Safety Pin • Luke Hemmings

Chapter 10

There were only two people who I didn't want to see today and somehow I saw them both minutes from eachother.

To clear my head from all the crazy things that were said yesterday I went on a walk. Walking was nice, it allowed me to clear my mind, which was exactly what I needed.

That was until it became stressful on the walk home. I was about 3 houses away from mine when I saw my dad's car parked in the driveway. Not only was his car there, but also him, unloading his suitcase from the back.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, I did not want to see him at all right now. I did not need to see him right now. My breath hitched as I thought of the same conversation we would have every time he'd come home.
Dad always gave me anxiety and just the thought of him sent me into an anxiety attack.

I looked around quickly for somewhere to hide or someone I knew so they could hide me but my eyes just landed on Luke hemmings house.
"I'm going to regret this," I mumbled walking quickly across Luke's lawn to the side of his house where his window was. His room was on the first story so I just banged harshly on it.

The blinds went up and an annoyed half asleep shirtless Luke stood there.

"Please." I mouthed lightly causing him to sigh and open up the window.
I sighed in relief as I climbed in and slid down the wall underneath it.

"I was sleeping so fucking good." Luke grumbled closing the window, "You better have a good fucking reason why- what's wrong?"

I had gotten pretty good at calming my own anxiety attacks since I was normally.. alone.

I held up a finger to him closing my eyes as I leaned my head against the window seal.
Luke sat down in Infront of me, "Hey hey, it's alright." He said. "You can stay here if you want till your dad leaves. Or I'll call Ash or Kiara to pick you up."

"I just- I just need a second okay?" I huffed probably more aggressively than I needed to be and probably more aggressively than I could be. It made me lose my breath again and squeeze my eyes alittle harder trying to count my breaths. Just breathe Georgina this is embarrassing.

Luke tapped the floor anxiously, I couldn't see him because my eyes were closed but he used to always panic when I had anxiety attacks when we were dating.

A soft play of a guitar caused me to open my eyes. Luke strummed some random cords lightly on it looking at me with a concerned face. He used to always sing to me during anxiety attacks because it seemed to be the only thing that would calm me down.

'I like the summer rain

I like the sounds you make

We put the world away

We got so disconnected

You are my getaway

You are my favorite place

We put the world away

Yeah we're so disconnected

And by the end of the course, I was always fine.

So Luke and I sat in now silence that was boarder line awkward staring at eachother.

"Thanks," I said barely above a whisper.

He didn't say anything back, didn't move a mussel, just stared back. I debated whether to say it again alittle louder in case he didn't hear me.

The sudden trance broke as he threw his guitar softly on the bed.
"I'll call ash." He said reaching into his pocket to grab his phone.

"No no, it's fine." I said, "I have to go home eventually." I pushed myself off the ground and stood up leaving Luke on the ground, his hands rested together around his knees.

"Thanks," I mumbled. "I'll see you at school."

He gave me a tight smile and a lift of a hand before I climbed out the window. I turned around to watch him close his window slowly meeting my eyes once more.

~~~~

"Georgia!" My dad called as I walked through the front door. He wrapped his arms around me hugging me tightly.

"Hey, dad," I mumbled lightly hugging him back.

"I'm making dinner." My dad said, "Come sit down and tell me all about school." He said pulling away and walking to the kitchen.

"I have plans," I said. I didn't but I'd make some.

"Well, can't you cancel them for some time with your old man?" He asked turning around and giving me a half smile.

"No, it's important plans," I stated.

Dad messed with the wedding ring on his finger. It made me smile that he was wearing Mom's again, "actually I can stay for alittle bit." I said lightly walking to the kitchen.

"How long are you staying for?" I asked my dad ready for his usual answer of a week or days.

"Few weeks." My dad said smiling catching me by surprise. "I should be here for the rest of your school year."

I nodded lightly.

Dad sent me a smile and sat across from me at the table. "So? How's school?" He asked.
I nodded lightly, pulling strings out of the rips of my jeans. "It's fine. Sucks." I laughed awkwardly, it felt like I was talking to a stranger. It always felt like I was talking to a stranger.

"I bet. Hey, the year is almost over, and then university. Got any plans for that?" Dad asked. I shrugged, "Not sure I really wanna go. You know I'm doing my thing with music and after Willow, Kiara, and Willow are all going away so I have to find something new to do."

Dad tapped his finger on the table the other hand on his face, thinking. "I know a guy. Um.. a music guy. Producer, I think? Or maybe it was a manager? Anyways I can uh get him to come to one of your gigs. If you wanted to stick with music."

I scrunched my eyebrows, "really?" I asked surprised. I mean throughout all my life the most my dad has ever done for me was leave.

"Yeah when's your next gig I'll give me a call," Dad said pulling out his phone.

"Friday. 7:00 At Jordan's." I smiled lightly. "Uh, thanks."

He nodded and typed some stuff into his phone. "Of course. Go do what you need to do. Well, go out for dinner one date his week."

I nodded and stood up, almost feeling guilty for leaving now since he was so nice. But my mind went back to the wedding ring causing me to give my dad a smile before walking towards the door.

Maybe it would all go back to normal.