More Than // Luke Hemmings

Chapter 21

Luke's POV

After Mr. Miller let Christine introduce her friend, Ashlee, to the class, the dreadful PowerPoint and notes began. I kept making wanted eye contact with Christine. I wonder why she was so short with me yesterday? What did she do with Shane?
I turned around to see Mr. Miller sitting at his computer pressing the enter button to continue the PowerPoint. What a lazy teacher. But eh, I'm a lazy student so I can't judge. I pull my phone out and text Christine quickly.

'So I take it you aren't still upset with me?'

I try to get her attention so she'll check her phone. I end up throwing my pencil, it's not like I'm taking notes anyway. It hits her in the arm and she looks up confused, I point at my phone quickly. She slowly reaches in her bag and fishes out her phone, I smirk.

Christine: No, I am

I sigh. Why was she?! I tap my fingers on the desk and bite at my lip ring. When I think of a response I start typing. I type and type until-

"Mr. Hemmings! I see you're really getting into your notes?"

I slam my phone down and scratch my head, "Oh yeah I just love learning about um...learning about," I squint at the screen, "The Great Depression?" The class laughs and I glance at Christine, her hand is on her face.

"Mr. Hemmings, please bring me your phone."

I slowly stand up and go to his desk, dropping my phone next to his keyboard.

"Come back at the end of the day for it." I roll my eyes and sit. I catch Ashlee and Christine trying not to laugh. I stick my tongue out at the both of them.
The class finally ends and I pick up my bag and tip a fake hat to Mr. Miller to spite him. Christine actually waited for me this time!

"Very smooth with the whole phone thing." She said with no inflection in her voice.

"Oh well it's just until the end of the school day."

She nods, Ashlee following behind her closely.

"Which reminds me, will you be tutoring me after classes?"

"Oh Luke, that might be hard with Ashlee here, I don't know."

Ashlee jumps in the conversation, "No!" She basically screams. "Don't let me change your guys schedule. I'll just hang out and read a book or something."

Christine glances at her and gives her the look like 'seriously.'

I suggest, "Yeah, you know what? I'll invite one of my friends, Ashlee I'm sure they will love you. Then you guys can hang out!" I'm not sure why, but Ashlee turns red, she won't look me in the eye when she agrees.

"Fine." Christine spat. "Meet us in the library after 6th." I smiled and nodded, then we went our separate ways.

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Christine's POV

"Shane, Ashlee. Ashlee, Shane." I introduced them as we sat down for lunch.

"Nice to meet you!" Shane said and shook Ashlee's hand. She nodded and smiled. "Ok, Christine. I saw you talking to Luke, are you two on talking terms now?" Shane poked.

"He doesn't even know about, you know. Shane there is no logical reason for me to stay mad at him...." He glared at me.

"And she is training him after school too." Ashlee leaned in a whispered.

I whip towards her, "Tutoring not training. Tutoring!" My face got red as I explained to her. Shane and Ashlee stared at each other for a bit before bursting out laughing. "Guys stop." I try to stay serious but end up laughing myself.

While Ashlee goes to throw her trash away Shane looks at me and smiles, "She's pretty." He shows all of his braces in a cheeky smile.

I shake my head, "I know. And everybody else knows." I smile softly and look down at my lap. For some reason the only thought that came to me was, 'Luke probably thinks Ashlee is prettier than me.' Stupid.

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"Is this where you guys normally 'tutor'?" Ashlee smirks as she drops her bag on the library table.

"Quit that."

"You're practically married, the two of you."

I roll my eyes. Then I hear laugher, definitely Aussie laughs. Ooh! Luke decided to bring Ashton with him, I turned towards Ashlee and smirked. I wave over to Luke, he nods and walks over with Ashton behind him. He sure has the cutest dimples known to man. Both of them, actually. Ashlee cowers behind me. Sure! She can make fun with me but once it comes to her and cute boys, that topic is off limit.

"Hey Christine, how's it goin?" Ashton giggles and eyes Ashlee quickly.

"It's ok. Ashton, this is my best friend, Ashlee." I pull her arm so she'd be closer.

"Ashlee. Great, that won't be hard to remember. Especially since it's so close to my name." He looks at Luke then back at Ashlee, "Not like I could forget a face like yours." I laugh and Ashlee drowns in her blushed face.

"Yeah nice to meet you too!" She forced out and nervously scratched her forehead.

Luke looks around and smirks at me, giving me a thumbs up only I could see and I raised my eyebrows. "Welp, alright. We are just going to do our tutoring thing and Ashton, you can chat with Ashlee!" He gives a wink and Ashton shakes his head, making his curls move. Ashton walks towards a completely separate table and puts his bag down motioning for Ashlee to come over.

"Christine, I physically can't do this." Ashlee whispered into my ear and swallowed.

"Ashlee, go he'll love you!" She shook her head and I shoved her back.

"This should be good." Luke said while laughing. We watch Ashlee float over to Ashton trying to talk to him, a bubbly and outgoing sweetie he is.

I snap out of it, and face Luke. "Tutoring. History." I said and pointed to the table.

Luke threw his head back, "Ugh, history." I eyed him until he felt uncomfortable, "Fine." And he trudged to the table getting ready to 'learn.'