make it to our seats once the show starts and instead end up staying backstage, messing around. They were about to announce the winner and you could cut the tension with a knife in here.

Someone taps me on the shoulder while I'm on my phone, tweeting about the finale like we were told to. "Hey, Luke Hemmings right? I'm Ana Sacoma! It's nice to finally meet you."

I forget my manners as I take in her features. She was a beautiful girl, dark brown curls surrounding her sharp features and raised cheekbones, and her big eyes like pools of chocolate giving out warmth.

"Hi! I...it's nice to meet you too." I stammer, extending a hand to her awkwardly because I didn't know if she wanted a hug. 

"I'm Luke," I add.

"Oh, I know. I'm a fan of your band." She smirks.

"Really? Aw, well, we suck, but thank you anyway." I laugh.

Her eyes widen at this, "No way. You guys are brilliant!"

I shrug, smiling back at her like a fool. 

"Who do you think is going to win tonight?" We watch the screen as the three finalists get up on stage.

"I'm betting my money on the couple," I say. 

"Alex and Sierra? Me too!" There are giggles of excitement from her and I find myself thinking of wind chimes like in all those cliche movies. 

The entire place visibly and audibly quiets down as the host joins the finalists on stage. "Based on America's votes, the winner of the X Factor two thousand thirteen and a recording contract with Sony music is.....Alex and Sierra!" The venue bursts with screams and shouts of pure joy, people hugging and jumping in celebration.

"Guess we bet on the right people, huh?" Ana winks at me, her eyes shining with joy.

She's beautiful.

"Let's go join my friends in the crowd?" She motions towards a couple of rows in the front. 

"Lead the way, darling," I grin. We end up right in front of the stage and everyone starts cheering along as the stage clears for Alex and Sierra's final performance.

The piano starts to play the chords of the song Say Something. "I love this song!" Ana whispers to me excitedly. 

"Yeah, it makes me emotional," I confess, making her laugh.

"Say something I—I'm giving up on you." Alex sings, his voice cracking in the middle of the sentence. I could imagine what it was like for them, all their dreams coming true. Singing competitions were pure forms of stress. We watch as they sing, clinging onto each other's hands. 

"They are a beautiful couple aren't they?" Ana asks, tears of joy filling her eyes. The confetti boosters go off in dramatic effect during the final chorus. 

My chest tightens, there was something about this girl that I couldn't put my finger on, something I've always...craved. 

"Beautiful." I agree with her.

You're beautiful.