BAD OMENS ✬ luke hemmings

4.2 | company

"You actually thought that was a good idea?" Aria laughs, pulling her jacket closer to her body, trying to ignore the cold tip of her nose and the light burn of her cheeks.

She doesn't know how she got to this place, how she managed to find herself sitting on the top of her car in some random parking lot near the lake on Christmas with Luke. Luke, gripping onto the metal thermos in his hand filled with hot chocolate that burns his tongue and scorches his throat.

Luke, with the silly winter beanie on his head as blond hair peeks out the front of it. Luke, who can't stop sniffling due to the cold weather, and in awe that he can see his breath in the air. Luke, who wears a puffy jacket over a hoodie, crewneck, and long sleeve. Luke, who complains that he cannot feel his hands.

And lastly, Luke Hemmings, the man that Aria swore to hate until the day she dies... or until graduation. The blond is sitting next to her, legs pulled into his chest and a blushing face due to the embarrassing story he admitted.

To be fair, he doesn't know how he ended up here either. One second he and Aria were texting, sending stupid snaps and pictures back and forth, and the next... the next second she's outside on the street waiting to take him somewhere.

From her vague explanation in the car, the girl needed a great escape from the stress and arguments that happen during Christmas dinners. The yelling, the photos, the arguments about conflicting political ideologies. Not to mention, the aggravating consequence which stems from her family being all together again.

Riley, her sisters, persistence on causing arguments – putting her politics degree to use – and Aria's mother pressure for everyone to dress nice. Oh, and her dad's passive aggression and inability to pick a side to support.

And Luke's dinner, nothing other than an uncomfortable silence with the clinking of cutlery and the harsh sound of a knife scratching onto a plate. Without his brothers, there's no reason to start arguments at the table and ruin what is meant to be a perfect day.

So, he's here. Sitting on top of Aria's car in the chill night. He's with the last person he expected to spend his Christmas with and having a good time, despite the numbness in his fingers and the unbearable experience of breathing in icy air that will only send him towards a blocked nose later.

Neither of them saw this coming, neither of them ever imagined the idea of becoming friends again. Nor did they see, or understand, how much time could do for the soul. And worst of all, Aria and Luke have to be hit with the painful revelation that they might've been wrong.

Wrong in the essence that they spent the better half of their high school experience hating each other over something that occurred during their early teens. Wrong in the way that she's not half bad, and he's enjoyable to be around.

"I thought you're meant to be smart," Aria teases. "And aren't you in higher level chemistry? Shouldn't you know better than to put water on a grease fire?"

"Hey! I was in a state of panic!" Luke defends himself, "And you're one to talk, if I recall correctly you ate a whole chilli pepper then rubbed your eyes." He retorts, poking fun back at the girl and her not-so-bright moment.

"Yeah, well, at least I didn't almost burn my house down." She hums, resting her hands back on the roof of her car and looking up at the sky.

Aria's breath forms delicate puffs of mist in the air as she exhales, her eyes locked on the celestial spectacle. The darkness embraces her, intensifying the brilliance of the stars and their reflection on the lake in front of her. A quiet breeze rustling through the trees, sending a shiver and a trail of goosebumps along her covered arms.