~Chapter 20~

A/N - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

What did you all get for Christmas?

I hope you all have a great day!

Consider this my Christmas present to you I guess!

People have been asking Luke if he's read any 5SOS fanfics, and to my relief he said no!!

I woke up this morning and I'd gained 15 votes OVERNIGHT. If you honestly were the person who voted on 15 different parts of this story (or more than 8 parts) send me an inbox on here and I'll dedicate the next chapter of this to you, because YOU ROCK!

Anyways on with my chapter (:

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I looked to Luke, and he knew exactly what I meant, because he walked upstairs to my room, leaving my father and I alone outside his office.

"I've thought this over Alexis. But I, I don't want you hanging around that boy anymore. He's a bad influence on you." Dad said, his tired eyes not making contact with mine at all.

No. No. This couldn't be happening. He wants me to end things with Luke? No way.

"Firstly, he has a name. His name is Luke. And secondly, he isn't a bad influence on me at all! What has he done wrong Dad?!"

"Since you've been around him you're not telling me where you are, you're not coming home at a decent hour, you're out with his shitty band all the time, you're missing school, and you were in A FIRE. A FIRE ALEXIS."

How could this man be my father. This heartless, non understanding man.

"SHITTY? SHITTY BAND? YOU'VE NEVER HEARD THEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST SAID THAT. Luke is my everything, he's my everything, and I can't lose him, nor do I want to. You haven't even really met him Dad! You'd like him. He's sweet, and funny, and caring. He's everything that you'd want me to be around. The fire was an accident. And look, everyone's okay. Molly loves Luke, so why can't you?"

The tears were pouring out of my eyes like a waterfall after a heavy rain.

Dad went to yell back, but then stopped himself.

And then he opened up to me for the first time since mum passed.

"..You could've died in that fire Lexi. I don't want to lose you. We lost your mother, look how that's affected us. I wouldn't be able to cope if I lost you too. Look, I know I haven't met the boy, and I'm sorry for being such a shit parent for the past few years. I'm still dealing with losing your mother. Work takes over and numbs the pain. I look at you, and you remind me so much of her. Losing someone hurts. "

By the end he was barely whispering the words. It must've taken a lot for him to speak about my mother.

"Losing someone hurts, you're right. So please, give Luke a chance. I can't lose him. I'll bring him downstairs. Lets all just start fresh okay?"

I was still sobbing, but I wasn't sure if it was happy sobbing, sad sobbing or somewhere inbetween.

He held his arms out for a hug. I hugged my father for the first time in years. My usually cold, strict father.

I walked up the stairs, wiping the tears from my face. Luke was lying on my bed, his feet dangling off the edge. He was on his phone, presumably on twitter. Lets just say, he's feeling pretty comfortable in my house now.

"Luke." I stood in the open doorway with my hand on the doorframe. He turned his head my way and instantly jumped off my bed, leaving his phone there on the mattress.

"What's up? What happened? Are you okay?" He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him, and I lay my head on his shoulder.

"Yeah... Everything's good. I need you to come downstairs though. I think...I think I just started to fix things with dad. But I need him to understand how much you mean to me."

I looked up, and Luke nodded, then pressed his lips to mine. I broke the kiss and holding hands, we walked downstairs, into the living room where dad was waiting. It was much better that we were in there rather than his office. I could sense he was really trying to be nice, and I was grateful for that.

"Hello, I don't believe we've met before, I'm Keith Reid, Alexis' Dad. "

Dad stood and shook Luke's hand, smiling.

"Luke, Luke Hemmings" Luke replied.

Dad sat and patted the seat next to him on the lounge, turning the tv on with the volume down.

"I've heard a bit about you, you're in a band, right? What role do you play in the band?"

"Yeah, I'm a singer and I play guitar. The other boys sing too, even Ashton our drummer. They're all great. "

I sat next to Luke and held his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze every now and then.

As the minutes passed the tension in the room disappeared, and Luke and my father were bonding over their love for guitar.

Dad used to be a great musician. I remember when I was little, he'd get his guitar out every night after dinner and we'd all sit and listen as he played and sang for hours.

Dad hasn't touched his guitar since mum passed.

In fact, I don't think he listens to music at all.

I could see that my father was bonding with Luke, yet it was so hard to believe. It was like seeing a different person in front of me, not my uncaring, distant dad. This man was...happy. He was really trying to make me happy, and he seemed to like Luke, so I was satisfied with that.

I'd hardly realized it but the three of us had spent all day together in the living room, and soon Molly came to get us for dinner.

I hadn't spent much time with Mol lately, and if felt pretty horrible about it. I promised myself that in the holidays I would spent more time with her, like I used to.

"I might head off then, leave you guys to have dinner." Luke said, getting up off the lounge.

"Don't be silly! Join us!" Dad said, which came as a complete surprise to me. I choked on air, and both Luke and dad gave me a weird look.

"Yeah stay for dinner Luke, if its okay with your parents." I managed to say. He squeezed my hand, and kissed my cheek.

I was glad that he wasn't afraid to be affectionate In front of dad.

He went out to call his mum, leaving dad and I alone.

"I'm sorry I never paid attention to him before, he's a lovely young man Lexi. I'm proud of you for finding him."

"Thanks dad."

We all sat around the table for dinner, even Daniel emerging from the man cave he called his room. I swear that's the only time he leaves it, for dinner.

"You know Daniel don't you Luke?" Dad asked, while cutting his steak.

"Yes, but Michael, the band's other talented guitarist, is closer to Daniel than I am."

I laughed, remembering the time we lost Michael and found him hanging out with Daniel. Daniel grunted, his mouth full of food.

After dinner dad did something I never expected to happen.

He got out his old guitar, and gave it to Luke.

"Aw bless! Play us something Luke!"

Molly almost squealed as she took the plates back to the kitchen.

Luke looked to me nervously, and I gave him a warm smile. He started to play 'Just the way you are', his blue eyes staring deep into mine for the first verse and chorus before the others started to join in.

We were all singing happily, everyone smiling.

And then I got a text.

* 1 New Message From- Unknown*

• Glad you didn't tell the police anything. Now come outside, but don't tell anyone anything. - S •

S?

My heart caught in my throat.

Well I knew who that was.

Stacie Brooks.

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IM SORRY I KEEP LEAVING YOU LIKE THIS IM SORRY OK

-Steph (not Stacie) xx