All Hidden Away

As I head into my room, I close the door and sigh. I turn to my bathroom and decide that a nice, long and relaxing bubble bath is definitely a requirement. I sigh from what feels like an extremely long day, open the taps and begin to strip. Without pants on I walk to my bed and grab my phone and open my music folders and hit shuffle. I connect it to my small speakers and walk back into the bathroom with Imagine by John Lennon playing softly. The bathroom is starting to steam as the water fills so I add the bubble mixture and the scent of lilies soon fills the space and the bath begins to foam. I strip completely, retie my hair into a bun and relax into the hot water, humming along softly.

“Imagine all the people, living life in peace…”

As the songs changes as it goes through my playlist, I begin to think about the next couple of days and weeks. I have eleven days until we start tour… is it bad that I’m thinking of going back to university for a few of those days? I start exams so soon after we get back, maybe I should chat to Stu. Jared should have sent me some work, I need to check my emails and maybe I should do that tonight before our gathering tomorrow so if I have questions I can ask him then… our lecturer started the syllabus earlier than planned so now I’m scared of how much I’m missing. I don’t care if Michael or the other guys don’t want me to work while we are on tour, I need to… I not the song changes to Mc Fly’s Transylvania and I smile. I need to stop stressing so much. I’m still probably managing to do more work than other people at university. I lie back and soak in the warm water and think about tomorrow. Luke wanted to do something before the gathering, which could be fun… especially if we don’t tell Claire about it so we won’t have 800 cameras shoved up our noses. Sigh… this is all so much more complicated than it could be. I lift up my hand to push some fallen strands of hair off my face and notice how white and wrinkly my figure tips are. Deciding it’s time to get out, I pull out the plug and stand, grabbing my towel and drying off quickly. I walk into my room and open a draw to find a pair of baggy shorts and one of my baggy t-shirts. I pull it on and head to desk, mind still clouded with jumbled thoughts. Once dressed I go to change the song and Nickleback’s How You Remind Me comes on as next. I smile and turn it up as loud as it can go. Before I can even make it back to my desk to grab some work and before the chorus can even come on, every member of 5SOS is in my room screaming along. Getting the fright of my life I just stare at them and start laughing until we hit the chorus and all start singing together.

“It’s not like you to say sorry, I was waiting on a different story, this time I’m mistaken, for handing you a heart worth breaking and I’ve been wrong I’ve been down into the bottom of every bottle. These five words in my head scream! ARE WE HAVING FUN YET!”

We sing the rest of the lyrics bouncing up and down like idiots, performing out the words with each other and screaming the chorus together. Even messing around these guys can sing. After the song ends and we all start laughing, I move to stop the next song from ruining the moment.
“We thought you were going to bed!?” says Michael asking, still laughing.
“Yeah, well, I had a bath and then… you can’t listen to that song quietly.” I say shrugging.
“This is true.” Says Luke lying on the floor. Calum joins him… and sits on top of him. Luke grunts but Cal doesn’t move and just remains there.
“Okay… well, I’m going to do some work now…” I say trying to get them out my room politely.
“Yeah…The others had to go to the office.” Says Ash, clearly missing my point.
“Oh okay…” I say nodding and moving to my bed. “Well…” I say awkwardly trying to hide a smile. “Night…?” I say starting to giggle when no one moves.
“Can’t we all just stay here and watch movies?” asks Mikey pouting at me. I frown at him.
“Like… in my bedroom or here as in the house? Because I really wanted to get some work done.” I say confused but still walking to my desk to start setting up my laptop to check my emails.
“Here as in, in your room… with our new favourite person ever.” Says Luke from the floor. I laugh.
“Uh… okay, I guess? But I’m going to go do work…” I say smiling as I grab the TV remote from the draw besides my bed.
“No you’re not.” Says Michael walking over and pulling me to my bed.
“Mike…” I say, begging him not to.
“YAY! SLEEP OVER!” screams Ash before jumping onto my bed.
“YAY! Cuddles!” screams Mikey soon pushing me to lay between him and Ash.
“CUDDLES!” screams Cal jumping on and joining us. Not knowing what to do I just stay there staring at them.
“HEY! I’m the fake boyfriend! I get to cuddle Tasha!” says Luke getting up off the floor and landing on top of Michael and pulling me into a hug.
“Oh… okay?” I say rather confused by all the commotion. Luke nuzzles his head into my shoulder and wraps his long arms around mine, restricting my movement.
“Yay… cuddles.” He says quietly like a little kid and smiling like it was Christmas.
“What movie are we watching?” asks Cal pouting again.
“Erh… you guys can choose anything…” I say pointing to the collection that Harry had in my room. Cal dances over to it and sits down starting to look through it. “Luke… can I please have my arms back? I really need to get some stuff done.” I ask. He looks up at me with his blue eye and shakes his head before nuzzling closer to me. I sigh and shift around a little bit so I can at least use my right hand.
“Luke… Do not let her move.” warns Michael playfully.
“Guys… please… I just need to work a bit. You can stay here and cuddle yourselves.” I say trying to break through Luke’s vice like grip.
“NOPE!” says Ash popping the ‘p’. I sigh and rest my head back against the pillow under my head.
“Luke… please?” I ask genuinely. Sensing my stress, he looks up at me with concern. “Just an hour… please?” I ask again looking into his eyes. His frown deepens as he lets go.
“Let’s let Tasha do some work and join her for movies and cuddles in an hour.” Says Luke seriously. I smile at him.
“LUKE! NOOOOO!” says Mikey melodramatically.
“Just because you didn’t like school… doesn’t mean other people don’t have to work.” Say Ash, getting on the bandwagon with Luke. Michael scoffs and refuses to move when Ash prods him. He makes eye contact with Luke who shakes his head and grabs Cal off the floor and drags him out my room.
“Thank you!” I scream after them as the leave my room. I sigh in relief and walk over to my desk. I open my laptop and email to see that I have 3 emails from Jared that has work attached for me.

