Leilani's POV:

After Austin left early this morning I decided I'd get ready and head over to Tarni's so we could go the the mall and finally pick myself up a phone. After my steaming hot shower I blow dried my hair and let my natural waves fall freely. I hastily threw on a black and white striped crop top with long sleeves and some high waisted jeans with my black platform sandals. I couldn't be bothered too much with my make up so I only lightly applied some powder to my already flawless skin and some mascara to my thin lashes. Before I could grab my keys and leave I heard someone opening the front door. Dad?

"Dad is that you?" I called out from my bedroom. The rustling of feet carried on from the front of the house amongst some whispers but I didn't get a reply for at least a minute or two. What the hell was going on?

"Uh yeah bub, I didn't think you'd be home?" he questioned, I was relieved at the sound of Dad's voice. I walked out of my room and down the hallway and turned around the corner to meet Dad at the front door only to be shocked by whom he was with. Well, that explained the secrecy when he came in.

"Mrs. Lyell? What are you doing at my house?" I asked, "With my Dad?" I finished. She blushed and Dad laughed like I was stupid. "Seriously what the fuck is going on?" Dad gave me a stern look.

"Watch your language!" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm twenty-six Dad I don't think you still need to be scolding my language but enough about me. Do I get an explanation or do I assume that you two are sleeping together, just to put it to the point?" I knew I'd assumed correctly the way they were giggling and trying to be silent when they walked in the door.

"I know I'm your parole officer Leilani but I hope this does not affect us working together to keep you out of trouble. In fact your father and I dating makes it easier to keep an eye on you," dating?! What is going on?

"Okay well this is officially weird. Well Miss. Lyell," I corrected, I'd always assumed she was married. Clearly I was wrong, "I'm actually going to get myself a phone. At least now I don't need to schedule to meet you about it, you can just ask your boyfriend for your clients phone number so you can track them!" I advised her as I walked out the door ignoring the look of horror on her face, she obviously noticed I did not approve of the "relationship".

***

I pulled up to Tarni's house and didn't even bother getting out of my car as I realised hers wasn't in the drive way. Great, she was with Alan which meant I had to go to the hotel. I drove back out of her street and made my way into the city that was only about a fifteen minute drive away.

"How long how long will I slide
Separate my side I don't
I don't believe it's bad
Slit my throat
It's all I ever

I heard your voice through a photograph
I thought it up it brought up the past
Once you know you can never go back
I've got to take it on the otherside

Centuries are what it meant to me
A cemetery where I marry the sea
Stranger things could never change my mind
I've got to take it on the otherside
Take it on the otherside
Take it on
Take it on"

The first half of The Red Hot Chili Peppers song Otherside blasted through the speakers of my car as I sang along before I pulled up just down the street from the hotel and shut off the engine. I walked just a few minutes down the street and entered the hotel lobby and made my way to the front desk.

"How may I help Miss?" The well spoken woman asked. I stepped forward toward the desk.

"Ah my friends are staying here in room 93A on floor twenty-one and they didn't know I was coming today and I don't have a phone to call them to come get me I was wondering if it was possible if you could call their room please?" I asked hopefully.

"We have strict orders to get a name from whom is calling before we allow anyone into that room," she sternly informed me.

"Oh that's fine my names Leilani, Leilani Bennett. Austin will say it's fine," she nodded and turned around to the phone and I waited several minutes before she turned back to me.

"Your friend is coming to take you up to the room now. I can place you on their frequent visitor list if you'd like that way the next time you can collect a spare key and head right up?" she asked.

"Oh it's fine they check out tomorrow anyway," she smiled and turned away to the person behind me who needed help and I walked away to the elevator waiting for Austin to meet me. The loud dinging noise that warned the elevator had arrived filled my ears and the doors opened revealing Austin so I stepped in and gave a small, awkward wave. He was clearly confused, he wasn't supposed to me seeing me until tonight.

"Sorry I needed to come get Tarni. She wasn't home so I figured she was here?" it was more of a question than me telling him what I was doing. He nodded.

"Yeah she hasn't bloody left. I think her and Alan are on their way to getting married, they're together that fucking much," he laughed.

