Alyssa's POV

You could see the energy shift in the room, all the men - normally so confident and happy - now sitting staring down at the floor, their minds whirring with scenarios, troubles, wishes... 

"Did you guys need a moment? I can go into the kitchen and leave you to talk?" I asked carefully. I was still new to them, someone who had not been involved in Ivy's tirade. This would be something that would stir up a lot of emotion, knowing just how much trouble she caused them first time around. As little as I knew, when Luke had opened up to me he looked fearful, nervous about having to bear all to tell me about what she had done. I knew this would be particularly hard on Luke, especially because of what day it was, and her making an appearance now would remind him of his wife more than ever.

"Yeah, if that's-" Michael began but Luke interrupted him.

"No. You're involved now." Luke said harshly. "Thanks to Ashton." Ashton's head snapped up to Luke, looking taken aback at this comment.

"Thanks to me?" He snapped back, Calum putting his head in his hands for a second. Michael tutted quietly, shaking his head as they continued.

"Arguing isn't going to solve anything. Lets just work out what we need to do-" Calum began, but Ashton and Luke were too busy glaring at each other to even pay attention. They had tunnel vision.

"Yeah, you left my house and knew the alarm had been tripped but you didn't look out and make sure she wasn't following you. You brought Ivy here. You've endangered Cody and Lys now." Luke's voice was low and his tone venomous. Right now, he didn't seem to care that he was blaming all of this on Ashton, that Ashton's body language was slowly sinking down into the chair as Luke shot him down again and again. The rest of us felt awkward, yet we didn't want to interrupt and get involved. Suddenly, Ashton seemed to straighten, his hands clenched into fists clinging onto his trouser legs as he shouted back to Luke.

"I endangered them? You were the one so drunk out of your mind that your daughter called someone she had only known for a week to come and help her. You were the one who had downed over half a bottle of vodka and laid photos out all over the place. You were the one insulting Alyssa minutely and making her feel like shit whilst we tried to sort both you and Kira out. Sorry I didn't look out for someone whilst trying to drive your drunk ass to safety." The room was silent. You could hear a pin drop, the doors of cars outside closing, people having conversations in the maisonette below us. It was terrible. Luke's face fell, his shoulders slumping as he turned himself away from us all for a second. Ashton sighed heavily, looking up to the sky for strength before he spoke again. "Sorry. I'm sorry." Luke got up and left the room without even looking back, his head shaking as he left the room. 

"Wow." Calum breathed out. His gaze moved across each person left in the room but stopped as soon as it landed on me. "I'm sorry you had to witness that Lys." Everyone's eyes were on me in a second, making me suck in a sharp breath and step back so my back was against the wall. I tried to offer a small smile, letting them know it was okay.

"I understand. It's a really difficult time for you all. If there's anything I can do to help..." I replied, not knowing what else to say.

"I would normally think this is an awful idea but I think someone needs to speak to Luke. I think it'd be best if you did it. We're too close to the situation." Michael shrugged. "It's best for him not to be left alone with his thoughts." I smiled and nodded. Calum seemed to furrow his eyebrows at Michael's suggestion.

"Oh okay, sure. If you want anything, help yourselves in the kitchen." I took Michael's ask as them wanting me out of the room. After all, when I'd offered, it had been Luke who had asked me to stay even when Michael had said he wanted me to leave. They obviously have something they need to talk about and it was best for me to stay out of it. I smiled once again at the remaining guys in the room before heading out and into the back of the house, wondering where Luke would have walked off to. My first thought was my bedroom, as he'd stayed in there already he was familiar with the room and equally he knew none of the others would feel comfortable walking in there without my permission. Down the hall, I could hear Kira and Cody playing on the tablet shrieking and cheering as they got to certain places within the game they were playing. I smiled at their happiness, oblivious to the stress and strain all the adults were feeling within the house. I hesitated at the door of my bedroom for a second, trying to piece together what I could possibly say to a man who was grieving on the anniversary of his wife's death alongside the stress of his stalker coming back into his life. Everything I had ever moaned about in life felt so insignificant against these giant scenarios Luke was having to deal with. I used to moan when the toilet blocked or the washing up liquid ran out - he was dealing with a life altering stalker. I knew at that moment, I'd have nothing worth while to say but maybe my mere presence would be enough to help him. For him to know I was there through the tough times. I pulled the door handle and began to walk in.

"Go away!" Luke shouted as his eyeline lifted, his hands clenched into fists as he was ready to pounce at whoever walked through the door but when he noticed it was me, he instantly softened, breathing out heavily as he fell back onto my bed, running his hands across his face. "I'm sorry Lys. I really am. I didn't want you to be involved in any of this."