One & Only

✍ F o u r

The next morning, I wake up drowning in a sea of satin sheets. The side of the bed next to mine is bare, with just the slightest imprint of a body left in the memory foam. Landon's king sized bed is placed in the center of the bedroom, a nightstand on either side. The desk under the window has a mini cactus placed on the right corner, a clear cup filled with ballpoint pens and a large desktop computer. The room is perfectly kept, no clothes laying on the floor or school papers tossed around his desk. So basically, the opposite of Luke's. A place for everything and everything in it's place. I roll over so that my left arm and head are hanging off of the bed, and I see my dress neatly folded on the ground next to me, my phone placed perfectly on top of it. I pick it up and click the home button. No new notifications. I mean, it's not that I was expecting any. Did I? Had I really thought Luke would text me? Would I even want that? My heart says yes but my mind says no. I punch in my password and then quickly press the twitter icon. I scroll to the side and press "Search Twitter", and then type in @Luke5S0S. The "Follows You" icon appears on his profile, right next to the picture of him holding up his guitar on stage. The picture that was taken on tour. I scroll further down and see his latest tweet. Today at 12:03 am.

@Luke5SOS: If today I woke up with you right beside me, like all of this was just some twisted dream, I'd hold you closer than I ever did before, and you'd never slip away.

My heart flutters the slightest bit when I see the words, but I quickly repress the feeling. 64,000 retweets. Damn. Nice work, Hemmings. I double tap the home button and close the Twitter app, then swing my legs over the side of the bed. I tug at Landon's blue button up so it covers my lower half, then make my way into the kitchen.

The granite island in the center of the room is bare, except for a yellow sticky note posted on the surface. I walk over to the counter before peeling the note off and trying to decipher Landon's horribly messy handwriting.

off to the gym - there is orange juice & some eggo waffles in the fridge -LH

It's so convenient that my new boyfriend shares the same initials of my old boyfriend. Like I need yet another reminder. Landon Hughes. Luke Hemmings. Well played universe, well played. I open the fridge, which is organized by food group, and take out the large pitcher of orange juice along with the waffles. My phone vibrates twice in my hand and displays tiny white letters that read: iMessage from Audrey(≧◡≦) I pop two waffles in the toaster and pour some orange juice into a mug before sitting at the island and punching in my password.

From: Audrey(≧◡≦)

S!! please tell me ur coming tonight

I sigh, knowing exactly what she's talking about. It's some annual open mic night thing at a local bar, O'Malley's, where undiscovered musicians play their terrible music for a bunch of drunk teenagers. You have to be 18 to get in, even though Luke and I snuck in during our sophomore year. We got so wasted that night that Luke had the balls to get up on stage and perform a song he had written. A song he wrote about me. I think that's the night that he discovered how much he enjoyed being onstage. Hearing the cheer of a crowd, the nervous yet excited sensation you get right before you go on. That was the night that changed our lives forever. And here my best friend is, trying to convince me to go tonight. My phone buzzes again.

From: Audrey(≧◡≦)

PLEEAASSEEE i need to meet a new guy but i also need a buddy so i dont get attacked by a creep in the process plsplsplsplspls

From: Audrey(≧◡≦)

SCARLET IMOGEN BROOKS STOP IGNORING MY TEXTS IK U HAVE UR PHONE

Audrey was there for me when Luke left. She was my shoulder to cry on every waking second of the day, the person I called at 3 am, the one who stood by my side until I got back on my feet. I guess it was time to repay my debt. I sigh before typing out my response and regretfully pressing the blue "Send" button.