It's a Long Way Home (Luke Hemmings)

The Devil in Your Bloodstream

   I woke up early in the morning to take a shower. Luke and Avery had been back together and as gross as ever for a week and a half now. Luke always seemed so tired when she left. He dragged his feet when he walked. He wasn't talking to any of the boys and whenever he tried to talk to me I turned the other cheek. I felt bad but I knew that I shouldn't. He was hurting himself and everyone around him with his toxic relationship and I couldn't stand to be a part of it.
   I got out of the shower and put on a cute black dress with sunflower patten on it. I applied my favorite mascara and a dark nude lip stain. While I was straightening my hair I heard a knock at the door. I was about to go and get it myself but Luke beat me to it.
"Michael?" Luke asks surprisedly, "it's been a minute, hasn't it? How are you?"
"I'm great," Michael said flatly, "where's Dani?"
   I turned my straight iron off and walked out into the hallway so that they couldn't see me, but I could see and hear them clearly. I played around with my hair while I secretly spied on them.
"Why do you want to see Dani?" Luke asked, mirroring Michael's unimpressed tone. It was kind of strange, actually. I had hung out with Ash and Cal before, and Luke didn't question them. But that was before he and Avery had broken up and gotten back together.
"Because Dani and I like to hang out," Michael said testily. I could feel the tension between the two of them from where I was standing.
   Michael still had no idea what had happened between Luke and I, but he knew that something had happened. The two of them stood there, having a staring contest of sorts before I walked in. I cleared my throat and stepped in between the two of them.
   I wrapped my arms around Michael's waist and greeted him with a kiss.
   Luke looked taken aback.
"When the hell did this happen?" He asked with wide eyes, gesturing towards my hand on Michael's hip.
"Maybe if you thought to actually talk to your friends, you'd know," I said coldly.
   I watched Luke's expression fall. He looked guilty and apologetic, but that didn't mean he would change his ways. It was really time someone told him how much of an idiot he was being.
"Michael genuinely cares about my feelings. He knows what he wants and he's a good person." I wanted to add unlike you, but I left it at that.
   Luke clenched his jaw and glared at Michael. Michael just shrugged and pulled me closer towards his body.
   Luke groaned and walked away from us and back into his room. I felt annoyed with his reaction. He had no right to be jealous, not after what he had done. Yet here he was, acting like we were going behind his back.
"He needs to get his head in the right place," Michael said to me.
I nodded in agreement.

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   Michael and I were sitting on the living room couch catching up on Game of Thrones when Luke came out of his room fully dressed with a smirk on his face. He opened the front door and let Avery in. I internally groaned and mentally prepared myself for her snide comments.
"Are you serious?" Michael said to himself, looking at Avery.
"What is it?" I asked, pausing the television and watching the devil herself walk up to Michael and I. Michael placed his hand on my leg protectively.
"I thought you broke up," Michael protested angrily.
   Avery grinned at Michael and looked at me with disgust. She raised her eyebrows at the sight on Michael's hand on my thigh.
"So you're friend hopping now, skank?"
   I balled my hand into a fist and gritted my teeth. I didn't think I could take much more of her without throwing a few punches.
"Excuse you?" Michael stood up, getting in Avery's face.
"Your girlfriend's been messing around with all of you, hasn't she?"
"Shut up!" Michael growled.
"Why the hell are you just standing by and letting her say this?" He yelled at Luke.
   Avery scoffed and walked into Luke's room and shut his door. Luke was still standing awkwardly between the kitchen and the living room.
"Well?" Michael asked, shoving Luke by the shoulders.
"It's not my fault! I'm not the one saying it! You can't expect me to monitor her, can you?"
"You told me months ago that you liked Dani. You told me you thought she was a great person, that you loved having her around. So why the hell are you letting your girlfriend talk her down like that? What kind of bullshit friend are you? Dani came to me because of all this crap you make her put up with. I didn't know you could be such an asshole, Luke. Avery has really fucked with your head. Get your act together. It's her, or us."
   Luke's jaw dropped and he stuttered some sort of  indiscernible apology.
"Come on Dani, we're getting out of here," Michael said bitterly, taking hold of my hand and walking with me to the front door.
   He looked back to say one more thing but stopped short and said, "it's not worth it."

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"You shouldn't have to put up with that," Michael said angrily.
   I shrugged and sat back in his bed, pulling a pillow close to myself and squeezing it tightly. I didn't want to tell Michael how upset I really was.
"He's being so stupid," Michael sighed.
I pulled my knees close to my chest and looked at Michael guiltily.
"Mikey..."
   He stopped pacing his room and looked at me worriedly.
"You know how Avery said I was friend hopping, I.."
"I know. She was just being her typical self. I understand," he said kindly.
"No, I-"
   Michael frowned and his expression changed to a whole different kind of worry.
"You weren't messing around with him behind my back, were you?" He asked. He looked hurt.
"No, no, no. Nothing like that. It's just, he and I kinda had a small thing. Before you and I."
   His eyes widened in surprise, "really? While he was with Avery?" He spat her name.
   I shook my head, "no. It was in between make ups. It wasn't really anything. We kissed and that's pretty much it. I just thought I'd tell you, so, you know."
   Michael sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "you had feelings for Luke?"
"I don't know," I admitted. I still didn't know.
"I really like you, Dani," Michael said softly.
   I smiled at him and climbed off his bed to stand in front of him and take hold of his hands.
"I like you too, Michael," I kissed him.
"I just don't want to make this a serious thing before I can sort everything out for myself. Okay?"
   Michael nodded and kissed me again. I smiled when his lips pressed into mine.
"Who needs labels anyway?" He whispered.
   I chuckled and pressed one more kiss to the tip of his nose.
"Stay here tonight?" He asked.
   I nodded and wrapped my arms over his shoulders. He let out a shaky laugh and we fell onto the bed together in a fit of breathless laughter.

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A/n:

Woo! We made it!
Chapter ten, my friends.
This was was a little difficult to write but I did the best I could and I'm pretty happy with the turnout.
Also I am so sorry about the swear words. I couldn't take the story seriously without at least a few. I'm really sorry if you hate them. I'm trying to keep them minimal.
I love you all so much. Please vote, comment & share.
See you next chapter,
Miss America