Rejects // Luke Hemmings [au]

8

December 16th, 1956

7:35pm

Violets POV

Laying down in my bed, I watch Luke in his cell, scribbling on the paper he has yet to finish. Mine's been done since yesterday, thankfully, because that might have been the only reason I would've remembered him. After yesterday, I've basically been sleeping all day because I am completely exhausted from what I've been put through.

I take my eyes off of concentrated Luke when I hear the familiar sound of Calum's heavy boots coming down the hallway. His voice echoes through the wing of cell's when he talks to other patients, then he comes to the end where Luke and I stay.

"Hi Calum" I say, with all the energy left in me.

"Hey Violet" Calum smiles, unlocking my cell, but I stay laying in my bed, not really minding him. Luke watches us carefully, as if Calum will try to take me back into shock therapy, but I'm almost positive that won't happen.

"I was wondering if you guys wanted to come outside for your evening free time. It's really nice, and you can see the stars" He tells us, making me sit up. You're allowed to go outside here, but only under strict supervision, so no one really does it because they don't get any time alone. There is a large courtyard in the middle of this place. The entire building is shaped like a horse shoe, so the chance that patients are going to try to escape are slim to none.

"Yeah, that would be great. Luke? Do you want to go?" I ask him from across the hall, and he nods, putting the scrappy paper down along with his pencil, waiting for Calum to unlock his.

Calum walks between us, as usual down the hallway and through several doors, telling other guards we're going outside. Most of the guards around here are assholes, and I want just as much to do with them as they do with me.

"I guess I'll just sit here" Calum tells us, sitting down in a chair that looks out into the courtyard. He picks up the duffle bag he carried and pulls out two blankets, identical to the ones on our beds, "It's cold out there, so take these" He says, handing us the new, non-chewed blankets.

"Thanks Calum" I smile, earning one back before Luke and I push through the steel doors, letting the cold breeze hit our skin. As it's the middle of December, it's already dark outside, and the moon that I usually see through my window shines even brighter out here.

Luke and I find a spot on the grass that is relatively dry and lay back to look at the night sky, with stars scattered through the sky.

"Are you almost done your essay?" I ask him, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Not really. I don't think I have any memorable moments in my life, that are particularly good" He sighs, his breath showing in the cold air.

"Oh" I mumble, "Well maybe once you get out of here, you'll be able to make good memories"

"I don't think I'll be getting out of here, Vi" Luke's voice turns short, and I know exactly how it feels. It's scary thinking that you'll never see the outside world again, and that your whole life will the same thing every single day.

"What's one thing about yourself that no one else knows?" My question is random, but it's better than talking about the depressing fact that 90% of the people here now, will die here.

"I like singing" He laughs, as if he's embarrassed to tell me that. I sit up quickly and look at him, causing him to sit up as well, with a concerned look on his face.

"You have to sing for me!"

"No- Violet, it's- I'm not that good" he stutters, as if he's shaking because of the cold.

"Yeah, well now that you've told me, you have to" I protest with a smile on my face. I sit cross legged, arms crossed as well, waiting on him to answer like a 5 year old. The 5 year old that I was.

"Okay, okay. But only if you dance with me"

"I don't know how to dance" I shrug, standing up with him. "Plus there's no music, dummy"

A wide grin grows on his face, "I'll show you then" he answers, disregarding my comment about him being dumb.

He takes my hands and places them around his neck, and he puts his on my waist, making me the slightest bit uncomfortable with our close proximity. I'm never this close to anyone, and the fact he's a very good looking guy makes it even more awkward. It makes me smile knowing that he's willing to come this close to me, that he's not afraid of me.

Luke begins to sing a song softly while guiding me with his body. I would never let anyone else dance with me, let alone be this close to me, so it feels strange that I'm not fighting it.

He twirls me around like a ballerina, and chuckles in the process. This is what it feels like to be normal, this must be it. Feeling like you're not crazy, feeling like you have nothing to fear in the world. That's how Luke makes me feel, and that's something that no one else has ever done to me before.

I rest my head on my shoulder, just taking in his scent and closing my eyes. It's something that I'll never get tired of, the smell of him. He just smells like home to me.

As he begins to whisper sing, I can feel his heart beat against my face. His staggered breaths become more slow and relaxed, and his grip on my waist tightens.

"Luke?" I ask, interrupting his singing. I lift my head to look him right in the eyes, only a few inches from his face.

"Violet" he smiles, following the name game.

"I'm cold" I stutter, removing my hands from his neck. I walk back over to the blanket Calum gave me and lay down on it. I motion him to come over and lay with me. He obliges and I can feel the heat radiating off of him from the second he sits down. He slowly brings his back to the ground and tilts his head in my direction.

"How is this supposed to warm you up?" He chuckles, raising his eyebrows. "You're sitting on top of your blanket"

I reach over for his sheet, pulling it over the two of us and tucking us both in. I rest my head on his chest and stare out at the courtyard while he watches the stars. I feel something that I hardly ever do in my life here, and that is the feeling of warmth. His body is like a perfect furnace, radiating with heat and keeping me at the perfect temperature.

I sigh, closing my eyes and smiling. "I wish we could just sleep like this" I mumble, not really knowing if what I just said is normal or crazy.

"I'd never want to wake up" he answers. I can feel his heart rate increase at his words.

We lay like this for a while, just sitting in each other's presence and listening to the sounds of each of our breaths being taken.

I begin to slowly drift off, just wondering if he really does have a chance of leaving this place. He's not crazy, anyone here can see that. I should want him to leave, I should want what's best for him. But I don't. I'm greedy, and I don't want him to leave. If he has a chance of leaving, he won't bat an eye at the opportunity. If he is released, I'll be left again. I'll be here with Michael until the day we both die. If Luke leaves this place, the only thing that makes me happy will be leaving with him.