It's a Long Way Home (Luke Hemmings)

Taking Chances

   I'm not sure what it was about Friday nights, but they made for the perfect time to take the chances you could never imagine yourself taking. Not in a million years.
   Luke was in the shower getting ready to leave after I told him that wallowing in self pity was never going to get him anywhere. It's been only a week since him and Avery had broken up, so no, I wasn't expecting him to magically have sprung back into action. In fact, I knew that he could remain sad for the rest of his life if he allowed himself to, and that's why I decided I would take him out for dinner tonight.
   I put on a nice dark blue dress and even curled my already sort of wavy hair. By the time Luke had gotten out of the shower I was just starting on my eyeliner.
"Dani I don't know what to wear," he complained, walking into my bedroom with nothing but a towel on. I tried my hardest to focus my attention on his face rather than his bare chest covered in small rivulets of water.
"Well you can get away with jeans, but try a button up shirt, okay?"
   Luke shook his head and trotted off back to his bedroom.
   I finished up my makeup and grabbed a jacket from my closet before walking out of my room.
"Does this work?" He asked, holding up a button up black and red flannel shirt.
   I rolled my eyes, "I meant like, a nice one."
   He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted, "this is a nice one."
   I sighed, and took the flannel from him, putting it back on a hanger and into the closet. I ruffled through a few shirts before I found a nice solid black button up. He was working on pulling up his black skinny jeans when I tossed the shirt at him, causing him to lose balance and fall onto his bed, pants half on. I wanted to make a stupid comment about his American Apparel underwear but I kept it to myself and gave him a ten minute warning.
   Three minutes later he stepped out of the room with his shirt halfway buttoned up and his combat boots unlaced.
"Did you take my hair gel?"
   I chuckled, "why would I take your hair gel?"
"I dunno I feel like I'm losing a lot of my things right now. Especially my sanity," he said dramatically.
"Calm down, pretty boy. You can borrow my hairspray if you want."
   He clicked his tongue, "I don't know how to use hairspray."
"You just, spray it and brush your hair the way you want it," I said impatiently.
"How about you do my hair for me?" He asked, taking the time to lean his foot up on the doorframe and tie his laces.
"You're serious?" I asked.
"Mhm," he sounded, buttoning up the rest of his shirt, with the exception the top button.
"Okay. Come to my bathroom, then."
   He followed behind me as I walked into my bathroom and pulled out my hairspray and blow dryer. He sat down on my toilet and drummed his fingers on his knees.
   The whole time I was doing his hair he was looking up at me with puppy dog eyes. He must have needed the comfort because he's never wanted me to baby him like this before. When I was finished I pulled him off the toilet and he nodded at his reflection in the mirror.
"Okay let's go, we have reservations for eight."
"You made reservations?" He asked with a mixture of surprise and appreciation.
"Yeah and we're gonna be late for them unless you move your butt, go, go, go."

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"I've never gone to a fancy restaurant like this just as friends," Luke said to me when we sat down at our table. He looked terribly underdressed, but he wouldn't be himself without his skinny jeans and combat boots, so I chose not to care.
"I used to go out at least once a month to a high end restaurant with David."
"Who's David?" Luke asked.
"Oh. He's my best friend back home. Him and Alex," I smiled.
"Are those the people you're always face timing?"
   I nodded, "them and my family, of course."
"Do you miss them?" He asked sadly.
I frowned, "of course I do. But I still get to talk to them all of the time. I'm going to visit them after my second semester ends."
   Luke smiled at me sweetly and took a sip of his water after looking away.
   The waiter came up and we both ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo (which we unknowingly both wanted). A few minutes later the plates were placed in front of us with what I would call an over enthusiastic plate of pasta. Everything was so delicately placed to look as presentable as possible. I almost felt guilty eating it but when Luke happily took his first bite, I dug in for myself.

"Your bill," the waiter said, almost handing it to Luke but changing paths when I outstretched my hand to grab it.
"We're going to split it, aren't we?"
"I'm the one who brought you here, I'm going to pay."
"Really?" He asked like I was suggesting we jump off of the Eiffel Tower without bungee chords or a parachute.
"Yeah, of course."
"No one's ever payed for me before," he said.
"First time for everything," I smiled, handing the waiter the bill in exact change plus a $20 tip.
"Let's go," I said, picking up my jacket and putting it on.

"How are you feeling, anyway?" I asked when we got out of the restaurant. The night air was cold but I felt prepared in my nice warm jacket.
"Not that I didn't have a great time with you, but I just can't shake this feeling that I'm going to be alone for the rest of my life."
"Like I've said before, Luke. You're amazing and anyone would be more than lucky to have you."
"Avery was probably all I deserved," Luke mumbled.
"You're wrong. There's someone out there who is going to show you what love is really like. It's like in the movies, Luke."
   Luke shook his head in disagreement, "movie love doesn't exist. That's why it's fictional, and that's why so many people yearn for it."
"How poetic. Listen, just stop beating yourself up over it, okay? You're only eighteen, you don't need to think about who's going to love you for the rest of your life."
   Luke groaned, "but I can't help thinking about it. Who's gonna care about me when they find out how giddy I get after drinking a cup of coffee. Or how my hair looks really stupid when I wake up in the morning. Or, how about the way I talk too much when I get nervous. No one wants to-"
"Shut up, Luke."
   Luke stopped walking and looked at me like a lost child that had just been denied help from a stranger.
   I groaned frustratedly and pulled him down by his shirt collar and pressed his lips to mine. He was still frozen for a split second before he pulled away and whispered a small, "woah."
"Don't you get that I care about you and I'd never hurt you the way she has."
    Luke brushed his fingers over his lips and grinned. He placed his hand on my waist and kissed me one more time. My eyes fluttered closed and I could feel my eyelashes brush against his. He pulled his face away a few inches so that he was looking into my eyes and took hold of my hand. He didn't say anything.
   I watched the warmth of our breaths cloud up together when they came in contact with the cool night air surrounding us. My heart was beating so hard that I could practically hear it in my chest. We walked home together with our hands intertwined. We held on to each other like it was our last day on earth. I didn't know I had feelings for Luke. I didn't think he could have thought he had feelings for me, either. Yet, somehow, here we were.
   When we got back to our apartment we went into our respective rooms and shed our day clothes. I wiped the makeup off my face and changed from my dress into cotton shorts and a black thermal.
"Dani?" Luke asked, standing in my doorway wearing a plain black t-shirt and sweatpants.
   I patted the spot beside myself on my mattress and he sat down next to me. Our legs were pressing up against each other's and he slipped down to lay on my pillow. I pulled the blanket over us and cuddled close to his chest. He kissed my forehead and tangled his fingers in my hair. I let out one final yawn before I feel asleep, feeling the warmth of his chest resting against my cheek.

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A/n:

Hello,
This is by far my favorite chapter for obvious reasons. Just writing this made my heart melt into a puddle of fluffy goodness.
Please vote for my story and leave a comment so I know you're enjoying the story so far. There's still a ways away from the end, but a whole lot left to happen as well.
Love you lots,
Miss America