"Hey, Cal? Is the building number 5505?"
"Yeah! Just come right in. See you."
"Okay, bye."
I hung up off my phone and opened the door. For an abandoned building, it seemed pretty new.
I looked around and heard pounding coming from upstairs. I walked up the steps and opened the door, where the music sounded more clear.
You're like perfection
Some kind of holiday
You've got me thinkin'
That we could run away
You are my ticket there
You tell me when and where
Oh oh oh oh
But then I ask for your number
Said you don't have a phone
It's getting late now
I gotta let you know that
Everybody want to take you home tonight
But I'm gonna find a way to make you mine
Don't stop, doin' what you're doin'
Every time you move to the beat it gets harder for me and you know it
Know it, know it
Don't stop, 'cause you know that I like it--
"Guys! Stop!"
I heard Calum tell through the microphone and heard some mumbling. I shut the door quietly behind me and walked toward the boys.
There was one person I wasn't expecting to see here.
"Luke?"
"Nothing?"
I gave a disgusted but yet surprised look.
He was in the same band as Calum?
"What are you doing here?"
"Uh, I sing?"
I looked at Calum.
"Uh, I guess you two lads already know each other."
"Yeah, he always comes to my work."
"What are you doing here?" Luke said.
"I came to watch Calum-er- you guys rehearse."
"Uh, why?"
"Because Cal invited me."
"Okay."
Calum walked toward me and gave me a look.
"So, that's Ashton, Michael, and Luke; I guess you knew Luke, judging from your attitude towards him."
"He annoys me at work."
"I heard that!"
I looked over at Luke and he rolled his eyes, tapping his foot.
"Who cares?"
Luke scoffed.
"Me, apparently."
"Whatever floats your boat."
Calum scratched his neck.
"Uh, I guess you can sit down at that couch and watch us."
"Sure."
Calum walked back to his spot and the guys talked about what to fix about the song and such, then sang again. After rehearsal was over, Calum walked over and sat next to me. He was soaked with sweat.
"How did we sound?"
"Fucking horrible."
His eyebrows shot up and he leaned back to look at me. I laughed.
"I'm joking, you guys sound amazing."
His face was filled with relief.
"Good. Thanks, wanna get some food with us? I'm starving."
"Yeah, sure! Where at?"
"I don't know, maybe pizza or something. Hey, Ash! How does pizza sound?"
Ashton walked over and ran a towel through his hair.
"Sounds good. Hey, Luke! Mikey! Let's go! You're slow as shit!"
Michael laughed and Luke groaned.
"How do you know shit is slow?" Michael said.
"Obviously he's seen you shit your ass off in the toilet." Luke chirped.
"Shut up, Luke."
"Let's go, Beth."
Calum helped me up and we all walked out the door. Luke locked up the building and slipped the keys in his pocket. He gave me a grin.
"So, 'Beth', huh?"
"Shut up."
He pouted.
"Want me to call you 'Nothing' still?"
I sighed.
"No. Just call me Beth, okay?"
He gave me a cheeky grin.
"Sure thing, Beth."
I groaned in frustration.
What was it other than him getting on my nerves?
We walked into a local pizza café and sat down. We all ordered a large pizza and ate.
"Did we sound okay, Beth?" Ashton said.
"You guys sounded really good, what was that song you guys were playing when I walked in?
"It's called 'Don't Stop'." Luke pitched in, with a mouthful of pizza.
"I like that song. When do you guys perform in front of people the next time?"
"We're not really sure, we haven't got our schedule yet. I know that in several months we might go on a world tour." Michael said.
"Yeah, maybe you can come, Beth." Calum said.
I gave him a look.
"Me? Are you serious?"
"Yeah, why not? You like our music and you're like my little sister."
I grinned.
"We'll see."
-
"What now, Luke?" I groaned.
I was currently at work, with Luke in front of me, again.
"Hey, be nice, Beth. Just get me the usual."
"Like what you had last time?"
"Yeah. And maybe when you're done with work we can grab lunch together?"
I crossed my arms and scoffed.
"Why would I want to get lunch with you?"
"Why wouldn't you?"
"Please, not now; not with the smartass comments. If I say yes will you stop annoying me?"
"Sure thing, Beth."
He paid me and went to sit at a table. I walked back to tell Clarissa to make Luke's strawberry smoothie. She eyed Luke, who was sitting in the corner table, on his phone.
"How do you know him?" She asked. I sighed.
"He's in a band with my best friend."
She scrunched up her nose.
"Lucky. He never texted me."
I let out a small giggle.
"You like him that much?"
"Bloody hell, yeah! Have you seen his eyes? Their amazing."
"I've never looked at them closely." I muttered.
She looked up and me and handed me the drink.
"You should."
I walked over to Luke and set his drink down in front of him. He looked up and grinned.
"Sit."
"But I have to--"
"Sit, or I can report you to your manager for not getting me what I want."
I groaned.
"I'll get in trouble."
"I'll tell them that it was my fault."
"But-"
"No buts. Sit."
I pouted and sat in front of him.
"What's your deal with always nagging at me?"
"You're fun to pick on."
I frowned and fiddled with my thumbs.
"But I don't like getting picked on."
"You better enjoy it, because I'm picking on you."
"What makes you so special?"
He glared at me.
"Everything. Okay, so where do you want to go for lunch?"
I shrugged.
"I don't know, you choose."
"How about Panera?"
"Sure."
"What time do you get off?"
"I actually get off in five minutes."
"Let's go."
"I have to clock out."
"So what? It's just five minutes."
I made a whining sound.
"Come on, Beth. Say it's like a family emergency; get someone to clock out for you."
I frowned.
"Fine, I'll get my friend to do it for me."
I looked over at Clarissa.
"Clarissa! Clock me out for me?"
"Sure thing!"
"Thanks!"
I ran to the back counter to get my bag and walked back to Luke.
"Okay, let's go."
-
"How's your macaroni?"
"It's good. How's yours?"
"Tastes different than what I'm used to. Mum's cooking still tastes better."
I nodded at Luke and took a sip of my water. He looked up at me and grinned.
"Have you decided if you're coming on tour with us?"
I leaned back in my chair.
"I don't know, Luke. My mom wants me to go to college and get a good job, and so do I. I really would like to go but I'm not sure if she would let me."
He frowned and looked down at his plate.
"Couldn't you just go to college after our world tour?"
I shook my head.
"I don't know. I can't go this year because if they don't get me a full scholarship and I don't have any money, I have to wait longer. I want to be ready."
"That's understandable. Maybe you might change your mind later, or if your mum will let you go, yeah?"
I grinned at Luke and sighed.
"Yeah."