The Bet {l.h.}

coincidences

previously;

I opened the door and walked out, only glancing behind me once to see Luke staring at me with his mouth wide open.
I walked passed Michael on the way outside and he followed me, trying to keep up with my long strides. "What happened?"
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let's just say our bet is now in action and off to a good start."

---

I rolled over and groaned loudly. My head was pounding and I felt like crap. I opened my eyes and shrieked. "Michael!"

"Good morning, beautiful." he groaned, rolling closer to me. He pulled the blankets up to his chin and wrapped them around the both of us. I started to giggle. "What?" he asked, laughing because I was laughing.

"This is so weird. Maybe if we were a couple, this would be normal, but..." I trailed off, wiggling my eyebrows in a playful manner.

"What?" Michael asked, pulling away quickly, feigning offense. 

I rolled my eyes and buried my face into his shoulder. "I love you, Michael." I meant it. He had been there for me since day one and I don't think I could ever explain to him how much he meant to me. He mumbled back something unintelligible and yawned. I played with his hair for a few moments before I heard his stomach growl. 

"Breakfast run?" I asked, giggling. Michael nodded and together we both got out of bed and put on less trashy clothes. "Parents working today, I guess," I said, reading the bright green sticky note left on the refrigerator downstairs. "IHOP?" I asked, tossing the note into the trash. Michael nodded and we headed outside.

I tossed my keys in his general direction and heard him curse as they hit the ground and skidded beneath his old red truck. I climbed into the passenger seat and struggled with the seat belt before reaching for his crappy radio. After failing to find anything of interest, I plugged my phone into the AUX cord and opened Spotify. Hello by Adele began playing at full blast and I struggled with the knobs before finding a reasonable volume to suit our hangovers.

We drove around the empty streets for a few minutes before finding our desired restaurant. Michael found a good parking spot and we pushed open the door to the small building. As soon as I walked in, the scent of maple syrup and coffee smacked me in the face. Someone quickly noticed me and my dark headed best friend and ushered us to a table for two.

"Hey, how're you all doing this morning?" a male voice asked us. I looked up at the same time as our waiter glanced up from his notepad and we made eye contact. "Oh.."

"Well, hello there, Luke. Fancy meeting you here, huh?" Michael said, grinning widely. He looked back and forth between Luke and I with an amused expression on his face. I shot a glare at the boy across from me and he stifled his giggle.

I avoided Luke's penetrating stare and glanced at the menu once more before telling the blonde what I wanted for breakfast. Michael followed my actions and Luke scooped up our floppy paper menus before walking away, looking a bit sickly.

Michael squealed and practically fell out of his seat. "Emma, did you see his face?! Priceless!" He then proceeded to contort his face into something resembling shock, anger, and hurt. I laughed at how stupid he looked but at the same time wondered if the emotions playing on his face were what he really felt. 

Still in deep thought, I was startled by a loud clinking as Luke set down our respective plates in front of us. On accident, he bumped into my water glass and sent the ice cold liquid into my lap. Instinctively, I jumped up from my seat, which resulted in me colliding with Luke, who had shifted so the water wouldn't slash him. He yelped as he slipped on the wet floor and crashed onto the floor in a tangle of limbs.

We all stared at each other for a second before bursting into laughter. Everyone else in the room stared at the three idiots giggling at something most people would be embarrassed about. Luke struggled to pick himself off of the dirty tile and I reached for some napkins to dry off my clothes. Michael sat back in his seat, holding in a couple of pent up chuckles. "That was great," he said.

"Speak for yourself," Luke and I said at the same time. I rolled my eyes and frowned at my soggy pancakes. Luke offered to get me a new plate, and I agreed, always up for something free.

He walked away and I watched Michael stare at his ass. "Michael," I said, snapping him out of his trance. I smiled at him as he started to dig into his stack of pancakes. I watched as he dunked a forkful into a puddle of maple syrup. I swear his pupils dilated the way they would if he were looking at someone he was in love with.

Once everything got settled and Michael and I were both full, we payed and were on our way out to his truck when we ran into Luke. Again.

"Stalking us, Hemmings?" I asked, smirking.

He rolled his eyes and said something under his breath. "I might be, but quite frankly, you're not worth my time," he said as he continued to his silver vehicle.

I took a deep breath as Michael took my hand gently and drove us to his house. I lounged on his couch while he dug around for a good video game. Deciding to not do my homework, I opened up Instagram and searched Luke Hemming's page. Once I found it, I scrolled through the pictures of him and his countless friends and slutty looking girls. Grimacing at a particularly gruesome picture of him with his tongue down some brunette's throat, I exited the app.

Michael informed me that while his game system updated, he was going to dye his hair a new color. I warned him that the chemicals might seep into his brain and make him more dumb. He responded by giving me the finger and trudging upstairs to his bathroom. I snuggled into the soft fabric of the couch and was about to take a nap when my phone vibrated.

Messanger now
Luke Hemmings: Hey

Frowning, I slid the notification to the right and sent a blunt, 'hello.' Almost immediately, he texted me back.

Luke: I have a question
Emma: what
Luke: Who was that guy with you today?

I was confused that he didn't know Michael, to be quite honest. We've only been going to the same school for twelve years.

Emma: thought you didn't care
Luke: I don't. Just curious.
Emma: he's my best friend
Luke: Are you two... together?

What an idiot.

Emma: he's gay
Luke: Oh, okay. Cool.
Emma: is that all?
Luke: I think so.

Rolling my eyes, I hopped up to see what Michael was up to. I stood in the bathroom doorway and watched him bleach his already thin hair. He noticed me in the mirror and grinned at me. "What color is on the agenda today?" I asked.

He held up a hair dye box and tossed it at me. Red. "But you've already done this," I whined. He shrugged and continued his work. Sighing, I went into the kitchen for a glass of water and some Advil for my godawful headache. I glanced out of one of the windows and spotted a neighbor of Michael's shuffling around outside. Upon further inspection, I was able to pinpoint the person. I immediately crossed the small home until I was standing behind Michael again.

"Michael... You never told me Luke Hemmings was your neighbor."

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 not long and i'm terribly sorry for my absence, PLEASE LOVE ME