You Left | l.h.

2

"Okay, bye Luke!" I said once we arrived at school, trying to run off but he pulled me back and made us stop in our tracks.

"Why do you always do this?" He questioned.

"Do what?"

"Don't play dumb." I sighed at his remark.

"Luke, you're popular and I'm not. You know your friends don't like me, I would rather pass on getting made fun of." I finally let out what I had been holding in for a while.

"Ashton and Michael don't hate you, plus they're all just joking."

"Yeah, because I grew up with them as well and are you that blind? Do you hear the things the cheerleaders say? I highly doubt they're "joking.""

"Evie, don't be like that." I scoffed.

"Whatever, Luke."

I ended up storming off, completely repulsed by his idea that his stuck up friends weren't actually rude to me, when in reality 'rude' wasn't even the start of a good explanation as to what they were to me.

You could call half of it death threats, the other half just terrible things said to bring down my self esteem, not that there was any of it left. I hate myself for letting them get to me but it was hard not to when it's a constant thing and then having to deal with an awful family as well. Luke was and is all I have, maybe that's what makes the thought of losing him that much worse.

When I met up with Luke later, I expected an apology, mostly because that's just the type of person he was, especially to me but that apology never came. He looked like he had a lot on his mind but he was too scared to bring any of it up to me. I could read him well enough to know something was going on.

"Uh, are you still coming over after school?" Luke nervously asked.

"I don't see why I wouldn't, just need to stop by mine and get more clothes." I smiled.

"Maybe you should just stay at home tonight, you haven't been home much lately." He said quietly, like he didn't want to say it but he had to.

"You know why I'm never home." I whispered.

The subject was touchy to me and he knew that. The slightest thing brought up about it made me crack and break down. I could already feel tears building up but I quickly blinked them away.

I just walked away from him for the second time today, not knowing what else to do or say. Was I already slowly starting to lose my best friend? I tried to rid the thought from my mind but it was hard. I couldn't lose him.

-

"Evie, wait up!" I heard the familiar voice from behind me, only making me walk quicker.

I had my hood up and hoped that the concealer I caked on today was enough to hide the evidence leftover from my moms work. Let's just say, she wasn't too happy that I wasn't home catering to her every need lately.

"Please, just go away." I whispered as he caught up with me.

Those are a few words I never thought I would say to him but I couldn't face him right now, I didn't want him to feel guilty if he did see the mark or notice I wasn't okay.

"Eves, what's wrong?" He turned me around, pulling my hood down.

I could hear the worry and panic in his voice, which only made me feel even worse. I knew he cared about me and at times I thought maybe he cared too much, more than I deserved.

I watched him stare into my eyes for a couple seconds before pulling his gaze away and then examining my face. His breath hitched and I knew he noticed.

"That's not- is that? Eves." Was all he could nutter out before wrapping his arms around me and kissing the top of my head.

"That's all my fault, I shouldn't of let you go home last night." I pushed him away.

"Don't you dare blame yourself, Hemmings."

We walked the rest of the way to school in silence, he held my hand, squeezing it reassuringly here and there but at the same time, he was holding it like he'd never get to again.

Once we arrived he said he had some things to take care of and to meet him at lunch, which thankfully came around quickly because I was too tired to deal with classes.

"Oh, hi Calum." I said, sitting down at Luke and I's usual spot.

Calum was once of the few other friends I had, we're close as in if we ever need someone, we're here for each other but we barely talk. I wonder what he's doing here.

"Ah, hey cal, nice to see you." Luke smiled, sitting down next to us.

I had a questioning Luke on my face, why was Calum randomly sitting with us and Luke didn't even question it? I didn't mind, it just seemed weird but I continued on eating.

"Calum, you should start hanging out with Eves and I more." Luke suggested.

"As long as that's alright with Evie." Calum smiled.

"Sure, we could always use another partner in crime."

-

The next month consisted of me getting a lot closer to Calum then I was because anytime we seemed to make plans, Luke always bailed last minute. I loved spending time with Calum, but I missed my best friend.

I started spending a lot of time at Calum's as well since he has his own place and due to a drunken night, he knew most of my situation and I surprisingly trusted him a lot more than I thought.

Luke had been acting more and more weird by the day, usually I could figure out what was up with the guy but this time I needed him to be straight forward with me or I would never know.

I decided to finally confront him about it even though I was terrified to once I saw the captain of the cheerleading team next to him. I sucked in a breath and walked over.

"Hey, Luke." I whispered, wanting to get his attention and his attention only.

"What do you want?" He scoffed after sharing one look with the cheerleader before looking back at me.

"Uh, I've just missed you is all."

"Well, I haven't missed you. God, you're so needy and clingy." He rolled his eyes.

What was he doing? I could already feel a couple tears slip from my eyes just because I was never use to Luke being even remotely mean to me.

"Why are you being like this?"

"Because I can't stand you anymore. Everything about you annoys me, just piss off and leave me alone for good, Evie."

A crowd had attracted and I was being publicly humiliated by my "best friend." I guess I just found out what's been on his mind, him getting rid of me.

I swear I saw a bit of panic and worry flash across his face once I looked up at him and he got a good glimpse of my tear stained cheeks. All I could do was run off, not knowing how to handle a situation like this. Did I just lose my best friend?

"Evie, wait up." I heard someone call.

"I don't know why he is being like that, that wasn't Luke. You're his everything."

"I guess things change, Ashton." Was all I could mutter out through sobs and he tried to hug me but I ran off again until I ran into somebody.

"Evie, babe, what's wrong?" I heard Calum ask, pulling me into his chest.

"Luke." Was all I could say, and he seemed to understand perfectly what had happened just by that one word, I don't know how, but he did. At least I still had Calum.

-
ok yikes I know you probably think this is moving too fast but this was meant to happen and I didn't feel like doing it all in italics like flashbacks of this already happening but skipping to the future if that makes any sense idk just go with it pls ok thank u