Home Away From Home

lChapter Eighteen

DAY FORTY FIVE

The party is over, and the Hemmings and I are left with cake and a mess. 

"We have one more gift for Luke, and then Greta can open her presents." Liz clapped her hands together in anticipation while she smiled widely.

I gulped down the guilt, and we all sat around the table. Liz handed Luke his present as she scooted closer to Andy, snuggling in.

The gift was small, tiny even, but Luke still took plenty of time to open it. He held the small card up to his face, studying every inch of it. His face lit up.

"You're kidding." He said, challenging the legitimacy of his parents' gift.

Liz bared all teeth. "You like it?"

"I love it!" Luke's inner five year old was shining through, and I just wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

"Just let us know what kind, and we'll get it-- within reason." Andy smiled at Luke. It was a proud smile; a smile that warms your heart.

"Seriously." I mumbled, annoyed with my lack of knowledge of the gift.

Luke chuckled and passed the small card over to me. It was a gift certificate for a new guitar. A huge smile cemented itself to my face. His reaction was so cute. This family is so cute. 

"Wow!" I looked over at Liz, giving her approval with my expression. 

She just grinned, pleased with herself. "Now it's your turn."

Liz brought out three bags and set them in front of me. I picked up the sparkly purple one. 

"That's from me." She returned to her place next to Andy and excitedly watched me open the gift.

"This is the bracelet I was looking at when we went to the market! How did you get it?" I admired the copper and turquois bracelet and looked at her in bewilderment. 

"I bought it while you weren't looking." 

We laughed at her sneakiness, and I put the bracelet on immediately. "Thank you so much. I'm going to hug you when I'm done."

"Those next two are from me. Just a little something to stereotypically remember us way down here." Andy bit back a laugh, and I was a little nervous to open these.

I pulled out a coffee mug with the Australian flag painted on it. 

"Since you're quite keen on coffee and all..." Andy explained the gift, but I could tell he really wanted me to see the other one.

"Thank you. I'll use this all the time." I began to open the next one and pulled out a small wooden piece.

"A boomerang!" I called out, amused by the thought.

"You're always welcome back," Andy cheesed. 

I paused, looking at the boomerang, and thought about Andy's comment.
"I know that was supposed to be funny, but I'm going to cry." I let out a breathy laugh and wiped a tear.

"Oh, c'mon." Andy jeered. He got out of his seat and gave me a hug.

"Thank you." I said into his shirt. 
Liz came over and hugged me next, and I thanked her as well. We hugged extra tight for extra long before I released and composed myself.

I turned to Luke. "I'm sorry." I smiled. "It's actually your birthday." I turned to Liz. "Can we have more cake?" 

"Please." She pointed to the mounds of cake left, and I served Luke and myself. 
"I'm going to start cleaning up, but you two go and enjoy."

Luke and I excused ourselves upstairs. I still had to give Luke his present. 

"I have something for you." We said at the same time as soon as we reached the top of the stairs.

I laughed, and we both went to get our gifts. "Here."

We exchanged bags, and Luke insisted that I open mine first. I pulled out a stuffed koala followed by a stuffed kangaroo. Luke just smiled like a small, embarrassed child. 

"I love it." I laughed, checking them out. 

"There's something else."

I searched beneath the tissue paper and pulled out a box. Name a Star Gift Box.

"For real? This is great! Thank you." I opened the box immediately and read the introductory paper. "Thank you!" I exclaimed again. Now it's Luke's turn.

I watched as he removed two boxes. Opening the one, he pulled out the five, custom guitar picks I had made for him. They're really just regular picks with his initials on them. Luke's eyes laid on me, and he gave a sullen smile. 

"Thank you." 

I returned the smile, "You're welcome."

He continued with the next box. Name a Star Gift Box. "No way..."

"Great minds think a like." I shrugged.

"Seriously, what are the chances that we get each other the same thing." Luke's entire face was engulfed in happiness and humor. 

"Happy birthday." I reached over and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

"You too." He kissed my cheek back, sloppy and wet.

I wrinkled my face up, and he laughed, going in to kiss my lips. I let him, being that it's his birthday and all. 

"I love you." He whispered, just barely audible, into my ear. His breath tickled, and I giggled, giving him another kiss.

"So I think I'm going to name the kangaroo Henry and the koala Jack." I looked over at the stuffed animals I will definitely be sleeping with. 

Luke just smiled down at me, still holding me. I feel so small next to him. We sat down on the couch, and I snuggled in next to him. 

"I used to have really long hair." I whispered into Luke's shoulder as his fingers played with my shoulder-length locks. 

He paused to look at me with bewildered eyes. "Nuh-uh." 

I smiled, holding back a giggle. "Yeah, it was only like four inches above my butt." I prided. 

Luke resumed his position as he continued to play with my hair. "Why'd you cut it?"

"Oh, I was in Ireland for a summer exchange, and my host mom was a beautician. And I don't know. I was feeling spontaneous, and so I just asked her to cut my hair and she did." I shrugged my shoulder, fondly recalling the memory. I touched my hair, feeling for the missing length.

That had been over a year ago, and I've kept the length maintained. "Wanna see a picture?"

I beamed up to Luke to catch him in a loving gaze. I blushed lightly, turning my attention back to my phone as I searched for a picture that did my hair justice. Finding one, I handed Luke my phone. 

"Woah." His eyes widened, and I could tell he was trying to envision it firsthand. 

"Yeah. Quite unruly too. I miss it though." I looked back at the picture as I further settled into the space between Luke's arm and his torso. 

"Do you miss your family?" 

I looked up at him from the corner of my eyes. "I mean, I guess, but I'd be okay here for a while. A long while." 

"I'd be okay with that too." 

I bit back a smile and consequently tears. "Yeah." 

Things are moving kind of fast with Luke-- in an emotional attachment kind of way. I really do love him a lot, and leaving is going to kill me. I just feel like something this good can't stay this good for long. Everything is just so urgent lately. The 'I love yous' today and the kisses and the birthday a month in advance, and it's like everything is being sped up to accomodate my soon-to-be absence. 

"Yeah," I mumbled again, and Luke tightened his grip around me.

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i am so sleep deprived idk why i'm even writing this. i should be sleeping. thanks for reading xxxx