luke, a bar in manchester

Manchester is insane. The show was great; fans were still shouting for more at the end of our encore. We're all buzzing.

After the show, I get a text from the same girl I spent time with last time we were here. Her name is Anna, and she knows how to let it go.

Just what I need.

She's on a mission to show us a good time. And that's how we ended up here, in this bar.

The minute Michael finds out there's karaoke, he forces me to sing a song with him. The next thing I know, we're singing Living on a prayer at the top of our lungs.

"This is great," Michael grins, putting the microphone down at the end of the song.

"We're singing the next one," Calum says, grabbing the microphone form my hand and pushing Ashton into the spotlight.

"Fuck yeah!" Ashton yells.

I look around the room, and see how everyone's smiling. For a moment, we're all happy. God, I love Manchester.

"I'm on Luke watch. Won't let you go home with anyone tonight," Michael laughs, leaning forward so I can hear him better over the music.

I just nod. "I'm doing good tonight."

But then I get hit on, and everything turns into a terrible mess of a night. I won't remember his name in the morning, but kissing him is something I'll never forget.

Seconds later, his boyfriend breaks up with him right in front of us. The situation is so stressful, and I have no idea how I've managed to mess up this badly.

"Fucks sake," Calum mumbles as we leave the bar.

"It'll be fine. Let's just go home, okay?" Ashton says, putting his arm over my shoulders in support.

"I'm sorry for ruining everyone's night."

I genuinely am. I wish I'd never gone out. I wish I would have just watched a film and gone to bed.

In the taxi back to the hotel, my hand reaches for my phone. It's as if it's an automatic response to doing dumb things. I always want to hear her voice to feel better.

Ashton takes the phone out of my hand.

"You gotta stop calling her, buddy." he says.

"I know."

And I cry. I cry on Michael's shoulder to my left, who pushes my face over to Calum's shoulder to my right once his shirt gets snotty and soggy and gross.

"I'm sorry, guys."

I'm a big mess of a person; they know that. Somehow, they're still my friends. I have no idea how they put up with me.

"Luke?" Michael says.

I sniffle. "Yeah?"

"Why do you want to call her so badly?"

"Because. . ." I try, but can't put it into words.

"Because?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe you should delete her number."

Michael saying that hurts. It's like someone has stabbed a knife into my heart. And they're twisting it.

"No!"

I look at Ashton, who's holding my phone in his hand. He wouldn't do that, would he?

"I'm not gonna do that."

"Can you please keep it until the morning? I'll just end up calling her otherwise."

"Will do," Ashton says, putting my phone in his pocket.

This way I don't have to worry about hurting her tonight.

The only thing on my mind when I fall asleep is the pained look in the eyes of the guy who realised his boyfriend had just kissed me.

I guess I'm good at hurting people.

-

who do you guys see as isla? kinda want to find an actress for her aha

anyway

peace out

~lauren