Luke's PoV

As I shoved my coat on, receiving glances from my band mates, my phone began to ring.

"Shit." I snapped before I even looked at the caller ID. "This'll be the school. They're gonna charge me for being late. I'm like thirty minutes out!" The guys exchanged glances, wondering which of them was going to tell me it was my own fault for not watching the time. We'd got so caught up writing that the day had flown by, it was only because Michael had said he was hungry that I even realised it was past lunchtime. I quickly answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Luke?" That voice wasn't one of the teachers, I should know, I'd spoken to most of them already so I knew who I could trust with my daughters secret. We'd picked a school so far out of the way it was unbelievable but it was all for her safety. People wouldn't look for her so far away. I pulled the phone from my ear to check the caller ID this time. It was Alyssa?

"Oh thank God. I'm running late to the school, they're going to charge me aren't they?" I rushed as I waved at the guys with my phone to my ear. I left the studio and hammered on the lift but it seemed to be taking a lifetime. Why was it always when you were in a rush that this happened? Come on!!

"It's fine, I've got it." She said calmly, automatically soothing my stressful tone. I could barely believe it. She was willing to help me after only meeting me this morning?
She spoke with the teacher who quickly double checked I was me and then okayed it with Alyssa. She was a lifesaver.  "I've got Kira. Take your time, don't rush. You can pick her up when you are ready." It felt like every tense cell in my body had left as I let out a large sigh of relief. A smile grew on my face instantly.

"Thank you so much. I owe you one. I just need to grab something on the way home and I'll come and get her. Can you text me your address?" I made up an excuse, wanting to quickly say goodbye to the guys properly before I drove back to get her.

"Sure, no problem." She said softly, the kids starting to play about in the background. We quickly said our goodbyes and she hung up, the weight on my shoulders suddenly disappearing. Barely able to believe what had happened, I walked back to the guys who all looked at me in confusion.

"Uhh, aren't you meant to be picking Kira up?" Michael asked, suddenly stopping mid strum. Calum and Ashton quickly looked back too.

"What's happened? Is she okay?" Ashton's tone was laced with worry, probably because my face was blank. I was just dazed though. I hadn't had any help since Olivia, before it all happened. It was weird to think how Kira wouldn't really remember her mum, who was taken from us far too young, and how the only way to keep her name alive was for me to keep reliving the painful yet happy memories of our family and my time with her. My chest tightened as I thought about her again. Come on Luke, get a grip. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I put on a fake smile trying to deceive the guys. It didn't work.

"She's fine." I responded. "It's hard to explain. Another mum has taken her home." All their eyes widened in shock. I know, I said I'd never let anyone do that in case it was all out of malice towards me. I'd just done it with someone I met this morning.

"Another mum?" Calum checked. "One you met this morning?" The guys exchanged worried glances as if I'd lost my mind. I don't know why I thought it was a good idea, now I was doubting myself. Who was this woman? What if she was going to kidnap Kira?

"Luke?" Michael brought me back to reality. I could barely think though. I was suddenly in a panic. "Nice one guys. You've broken him." Mike slapped the other two on the arms. They yelled in response as they clutched their arms.

"I-I need to go." I stammered, my mind playing out every option of what I could find when I got to this mysterious address. Was she going to be there? Was it a trap for me? Was it all a ploy? How did I even know they went to the school? I began to hyperventilate as I ran back out to the lift, this time ignoring it as I shot down the stairs. Someone ran out after me, calling my name as I went into tunnel vision. I prayed the guys were wrong but they were the ones I'd voiced every thought to, they knew why I worried so much. My privacy had constantly been invaded since I became famous and now, my young innocent daughter, was thrown into it without even knowing what was going on. Her and Olivia constantly got bombarded by paps and fans, stressing them both out. So we moved, again, and I decided to put her into a school far from us in the hope that she would be safe. The teachers knew, they made sure no one but my band mates and I picked her up. Yet I'd just okayed her to go to a complete strangers house. What an idiot.
Finally arriving at the car, I saw Calum leaning against it.

"Should have taken the lift." He joked, but the serious look on my face changed him instantly. "I'm coming too, for backup." I nodded a thank you to him as we jumped in the car. I programmed the address she'd text me into my satnav and shot off, arriving in record speed. We hesitated in the car, looking at each other as if to say that our lives may not be the same once we left this car. Who knows what we would witness, what may be different. I gulped down the nauseous feeling that took over. We looked at the house, something small and split into flats, a little unkempt garden surrounding the cracked walls. It looked... well, something different to what I was used to. But I shouldn't be so shallow as to comment. Not everyone is a famous singer in a band. Slowly, Calum and I headed to the door and I knocked hesitantly. Within a second, Alyssa opened the door with a smile, surprising both of us. The kids were playing in the background, jumping around whilst PJ Masks played from the TV.

"Hey Luke!" She beamed before her eyes fell on Calum. "You brought a friend. Hi, I'm Alyssa. Please both of you come in, there's dinner if you haven't eaten? I made too much." And just like that I realised, for once, that someone completely different to me, who I met out of pure coincidence - and with a little help from Kira - was someone I could trust with everything we had. She was great.