Foreign Exchange // Punk Luke Hemmings

Morning

I walked downstairs in the morning dressed in a flannel shirt and leggings with my black hair pulled up into a very messy bun. I didn't feel like trying today, especially after last night.

Trudging over to the counter, I reached up to retrieve the tea kettle, filled it with water, then placed it on the stove top to boil. I then got my French press and put in three big scoops of coffee grounds. I was going to need some strong coffee today.

As I waited, I got a bagel from the pantry and started eating it plain. I really didn't feel like waiting for our ancient toaster to heat it up. After a minute or two, the water boiled and made the kettle whistle loudly. I yanked it off the burner, which I turned off, then poured water into the press. I waited about five minutes, allowing the coffee to be extra strong, before I put in the strainer and pushed down the plunger.

As I got out a mug, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I turned around just in time to see Luke come around the corner into the kitchen. He rubbed sleepily at his eyes, but the moment he spotted me a grin slid onto his face.

"Mornin' princess," he cooed in his groggy, rough morning voice.

Trying to ignore him, I turned back around and poured the coffee in the mug, not adding anything to it.

But he got pretty hard to ignore when his strong, tattooed arms slipped around my waist, his hands flattening against my stomach. I froze, unable to move, unable to breath. I thought of the dream last night and resisted the urge to shiver as I felt his chest press against my back.

"Have you thought about what I said yesterday?" he whispered in my ear and leaned down to nibble on the back of my neck. I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes, trying not to moan softly.

"No, I haven't," I muttered. "Now leave me alone."

"Aw, but princess-"

"Don't call me that. My name is Haylee. Use it," I demanded and pushed away from him. He just stood there stunned, as if he'd never been turned down before.

Thankfully, I heard a set of footsteps clopping down the hall above us, then they came down the stairs and into the kitchen. Tyler and Gerad walked zombie-like into the room, both with their eyes half closed and feet dragging.

"Good morning Ty. Morning munchkin," I greeted them. I ruffled Gerad's hair playfully as he passed me, only to be rebuffed by the little seven-year-old. Tyler was twelve, and not quite as dramatic as Gerad. But there was still Chandler, the two year old. There are five years separating every kid/set of kids. That made us all pretty different.

"Ugh!" Ty whined. "I don't wanna go to school today Haylee. Make school cancelled!"

I chuckled at him, shaking my head slowly. "I wish I could, bud. But I can't. Believe me, I don't want to go either," I shot a look at Luke, who was still admiring the fact that I'd said no to him.

"Why do we even have to go?" Tyler said grumpily. "It's stupid. We don't even learn anything!"

"Oh, come on. It's only been a month since school started!" I tried to sound optimistic. Besides, this was my Junior year. I only had a little less than two years left of school, then I was free to do what I wanted.

"Still...that means there's a really long time till summer break again."

Danny came downstairs a few minutes later looking wide awake and annoyed.

"Well thanks for waiting for me Luke," he scowled.

"Sorry mate. You were just taking too long." Was that a smirk in Luke's voice? I wasn't sure, but I definitely wasn't going to look at him and see.

"Says the guy who woke up at five thirty so he could do his hair..." Danny mumbled, yanking open the fridge. He got out the milk and shut the door. He proceeded to make himself a bowl of cereal, then sat down at the kitchen table. Luke sat next to him, smirking over at me.

I rolled my eyes and went over to the computer, sitting in the plush chair and eating my breakfast. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my twitter and Instagram. The twitter for my band, Crushing Opals, had gained eighteen new followers overnight, some of which were members of other smaller bands.

Crushing Opals isn't very well known. Anywhere. We have about twelve fans from school, then about six hundred or so followers on twitter and Instagram. Our YouTube channel has almost a thousand subscribers, but I have a feeling most of them don't listen to us anyway.

The band consists of me on guitar and vocals, Tanner on drums, Mitch on bass guitar, and our friend Delilah on lead guitar. We're a pop-punk band, or so we think of ourselves. Most people would say we're just punk, but we know that's not true.

Anyway, after checking our social media accounts, I plugged in my headphones and tuned out the chatter of the boys at the table with All Time Low's newest album. I'd preordered it, so for the last few days I've been listening to it constantly. I couldn't get enough!

After a little while, I realized what time it was. Yanking off my headphones, I stood and turned to Danny and Luke. "We need to go. I don't want to be late. Are you guys ready?" I asked, mostly to Danny.

"Yeah Hay. We're fine. You won't be late," Danny replied lazily.

"Get your ass off that chair and move, idiot!" I said loudly.

"Fine! I'm going," he stood up and put his bowl in the sink. "God, take a chill pill."

Luke stood as well, watching me. "Hurry up," was all I said to him.