disconnected // l.h

[nine]

Underground trains weren't exactly my favorite form of transportation; I have sat through too many health classes to know about good sanitation, and this place definitely did not make the cut.

I've also watched enough thriller movies to know what danger really looks like up close; a pre-tantrum-throwing five year old with an ice cream cone coming too close to me in proximity for my liking.

Luke watched me as I gripped the pole on the subway, my knuckles turning white. He sat in a seat closest to the doors while I stood up. Our subway car was nearly full, but there was a few seats open next to Luke, and he laughed when I didn't take one, "You're an odd one, you know that?"

I gave him a stern look, "You aren't earning any friendship points here, Luke."

He smiled, leaning back in his chair. "That pole has more germs than this seat, if that's what you're worried about." He looks over to a woman a few feet away from me; she wiped her nose with a Kleenex as she held onto the silver pole, and I cringed.

We had only been on the train for a few minutes, and this boy was already making me angry. "Fine." I carefully took my fingers off the pole, and took a few slow steps towards him.

"Come on, you can do it. Believe in yourself, Leen." He mocked, a dimpled smile appearing easily on his stupid face. Stupid.

Once I settled into the chair, I shot him a glare, "Sarcasm is my thing."

His dimple deepens, but he doesn't reply. Instead, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. Within a few moments, my phone chimes in my bag with a message. I pull it out, half-expecting Calum's obligatory 'I've-been-a-douche-and-I-have-come-with-apology-cookies' text:

calum {6:23pm} : are you guys up for a movie tonight?

With a groan, I realized he'd messaged in the group chat that he'd forced me to be apart of it. Yet, I noticed something different about it, and my suspicions were confirmed when another message appeared on the bright screen:

unknown {6:24pm} : luke! leena! pls come! xx - jenna

What if they break up? What will become of the group chat then? We barely know this girl -- I'm not being dramatic; I'm being practical.

It was when Luke stifled a laugh into his palm that I realized I'd mumbled all that aloud. He leaned back into his seat, giggling, "You're absolutely ridiculous."

"Practical," I reason, but my argument seems somehow unconvincing. Between Luke's disapproving head shake and my closed fists, I assume that I've lost this fight before it's even begun. Luke sighs, and turns his attention back to the group message, typing a reply:

luke hemmings {6:27pm} : hi :-) we'll be there. what movie ?

I punch his shoulder, and he yelps, but I ignore it, "I never agreed to this!" He rolls his eyes, and waves me off. Both of our phones chime with a new message a few moments later:

michael clifford {6:27pm} : SO i assume u've gotten the hermit crab to come out of hiding?

michael clifford (6:28pm} : im talking about leena btw

Luke laughs aloud again, and I shoot him a glare. Idiots.

me {6:29pm} : I'm NOT A HERMIT BYE

me {6:29pm} : plus i haven't eaten yet... so it's either dinner AND a movie or im out

calum hood {6:30pm} : yeah yeah :) just come to the cineplex in about 10 minutes ?