More Than // Luke Hemmings

Chapter 19

By the time I had expressed all my annoying girl emotions to Shane, my mom was calling. Over. And over.

"Yes mom." I finally answer.

"Christine Anderson. I have called you a hundred times!"

"Eh I think it was twice actually. But yes I will head home here in a second."

My mom sighed. "Alright. Don't you think you should start hanging out with girls more?"

"Mom!"

"Alright alright. But seriously Chris, I need you home now. We need to talk."

I swallowed and looked up at Shane, who apparently heard the whole conversation, "Ok bye."
I stood up and Shane jumped up too, "Oh brother." I said and stretched.

"So I think your mom wants you home." We both chuckle, but I was kind of freaking out about what she was going to say. When we made it back upstairs I saw a man there I didn't meet before.

"Hello, I'm Shane's dad, Mark." He smiled and I almost laughed because Shane was his carbon copy.

"Hi! I'm Christine! I'm sorry that I just met you for a second, my mom wants me back." I smiled and he shook his head understandingly. I looked around for his mom but she was no where to be seen. "Well Shane thanks for doing homework with me." I said loudly so his parents could hear.

"Oh yeah! See you tomorrow." Shane said as I slipped my shoes on and ran out to my car.
•••
On the drive home, my hands were shaking. My mom sounded very, well upset. I never got in trouble so this was a new feeling. I blasted some random radio station to ease my thoughts. When I pulled up to my drive way I nearly rolled out of my car so I could get inside quickly.
"Mom?" I walked in and kicked off my shoes. She wasn't in the kitchen, or family room. Weird... "Mom!" What the heck, she made me rush home just to be here alone. Right when I turned the corner, someone jumped and screamed in my face, "AHHHHH!!!"
My first instinct was to swing a fist, which I did. My second instinct was to cuss, which I did. I put my hands over my face and took in deep breaths. What just happened. Then all of a sudden I heard this person laugh, the most comforting memorable laugh. I open my eyes to see my best friend in the world, Ashlee.

"Watch yo profamity." Was all she could say.

"What what even? Oh my- Ash! What are you doing? I'm sorry I-" is all I can spit out before we engulf each other in the warmest hug. Before I know it, tears are streaming down my face, for the second time today. Ashlee just laughs.

"Surprise!" She says and puts her hand under her chin and smiles.

"What are you doing here?!" I scream and push my hair out of my face.

"Well your mom and my parents have been planning this for weeks now! Christine, I'm staying a whole week!"

My mouth drops, "Oh gosh!! I am so happy I think I peed myself. Wait what about school?!"

She shrugs her shoulder, "Your mom has already called the school and I can attend your classes with you for the rest of the week."

I smile so big it hurts, my sister, my best friend of eight years, is here. Finally. All I can do is hug her, "I've missed you so much."

"So I see you've been surprised?" My mom says as she comes down the hall. I run to her and almost tackle her with my hug.

"THANK YOH THANK YOU THANK YOU MOM!!" My mom laughs and kisses my forehead in return. That minute Ashlee and I run up to my room.

"This looks just like your old room." Ashlee says and walks around.
Ashlee is flat out beautiful by the way. She had dark brown hair that was deceiving, because when you really looked at it her hair it was red, a deep red that always looked well kept. Her eyes were blue, not bright blue like Luke's, but a darker blue. She wore brown hipster glasses that fit her slim face perfectly. Different sized freckles lined her cheeks and nose. And her smile was the best part, it was huge and showed all of her teeth. And I'm not going to lie, I was jealous of her looks. Which is awful, she was my best friend, practically my sister, but I longed to be beautiful like her.

"I wanted to make my room feel as much like home as possible."

She flopped on my bed, "Let's cut to the chase. Tell me about this boy or I might explode. And that would not be fun to clean up."

I giggled and sighed, I have to tell this story all over and probably cry. Great.
•••••
Luke's POV

I creek the door open slowly, knowing my mom would skin me and hang me from my toes if she knew I had been out this late on a school night. I creep along the wood floor, I knew exactly which spots would make noise if I stepped on them.

"Hello."

I let out a sigh and turn on my heels slowly. My mom clicks on the lamp and the light reveals her sitting in the love seat with her hands across her chest.

"Oh hey mom." I smile. But my smile fades quickly when she stands up.

"Don't 'hey mom' me Luke. Where have you been? I couldn't get a hold of you. I almost called the police."

I tried to think of a lie, but I just couldn't. So I told the truth, "I was at Chelsea's."

"Oh, fancy knowing you two are back together." My mom hated Chelsea, a lot.

"Sorry mom, it won't happen again. I should have called you, but I left my phone in my backpack, which was in my car." Lies.

"I just wished you would have let me know." She shook her head disapprovingly.

"I know, I'm sorry." When she got up and walked closer I saw tear stains on her face. Confused I mumbled, "Mom, I was safe there is no need to cry." I felt terrible.

"Im not crying about you not telling me," she wiped at her face with her sleeve. "I just wished you were here, you see your dad..." I furrowed my brows, "We got in another huge argument and he ran and started shoving stuff in a bag and he just took off." My poor mother started sobbing, trying to catch her breath she got out the words, "Oh Luke, baby I'm sorry." I ran to her and embraced her. She cried on my shoulder and I suddenly felt more and more hatred towards my dad.

I pulled away and wiped the tears off her face, "Luke, promise me you'll never be with someone who continuously hurts you." More tears. She put her hand on my face, "Please promise me." She said with a shaky voice.

I shook my head slowly, "Ok mom, I promise."