Saving the Reject | Michael Clifford | Editing

n i n e t e e n ;

Charli

"So," Evie said, unmoved from where I had left her. All three of them were looking skeptically at the three of us - well, mainly Luke - as we approached. "Luke, what the heck are you doing here?"

Luke's already red face flushed an even darker shade. "I-I just came to say goodbye," he stuttered.

Mrs. Jensen looked between Luke and her husband, silently asking for one of them to disperse her confusion. It was obvious that Luke, who was avoiding eye contact at all cost. Well, I guess he already had a 'meet-the-parents'.

"I'll explain in the car," Mr. Jensen laughed, still finding humor in the situation. Honestly, I wanted to laugh, too. I knew there was something going on between Scar and Luke. "We'll be late for Vince's appointment if we stall any longer. Take it easy, Luke," he said, once again, clapping a hand on his shoulder, this time in goodbye. "Evie, Charli," he said, turning to the two of us. "Our house is always open to you two."

We thanked him and Maria, saying goodbye one last time before they left for Vincent's orthodontics appointment. Our attention once again moved to Luke, who stood there, watching the two of us helplessly and hopelessly.

"Um," he started awkwardly. "I don't really - do you think I could - ?"

"Luke," Evie said calmly, cutting off the nervous boy. He knows what he's in for. "Do you need a ride?"

With a small, forced smile, he nodded. Evie and I glanced at each other before laughing. "Loosen up a little, Luke!" I said, motioning for him to follow us. I went to push Evie out to her car, but Luke, being the gentleman he was, stepped in and pushed the wheelchair himself. I didn't complain. "I approve of you two."

"Whoa, whoa, wait," Evie said, spinning around to stare up at Luke. "What does she approve of? What did I miss?"

"Nothing," Luke said quickly, his face flushing once again.

"Tell me or you're walking, Hemmings," Evie scowled. Luke looked to me for any kind of aid to him, while I just shrugged, amused. Honestly, I wanted to know, too. I mean, you don't just randomly kiss people as they're leaving to go to practically the other side of the world. Or maybe you do, I wouldn't know.

Luke sighed in defeat. "I'll tell you in the car," he said, and we obliged.

And so, as Evie began the drive home, I stared back at Luke expectantly as Evie said, "I'm waiting,"

Luke sighed, rolling his eyes, before looking down at his hands. "I guess Scar and I have just been growing closer this past week, and I - I really like her." I held back the urge to coo at this.

Evie, though, didn't. She said, rather loudly, "Awe, that's adorable."

"So, I guess I just couldn't let her leave without letting her know how I felt," Luke said, finally being able to look up at us.

"Without kissing her," I added.

"What?" Evie exclaimed. "You kissed her?" When he didn't reply, she continued. "Damn, Luke, you move fast."

I laughed at this, nodding, and Luke even broke a smile, shrugging.

"It's not like we'll be able to move foreword from here," Luke breathed, some color draining from his face, stealing his smile with it. Evie and I silenced, hearing the sad truth in his words.

"You just gotta ruin the good mood, don't you?"

"Evie," I scolded, causing her to shrink back a little. I turned back to Luke. "I apologize for her sassiness. She gets like this when she's emotional, but that's off topic," I said in one breath. "You guys could still move foreword if you both really wanted to."