venture • lrh

seventeen

WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

*

All Luke can think about is the little date they had. He wasn't even sure she would go with him. It was just a fun idea of them getting away together; never in a lifetime did he expect her to come with him. He felt so at ease with her; he had never felt that way with another girl. It was as if he could spill his guts with her, and she wouldn't judge. 

Given the circumstances, it is a lot. They had been rivals, enemies, and nemeses. It is just a bit weird that they seem to get along like that. Of course, they made a truce, but he knew such personal stuff about her, which somehow made him understand her more. 

Why she always tends to be happy, social, and kind? It just makes sense to him. Almost as if she treats people the way she never got to be loved. And the worst part? Luke wants to change it and give her the love she never got. But he doesn't know how to love, which makes it all a shitload harder. 

But she's got Ashton, and he is good for her. He knows Ashton, and Ashton wouldn't hurt her for sure. He is such a good guy. Not to forget the best friend, Michael, the stepbrother. Luke has never liked the guy, mostly because he knows how to play people well. Luke never fell for Michael's tricks and wonders if Alexis ever did. 

They seemed to be so close, seemed. After she moved in at Ash's, they hadn't seen each other quite often. Not the way they used to. Luke used to come home to them lying on the couch, cuddled up on Mike's bed; they were always close together. 

Now that she's living with Ash, not only does she barely come over by Michael, but Michael barely makes any time to go and see her. Yes, he doesn't make any time for her. Usually, he was always watching every move she made. It's almost as if he's playing tricks again. The one that once he's away for a while, she comes crawling back to him. 

Knowing their relationship, she would. She loves her best friend. 

A loud knock on his door interrupts his thoughts, making him groan. He wanted to think about her without getting interrupted. He looks at the door, waiting for someone to walk in. He hears the knock again and sighs deeply. Usually, everybody always walks in without waiting. I guess his many complaints have worked. 

"What?" Luke groans. Michael opens the door and looks at his stepbrother. "Oh, it's you," he says. 

"Where were you?" Luke frowns. It's none of his damn business. "C'mon, you can answer me." The curly blonde rolls his eyes and opens his laptop. Michael pushes it down and looks at Luke. "Were you with Alex?" 

"You seem oddly interested in my life," Luke comments, reopening his laptop. Whatsapp starts immediately, and Alexis' name pops up at the top of the chats—a smirk forms on Michael's face. 

Alexis has been doing a great job of making Luke fall in love with her. He should be fucking proud. If you ask him, Luke deserves to feel pain, especially with everything he's done. 

Michael is fucking wrong. If anything, Luke doesn't deserve to get hurt, and Michael doesn't know shit about him or his feelings. Has Luke done shit he's not proud of? Yes, definitely. But in his defense, he didn't know shit. He's just a dickhead whenever things don't go his way. 

"What are you still here for?" Luke asks him, annoyed. "Didn't you have a date or something? Go fuck them." Michael rolls his eyes this time. "You already did, great. Fuck them again and leave me alone." 

"Just so you know," Michael says, licking his lips. "Not everything is what it seems." Luke shrugs and keeps on looking at Michael until he leaves the room. The curly blonde grabs his laptop to lie on the bed with the thing on his lap. He clicks on the chat with the girl and looks at the text.