this ☝🏻️ is gold okay
happy Valentine's Day, my loves! 💕

*Luke's P.O.V*
It's been a month since Laurel moved to San Francisco, and I couldn't go there yet. The truth is that with a new album coming the record label is pushing us way too much, and we really do need to finish composing five songs and recording them all in two weeks.

I believe that when pressure is put up on you, you don't exactly work with your heart, you're forced. Music sort of loses its purpose.

"Luke" Calum calls me as I'm tuning my guitar. "Your phone is ringing."

"Let it ring"

"But it's FaceTime! It's your mum!"

I stand up to grab my phone, which I dropped by a corner table somewhere in the room.

"Hi mum" I smile.

"Hi sweetie, it's been so long! Did you forget mumma?" She jokes, and I chuckle.

"Of course not, I miss you. How's everything back home?"

"It's fine. Jack is finally getting married"

I goggle my eyes.

"What?! That asshole, he didn't tell me!"

"Oops" She giggles. "Don't tell him I told you. He's going to call soon"

"When is it?"

"I guess it's by the end of August, he told me yesterday. I'm sure he's calling you today."

"He better do" I laugh. "How's dad? Ben? Aunt Cassidy?"

"Everyone is doing well, we're just really missing you and Laurel! How is she, by the way?"

"She's good" I smile. "She got a scholarship to study at UCSF, so she moved to San Francisco"

"Really? That is awesome!" Mum cheers. "Are you with her? I want to congratulate her myself!"

"Actually I'm not" I sigh. "I'm inside the studio with the guys trying to finish writing a song" I turn the camera so she can see the entire room. "Say hi guys!"

"Hey Liz!" Ashton is the first one, waving. Calum and Michael do the same.

"Hi boys!" She replies. "I just wanted to hear from you, son. So everything's fine?"

"Yes, mum. I miss you."

"I miss you too, but we'll be together soon again."

I turn off the phone so I can be totally focused on the unfinished song before me. It took us the entire evening, but it's done. It's finally done.

"Phew, I'm tired as hell" Ashton puffs. "What if we go out?"

"The Nice Guy?" I suggest. "We'd have to reserve it though."

"Perhaps we could eat tacos?" Michael commends.

"Tacos it is" Ashton grins.

•••

Back home I'm so goddamn exhausted I don't even know. I love my job, I really do, but as I said before, the record label pressuring us isn't exactly cozy.

I think about watching a horror movie, so I try finding any on Netflix with more than 2 stars (this is a highly difficult achievement). As I scroll through the options I smile to myself, remembering the first time Laurel came to LA; I wanted to watch a horror movie but she didn't feel comfortable with them.

"When I was 10 I watched The Ring" She told me as she was sitting on the couch, holding her knees against her chest. "I would stay the night wide awake hearing every sound, peeking over my dark room, afraid she could show up. And then when I finally did get some sleep I would have nightmares constantly."

I laughed as I was reading the synopsis.

"Didn't you need to watch a tape for Samara to come after you?" I inquire.

"Yes."

"Then she could've never come after you, silly willy" I tease her, squeezing her cheeks.

"The tape is watched during the movie so I watched it too, silly willy" She retorts, giggling.

I don't recall what movie we ended up seeing that night; all I know is that she was curled like a ball by my side, her head resting on my chest and her arm wrapped around my waist.

"She's such a wuss" I comment out loud, snapping myself out of my own daze once I realize there's no one in the room to listen to me.

I shake my head and get my phone to call her and tell the big news about Jack (even though that motherfucker hasn't told me officially yet).

Mailbox. Whoa, Laurel must be very busy. It's so weird, she rarely misses a call.

So I try FaceTiming my traitor brother.

"Lewi!" Jack appears on the screen, smiley. "How are you, little one?"

"I'm good, thanks Jack" I reply. "How are you, bro? It's been a long time since our last chat! Is there anything new happening?"

"Everything is completely fine over here, family's good, the weather is good!"

"That's great, but... you look a little happier than usual, what happened?"

Why does finishing never work with my brother?

Jack laughs.

"I know mum told you already"

I snort as he keeps on laughing.

"You were supposed to be the first one to know" He continues. "But Celeste got way too excited and told the entire family before I could tell you."

"Yeah right" I playfully roll my eyes.

"Let's just pretend you know nothing about it, then, okay? So, Luke, I'm getting married!"

"Really?" My jaw drops. "That's amazing, Jack! I'm so happy for you, congratulations! When?"

"It was by August but we decided to change the date to November 14th, so be prepared to bring your ass back home by then! You and Laurel!" He replies. "By the way, where is she? Has she gotten, I don't know, another job at college?"

I sigh, glancing at him.

"Mum told you as well, didn't she?"

We both laugh at how much mum was ruining surprises lately, and after a 15minute talk, we hang up.

I decide to call Laurel once more.

Mailbox again.

I puff, throwing my phone on the other side of my bed as I allow my body to collapse on top of it, facing the ceiling. I cover my eyes with my hands, focusing on my heartbeat. I'm not the controlling kind of guy, but I'm beginning to feel worried. I could count in one hand how many times Laurel didn't pick up her phone at first but she never missed two calls in a roll.

What if she's with that Jim guy?

"Stop the bullshit, Luke!" I demand myself, standing up. "Get it together, dude, just go take a shower"

I obey myself, getting my pee jay pants. After a quick shower I lay down in bed and try, once again, finding something on Netflix to watch. I end up with How I Met Your Mother.

My phone rings and I look at the screen. I don't have the number saved on my contacts.

Frowning, I pick up.

"Hello?"

"Are you mr. Hemmings?" An unknown woman speaks.

"Uh... yeah, that's me, why?"

"My name's Sonya, I'm from San Francisco Police Department"

Oh no.

"We're calling because your girlfriend Laurel was injured in a car crash earlier today. She was taken to San Francisco General Hospital. Are you in town, sir? Sir?"

All of a sudden, my world is torn apart.

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SORRY I DIDNT UPDATE YESTERDAY! I told you guys I'd be busier lol tell me if I should double update today to make it up to you!

Wow, what the hell just happened? I don't have words to describe this chapter haha but if you like it, please don't forget to vote and share. Comments are always welcome, I read them all!

I hope you're as curious as I am to the next update! Stay beautiful 💗 xo

PS: fivesaucebxtch_ is an amazing human being, and she made 8 new covers for this book! Now I'm even more confused, I've got 12 covers! Thank you so much, dear, you are flawless!