Luke let out a quiet huff, like a breath of slight frustration. "Is this all you guys do?" He mumbled, rearranging one of the cubbyholes with records that began with 'A' were in.
I nodded, grinning as I watched him, "You get used to it."
He let out a groan, letting it drone out as his voice got quieter.
"And it's always this empty?"
I nodded again but followed it with a shrug, "Sometimes people come in. Not that often though, this place is pretty hidden. But it doesn't affect the pay." I sighed, leaning against the wall. Luke moved on to the 'B' cubbyhole as I spoke, bobbing his head slightly to the song playing quietly through the speakers.
He chuckled lightly, looking at me with a light smile, "Thats good, though. I get more time with just you then."
I nodded, smiling as he moved along down the line of records. We'd been working for almost an hour and a half now, and I'd been showing him around, explaining where certain things went, like small tips. Even though the guy who owns the shop, Elliot - or El - rarely made an appearance, he had to come in sometimes to make sure nothing was breaking or just to make sure everything was up to his standards.
"On our way home, do you wanna stop somewhere and get something tonight? Like pizza, or something." He shrugged, rereading the labels of the records to make sure they were alphabetical, "I don't think theres much at home."
I nodded, forcing a smile, "Sure."
Luke adverted his eyes from the stack and looked at me instead, squinting slightly. "Are you okay?"
I sighed, not finding it in myself to not look at him, "Yeah.. it's just," I paused, stuffing my hands in my pockets, "You say home like its ours to share, but it's yours. I'm just there."
Luke frowned slightly, as if this was something that legitimately hurt to hear and I felt bad immediately.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come off like that. But I don't want you to think that you're 'just there', Jem." He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest, "I want you to think that it is a home for you- whenever you need one." Luke paused, clearing his throat quietly, "I want to be there when you need me." He mumbled the last part loud enough for me to hear, his face serious but soft.
I looked at him, trying to hide the light blush on my face. Luke chuckled lightly, his eyes looking genuine as he took a step towards me. He wrapped his arms around me tightly as his chin rested ontop of my head. I sighed in content, resting my head on his chest and snaking my arms around his waist, holding my own hands behind his back.
"I love you," Luke mumbled finally after swaying us for a few seconds, "you know that, right?"
"After last night, yeah. And I love you, too." I chuckled, looking up at him. He rolled his eyes slightly, blushing.
"What happened last night?"
Luke unwrapped his arms from me quickly and spun around, clearly as startled as I was. I looked around him to see who spoke, frowning.
Walking towards us was Michael, a sly grin on his face. It looked like the bruise on his cheekbone had only gotten darker.
Michaels eyebrows raised slightly at us, his grin faltering, "So, what happened?"
"Nothing." I blushed, turning on my heel and walking the opposite way to the counter. He just looked confused and a little upset at this point for not being told. I didn't want to tell him- that'd be weird.
"Luke, tell me," Michael whined, looking at Luke now. He shook his head, chuckling, "No way."
Michael rolled his eyes, sighing loudly and crossing his arms over his chest, "Fine, don't tell me."
"We weren't going to." The both of us said at the same time, laughing lightly as we glanced at each other.
Michael huffed, tousling his hair as he walked up to the counter and afterwards, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Anyways," he mumbled, "I know I don't work right now, so theres technically no reason for me to be.. here," Michaels hands both gestured to around the shop as he spoke, "but I honestly have nothing else to do. So, I came here after dropping Calum off since I know today was Lukes first day anyways."
Luke nodded at Michael as he spoke, locking his own fingers together, "Speaking of Calum, how is he? I feel like I haven't had a legitimate talk with him for awhile." He sighed, glancing at Michael.
Michael shrugged, glancing between Luke and me. "He's better than he was a few months ago. Either he has less sessions or he's skipping them again, but I think he's getting better, really." He paused for a second and grinned, "Are you guys busy tonight?"
I looked at Luke, only to see him already looking at me. Both of us shrugged a little before turning back to Michael and shaking our heads.
Michael nodded, the grin on his face widening, "Tonight I'm coming over then. I'll see if Calum wants to come, too. And you can't say no, because I miss all of us being together."
Luke cleared his throat and pointed a finger at Michael, "But it won't be all of us." He dropped his hand with a quiet sigh, looking at Michael a little sadly.
For a second, Michaels mouth was open as if he was going to say something back to that.
"It will be again. Maybe not now, but it will be." He said quietly, giving the two of us an uneasy look before turning and leaving.
//
haha what ok
im sorry for not posting in like three weeks wtf???? i was on spring break and never got around to finishing this chapter so i got around to finishing it this week (8
anyways!!! this has 30 chapters now and im gonna tell u that every fic ive written on here has only lasted at least four chapters so this is really big to me, and the fact that it has 10k reads atm is ridiculous and more than i could ask for,,
im gonna try to update when im supposed to update now bc my lack of updating has made my skin crawl so,, enough w that!!! + this fic may be coming to an end soon,, but im not sure what i have planned for it so dont worry (8
that is all!!! goodbye, love u. ps pls vote/comment/whatever.., it means a lot to me
- liberty 💌
