Water the Flowers (In My Lungs) - Muke

Nose Scrunches, Guitars, and Family

The closer and closer he got to his demise, the more he began to miss.

Starting with:

5. His guitar

He'd had the beautiful red thing for years now.

Each day he wondered if he'd put it away for the last time.

Maybe they'd frame it one day, in some hall of fame for singers who died young.

He should probably just sign it and leave it to his mother, so she could at least sell it and make money off of it.

Luke was shook from his thoughts as Michael playfully bumped his shoulder.

They were all currently messing around. Just writing songs and strumming melodies.

"Do you wanna get out of here?" Michael quizzed.

Luke thought about it, really thought, but ultimately decided that he wanted every moment with Michael he could get before it all went to shit.

Luke nodded and Michael's smile grew.

He grabbed Luke's wrist and dragged him off, out of the room without another word.

Somehow, for some reason, the ended up at a playground.

It was empty, but that was also due to the chill in the air.

Luke breathed out, watching his breath as it materialized right before his eyes.

Michael plopped down on the swing and motioned for Luke to join him.

The blonde shoved his hands in his pockets, joining Michael on the cool metal swings.

For a moment they just swung there back and forth, their feet not leaving the ground.

"You've been awfully quiet." Michael pipped up, breaking the silence.

Luke shrugged, "Don't have anything to say."

"That's new."

Luke's eyes snapped towards Michael as he looked ahead.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Luke quizzed defensively.

"I meant", Michael muttered, "You like to talk a lot. I guess I just miss it."

Yeah well, Luke wasn't going to put that on his list.

Sure he didn't talk a lot but he sure had a lot of internal monologue and honestly he wouldn't miss it at all.

"I wanna know what's going on in that head of yours", Michael jeered, "Tell me something, anything."

"Anything?" Luke quizzed.

"Anything." Michael assured.

Luke just kicked the mulch underneath him.

"I had this really good slice of pizza, although I think it was like a week old."

Luke looked to Michael who broke out into laughter.

The blonde observed everything about him, memorized every detail.

Like his adorable nose scrunch that he did when he was happy.

Luke hadn't seen it in ages, but he was glad he got to see it before- well, before he left.

Mentally he added it to his list.

6. Michael's nose scrunch

Despite the fact that Michael was the reason for all his pain and suffering, he'd still love the boy till the day he died.

And maybe longer.

Luke hoped he'd get cremated when he died.

He hoped someone would bury him in the ground so he could grow into beautiful flowers.

He'd read that it could happen- he'd probably be a bunch of stupid Gardenias though- but it wouldn't matter really.

Luke and Michael hung out until they had to get ready to perform.

Now that they were traveling back on the bus, Luke had been very careful where he left his flowers.

He flushed them if he could, stuffed them in pockets of clothing he'd never wash.

Luke was putting makeup on when there was a knock on his dressing room door.

"It's open!" Luke called.

The door opened and Luke spun around to see who it was.

"Mom? Dad?" Luke quizzed, standing up from his chair, "What are you doing here?"

"Well, we wanted to surprise you and all fly down to see you perform." Liz explained.

Luke smiled, charging into her arms.

He tried to blink away the tears in his eyes.

She squeezed him tight, kissing him on the head.

When she finally let go, Luke hugged his dad just as tight.

This was it.

This would be the last time he saw them.

He didn't want them to know.

So he didn't let himself cry.

When Luke pulled back, he tilted his head.

"All?" He quizzed.

Then Ben and Jack appeared and Luke smiled.

He hugged his brothers- in a brotherly way obviously- not to give himself away.

"Thanks for coming." Luke muttered.

"No problem, kid." Ben jeered, ruffling Luke's hair.

They would never know how much it meant to him.

Maybe they wouldn't be so upset that he passed if they got to say goodbye.

He could only hope.

After performing, Luke spent the night with his family.

They ate dinner like a family and caught up with one another.

Luke was so grateful, so very grateful.

When the night came to an end, Luke hugged each of them tightly and wished them a safe flight.

He sent them off with a goodbye and promises to visit- although they were all empty.

Walking to the hotel after seeing his family, Luke added yet another miss to his list:

7. His family all together

He couldn't remember the last time they'd all been together, but at least he got to experience it one last time.