Home Away From Home

Chapter Twenty

DAY FIFTY
Liz, Andy, Luke, and I all went to the zoo this morning. It was cute, but I could tell Liz and I were the only ones who really enjoyed it. Luke and I kept our distance for the most part, and I felt like his parents never took their eyes off of us.
I'm now staring at "Five Bells" by John Olsen in the Art Gallery. The Hemmings went down to the cafe for a late lunch, and I stayed back, promising to meet up later.
I haven't been to a decent art gallery since Gus took me to one three years ago when I went to visit him at college. This place is like down pour in a drought.
My problem is that I like to touch things. I don't think one can really gain the full experience until he or she can touch the brush strokes or follow the pencil lines with a fingertip.
I glanced at the sign no less than ten feet away from me: "DON'T TOUCH THE ART."
Shame.
I sighed, rubbing my eyes, and moved on. Piece after piece, I was certain the Hemmings would just leave me there, and I'd be okay, but Luke called. I didn't answer. I didn't want to answer. I was face to mind with self-conflict and the refusal to come to terms with the fact that in ten days I will be leaving the place I have come to know as home.
"Greta, why wouldn't you answer my calls?" Luke asked, rushing to my side with a worried expression.
"Sorry," I mumbled, still looking at the art clinging to the walls rather than his face.
He stopped me, hands on my shoulders, and turned me toward him. With an eyebrow raised, Luke sternly looked down at me. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I played it off, not wanting to bother him or myself. "Really."
He rolled his eyes and slipped a hand down to mine. "Later?"
"Later." Luke kept a tight grip on my hand as I finished walking through the exhibit.
We walked down to the cafe, releasing our hold on one another once we were in sight, and met his parents.
"Sorry I took so long!" I apologized with a high voice, hoping to breeze over any impatient feelings.
"No, it's okay. Today is all about you." Liz looked tired, but she still smiled. She always smiles, and I can't help but wonder if there's more behind the mask.
"It's been about me since the day I got here. You've really done so much for me, and I can't thank you enough." I pulled my lips into my mouth to hide my quivering lips, and tears wet the brim of my eyes.
"Oh, sweetheart. We are going to miss you so much." Liz went in for a hug, and I had to force my eyes to look to the very top left to keep the tears from spilling.
"I'll miss you too." I mumbled into Liz's shoulder. I still have ten days, but I'm an emotional basket case.
Liz and I composed ourselves, and the boys looked uneasy. "It's okay to cry for no reason." I explained. "It's normal."
Andy just nodded his head and comforted Liz in a way I wish Luke could comfort me.
"Your mom looks exhausted." I whispered to Luke as we fell behind in our walk to exist the art gallery.
"I know..." Luke watched his mom and dad walk in front of us, and he ran ahead to catch up.
I only caught pieces of their conversation before Luke walked back in line with me. "They're gonna go home. She's not feeling well, but she wanted to have a nice day with you."
My stomach dropped as guilt made itself comfortable in my chest. "Liz!" I called out, running ahead as Luke just had. "Today has been really great. I'm sorry you're not feeling well. You should have just told me! Do you need anything?"
The sweet, sympathetic smile I had come to know and love washed over her dreary face. "I'm really fine. We're just gonna head back, but you can stay out if you'd like. There's no rush. Sorry I can't stay out longer."
"Just feel better, okay?" I kissed her cheek, and she reciprocated. "Make her some soup." I instructed Andy.
"I'll see what I can do." He teased Liz, and she laughed.
I smiled and told them my plan to stay out for a while-- probably with Luke, and we went our separate ways.
"Where to?" I asked when I got back to Luke.
"Well, I'd like to take this opportunity and ask you on a real date." Luke was an odd form of confident, but his hands were still shakey.
"Is that it? Is that how you're asking me?" I looked at Luke skeptically, not sure how to respond. If that's it, that's fine, but I didn't know if I was supposed to wait for more.
"Uh, Greta Fitzgerald of no relation to the author, will you go on a date with me?" His voice was quiet, and his hand stretched back to his neck.
