All About You / Luke Hemmings

Twelve: Pizza

AILAINA

I had a hard time sleeping last night. I couldn't help but to wake up feeling guilty about judging Luke without really knowing him. All morning I've been contemplating whether or not I should apologize or if that would make me seem too soft.
You know what? Who cares, I'm gonna text him anyway.

Me: Hey

Luke: what do you want

Me: I just want to talk

Luke: oh boy

Luke: what is it

Me: You're not a bad person

Luke: wow, what a glowing commendation!

Luke: i'm honoured

Me: But I wish you wouldn't smoke

Me: It's not good for you

Luke: being me isn't good for me?

Luke: news flash: i'm comfortable with myself

Luke: i don't know what self esteem complex you have

Luke: but you're so bent on trying to fix me

Luke: you want me to be what you think I should be

Luke: i bet you think "oh he'd be so great if he didn't smoke" along with another laundry list of things to change about me

Luke: good girls like you love to hate bad boys like me

Speechless. I stare at my phone speechless. Well I tried! If he wants to continue with him habits, that's his problem. I tried to warn him but I guess he just doesn't care.

Bzzzt! Bzzzt!

Michael: hey Lain! Down for pizza? My treat :) the boys will be there as well

Me: Okay!!

Michael: sweet

Michael: We'll pick you up now

•••

Michael picked me up at my place, Ashton driving. When we got to the parlour Calum was already there waiting in a booth. I sat next to Calum, him having the putter seat. Ashton was across from me and next to him was Michael. The pizza arrived quickly because Calum already ordered for us.

"So are any of you going to Jack's party tomorrow?" Ashton asks while chewing his slice of cheese pizza

"I'm going," says Michael. "It's gonna be so fuckin' great."

I rest my elbow on the table and set my chin in the palm of my hand. "I kinda wanna go."

"I don't know guys," Calum says shyly. "It's a school night, wouldn't that be a bad idea?"

"Who kicked your balls this morning?" Michael asks sarcastically. "Who cares? It's just one night. Let loose!"

Ashton nodded his head. "Yeah, c'mon! Unless you plan on getting stoned or drunk off your ass, you'll be fine."

"I'm in," I say.

"Woo!" Michael leans over the table to give me a high five which I gladly return.

"C'mon Cal! One night, just like Michael said. It'll be fun!" I smile at him and hold his hand, hoping that would make him change his mind.

"Ugh," he groans, "alright. I'll go."

"Yeah!!!" The three of us cheer in unison.

"Now," Michael says, raising a slice of his Hawaiian pizza in the air, "we celebrate!" Michael easily devours the slice as we do the same with ours.

"Who's gonna be there?" asks Calum.

"Uh, the usual," says Ash. "Pretty much all the seniors, us of course-"

"Oh, and Luke!" butts Michael.

"Luke?.." I ask. "Like, Hemmings Luke?"

Calum furrows his brows. "Why is Luke gonna be there?"

"Yeah, Ashton told me they didn't like him."

"I didn't say they didn't like him, I said they don't mind him," he says, raising his finger.

"They're cool with him now apparently."

"I don't really mind, to be honest. I'm not going to be interacting with him in any way so it doesn't really matter to me," Ashton adds.

Calum slouches. "I don't know if I want to go anymore," he pouts.

"Oh come on, Calum!" Michael whines. "Who cares if he's there?"

"I do! I can barely stand that kid coming over to my place. Spending an entire evening at a party with him? No way, nope!"

"C'mon, Cal, don't be a party pooper," says Ashton.

"I just don't want to reek of smoke when I get home."

"Then don't go near him," says Michael.

"Yeah," I agree, "you can stick with me the whole time. I don't wanna be around him, either."

There was a pause.

"Okay fine," he says, giving in. "But only because I'm going to be with you the whole time!"

"Yay!"

"This is going to be so much fun," says Michael as he begins eating his sixth slice.

Calum looks at the time on his phone then wipes his hands and mouth on a napkin. "I gotta go now," he says.

"Where to?" Ashton asks.

"Gotta get home, Luke's coming over to help me with our chemistry project," he responds, air quoting the word 'help.' "Need a ride home, Ailaina?"

"Umm... Yeah, sure, thanks."

"Already?" asks Michael. "But you only ate two slices!"

"That's because I can only eat two slices, Mikey," I laugh. "Thanks again for paying."

"Oh no problem, any time!" he says.

•••

Around an hour 'til midnight, I get a text from Calum.

Calum☻: What'd you do?

Me: Nothing?

Calum☻: Luke helped me with my project

Calum☻: what did you do?

Me: I didn't do anything

Calum☻: weird..

•••

Me: You helped him

Luke: and?

Me: That was... Unexpected

Luke: you have a question

Me: Well... Why?

Luke: i felt like it, i don't know

Me: Thanks for helping him

Luke: yea