"Stuck In The Friend-Zone Again and Again"

"Sitting Here At Home"

Luke's P.O.V.

I was normal when I was out in public, but around home I mainly stayed in my room.

Lazing around my room all the time doing nothing wasn't like me, I was usually game for a football match in the backyard, or a jam session in the garage, and my family started to notice.

My brothers were the first.

*flashback*

Jack burst into my room without knocking.
"Hey Luke," he began. "Up for a game of football in the back?"
"No thanks," I muttered.
"Why not?" asked Ben, making an appearance in the doorway as well.
"Not feeling well," I half lied.

The girl I loved loved someone else that loved her, that didn't exactly leave a good feeling.

"Bullshit," Jack said, coming into my room and sitting on my bed, closely followed by Ben. "What's wrong?"
"Yeah what's been up with you lately?" Ben asked. "You've been acting really strange."
"Nothing's wrong, I just want to have some alone time before Paris gets here. She'll be staying with us, you know," I said, slightly brightening at the mention of her name.

For many people, the name of the girl that was in a loving relationship that they loved would bring pain, but all it brought me was happiness.
She was my sunshine after all, as cliche as it was.

Ben rolled his eyes. "Yeah we know mate, you've only been talking about it for ages."
"Besides, you're lying," Jack said confidently.
"How can you be so sure?" I asked, eyebrows raised.
Jack shrugged. "I just do."
"So what's really up?" Ben asked.

I sighed.
"I'm in love Paris, alright?"

"Well we knew that," Jack said.

"But she's in love with her boyfriend, who's in love with her," I continued sadly.

Jack and Ben both flinched.
"Ouch," Ben cringed.

I nodded. "I know."

"She's only 15 or something though, isn't she?" Jack asked.
"16," I replied stiffly.
"Well they're not going to be together forever," Jack scoffed.
"It's a possibility. Her parents were together since her mom was 14," I said quietly. "And you don't know Paris. She's so affectionate and sweet and beautiful and just lovely all around, she'd never break it off unless something truly dreadful happened, and you'd be stupid to do something truly awful to her because she's too amazing to lose," I said.
"You've got it bad," Ben told me, as if I didn't know already.

Jack and Ben stood to go, but Jack paused in the doorway.
"Just keep up hope, mate," Jack said. "Maybe he'll cheat on her or something."
I glared at him. "Don't even joke about that. She'd be crushed."
He raised his hands in defence. "Mixed signals, dude," he declared, walking out of my room, trailed by Ben.

*end of flashblack*

Next to notice was my mum, but it was my bet that she actually noticed first, just didn't say anything.

*flashback*

"Dinner," my mum's voice said from the door.
"Alright," I replied slowly, pausing the episode of How I Met Your Mother I was watching.
My mum sighed, coming into my room and standing over me.
"What's going on with you lately? You're not yourself," she said.
I sighed. "I'm fine, mum. Just getting some alone time before Paris comes to stay and we go on tour."
She shook her head. "We both know that's not true, and I'll just wait here until you tell me the truth."
I sighed again. "Girl trouble," I said simply.
My mum groaned. "What girl is so special she's got you feeling like this?"
"I don't know if I should tell you," I said hesitantly.
"I'll find out some way," my mum threatened. "I bet your brothers know."
I sighed in defeat. "Well you don't really know her," I said cautiously, testing the water.
"It's Paris, isn't it?" my mum said quickly.
I looked at her with wide eyes. "How did you know?"
"You can easily tell in the way you talk about her. I've known you loved her for ages," she replied simply.
"Everyone says that!" I told her. "Everyone knew I loved her before I did!"
"So why is this so bad?" My mum asked.

I explained the whole situation, and my mum smiled sadly.
"You're in a bad spot Luke, but I'm proud of you for letting Paris be happy with the other boy. It's very mature," my mum praised.
"I'm only doing it because if I didn't it would hurt Paris, and I could never do that, otherwise Jake would be on the street faster than you could say Gaskarth," I warned my mum.
She laughed. "All the same, you're doing the right thing. And she seems like a sweet girl, so I don't have to worry about her."
"Leave the worrying to her," I laughed lightly. "She does enough of it for everyone."
My mum quirked an eyebrow.
"It's endearing," I smiled fondly.
My mum shrugged and walked to the doorway.
"I lied," she said. "Dinner won't be ready for another 20 minutes."

*end of flashback*

Dad probably only noticed because mom told him.

Molly was extra cuddly, climbing in bed with me at night and lying at my feet like she knew I needed it. (For anyone who doesn't know Molly is Luke's dog irl)

But the days were ticking by, and soon I would have to keep the happy and normal charade up all the time.