Playing With Fire. {Luke Hemmings}

Chapter 5 - You're Just One Big Clishé Aren't You?

Luke's P.O.V

Riley leads me into her house and into the kitchen.
"Nice place." I comment.
"Thanks," She says, flicking the kettle switch. "I moved in around last year when I graduated. I go to college occasionally on the weekends, but it takes three hours to get there." She laughs.
"Sounds like a nightmare. So, that Calum guy, you two are friends?" I ask
"Best friends. He moved here from Australia eleven years ago and he's... Been stuck with me... Ever since." Riley's expression and tone of voice saddens slightly and I immediately regret asking.
"Is something wrong?" I, for some reason, open my stupid mouth again.
"No, no... We just had a fight, that's all. Could we not talk about Calum? If that's okay..."
"Of course, I understand. It's cool. So, how long have you worked at the garage?" I change the subject.
She thinks for a moment and then giggles.
"You know... I actually can't remember. My Dad's owned it for so long, it just feels like a second home to me now. How about you? Are you into cars?" She asks.
"A little. I'm more into music. I play guitar and I used to be in a band. But now I just kind of sit on my own and play. Don't get me wrong, I love cars, but I kind of just stay away from the whole... 'Car scene' now." I cough.
"Oh really, why's that?"
"You have your secrets, I have mine." I smirk.
"Fair enough." Riley laughs, walking over to the kettle and pouring the piping hot water into the mugs.

I watch her as she does this and admire her features. How her blonde hair only goes down to the top of her rib cage. Her awkward 'tall, but not tall' hight. Her grey-blue eyes. All the cute stuff. God, it's like this girl has two different sides. Right now, she's this adorable, awkward and smiley thing and I actually feel the need to take her home and hold her all night, not letting anyone touch her because she's so precious. But then, there's the girl she was at the garage. The way she looked... Jesus fucking Christ. There are 1,013,913 words in the English language and I can't even string together a sentence that can describe everything I wanted to do to her in that moment.

She walks back over and sets my coffee down in front of me.
"Thanks." I smile.
"You're welcome. So, do you plan on going to college?" Riley asks.
I let out a scoff like laugh and shake my head.
"No. Definitely not."
"Why?"
"I never have liked and still don't like the education system. The sooner I got out of it, the better." I explain.
"Is there a reason you hated it?"
"Again, you have your secrets and I have mine." I laugh.
Riley starts to giggle to herself and I get confused.
"What?" I smile.
"You... You're just one big clishé, aren't you?"
"How so?" I question.
"You're this amazingly attractive guy who dresses in grungy, dark clothes and drives a nice vintage car and sits on his own, playing music with lots of secrets. You're something straight out of a novel." She explains.
Out of her entire explanation, I only got one thing out of it.
"You think I'm attractive?" I smirk.
"Mm. You're cocky too. It's almost like you're trying." She scoffs, taking a sip of her coffee.
I smile and look down at my drink.
'Do it Luke, ask her out. Do it.'
Nope, nope, nopety, nope, nope, no. I've known this girl for a total hour. I can't just ask her out! Plus, where would I even know where to go on a date? I can't. I just-
"Do you want to go out for drinks with me sometime?"
Fuck.
"Oh, wow, okay. See the thing is... We haven't known each other that long. For all I know, you could be this psycho killer who prays on young women. I'm sure you're not, but that's always a possibility-"
"Riley. It's cool." I stop her from rambling.
She lets out a deep breath and smiles down at her feet.

We talk for an hour more before I get a call from Ashton.
"Shit... I've really got to take this, I'll be back in a second, sorry." I excuse myself.
"Oh, yeah, it's fine. You can take it upstairs if you want." Riley nods.
I jog upstairs and sit in what I can only presume to be either the spare room or Riley's room.
"Hello?" I answer.
"Where. The. Fuck. Are you!? You said you were leaving the garage an hour ago! It takes fifteen minutes to get from the garage to our house, Luke! What the hell are you doing!?" Ashton yells.
"Relax, okay? I'm just at a girl's house." I reply nonchalantly.
"What in the name of- Wait, a girl? Anger aside for a second, you've only been in this town for three hours, man, nice job!" He laughs.
"Calm down, we're only having coffee. Well, I'm upstairs right now-"
"Upstairs? And you're telling me that zero sex is involved?"
"Yes, Ashton, not everyone is you." I chastise my best friend.
"Not everyone can be." He shoots back confidently. I can't see him, but I know that son of a bitch is smirking his ass off right now.
"I'll be there soon, okay?" I laugh.
"Okay, fine. Now go get some."
"You're fucking disgusting." I shudder and hang up.
I jog back downstairs and back into the kitchen.
"Everything alright?" Riley asks.
"Yeah, Ashton was jut getting worried, I should go." I tell her.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry for keeping you here for so long." She laughs.
"No, it's fine, I had a great time. Thanks for putting up with me. Oh, uh... Here's my number, just in case you ever want to meet up or something." I say, handing her a card. Ashton told me to keep one handy, because 'you never know when it'll come in handy'.
"Thanks, I'll text you. Thank you again for the ride home."
"It's nothing, really. I'm just glad you got home safe."
We stand awkwardly for a few moments, glancing between the floor and each other.
"Okay... One of us is going to have to say something or we'll be here all night." Riley says.
"Right. Well, thanks for having me, I had a great time and all that jazz. I'll see you later, Riley." I smile and start to head towards the door. Did I just say 'all that jazz'? Ugh.
"Drive safe." Riley prompts me as she opens the door.
"I can't promise anything." I joke.
"Bye, Luke." She chuckles.
"Bye, Riley." I smile.

Normally, I'd be bitter and say that the house is a shit hole and there's no way I'm living in it. However, this house is nice as shit. Like, if I could fuck a house, I would fuck this house.
I sit on the couch opposite Ashton, who has a beer in one hand and a bag of crisps in the other.
"So..." Ashton smirks.
"So what?" I sigh.
"How was the sex?" He chuckles.
"We didn't have sex!" I object.
"You're telling me that you walked in late, after coming back from a girl's house, with that big, goofy smile on your face and you're telling me you didn't get laid? Okay, sure. I'll go along with that." Ashton says sarcastically.
I shake my head and laugh, turning my head to the TV, hopefully blocking Ash out.
Ah.
Like white noise.
Suddenly, my phone lights up and vibrates.
"Probably your fuck buddy."
"Shut up Ashton."
I read the text and my big, goofy smile returns.
"How about that drink? - Riley x"
What do you know.
Things are starting to look a little less shitty.