Icing on the Cake

~88~

“I’m upset,” I said, trying to find a way that I could verbalize what I was feeling. “Julia is getting a job and paying us rent, and it’s reminding me of something.”

***FLASHABCK TO SEPTEMBER 2016***

We had finished a show on the Sounds Live Feels Live tour. I was bored, and watiting for the buses to take off. While waiting, I decided to walk around outside. Security advised me not to, saying it wasn’t the best idea. But it was past midnight; I figured there wouldn’t be a lot of fans around.

I just walked around the block surrounding the venue. The orange street lights hit down on the sidewalk as I saw the venue building to y right and the city streets leading to elevated interstates on my left. There was no one around. I looked on my phone to check my bank account. I had just received another payment. I literally had over three million dollars in my checking account.

I turned a corner to see two girls, probably fifteen or sixteen, wearing 5SOS shirts, see me, light up in a moment of disbelief, then start walking towards me.

“OH MY GOD ARE YOU LUKE HEMMINGS?!” They both loudly exclaimed.

“Yes.” I said calmly. “Please don’t scream. I’d love to talk but please don’t scream.”

They both looked petrified after I said that. “Okay, okay, we won’t scream we promise.” They said, trying to be as quiet as possible.

“Sorry.” I said. “I didn’t mean to sound rude, I just don’t want security to have to come and split us up.”

“I love you so much!” They both said.

“Thank you!” I said. “I love you too!”

“Can…” one of them asked, nervously, “Can we get a picture?”

“Sure.” I said. They both took a solo picture with me, the other snapping the photo. Then we all three were in one, and I used my long arms to take the photo.

One looked like she was about to start crying. “I love you so much! I had to save for months, every paycheck to get tickets but I did and it was so awesome!”

“I’m so glad to hear you liked it!” I said. “I’d love to stay, but we’re about to leave.” They both hugged me and on I went.

***END OF FLASHBACK***

“On the bus that night.” I said to Calum, continuing the story, “I kept thinking of how these people who have nothing, no money, scrape together everything that they can to come see us. They’re giving us everything they have. We’re millionaires because they, who are not millionaires, are giving us everything. And that’s how I feel with Julia. We don’t need rent money.”

“I know we don’t need it.” Calum said. “But I think she wants to. She doesn’t want to feel deadbeat, and she might be bored.”

Calum wiped a tear from my face and gave me a hug. Just like always, I always felt comforted and safe around him.

Notes