Self-Destruction • Luke Hemmings

Chapter 21

"What happened?" Luke whispers. I stopped crying a few moments ago, but I refuse to make eye contact, I feel so weak and vulnerable, the complete opposite to how I usually feel. We're still cuddling, except we're laying on my bed now, me facing his chest and our legs intertwined.

"He's dead." I whisper, still not making eye contact.

"Your dad?" Luke clarifies, whispering as well. I'm not sure why we're whispering. I nod.

"It's going to be okay." He says after a few moments. I can't help but feel comforted at these simple words, and I'm glad he didn't say anything like 'I'm sorry'.

"I hope so." I whisper, and eventually look up into his eyes. They're the same sea blue they always are, but at this moment they hold more emotion than I think I have ever seen in any human eyes, I can't look away from them.

"This isn't how I expected my night." He chuckles, and I move closer to him, humming in agreement.

"I'm sorry." I say after a while, and he tuts and shakes his head.

"Why are you apologising?" He asks, confusion clear in his tone.

"You probably planned something good and I've ruined it by going all emotional." I sigh in irritation at myself.

"What? No, I would have ended up in bed with you one way or another." He grins, and I feel thankful that the conversation has veered away from my emotions.

"I don't fuck on the first date." I grin back and he looks wounded.

"Can this still count as a date?" He asks, still smiling widely.

"We have a movie room, maybe we could go there and watch movies and then it will be a date?" I offer, and he grins.

I sneak him across the landing, praying there won't be a dodgy floorboard, and luckily we get into the movie room without Aunt Bess hearing. Considering it is Friday, she'll be leaving soon to go on a business trip for the weekend.

"What shall we watch first?" Luke asks, looking through the option on the huge television screen which displays the movies.

"Something funny." I tell him and he nods.

"My favourite movie, anchorman." He grins, and I nod in agreement.

"You've seen it?" He asks, pouting slightly, I have the strange urge to poke his nose, and considering he's just seen me cry, I go ahead and do it.

"Yes." I reply, poking his nose.

"Did you just bop my nose?" He asks, feigning anger, I nod and grin,

"You know what I have to do..." He whispers menacingly, but with a small plastered on his face. I'm about to retort something back but he attacks me and starts tickling me.

"No! No stop, I'll pee! I'm going to pee, stop!" I squeal, but Luke doesn't stop. Somehow I crawl away, and hide under one of the blankets, peeking out so I can just see his shoes.

"I wonder if this Faith-shaped lump is Faith?" He laughs, and I pull the blanket over my head, he's looking down at me, grinning.

"You know, Luke Hemmings, your legs are longer than my attention span." I note, and he laughs very loudly at this.

"You're a caution." He laughs, and slumps into the sofa across from the large television after turning on the movie. I sit slightly away from him as I still feel slightly awkward after crying in front of him, and I'm not sure whether he notices the awkwardness lingering in the air of not.

About 1/4 of the way through the film, I start feeling really tired, so I shuffle trying to get comfy, but no position seems to work. Suddenly, Luke grabs me by the waist and pulls me into him lap, I still at this action but Luke continues watching the movie, and laying on his lap is quite comfy...