Chapter Fifty Three

                                    

                                          
I knew from doing my nursing training that for a pregnancy to show up on blood tests, that I had to be about six weeks pregnant. I realised that I'd had sex with Ashton around that time, but a couple of days later ,the incident with Dale had occurred. I knew there was a fifty fifty chance as to whose baby I was carrying. Which scared me more than anything. Although I was terrified, it felt like a special thing to be carrying Ashton's baby. But what if it was Dale's, I would be having the baby of an evil man, who had forced me. I knew nothing about being a mother, and I had no one to turn to for help. I began rummaging in my wardrobe and quickly stuffing clothes into my bags. It broke my heart to have to leave Ashton, but I knew that I had no other option. I had to keep the baby a secret. I jumped as I heard the door close. I quickly kicked the bags underneath the bed, just as Ashton entered the room. 
                          
"Hey, I was worried about you, you just kinda disappeared." he said. 
                          
"Sorry." I whispered. I struggled to fight the emotions that were threatening to overcome me. I couldn't look him in the eyes, knowing what I was about to do. Impulsively I ran into his arms, and wrapped my arms around his waist tightly. I held on so tightly, I didn't want to let go. 
                          
"What's this for?" he whispered in my ear. 
                          
"I just love you so much." I muttered against his chest. 
                          
He chuckled and gently stroked my hair. 
                          
"The show starts soon, are you coming to watch?" he asked me excitedly. 
                          
I shook my head. 
                          
"Aw please, I want to be able to see your face when I'm on stage." he said quietly. 
                          
My heart bled, I felt so bad. But I knew what I had to do.
                          
"I'm just not feeling great." I whispered. 
                          
"Are you okay?" he asked pulling away from me, and looking at me in concern. 
                          
"Yeah, I just need an early night." I replied. 
                          
He smiled at me and picked me up. He placed me in the bed and pulled the blankets over me.
                          
"Ash, what are you doing, I can put myself to bed." I giggled. 
                          
"Yeah, I know, but you're my baby." he chuckled.
                          
My heart stopped when he said 'baby'. I bit my lip hard to keep me from crying. 
                          
"I have to go, will you be okay." he whispered. 
                          
"Yeah, I will always love you, Ash." I whispered. 
                          
"I love you too." he said,  before pecking me on the lips and leaving. 
                          
As soon as he left, I curled into a ball under the covers and sobbed. 
                          
I heard a knock at the door. I sighed and answered it. It was Luke. He walked in and closed the door behind himself. 
                          
I pulled the bags back out from under the bed and resumed packing. 
                          
"What are you doing here, Luke don't you guys have to perform?" I asked. 
                          
"Yeah, I just had to ask what you are going to do, it's been driving me mad." he said. 
                          
I took a deep breath. 
                          
"I'm leaving." I sighed. 
                          
"What?" he questioned. 
                          
"I have to go, don't bother trying to convince me, I've made up my mind." I told him, as I continued packing. 
                          
"You can't leave." he whispered. 
                          
"I can and I am." I said quietly. 
                          
"I'll come with you." he stated hurriedly. 
                          
"No, I need to do this alone." I told him. 
                          
"I'll miss you so much." he whispered as he pulled me into a hug. 
                          
I pulled away and smiled up at him. 
                          
"Can you give me a ride to the airport?" I asked him. 
                          
"I guess." he said sadly. 
                          
"Have you told Ashton?" he asked me. 
                          
"No, I'm not going to tell him." I stated. 
                          
He frowned at me. 
                          
"I'm going to wait until he falls asleep and sneak out." I added. 
                          
"Why don't you just tell him?" he asked me. 
                          
"He'll try to stop me, and I have to go." I told him. I was terrified that he would convince me to stay, and I couldn't bear to see his face as I left. It was better this way. 
                          
"Where will you go?" he whispered softly. 
                          
"Back to Australia, I guess." I told him. 
                          
"Luke you have to go, you'll be late." I added. 
                          
"Okay, promise you'll still be here when I get back." he said softly. 
                          
"I promise, I'll meet you in the lobby at one am?" I asked. 
                          
He nodded and left the room, leaving me to finish the packing. 
                          
Luke's POV
                          
I couldn't believe she was planning to leave. How could I drive her to the airport and drop her off, knowing that I might never see her again. I considered telling Ashton what she was planning to do, in the hope that he would be able to convince her to stay. But I decided against it. I knew that if I did she would never forgive me. I sighed and followed the boys on stage. 
                          
Laura's POV
                          
I heard Ashton climb into bed at midnight. As I pretended to be asleep, he gently kissed me on the cheek. I couldn't help but watch the clock as I waited for one am. I savoured the sound of Ashton snoring quietly beside me. I couldn't put into words how much I would miss him. Eventually one am arrived and I quietly climbed out of bed, and pulled out my bags from under the bed. As I was about to leave, I looked back at Ashton. He looked so peaceful. I tiptoed over to him and gently kissed his lips. 
                          
"Goodbye Ashton." I whispered against his lips. 
                          
I quietly clicked the door shut behind myself, and made my way into the hotel lobby. I tried to smile at Luke, but I couldn't quite manage it. 
                          
"That was hard huh." he said as he smiled warmly at me. 
                          
I nodded and angrily wiped the tears from my eyes.
                          
Luke reached over and took my bags from me. I smiled warmly at him. 
                          
"C'mon then." he whispered, as he held open the door for me.
                          
I began to follow him. 
                          
"What's going on?" I heard a voice say from behind me. 
                          
I spun around and saw Ashton standing at the bottom of the stairs. 
                          
I stood rooted to the spot, as I looked up at him.