Chapter Text
Ashton let out a deep breath and set his drumsticks down. He was so exhausted from practicing all day.
He ran a hand tiredly over his face and stood up, grabbing his jacket left on the chair next to him.
He looked over at the other three still working earnestly on their pieces. They should probably get some sleep soon, too.
He tapped Calum's shoulder to get his attention. "I'm gonna head to bed, okay?"
Calum glanced up startled. "Oh, yeah sure." He reached up and pat his back. "See ya in the morning, Ash."
Ashton smiled tiredly. "Goodnight." He turned to the others and raised his voice a bit to get their attention. "Guys, I'm heading in. I'll see you in the morning."
Luke and Michael both looked up. "Oh, wow already? Must be pretty late," Michael said.
Ashton chuckled. "It was around two last time I checked."
Michael's eyes widened. He didn't expect it to be that late. "Oh. Well then I'll probably leave soon, too."
The older nodded. "Okay. Well, night you two. Make sure you actually sleep tonight."
Michael rolled his eyes. Overprotective much, Ashton? "We will, night, Ash."
"Goodnight, Ashton," Luke told him.
Ashton smiled at his band members and headed out of the studio room, walking to the small bunk rooms on the second level. They were there for when they stayed late, which happened quite often.
The remaining three turned back to their tasks and kept working on their peices. Calum was trying to come up with and arrange song lyrics, Michael was strumming out tunes on his guitar, and Luke was helping the both of them.
Luke was a little stressed about this if he were to be honest. The album had to come out in a couple months and there was still so much to to do. Plus they also had some shows to perform.
He breathed an irritated sigh and rubbed his eyes. That last line didn't make sense. What was another metaphor for the distance between a couple? Oceans are typical and so overused, something like skies maybe?
"Luke, which chord does this sound better in?"
Luke faced Michael and gestured for him to show him. The boy looked down and then started picking out a tune. It was rather good and he tapped his foot to it, easily following along. The sound soon stopped and Michael looked up. "Yay or nay?"
Luke nodded. "It's good. Play it in the other one."
Michael obliged and Luke hummed to it as he played it through. "They're both good, but the second might make me and Calum struggle with a few notes."
Michael made a mental note. "Alright, thanks."
Luke acknowledged him and turned back to his pages of haphazard lyric ideas. He looked over at Calum. The tan boy was working thoroughly on a much better organised sheet. He was doing a lot better than Luke.
He flicked his tired eyes back down and began to work on his words again. He had to finish this.
The room was silent for a long while, with the exception of Michael fiddling around with the guitar.
It was probably nearing an hour after Ashton left before both Calum and Michael started having trouble staying awake any longer.
Michael groaned and set the guitar in his lap as he laid back and closed his eyes. "I'm so tired," he complained.
Calum chuckled at him. "Go to sleep then, mate."
Michael groaned again. He should be working. But Calum was right, he would be of no help if he didn't take care of himself first.
"Fine. Must be nearing three at least anyways."
Calum nodded. "Yeah. I might come too, soon. I'll start wrapping up."
Michael yawned and stood up to put his guitar and laptop away. "Alright. Well I'll say goodnight anyway."
He came back over to Luke on the couch and patted him on the shoulder. "Night, Luke."
Luke looked up at him with a tired smile. "Goodnight, Michael."
Michael walked over to the door and ruffled Calum's hair teasingly on the way out.
Calum laughed and slapped his hand. "Oi!"
Michael grinned and shut the door behind him. He couldn't wait to sleep.
Calum smoothed his hair and fell back heavily onto the couch next to Luke.
Luke bumped slightly with the movement. It made his head throb a little bit and he swayed just the tiniest amount.
Calum didn't notice and he sighed and began shuffling through his sheets of paper. "I'm going to head to bed after this to get some sleep."
Luke nodded at him. "Okay." He continued scratching out words and scribbling new ones.
There was a pause. Calum looked at him. "You're not coming?"
The blonde straightened. "Oh! Sorry I didn't realise."
Calum shrugged. "It's fine. I just thought you would be coming."
Luke looked down at the floor and hesitated. He shouldn't sleep. He has so much work to get done! And not enough songs have-
"You should come with me, Luke. You'd be all on your own down here and you have to get some sleep," Calum insisted.
But Luke appeared to not have heard, or he was ignoring him. Calum suspected the latter.
He leaned forward and brought a hand under Luke's chin, forcing him to look at him. He looked at Luke carefully, the boy squirming subtly and trying to avoid his best friend's dark eyes.
Calum brought both hands to cup his face to stop his moving. "Stop moving, Luke."
Luke pouted at him.
Just as he thought, Luke's blue eyes were bloodshot and seemed to waver in focus. His body was leaning a tad towards him and his eyelids would blink frequently.
Calum let go of him and sighed unhappily at the familiar sight. Luke already knew what he was going to say. "Luke, you're clearly exhausted and your body desperately needs sleep. You can't continue working like this or you'll tire yourself out."
Luke stubbornly turned away from him and Calum grabbed his shoulder to turn him back around.
"I'm serious. I know the album's stressing you out, but you do have to take care of yourself, Luke."
Luke sighed. "I know, calum. I'm fine. We're all tired but I just need to finish this last verse."
Calum opened his mouth to protest but Luke cut him off. "Just this one verse and I promise I'll get some sleep. Okay?"
Calum grit his teeth. He didn't really believe Luke but he had to give him the benefit of the doubt. He wasn't a little kid who struggled with his homework anymore. He was older now, he could take care of himself.
Calum held up his hands. "Fine then." Luke grinned. "But please don't overwork yourself, Lukey. Not like before."
Luke agreed. He leaned over and gave Calum a hug, wrapping his arms around his neck. Calum gave in and returned the hug, closing his eyes against Luke's soft sweater.
They pulled apart and Calum stood up. "Goodnight, Luke. Don't stay up too late."
"Night, Cal."
Calum looked at him once more before crossing the room and exiting through the door.
Luke heard the click of the door closing and sighed. He rubbed his bleary eyes wishing he could join Calum and the others. But he couldn't. He had to finish this.
Luke checked his watch. Almost four in the morning. He found the silence a little foreboding and lonely but he ignored it.
Picking up his paper, he read over what was written so far.
Good...
Good...
That one needed a different word so it wasn't repetitive.
Also good...
Hm, rewrite this one.
He continued reading, crossing out mistakes and writing in replacements. Then he got up to get Michael and Calum's lyric sheets to put together the song.
He picked a few lines from each, throwing in a few of his own that matched, grouping some similar ones that would work well. He imagined them with Ashton's beats and nodded his head approvingly.
And for the next three hours, that's how Luke spent his time. He wrote, arranged, even putting together some melodies and tunes, and he was lost. He ignored all his exhaustion.