Hope you having fun and that this helps! Talk to you tomorrow if you need help xx

The first one is notes he’s taken in class with relevant textbook numbers. I smile and say a thankful prayer that he has neat hand writing. The second one is an assignment that is due the day we leave for tour, better get that done ASAP. And the third is all the exam dates… I quickly look through it and my heart drops. My first exam has been moved to the 10th June and its Trig and Calculus. Three days after we get back from tour. SHIT! I drop my head onto my desk. Maybe going back for a while is necessary. I’ll chat to Hazz when he gets back from wherever he is. I sigh and open the assignment and read what it is. I decide to start it now.

After choosing a research topic I put on my glasses and get to work. After starting I realise how much there is to actually do. Writing a 25 000-word essay based on research you have conducted yourself isn’t fun. Nor something you can do over night. Feeling slightly anxious at the thought of everything coming up I push forward trying to get as much done as possible tonight. It feels like only five minutes later that Mikey and Cal storm in demanding to watch a movie. I check my watch and see its nearly eleven.
“Guys, please… maybe we can tomorrow but I really need to do this.” I say indicating to my computer.
“But Taaaasshhhaaa!” wines Mikey. I take my glasses off and rub my eyes.
“I promise you can work all you want tomorrow.” Cal chimes in. I rest my head on my desk and sigh. I turn to look at them.
“I can’t work tomorrow which is why I need to do this now… please?” I say, begging them with my eyes. Mikey ignores me and sits on my bed and turns on the TV.
“Michael?” I say. He ignores me and turns to Cal.
“What movie do you think she would like to watch?” he asks smiling. I sigh and try to not flip my switch.
“How about… Mean Girls?” Cal asks looking at me.
“Guys, please?” I beg, starting to get slightly annoyed. As I say this, Luke walks in with Ash.
“Oh, yay! Movies time!” says Ash jumping on the bed. I frown and sigh. I stand up and walk to my door.
“Out.” I say not looking at anyone and pointing outside. The room falls silent. I point again to the door. “Out.” I say slightly more forcefully.
“But-”
“Out.” I say again refusing to lose my temper, but still being firm. There is a moment’s hesitation before I hear someone walk past quietly. I sigh in relief as two more people walk out with quiet mumbles of apologies. I open my eyes to see Luke standing with his hands in his pockets and looking at me with a frown.
“You too, Luke.” I say quietly. He walks over slowly.
“Sorry… I think they just wanted to have some fun.” He says leaning against my door.
“I know… I just have a lot to do, especially if I’m coming on tour where I know I’m not going to get much work done.” I say looking at my mismatching pair of socks.
“Yeah, I understand that.” He says quietly.
“Luke?” I ask looking up at him. His blue eyes never leave my face but he smiles. “Do you think… nah, never mind.” I say walking over to my desk. He grabs my wrist gently.
“What’s wrong?” he asks concerned.
“It’s nothing. I’m just being silly.” I say smiling.
“No, somethings bothering you… tell me?” he asks raising his eyebrows slightly and biting his lip ring.
“It’s just… there are ten days before we go one tour…and now that the short holiday is over…I’m wondering if I should go back and then join you for the tour.” I say looking at his face for any hints of emotion. He frowns and looks upset.
“I mean… I understand why you would want to do that… but I doubt Claire would let you.” He winces.
“Yeah… maybe…” we stand in awkward silence a bit longer. “Please don’t tell Hazz.” I say looking at him. He nods.
“Sorry about disturbing you…” he says smiling softly.
“It’s okay. I’ll get some stuff done and if you guys are awake I’ll come join you.” I say walking back to my desk. He nods but doesn’t move.
“Is it really selfish for me to ask you not to go back to varsity?” he asks quietly. I smile but don’t respond.
“Anyway… don’t work too late… do you want some tea?” he offers.
“Thanks, Luke. I say smiling before turning back to my desk.
“What are fake boyfriends for…” I hear him mumble quietly before slipping out of my room and closing the door behind him.

Notes