BAD OMENS ✬ luke hemmings

4.1 | december break

The past week and a half since Luke and Aria's ceasefire and amendment of peace, has been quite an uneventful one. No petty fights, lots of bickering, and comfortable conversations. This is probably the best place they've been in since the start of their friendship.

Too bad that it doesn't have enough time, considering for the next three weeks it's unlikely they'll see each other due to the end of the year – and the announcement of school breaking out for the December holidays.

Although, Aria was surprised the other day upon seeing a notification pop up on her phone informing her that none other than Luke Hemmings has added her on Snap. A smart, yet discreet move from the blond on his part, can't have anyone knowing that he and Aria are friends...ish.

Other than that, the week hasn't had much drama. For once, their lives have been calm. Extremely boring, but calm nonetheless. Nothing to report on other than an early diagnosis of 'senioritis' and the pattern of skipping from fellow classmates.

With content nearly done in a few classes, and the mock exams coming up in two months, a lot of students have lost the motivation to work. However, that doesn't excuse the wrap up of internal assessments, or essays that need to be due in mid-January.

Still, school is practically over with... plus or minus one or two topics in classes that need to be wrapped up before February, or by April at the latest.

Luckily, today being the last day of school, there's plenty of time to work on all those prescribed assignments that are waiting to be written and turned in – hopefully before the deadline – which shouldn't be too difficult considering extended essays are finally submitted.

At three o'clock, the school halls are crowded with students all hugging, saying goodbye, or rushing to the buses. Luke and Aria, being the last ones to walk out of English together, hide within the crowd, avoiding lingering eyes or potential gossip for the school drama account.

"So, what are your plans?" Luke asks, glancing at the girl from the side of his eye.

"Not much," Aria shrugs, "my mother is flying in today. She'll be spending the next month or so at home, meaning I don't have to cook ever again!" She jokes.

"What? She is?" Luke questions, the hint of a smile on his lips. He knows she won't admit it, but Aria has been counting down the days of her mother's arrival home. With someone else in the house, she doesn't have to worry about leaving her dad alone.

Not that a grown man can't take care of himself, she simply understands how lonely it can get in that house of theirs, and she hates leaving her dad to wallow at home alone with a glass container filled with leftovers.

"Yeah, I'm just a little excited," she nods. "I heard she's bringing back a shit ton of snacks, and I miss her cooking."

"So do I," Luke hums. "When's your sister, Riley, flying in?"

"Uh, next week." Aria replies, "She's conveniently arriving the same day Michael's leaving, meaning I won't have to sit in my room and wallow, because Riley's gonna be there and we're going to go on a big movie binge. What about you? Your brothers, are they flying in?"

"Nah, not this year." Luke shakes his head, "Usually we go back to Australia, but this year dad couldn't be arsed to book the tickets. So, unlike you, I'll be alone."

Calum is flying home to Australia with his family, he'll be back for New Years though. Told his parents that he's got a reputation to keep up, and there's no cool people or parties back home in the suburbs. And because he's they're little golden boy, they've agreed to let him fly back alone and trash the house for a high school party.