essence of the band. It would just be some other guy trying to fill your shoes and without sounding biased, it’s not even possible. You know they all suck at songwriting. Great musicians, but you might as well throw them in the ocean and watch them drown. Pretty awful way to repay them.’ Melissa looked sternly at him.
Luke smiled and shook his head. He didn’t need to answer her because the relief in his face said it all. She was right of course, he didn’t want to do it. Deep down he had just wanted to know for sure that she still supported him after all she had been through. He tucked her into the covers, feeling her warm skin against his, and felt a little hope coming back into his heart as they both fell asleep
*****
‘Don’t you ever have a day off?!’ Melissa threw in the direction of the photographers who were hanging around the entrance of their apartment block. Her new toy, a purple Mini Convertible sat waiting for her. It had been delivered that morning, and she was using it as the excuse to see Lyla. A girly drive, then meeting with Beth after her visit to the midwife. The pack descended on Melissa as she got into the car, and just as she started the engine they heard the roar of the bike behind them. Toby had arrived, with Tom on the back. Luke appeared on the balcony, fag in his mouth, shirt off in the hot sun. It caused a diversion, planned and executed like professionals, giving Melissa her getaway. Jay-Den going to prison and Sky Storm on the verge of collapse were still fresh news. Melissa was a heroine in most people’s eyes, but not all. It was a price she was happy to pay, even if some had decided to abuse her online. It made her laugh, as these people had forgotten what she had endured. Thanks boys!’ she said into her phone, testing her hands-free. The boys were all very excited as Luke had called a band meeting to discuss the next step. Dale would join them later, but that didn’t stop them from getting the ball rolling.
‘That worked better than I thought.’ Luke laughed. ‘Have fun today, and be careful in that thing,’ he warned. Melissa told him not to worry; she would take very good care of her new toy. There was a part of her that felt a need to decide on a career path of her own. Living off Luke was nice but she wanted to be someone, and provide for him. They were equals and that meant she should earn her own money. The pay-off had set them up nicely and money wasn’t an issue. But that wasn’t the point. It wouldn’t last forever, and she wanted Luke to be proud of her. Her master plan would have to wait. Lyla was her next mission, and she wasn’t looking forward to it.
*****
‘I need your help?’ Lyla said as she settled into the passenger seat. She waved at Zac who was having a cigarette outside the hotel. He looked happy despite his current situation. Melissa waved as he came over to the window and asked her to get Luke to call him when he could to discuss a few things. Zac wanted his advice on what to do next and Melissa promised she would. He leaned in the window to kiss Lyla before they headed off. Once they were safely away Lyla started sobbing. Melissa wanted to take her back, not wanting to hear the story. She didn’t want to know but at the same time she knew Lyla needed help. They drove to a quiet spot and parked overlooking a lake. Apart from an elderly couple feeding the ducks they were alone.
‘OK. Talk to me. What is going on?’ Melissa knew the answer but was hoping she was wrong and had misunderstood.
Lyla screamed into her hands, shaking her head and making Melissa feel her stomach knotting up. ‘I can’t say it. I’ve kept this a secret so long. If I say it then it’s making it real.’
Melissa took her hand gently, urging her to tell her the full story. ‘You can trust me. I promise you I will help
Luke smiled and shook his head. He didn’t need to answer her because the relief in his face said it all. She was right of course, he didn’t want to do it. Deep down he had just wanted to know for sure that she still supported him after all she had been through. He tucked her into the covers, feeling her warm skin against his, and felt a little hope coming back into his heart as they both fell asleep
*****
‘Don’t you ever have a day off?!’ Melissa threw in the direction of the photographers who were hanging around the entrance of their apartment block. Her new toy, a purple Mini Convertible sat waiting for her. It had been delivered that morning, and she was using it as the excuse to see Lyla. A girly drive, then meeting with Beth after her visit to the midwife. The pack descended on Melissa as she got into the car, and just as she started the engine they heard the roar of the bike behind them. Toby had arrived, with Tom on the back. Luke appeared on the balcony, fag in his mouth, shirt off in the hot sun. It caused a diversion, planned and executed like professionals, giving Melissa her getaway. Jay-Den going to prison and Sky Storm on the verge of collapse were still fresh news. Melissa was a heroine in most people’s eyes, but not all. It was a price she was happy to pay, even if some had decided to abuse her online. It made her laugh, as these people had forgotten what she had endured. Thanks boys!’ she said into her phone, testing her hands-free. The boys were all very excited as Luke had called a band meeting to discuss the next step. Dale would join them later, but that didn’t stop them from getting the ball rolling.
‘That worked better than I thought.’ Luke laughed. ‘Have fun today, and be careful in that thing,’ he warned. Melissa told him not to worry; she would take very good care of her new toy. There was a part of her that felt a need to decide on a career path of her own. Living off Luke was nice but she wanted to be someone, and provide for him. They were equals and that meant she should earn her own money. The pay-off had set them up nicely and money wasn’t an issue. But that wasn’t the point. It wouldn’t last forever, and she wanted Luke to be proud of her. Her master plan would have to wait. Lyla was her next mission, and she wasn’t looking forward to it.
*****
‘I need your help?’ Lyla said as she settled into the passenger seat. She waved at Zac who was having a cigarette outside the hotel. He looked happy despite his current situation. Melissa waved as he came over to the window and asked her to get Luke to call him when he could to discuss a few things. Zac wanted his advice on what to do next and Melissa promised she would. He leaned in the window to kiss Lyla before they headed off. Once they were safely away Lyla started sobbing. Melissa wanted to take her back, not wanting to hear the story. She didn’t want to know but at the same time she knew Lyla needed help. They drove to a quiet spot and parked overlooking a lake. Apart from an elderly couple feeding the ducks they were alone.
‘OK. Talk to me. What is going on?’ Melissa knew the answer but was hoping she was wrong and had misunderstood.
Lyla screamed into her hands, shaking her head and making Melissa feel her stomach knotting up. ‘I can’t say it. I’ve kept this a secret so long. If I say it then it’s making it real.’
Melissa took her hand gently, urging her to tell her the full story. ‘You can trust me. I promise you I will help
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