Dusk h.s.

Chapter 53

It's awkward seeing Luke. Here he is, right in front of me. Concentration is almost impossible right now as the blonde haired boy sits in front of me.

I try to focus on my work, but once again, it's impossible.

"Hey, can I borrow a pencil?"

I almost don't recognize the voice comes from him. I look up and my eyes meet Luke's.

"Um....." Hesitation takes over, "Yeah. I guess."

I reach down to my bag to get a pencil.

My breath hitches as his hand slightly touches mine in the process of grabbing the pencil.

"You okay?"

I instantly snap back to sanity. "Yeah! Definitely! Why wouldn't I be?"

He stares at me for a while. Lowering his voice, he says, "I'm not gonna pretend that what happened last night didn't happen."

"I'm not asking you to. I'm just.....I'm confused."

"I'm not taking back what I said."

I shake my head. "You don't love me. You can't."

Just as Luke is about to answer, Mr. Fill's voice interrupts. "I'm sorry. Luke, Anna, is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?"

I can feel the stares, especially Luke's. His gaze remains permanently on mine. I shake my head once again, not necessarily disagreeing, just basically being confused.

Instead, Mr. Fill took it as an answer to his question. "Well then, Mr. Hemmings, I think you'd like to meet the front of the class."

He slowly turns, keeping his gaze locked on mine for as long as he can.

Mr. Fill gives us a disapproving look and goes back to his teaching. Moments later, I dare to look at Harry. Just as I expected, his gaze is drilling into mine.

My buzzing phone brings my eyes away from his. As I check it, quickly making sure Mr. Fill has himself occupied, I see it's a text from Luke.

For the record, I do love you. That's a fact. A fact that will never change.

My eyes widen. He loves me. But how? We barely even know each other. I know he'd throw it in my face if I said that to him.

I don't know what to do. I quickly text him back to meet me after class.

After class, I decide talking to Luke beats going to class. I walk outside in the grass, searching for Luke. I send him a quick text, telling him to meet me by an oak tree outside the school building.

Soon, I see him walking towards me, determiningly.

My hands nervously intertwine. "Hi."

"Hi." His Australian accent is so sharp and precise.

"So....."

"Am I hear for you to be mean to me?"

I scoff, "When am I mean to you?"

"Everyday!"

"Am not!"

"Are to!"

"Am not!"

"Are to!"

"Am not!"

"Fine! Then let me kiss you!" He catches me by surprise.

"Not letting you kiss me is not being mean. It's protecting a relationship with a guy that I'm in love with!"

His expression changes from confident and cocky to hurt and vulnerable. "And maybe I'm just trying to protect the girl that I'm in love with."