*Laurel's P.O.V*
May 30th

we need to talk, call me asap

I shiver at Luke's text, fearing the worst. It's never a good thing when he texts me like that.

I walk round and round my apartment, trying to figure out what he could possibly say.

"What's wrong?" Riley looks up from a book to me. "You seem nervous."

"You bet I am" I admit. "Luke just sent me a text saying we needed to talk. I really don't want to figure out what he means."

"Do it like waxing, quickly so it hurts less" she jokes. I take a deep breath and press the call button.

"Hey"

"Baby!" I smile at the sound of Luke's voice. "Hi, I... I read your text. What happened?"

"Promise me you're not gonna get mad" He says.

I feel my stomach twisting and contracting. This could never be good.

"Oh, God, just say it."

"I can't go on your birthday. I'm sorry."

My jaw drops.

"Luke! You promised me!"

"I know, I know" He hurries up. "Let me explain: they invited us to be on Ellen right on your birthday. I told them I had business out of town but my manager almost ripped my heart off. We need this, we're still promoting the new album and the more we get it, the happier my bosses get."

"I can't even believe this" I whine, collapsing on my bed. "You told me you'd show up."

"Baby girl, I know you're mad, but please don't. I had no choice, I swear to God. You can ask Ashton, he was in the room while I was arguing with my manager." He sorrows.

I feel like screaming out loud. My relationship with Luke was, at first, a fairytale, and now it's not even close. It's only decreasing and decreasing daily, I can sense I am losing him, or, we are losing each other.

I'm very angry. Shouldn't I?

"Okay, whatever." I spit, furiously. "If you have more important things to do, it's your job, I get it. Just don't promise me anything else."

"I'll send you something"

"I don't care about stuff, I want you. But there's not even how to choose: your career will always be more important than me."

I hang up, grabbing my pillow and tugging my face against it, groaning loudly.

"Gosh, things aren't going well, are they?" Riley stands up from her desk, coming towards me. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I'm really stressed out, so I may be rude to you" I warn her. She smiles softly.

"I don't care. You are my friend, just take a deep breath and spit it all out."

So I tell Riley what Luke said, almost crying.

"Hmm, that's, like, your tenth fight ever since I moved in" She analyzes. "Don't you think you're pushing your relationship to the edge?"

"We are, I know so, and I might be a little too harsh on him but I can't avoid it. It wasn't like this before, I told you that already. He used to be way more caring and now I can barely call him my boyfriend."

Riley looks away, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Okay, listen." She begins. "I don't know if you're gonna like the idea, but what if you go to LA?"

I look up to her.

"How so?"

"Well," She shrugs. "since he can't come over, then you will. That's a good way of, like, apologizing and also, you can spend your birthday with him, which would be good."

"The idea ain't bad" I smile. "However, I can't leave our project like that, halfway."

Riley puffs.

"Leave it all to me. I can handle a couple days on my own. Just go there, and save your relationship"

*Luke's P.O.V*
June 1st

"Hi, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday... It's, like, the twentieth time I call and you don't pick up, probably because you're still mad. Anyway, I'll just keep on calling. Happy birthday"

I throw my phone on the couch and let out a furious groan. I'm so pissed right now, Laurel can be so childish when she wants to.

"Well, well, well, so there really is trouble in paradise now, huh?" A scoffs.

"I'm not dealing with your shit today, so please, if all you wanted to do was tell me that I'm wrong in admitting I've got a girlfriend, then leave."

She laughs, standing up.

"You're so stubborn. You know this is the reason why you guys are falling apart, don't you? You think you'll always get it right by doing what your heart tells you. But here's the thing: it's not gonna work this time. If you tell anyone that she's your girlfriend, she can kiss her privacy goodbye. Is that what you want?"

"What I want is to stop this bullshit!" I scream.

"Then change your job! If you can't handle the life of a famous person just leave, the door is open!" She glares at me. "You used to understand things best. I am just trying to help, but if you want to ruin everything, go ahead. I never liked that slut anyway."

She grabs her purse and leaves, slamming the door. I huff, throwing myself near my phone. I scroll down my Instagram to check on Calum's newest photo when I decide to go on Laurel's profile. She's now got more than a hundred thousand followers, some commenting very bad things on her photos.

This is my fault.

So I press on the photos she was tagged on and I feel like someone is squeezing my heart real tight.

The guy posted one with her, today. She's kissing his cheek.

The photo is old, I know that, but even so, my blood is boiling in my veins.

happy bday to my favorite scientist! missing you a lot x

My eyes shut down in anger, and I check on the comments to torture myself a little bit more.

Laurel commented on it. Like, an hour ago.

I lock my phone quickly and stand up, feeling like my head is about to explode.

"SHE CAN COMMENT ON A FUCKING PHOTO BUT SHE CANNOT TAKE ONE SINGLE FUCKING CALL FROM ME?!" I shout to myself.

Not even three seconds later, Michael calls me, saying the car is already by my doorway. I take a deep breath and leave my place, walking firmly. I get inside and don't even reply to any of my friends.

"Wow, someone is a little grumpy today" Ashton jokes. "What is it? Still upset because you can't surf?"

