let me go || l.h.

t w e n t y f i v e

i texted mum on the way home to let her know i was sleeping at luke's tonight, and would just be dropping in to get my clothes. she agreed surprisingly fast. she knew that luke was going away on friday, and that i wanted to spend as much time with him between now and then as i could.

luke idled in the driveway while i ran in to get clothes, pyjamas and my toothbrush. i called out goodbye to my mum and ran out to the car. luke grabbed my hand across the centre console. 'amnesia' was playing on the cd, and i could feel myself getting upset. i changed it to the next song, 'never be' and sat back in my seat. luke gave me a sideways glance and pulled over. he got out of the car and sat on the bonnet, watching the sunset. i came out and sat beside him, savouring one of the last sunsets i would have with him.

***

when we reached luke's house, it was eerily quiet. we couldn't hear liz clattering pots in the kitchen, or andrew typing away in his study, or luke's brothers playing video games upstairs. all i heard was luke and i- our breaths intermingled- and the sounds of the night.

luke led my upstairs and into his bedroom. normally the dark would frighten me, but with luke i felt safe. i knew that around him, nothing would hurt me.

luke lay down on his bed and pulled out his phone, offering me an earplug. i lie down next to him and put it in my ear. 'i miss you' by blink 182 began playing in my ear. i grabbed luke's hand as we lay in the darkness, the sounds of the music filling our ears.

after about an hour, luke yawned, and i followed suit. "are you hungry?" he asked. i shook my head. "i'm just tired." i replied. luke nodded, "so am i." i turned to face him as luke opened up his wardrobe, pulling out boxer shorts. "um, so, because no one's home, you can sleep in another room, if you want." luke said, his cheeks turning red. i sat up and faced him, smiling. "would you mind if i stayed here?" i asked. luke shook his head. "i'd much prefer it actually," he said, smiling. i smiled back and got my pyjamas from my bag. "don't let on," luke said, "but i'm actually afraid of the dark."

***

after i got changed into my singlet and shorts, i went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. i heard the music playing softly from the speakers in luke's room. i looked down at what i was wearing and suddenly felt nervous. i slid luke's jumper over my head and ventured into his room.

i saw luke laying on his bed, wearing only boxer shorts, and felt myself blush. "hi," i whispered in the darkness. "hi," he whispered back. "nice boxers," i said, chuckling under my breath. luke looked down at them. "thanks," he said, smiling.

luke and i lay together on his bed for about an hour, talking quietly. i could barely keep my eyes open. i turned my back to him and felt him lay beside me, one hand draped over my waist, the other playing with my hair. i shivered as his fingers grazed the bear skin of my leg. "are you cold?" he asked, his breath tickling my ear. i shook my head. "goodnight," i whispered. "goodnight," he whispered back. "i love you luke," i said. luke kissed the back of my head, "i love you too," he said, as i drifted off to sleep beside him.