arduous || l.r.h.

pt. 3

Luke somehow found himself at the party, alongside Michael, Ashton and Calum.

"This looks great!" Calum smiled, only making Luke roll his eyes.

"Where's the alcohol?" Ashton huffed and walked away in a second. Michael disappeared as soon as they entered the party.

"Luke!" A girl called, causing Luke to roll his eyes, "you came!"

"Yea, I did." Luke fake smiles as Camila hugs him tightly. He sighs as she pulls away and looks over to Calum.

"Hi!" She cheered, a giant smile on her face.

"Hey!" Calum yells over the music and looks around awkwardly, "I'm gonna go find Michael!"

Luke stopped breathing at that second, wanting to plead for Calum not to leave him behind. But before he could sputter out a single word, Calum disappeared into the crowd and he was left with Camila.

"So..." Camila trailed off, "How's your mum going? I haven't seen her in ages!"

"She's good. Yea, she's good." Luke nodded. "And yours?"

"Oh," Camila scratched the back of her neck, "Liz didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Luke frowned, raising an eyebrow and looking awkwardly around the room for an escape.

"My mum has cancer." Camila mumbled and looked at the ground.

"What?" Luke yelled and leaned in closer to hear her more.

"My mum has cancer, Luke." Camila spoke slightly louder. Luke clenched his jaw slowly. Mary was like his Aunty. He felt gutted. All he could think about was how his mum felt.

"Oh, sorry." He gulped, "Mum never told me, I haven't seen her since last holiday."

"You haven't seen your own mother in that long?" Camila gasped. Luke shrugged and looked over Camila's shoulder to spot Calum waving him over.

"Yea mum is in chemo therapy and-", Camila began to speak but Luke cut her off.

"Yea, yea. I'll be back." He walked over to Calum and began to listen in on the fact that they couldn't find Michael.

If only Luke was to keep listening,

Luke's listening skills were arduous.