"Don't try, dude, or you might just hit a nerve" I mutter, in between teeth.

I can feel their eyes on me. However, they don't ask, simply letting it go.

•••

"I'm really honored because these guys are sitting right before me, these guys, ladies and gentlemen, are my current addiction, I love you" Ellen jokes and the audience applauds.

"I love you more, Ellen" Ashton replies, blowing her a kiss.

"I wish I could keep you four inside a jar and shake it" She says. "But since I can't, I'm happy enough that you are here. So tell me, how's life treating you?"

Miserably, I think to myself.

"It's good, we can't complain" Michael smirks. "We have the best fans in the world, and our manager is awesome, our producer, everyone. We've been having so much support on this"

"Yeah, and we are all very proud of this new step in our careers." Calum adds.

"I can imagine that. You guys are very talented, I like talented people." She smiles. "So LUKE"

I jump at her scream of my name, and everyone laughs. I blush.

"Hey, you're awake, buddy!" Ellen chuckles. "What's going on with you today? Are you sad?"

"No" I force a smile. "I'm just paying attention."

"Bull, you're with your head in the clouds today. What's filling your thoughts?"

More than I could tell you.

"I left a big bowl of nacho cheese on top of the counter, which reminds me of a joke" I start and I hear some people laughing in the audience.

"Oh, we all know that one, thank you" She cuts me off, playfully. "It's been a lot of pressure on you lately, right? I've heard there's a girl who you've been hanging out with..."

Oh, the cursed topic. Of course.

But not today. Let's just end this motherfucking thing.

"You mean Laurel who everyone is talking about?" I raise my eyebrows, innocently. "Yeah, we hang out."

Everyone's eyes lay on me.

"Is that so?" says Ellen. "I love it when people admit things on my show. Is she your girlfriend, then?"

"Nope. She's just a fan, we hang out sometimes because she's cool. But there's no girlfriend thing" I say, annoyed.

I hear indignation sounds from the audience and Michael pinches me. When I look at him he's staring at me like I'm as mad as a brush.

"So is she like your friends with benefits?"

"Not even that. I don't know why people are giving her so much attention" I laugh, but I'm the only one.

"You've been seeing A as well, haven't you?" asks Ellen. "Does she deserve the attention people are giving Laurel?"

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing goes out. Everyone is staring at me, and I'm feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

"I'm going out with someone" Calum speaks up. "Her name is Natalie."

So everybody turns to him and I'm able to breathe again. However, instead of feeling relieved that nobody is gonna ask about Laurel anymore, especially because it looks like we're not exactly in touch ourselves lately, I feel bad, a traitor, not sure of exactly what. When I look at Michael he's still looking at me, and by the way he's doing so I know he thinks I'm completely insane. I look at Ashton, he's disappointed as well.

But I know they're not gonna say anything.

When the car drops me by my door, I'm sore and extremely sad. I'm just gonna stay in bed and complain about how my relationship is torn to pieces and I'm sure I either just ruined or saved it.

I'm about to come inside the gates of my house when I hear someone whimpering.

"Is that what you really think of me?"

I turn my back and my heart breaks at the sight of Laurel. Tears are streaming down her face and she is shaking.

Right now, I'm shaking as well.

"Laurel..."

"Don't. Please don't" She sobs. "I thought we were more than that. You just humiliated me in front of millions of people! How could you?!"

"I was just trying to protect you! And you didn't pick up any of my calls!"

"Because I was on my way to surprise you here!"

Only at this moment I note a small suitcase on the floor, next to her.

"I wanted to spend my birthday with you..." She continues, turning her back. I hear her crying and my heart breaks.

"Baby, I..." I try reaching her but she steps back.

"Don't baby me, and don't touch me" She mutters. "I supported you through everything, I loved the fact that you were engaged to your career, I respected your decision of keeping us a secret for some time. You weren't there when I was fighting for my life, and I didn't complain! Because I love you! And that is what I get? You telling everyone that we 'hang out' sometimes and that I'm cool? Fuck you, Luke!"

"I'm sorry!" Tears form in my eyes. "I'm sorry that you think I was a jerk, but I was just trying to protect you! I love you, Laurel, I don't want you to suffer with any of this crap I deal with!"

She cries out loud, nearly collapsing on the floor. I sob as well, trying to remain calm even though I am freaking out.

Laurel looks up at me and seeing her like this makes me want to kill myself for being the reason why.

"We are from two different worlds... but I thought we could make it work. I thought... I thought we could make it happen..." She cries.

"But we ca--"

"No, no we can't!" She cuts me off, screaming. "Because you'll always lie, and lie, and lie, and lie! That's what you've been doing ever since we met!"

"I wish I didn't need to lie, Laurel!" I scream back.

She stares deeply into my eyes, my entire body is shaking and aching, my stomach is contracting, my mouth is dry, my eyes are teary and my head is exploding.

Laurel takes her suitcase, sighs and opens her mouth to speak.

I wish she didn't.

"Then you don't have to lie anymore. We're done. Have a nice life, try not breaking any more hearts."

And she walks away from me.

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