Playing With Fire. {Luke Hemmings}

Chapter 1 - Shut Up And Eat Your Pizza.

Riley's P.O.V

Rain calms me down. So do engines. So working in my Dad's garage on a rainy day is damn near perfect. Oil stains my hands and gray top, but I could care less. This is actually one of my favourite looks on me. Loose hair, grease-stained shit, plaid flannel tied loosely around my hips, black ripped jeans and combat boots. Comfortable? Fuck yes. I guess I like the rain when I'm in here, because I feel warm because of the amount of engines I have to test at a time. Plus, This is just where I'm most comfortable.

But like I said, damn near perfect. Not quite perfect, but close enough. All I really need now is my-

"I bought Italian!"

That.

My best friend Calum jogs in with two paper bags in his right hand and his car keys in the other. Calum and food? Now it's perfect.

"I thought we agreed on Mexican?" I laugh, turning around to concentrate on the motor in the American Muscle car that me and Calum are currently working on.

"Sanchez's was closed." Calum replies with a mouthful of food.

"Cal! Don't eat it yet, at least not without me." I whine.

"Take a break!"

"Fine, I will. But I want to get this done soon, Cal." I turn away from the car and notice Calum happily perched in the back of my Dad's pick-up truck. I hop on as well and sit beside him.

"Did you get pasta?" I ask, as if it's the most important question I've ever asked.

"With extra meatballs and mushrooms. Just the way you like it." Cal smiles and passes me a plastic tub filled with authentic Italian goodness.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Hood."

"Quite welcome, Miss Harrison."

I've been best friends with Calum for about twelve years now. I remember the day he walked into my class vividly. His skinny frame, Australian accent and scruffy hair made everyone laugh at him. I felt bad for him, so I told everyone to leave him alone. When I was six, I liked to believe that everyone was afraid of me and that I was the boss. And I was, sort of. I was the tough girl all through my education. And eventually, around the age of ten, I caught Calum to be the tough guy. Nobody ever said a word to either of us. It was a good life. Cal transferred over here with his Mum, Dad and Sister from Australia when he was six. However, even though he moved here at such a young age, his accent is still as strong as ever.

"What are you looking at?" Calum giggles. I must have zoned out while I was eating.

"Hm? Oh, nothing. Just daydreaming." I smile.

"That's become a serious problem for you, you should get help."

"Oh, shut up. You do it too, you know." I point out.

"Wow, that is such a lie!" Calum laughs.

"It's not! Now, shut up and eat your pizza."

When we're finished our food, I jump out of the truck and grab my coat that's hanging on the back of a chair and dig around in the pocket for a pack of cigarettes. But, there's none to be found in either pocket.

Calum.

"Alright, Hood. Where are they?" I ask.

"Where's what?" He replies innocently.

"Calum, don't give me that bullshit, I know you've either got or hidden my cigarettes." I sigh, becoming more aggravated by the second.

"I told you I don't want you smoking that shit. It could kill you." The concern becomes clear in Cal's eyes.

"You know I tried to quit, but it's just not that easy. Cal, just please give them back." I beg.

He looks down and fiddles with his thumbs before letting out a deep sigh and taking them out of his pocket and throwing them to me.

"Thank you." I smile after catching them. I can see that he's not happy with my addiction, so I walk over to the side of the truck and lightly punch his arm.

"Hey," I say softly. "I know you're only trying to help me. And I'm really thankful for that. I just need a bit of time to cut down, okay?" I smile.

Calum's deep brown eyes become warm again as he grins widely.

"Do you promise to try?" He asks and holds out his pinky finger.

"I promise." I vow and hook mine around his.

We both laugh and I walk away with my cigarettes in hand. As soon as I'm under shelter outside, I pull out my lighter and light my first cigarette. I take one drag and I already feel the stress fly away. I've been smoking ever since my Mum and Dad started fighting, which was around two years ago. But for some strange reason, they insist on staying together for me. That only makes me feel like I'm holding them back from being happy, which is making me unhappy.

Isn't that the complete opposite of what they were trying to achieve?

With each bad thought, I light a new cigarette and find myself making my way through the entire pack.

"Shit." I mutter under my breath. I throw the empty packet in a nearby bin and make my way back to Calum. I walk back into the garage and see him under the car, doing what he does best.

"Before you come any closer, there's mints on the table." Calum says as soon as he hears me walk in. I roll my eyes and sulk over to the table full of wrenches, empty oil cans, jump start cables and peppermint gum. I take two from the packet and toss them in my mouth. I make my way over to Cal as he slides from underneath the car.

"Happy now?" I ask.

"Very." He smiles innocently.

"I hope you two haven't broken anything." My Dad's familiar voice echos throughout the garage.

"Not yet. And if anything does get broken, it'll probably be Calum's fault." I joke.

"Okay, that's just not fair." Cal rolls his eyes.

"She's got a fair point there, mate. Riley treats these cars like her babies. I'm not saying you don't, it's just you... You can't..."

"What he's trying to say is, you can't hold a spanner for more than four seconds without smashing a wing mirror." I giggle.

"Yeah, it's all very funny, isn't it? You know, this right here is bullying." Calum gestures between himself, my Dad and I.

I hug him tightly and look up at him.

"I'm sorry Cal. You're just so easy."

Cal smiles brightly and hugs me back.

I honestly don't know how you two haven't got sick of each other yet. I mean, it's been eleven years." Dad chuckles.

"Twelve, actually Will." Cal points out to my Dad, who's already found his place under the hood of Mrs. Holly's Mini convertible.

"Well, I'm sorry, do forgive me." Dad mutters sarcastically.

I laugh to myself at that conversation between Calum an Dad. It's nice that these two are close, it makes Calum feel like even more of a brother to me.

I've got a nice little thing going on here. Sometimes I think I've got it all. But there's this empty feeling inside my chest that reminds me that I don't. The worst thing?

I don't know how to fill it.