"I'm happy for her. She hasn't had a boyfriend since high school she just had a little fun whenever she went out. I'm not surprised she wants to date someone in a band, I mean it suits her party lifestyle. If that's what you want to call if," I laughed.

"I wish it was as easy for us as it was for them, she's going to be able to see him and follow him whenever and where ever she likes," he sighed. The rest of the way up was thankfully short because it was spent in silence after that. When we walked in the guys room Tarni ran straight over to the door and hugged me.

"You up for that trip to the mall we talked about?" I asked as we hugged. I felt her nod as her chin dug into my shoulder. I flinched as it dug deeper and pulled back from the hug.

"Oh yeah. I have so much to tell you. Give me literally two seconds I'll go grab my wallet and shoes," she walked away and was actually as quick as she said she would be and we made our way out of the hotel again.

***

Tarni's POV:

Lani and I had been at the shops for three hours now and she'd already gone into Telstra and picked up an iPhone 5S on a plan and we'd spent the rest of the day roaming around picking up random bits and pieces we liked, Lani had even bought a new outfit for her dinner with Austin tonight.

"Want to get some food?" I asked starving, she looked back at me from the shirt she was now holding up and nodded. She placed it back on the rack and we made our way to the food court. We hadn't spoken much mostly because I was too scared to tell her I was leaving on tour with the boys and I was so scared she'd hate me for it. It was only a matter of time she asked what was wrong with me, she could always tell when I was hiding something. We sat at a table in the middle of the food court eating our Subway when she looked up at me.

"So Tarns, what's the big secret and don't try lying you know I can always tell," this is what I've been dreading.

"Don't hate me?" she shook her head.

"I could never," if she only knew how wrong she was.

"I'm leaving on tour with the boys tomorrow, Alan asked me yesterday if I'd go with them," I blurted out the words so fast it almost sounded like another language. At that moment I could have sworn I literally heard her jaw smack down on the table, "Close your mouth Lans, you don't want to catch flies with it," I laughed trying to lighten the mood.

"Okay, now I hate you," ouch. "You're leaving me here alone Tarni, for how long?" she looked down now picking apart the bread of her sub.

"Well after Australia the tour continues to New Zealand and then over to Indonesia and then I come back after a month. Maybe.." I finished. The guilt I'd been carrying around on my shoulders all day fell away but now the nerves ate at my stomach as I waited for her to explode at me.

"Maybe?!" she yelled which made everyone's eyes avert to our table. I avoided all the stares.

"Alan and I thinks it'd be easier if I moved with him to California after the tour.." I mumbled.

"So that's what Austin meant in the elevator. Well good for you, at least you'll be happy and I'll go back to being as miserable and alone as I was back when I was in Wacol," was she trying to make me feel bad?

"Lans, I'm sorry but I really like him," I tried to make it better, "Maybe eventually you could visit," her head shot up so fast I'd thought she might snap her neck.

"No Tarni I wont ever be able to, why don't any of you understand that?" she stood up from her seat and started to walk away from me. I jumped up and ran to her side. She looked back at me, "And here I was thinking that my Dad and my parole officer dating was big news when you're moving away with your boyfriend of five fucking days," harsh.

"Ew are you serious, they're dating?" I couldn't be bothered to keep arguing so I tried to change the subject. Thankfully she didn't notice or if she did she just went with the change of conversation.

"Yeah how gross! She gave me this speech about keeping professional and blah blah blah but now she can just stalk me even more!" she was disappointed. Oh my god, I just had the best idea.

"Lans! This is great! They're dating!" she looked at me confused.

"Uh ew?" she cringed.

"You can use this to your own advantage. The more she likes your Dad the more she likes you and then maybe she'll start approving your requests for you to go places, like to see your Mum, and let you off the hook a little!" her eyes widened.

"Oh my god Tarni you're a genius!" I shrugged sarcastically at her remark.

"I know," I laughed eating up her compliment. At least talking about her Dad took her mind off of me leaving. We made our way back to the car to Lana's house to get her ready for her date. I'd promised to do her hair and make up.

Notes

Leilani's Outfit