Calum's PoV

My mind was nagging at me to check in on Poppy, knowing this day was probably just as tough as I'd imagined it would have been for her. The job she loved so much was now in jeopardy just because she was with me, and boy did it sting to say that. She'd left nervously this morning, trying to act like she was fine as she got ready and set off for her long day on the ward but I knew her too well, she was terrified. She knew what I was saying in the car was true and that her life and job were going to change dramatically now, but as always, her strong mind wanted to see it for itself and not take my word for it - which was fine and I actually admired her for that.

Time was ticking by though, and I hadn't heard from her at all. I desperately tried not to look at my phone, just in case one of the guys sent me a picture or video of her struggling at work and caused me to spiral into a pit of regret and anger once more. I checked it merely for messages from Poppy... except I had none. It had now been ten hours of her twelve hour shift and I hadn't heard a word from her, not even to tell me she was okay. My gut wrenched as I thought of her being trapped in a crowd of paps and struggling to find a way out, all of them questioning her about her past or me. A few hours in I'd text her and asked her if she was okay, I saw it had been read but she never responded which worried me more. Maybe it was a terribly busy shift and she was just out there doing her best for her patients like she did with me... but I couldn't shake the fact it probably wasn't that and was more likely to be that her day was dreadful and she was just praying for it to finish.

"Cal?" Mike knocked on the door and opened it, poking his head through the small crack in the door.

"You okay?" I questioned him, suddenly worrying about him and the band. I'd been so caught up with Poppy I hadn't even got out of bed and said hi to anyone else today which was pretty shitty of me.

"That's what I was gonna ask you!" He laughed. "I was just checking." He suddenly turned his head back to look into the hallway. "He's not dead guys don't worry!" His gaze fell back on me. "I lost rock, paper, scissors so I had to check you were alive." He said with a half smile half shrug.

"Well I appreciate the concern." I said as i swung my legs off the bed and sat up straight. "I'm just stressing out, don't worry about me." Mike took another step into my room and shut the door behind him.

"Is this about Poppy?" He quizzed and I nodded silently. "Yeah I've seen some stuff online already." My face said all it needed to as Mike sighed and walked towards me. He sat on the edge of my bed and turned to look at me. "Has she said anything to you yet?" I shook my head, throwing my phone down beside me.

"It's been ten hours and I've not heard anything. I don't know how she's doing or what's happening and I'm too scared to look online." I sighed dramatically to Michael as I voiced the thoughts that had been weighing me down all day.

"I don't want to say too much but she looks like she's handling it okay for a complete newbie. She's not sworn, lashed out, passed out or beaten up any paps so I'd say you're onto a winner." He let out a small laugh, making sure I knew he was joking. For the first time today, a smile appeared on my face.

"Thanks man. I appreciate it." I said, patting him on the shoulder. The door swung open dramatically a few seconds later, scaring the two of us and making us jump.

"Cal, when's Poppy due back?" Dave was at the door with his phone clutched to his ear.

"Hi Dave, Yeah I'm good thanks." I said sarcastically as I raised an eyebrow at him and his rude entrance. How dare he just burst in and ask questions without even saying hi. I bet this was management he was on the phone to...

"Sorry Cal, How are you? When's Poppy home?" Dave rushed, angry that he had to repeat himself. He shot a glare to the phone before rolling his eyes signalling just how right I was about management being on the other end of that line.

"Providing she finishes on time it'll be at least two hours." I said, checking the time on my phone just to be sure. Dave barely acknowledged me as he headed back out into the hallway and shut the door. Mike and I exchanged confused glances.

"And that was about what, exactly?" Mike asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I merely shrugged.

"Management calls to Dave are always tough. I wonder why they're pressing him for Poppy though? Do you think she did something wrong?" The two of us instantly grabbed our phones and searched on everything we could to find some news... but there was none.

"I don't see a single bad word..." Mike said as he glared down at his phone like a zombie. "Actually she's getting a lot of praise." I smiled to myself as I read some of the tweets and articles about Poppy. Fans loved her. She was their "normal person" idol - someone who still wanted to live their normal life despite having some new found fame.

@\outtamylimit Serious Kudos to Poppy for actually carrying on her nursing despite knowing Calum. Normally fame goes straight to their head.

@\thesunceleb ✅ 5sos gf still attends nursing job despite fame

@\ abcnews ✅ Poppy sure is a hero! Can even handle the shifts with paps around!

@\ valentinehoods Poppy is honestly my idol rn guess who researched nursing this week

It was great to see that, for once in our relationship, the news stories were actually good. Still, Dave's actions had left a nagging feeling in my gut that was telling me this wasn't going to last long. Somehow, the good news was going to stop.