A Slip Up, a Confession, and a Ghost

So many things happened last night. Last night we hugged. The three of us, we actually hugged. As in I felt them. They were there. I mean, they've always been there, but it's different. Before they were just air, and technically they still are, but not to me. I can feel them. I barely go any sleep, with everything that happened last night, the Orpheum, Caleb, me now being able to feel them, I couldn't stop thinking for a second.

Slowly though, all my thoughts shifted to Luke. Orpheum, Luke flickering. Me feeling them, me feeling Luke. Now, that's all I can think about. Luke. Our 'interesting little relationship', as he put it, has changed. It's more.. possible. And that thought is both enticing and terrifying.

So now im getting ready and about to see the band, but all I can think about is that im about to see Luke. I need to stop thinking about Luke. But that's impossible. The boy lives in my garage for god's sake.

But that shouldn't matter, I should be able to focus on detangling my hair without thinking of Luke, they have nothing to do with each other. Yet here I am. Detangling my curls, somehow connecting it to Luke. So I give up on that, im not going anywhere anyway, I'll deal with it later.

As I continue on, getting dressed and heading toward the garage, saying hi to my brother and father on my way, I try my best to avoid thinking about Luke. Which fails the second I see him, but I'm not sure why I expected otherwise.

"Hey, Boss" he says pretty much as soon as I walk in, which is definitely not helping with the whole all-my-thoughts-being-about-him ordeal.

"Hi Julie" Reggie and Alex say simultaneously, turning to see me when they heard Luke.

"Hey guys, you all did great last night, by the way. I don't think I said it enough with everything happening." I say, looking at Luke a little more than the other two, who both seemed too focused on a music sheet anyway.

They both said stuff along the lines of 'thanks' and 'you were brilliant too' but were still all the more focused on the sheet.

Luke, on the other hand, was focused on her. Which was really not helping.

"You said it plenty. You deserve the praise far more than us anyway. You went out and started singing before you even knew we'd be there." He walked closer to me, he was smiling. God, his smile really is perfect, that wasn't just an exaggeration because of my crush, it's perfect. "You faced your fear and you sounded awesome while doing it. I'm proud."

Proud. I didn't expect to hear that, but it was a great thing to hear. I couldn't help but hug him, tightly. Not in a romantic way, though I definitely felt it a bit of that, but it was more friendly than anything. Because crush or not, he's one of my best friends. I don't even think Flynn has said she's proud of me, not like this at least. I've heard it from my dad, and my mum used to say it. But friends don't often say it so sincerely. Obviously Flynn is supportive, and she loves me, but it's different. It's never felt like this, and that's not even including the romantic part of my friendship with Luke.

"Thank you" I say, as Luke wraps his arms around me for the hug. It took him a second, probably out of shock.

"It's so weird, being able to hug you. It's nice, don't get me wrong but-" he starts but I interrupt him

"I get what you mean, a nice weird, but still weird." I say and he pulls out of the hug to smile at me.

"Exactly." He says, with that smile.

That perfect smile.

"What?" He asks, and I look at him confused. Before realising I may have said that perfect smile stuff out loud. Good god, what have I done.