fixed // luke hemmings

twenty two

Everyone's eyes focus on Finn, making him slightly uncomfortable. The girls and I are looking at him with raised eyebrows, while Max and Liam are settling back, not wanting to get involved. Ethan, on the other hand, is one for some banter. He's leaning forward with both his elbows up and a smirk on his face.

"It's not - I just, um, I," Finn stutters, feeling pressured, "I just think - "

Just then, the big double doors to the lunch hall are pushed open and slammed with a loud bang as a very angry Ruby enters.

Everyone in the hall looks over at her and goes silent while she comes over to our table and dramatically drops her bag onto the spare chair next to her.

Finn sighs as the attention is no longer on him.

"We can talk about this later," I say, so he knows I'm not finished with him.

He puts his hands up in surrender, "Fine by me,"

The table all look at Ruby, but she's looking right at me. I can't tell what the look on her face is to be exact. But it's obvious she's just been 'talking' to Oscar.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" I ask her, quietly.

She nods in response as I pick up both our bags and head out towards the double doors. On my way out, I turn my head to see what our table our doing. They are all staring at me, wanting to know what's going on. I give them a look to say I'll tell them later and they go back to eating their lunch. Except Finn. He looks sorry. But I guess he'll have to wait. My best friend's problems will always come first.

I follow Ruby out of the hall and down one of the long corriders that leads towards the catering room. No one is ever in the catering room at lunch, not even teachers, so Ruby and I always come here to chat.

When we reach the room, she opens the door and heads right to the back of the classroom, where someone has set up loads of chairs. We both sit down and I hand Ruby's bag back to her.

"Thank you," she smiles, looking down.

"So," I start, "Are you gonna tell me what happened this time?"

She shakes her head, "I can't, Alex. You'll think I'm being stupid,"

I rack my brains as I try to figure out what could have happened but nothing comes to mind as to why she'd be this upset.

"You had a fight with Oscar," I say, stating the obvious, "Why?"

Ruby looks up and sighs, "Yes, but not like this. I overreacted, I think. But then again, I don't want to say I overreacted because I owe my life to these people,"

"Sorry, I'm confused?" I say as more of a question.

"Exactly! I don't even know what I'm saying," she says, frustrated with herself.

"You can talk to me about anything. Just say it. Or just try and get the words out, okay?" I say, sympathetically.

She nods and then looks down and starts playing with the ring around her finger. A sign that she's nervous. Luke would play with his bracelets.

Stop thinking about him, Alex. He's not part of your life anymore. Your best friend is having a cricis and you're thinking about him? 

I look at Ruby as I wait for her to say something, anything that will take my mind off Luke.

She sighs again, "Okay. Before I start, you have to promise that you won't make fun of me, however stupid I'm about to sound,"

"I promise I won't make fun of you," I smile.

Promise.

That's what Luke said to me once.

I promise I won't forget you.

I wonder how that's turned out.

"It started during History," she begins, "As you already know, me and Oscar are in the same History class. The teacher put on a video from YouTube for us to watch and before it started, the unskipable advert came on and it was a 5SOS one. I looked up at the board and smiled, but most of the boys were laughing and booing at it so, me being me, I stood up and made a big deal out of it. I started saying how 5SOS make loads of people happy and they wouldn't know happiness if it hit them round the face,"

She pauses as a flashback crosses her mind.

"Go on, Ruby. I'm still listening,"

"An - And then Oscar. He stood up and started saying really harsh shit about them and how all they are interested in is money and sex and bullshit like that. I was so taken aback, I - I couldn't say anything. So, I just left. I know it's really stupid of me, to leave a class because of drama of some band. But that's the thing, Alex. They're not just some band to me. I love them. I really do love them,"

Memories of the boys then start flooding back to me as I try to push them away. I understand what Ruby is saying. I couldn't understand her any more if I tried. But she doesn't know that.

"It's okay," I smile, "I get it. They mean so much to you and that's okay,"

She smiles in return, before carrying on with the story.

"After I left, I heard the teacher shout at me to come back and then I heard footsteps after me. But I went to the girls toilets. I stayed for 10 minutes, before I went into the corridor and saw Oscar on the other side. I tried not to look at him, but he came over and stood right in front of me. He didn't say sorry though. He just said he didn't realise I would get so hurt over a comment over a stupid band. He didn't understand anything. And then he tried to kiss me, but I couldn't. I can't do this with him if he doesn't support my likes and interests, right?"

I nod, "So you ended it? Properly?"

"Yeah, at least, I think I did. He just left and went back to class when I wouldn't kiss him. I have no idea where he is now, but honestly, I couldn't give two fucks,"

I want to tell Ruby that I understand her all too well. I've been in this situation before but she doesn't know that. It kills me that I know everything about her and she thinks she knows everything about me. But if I tell her, I don't think I could cope with her response.

"It will be okay," I say, as I wrap my arms round her, "You don't need him anyway,"

"I know," she cries, "But I want him,"

We sit in silence for a few minutes, the only sound being the sniffles and cries from my best friend.

I see Oscar walk past the door and he stops when he sees us. He's about to come in but before he can, I shoot a glare in his direction and flip him off. No one messes with my best friend and gets away with it.

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"Alex! Wait up!"

I turn around and the slight wind hits my hair across my face. From what I can see, Finn is running down towards me and the school gates, papers flying out of his bag.

I huff and carry on walking towards the bus. Usually, I would ride home with him in his car, but I guess we aren't speaking after what happened at lunch. Alice and Violet offered to take me home but I declined; I knew they'd just gossip about Ruby for the whole car journey. All the boys except Finn are staying behind for football practice and Ruby said she wanted to catch up with Oscar. I knew she couldn't stay mad at him for long.

"Jesus, girl. Slow down," Finn pants from behind me.

"I'm gonna miss the bus," I say, walking faster.

Soon enough, he appears beside me and curses when he notices the amount of papers he's lost.

"You said we could talk later,"

I laugh, "You really wanna talk about it?"

"Yes, I do. Please?" he asks, hopeful.

I look towards the bus stop where the few final people are getting on. There's no time now.

I sigh, "Okay. Take me home,"

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sorry this chapter was rly bad but it gets better i promise