You Only Live Once | lrh

1.5

E M B E R

"We never really talked about what's-his-face, huh?" Luke says as we walk, making me look at him.

"What?" I say, but I know who he's talking about.

"Don't play dumb."

"Yeah. I figured you'd see through that," I reply, letting out a laugh.

"Well?"

"He goes to my school, so I see him every now and again, but he hasn't tried to say or do anything." I shrug, stopping to let Sam sniff a bush.

"You should've pressed charges," he replies, and I shrug again.

"Wasn't worth it."

"I found you half-naked on the side of the road, crying your eyes out," he points out, and I glance at him.

"And then I flashed you. What's your point?" I respond, making him snort.

"I just want you to be okay," he says simply, giving me a small smile.

"I'm doing fine. He didn't actually achieve anything, so." I start walking again, brushing my hair behind my ear as the wind blows it in my face.

"Yeah."

I glance at him, and he looks as if he's deep in thought.

"What is it?" I ask, making him glance at me. His blue eyes study my face for a moment, and he opens his mouth to say something before closing it again. "What?" I laugh, and his cheeks turn pink.

"This is so not the right time to ask you this, but will you be my girlfriend?" he blurts out, and I blink, not fully processing what he just said.

"What?" I say stupidly, stopping in my tracks.

"You heard me," he replies softly, his blue eyes shining as he looks at me.

"I—um," I stutter, my face heating up. He moves closer, and Sam whimpers beside me. "I..."

"Yes or no," he murmurs, his face dangerously close to mine.

"I think this is what you call infatuation," I blurt out without really thinking.

"Is it, now?" His lips crash onto mine, and I gasp softly before kissing him back. "Is this infatuation?" he breathes against my lips, making me shiver. "Is it?"

"Maybe," I mumble, making him smirk against my lips.

"What's wrong with infatuation?" he pulls away slightly, pressing his forehead to mine.

"It's not...real?" I say, the words coming out like a question.

"Infatuation and affection aren't mutually exclusive," he counters.

"But I feel that infatuation and love are."

"We could fall in love," he says after a moment, making me smile.

"Really?"

"With you, I'm sure of it."