disconnected // l.h

[ten]

You'd think sitting in a room full of strangers all staring at a single movie screen would finally get me the peace and quiet I've been longing for all evening. 

Think again. 

Luke Hemmings wasn't quite the conversationalist, but ever so often, he'd lean over and whisper a joke in my ear about something that was happening on screen. In response, I'd roll my eyes, make fun of his attempt at humor, and eventually get pelted with Skittles by either Mikey or Ashton for being too loud. 

While Chris Pratt was kicking some ass on-screen at the climax of the film, Luke nudged my shoulder, and I leaned over to hear him out, not taking my eyes off the movie. He whispers into my ear, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine, "Did he really leave Pawnee for this?" 

I put my head in my hands for a moment, and groan. 

"You know," He chuckles, leaning against the arm rest that separates us, "because he was in Parks and Rec. In Pawnee." I can feel him staring at the side of my face with his infamous lopsided grin, and all of sudden, I feel nervous. I look at his hand, which is nearly touching mine, since I forced him to share the arm rest with me. 

I curl my fingers into a fist, and put my hands in my lap, before turning to look at him, our faces a few inches apart, "He's fighting dinosaurs now, Luke. I think that's a win." I smirk, and he returns the expression. 

Luke takes a deep breath, and whispers, "Leena, please," The boy turns toward the screen, and crosses his arms, "some of us are trying to watch a movie here. Please keep your voice--" 

I punch him in the arm, and he stifles a yelp, but we still receive more Skittles thrown our way by Ashton a few feet over. Luke looks at me with a pout after a mumbled apology to the brown haired drummer. 

"Idiot," I laugh, and Luke nudges me, again. I turn to him, and he just shakes his head, smiling down at me. His smile was beautiful; I couldn't ever forget it, even if I wanted to. It gave me goosebumps, made the colors around us blur into one. I focused on only him then; his eyes were as blue as the pacific, cool and inviting. 

Someone could get lost in his eyes, enveloped in the shades of blue and kindness. Did he do this to everyone he met? Smile that gorgeous smile, and leave them stuttering and breathless? 

Different shades of red started to color my cheeks, and I'm sure he noticed, even with the lights dimmed in the theater. He turned his attention back towards the screen, and so did I. Though, I couldn't help but glance at him every now and then from the corner of my eye. 

God, what's happening to me? 

                                                  ___________________

"That was awesome," Ashton exclaimed as we exited the theater, grasping his Skittles like his life depended on it. Jesus, will he ever run out of those things? 

"Agreed." Luke said, patting him on the shoulder. I walked next to him, and Michael strolled next to me, sipping his lemonade. Calum, Jenna, and the few others that had tagged along were a few feet ahead, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. 

"Who are those people?" I ask Michael, gesturing to the strangers by my best friend and his girlfriend. 

Michael shrugs, pushing his hair back and out of his eyes, "Just some of Jenna's friends. We've been introduced, but I barely remembered their names. College dropouts, I think." 

"Are they at least nice?" I furrow my eyebrows as we come to a stop in front of the restrooms. Ashton and Luke head inside the men's room while Mikey and I wait a few feet away. I watch as Calum and Jenna walk off towards the entrance, not even bothering to look at us.