I pretended to think about it, but we both knew my answer. "How could I resist?"
Luke smirked and snuck a kiss before I could react. I blushed, and soon found my hand enclosed in his. We ended up at the beach, but we stayed at the beginning of the shore. Luke took a seat in the sand and motioned for me to do the same.
A moment passed of Luke just playing with my hand. He looked up, squinting his eyes. "What do you think their story is?"
Luke discreetly pointed to a couple who seemed to be laughing hysterically while the boy kissed his girl every chance he got between laughs.
"Well, his name is Oliver, and her name is Jane. He's a lawyer, and she's a nurse. They met when he fell and cut his forehead open on a shelf. She did his stitches. When he went back in to get them removed, he asked her out for coffee, but she "couldn't find time in her shift" so she turned him down. He came back, though, and after about the fourth try she finally agreed. He fell in love with her when she spilled coffee down her chin and tried to catch it without him seeing, and she fell in love with him when he laughed toward the sky. He proposed in that same coffee shop four and a half months later, and now they're here."
I looked over to find Luke staring down at me. He moved my hair up from my forehead and planted a kiss. He looked around again. "What about them?"
I traced Luke's finger to young boy and girl-- probably ten each. "They are a force to be reckoned with. James and Sylvia have been best friends since they can remember, and James would do anything to protect Sylvia from getting hurt. Hence the giant and unneccessary sand castle walls. But Sylvia likes the new boy in town, Jackson, and James doesn't think Jackson is good enough. Today he's going to kiss Sylvia whether she's expecting it or not, and Sylvia will not speak to him for a week, but then she'll come back and kiss him. They'll live happily for a month."
Luke's hand dug into the sand behind me, as I fell into the now open space below his shoulder-- though we weren't really touching. "What about you? What do you think their story is?"
I pointed out a twenty-something guy with a fourteen-fifteen year old girl. "Hmm... two options. One, their totally Romeo and Juliet. He's Kyle. Kyle is cool and older and mysterious even, but when he met Emily, he couldn't seem to form a complete sentence. The only problem being that they're nearly ten years apart. Emily totally has her life together and is in love with Kyle, but she doesn't show it. She's the lead in all the school plays. The only time Kyle and Emily can be together is when they sneak to the beach to coincidentally bump into each other. Either that or they're brother and sister or something."
I cheesed up at Luke, hinting at him to move closer. He got the message. Our lips were soon connected, and his hand found its place on my jaw. His touch burned, and I couldn't help but think about our numbered kisses. I found myself jealous of the first fictitious couple who could love each other endlessly with no interruptions or absences. We pulled apart with a chaste kiss to my cheek.
"And what about us?" I asked quietly.
"We're one for the history books." My heart melted into the Australian heat, and I loved Luke for his cheesey lines even more.
"You and I were a total chance. You didn't have to sign up for the exchange program. You didn't have to choose Australia. A computerized system matched you with my family, and there was no guarantee that I'd fall in love with you and you with me. Anyway, we're special. We defied all odds and fell in love, but the odds are against us still because you're moving back home which is some nine thousand miles away. But we're still going to love because love can stretch nine thousands miles, and I'm going to wait for you. I'm going to wait for you, and someday we'll be back at this very beach with each other and maybe a few kids, but we'll be here. I promise, okay?"
My eyes swelled with tears as Luke talked about our future together with this insurmountable hope.
"Less than two months ago, I didn't even know you existed, and now you're my whole world." I choked out.
Luke sighed, a sad smile residing on his face. His eyes were glued to mine, and everything around us blurred together. A soft kiss electrified my cheek, and I held my hand to the now cool place.
"I'm too sad!" Luke yelled to the crowded beach. A few people turned to look, and I cowered behind Luke, but he turned around and giggled.
This boy's giggle could make the sunshine in a hurricane.
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thanks for reading. youre lovely whomever you are. i hope you have a fantastic day/night!!! xxx
happy st. patrick's day!!!!!!!!!!!