Everything I Didn't Say

Chapter 11

...

"Don't go, Luke. I need you." I quietly speak, not opening my eyes. After a moment, Luke doesn't respond. "Luke?" I ask, opening my eyes to find him sitting in the chair in complete shock.

"You-you need me? Wow I never thought I'd hear that before." He sighs. "Addy, I'm so sorry for everything that I've put you through. It's my fault your in here right now isn't it?"

"Kind of. I used to have panic attacks a lot in school. They pretty much stopped until, you know.." Luke nods sadly, getting the message. "But this time was different, in a way. After we almost kissed, I knew that I couldn't deny that there was something there. As wicked as that may sound. When I got home, I went on my roof where I normally go when I need to clear my mind, and I thought about how I needed friends, and other things. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get you off my mind. Michael found me up there on the way to your flat, and I half expected you to come over and bug me, but you never showed up. I was literally stressing myself out about me liking you, and you liking me. It's all very complicated."

"I wanted to come and bug you while you were sitting on your roof, believe me, but Mikey wouldn't let me." Luke laughs. "So I'm forgiven?"

"I'm trying." I smile lightly.

"I love you Addy. I always have." Luke brightly beams, his cheeks flushing.

"I don't know If I love you, Luke. That's going to take time."

"I know."

"Luke?"

"Adeline?"

"Get me outta here."

"Your wish is my command, princess."

~xx~

"Luke we're we going?" I ask whilst peering out the window.

"You'll see." He grins, glancing at me, but quickly turning back to the road.

"I let you dive my car, it's the least you can do." I giggle.

"Nope." He shakes his head, popping the 'p'.

I sigh and relax. "Is it true that you really don't have a car?"

"I did. Mum needed it because the car she was driving was totaled. Truth is, I don't even have a license. I got me a permit, but that's it."

"Wow. So pretty much, if I didn't want you driving my car, all I have to do is get out of the car?"

"Don't." He pleads with a serious look.

"Here we are." We pull up into a driveway of a flat that I've never seen before. "My old home." Luke confirms, opening my side of the door.

"Isn't this trespassing? You don't live here anymore?" I ask, but follow him anyways.

"Not when no one lives here."

"That makes no sense." I murmur.

"Look." Luke points at a tree house high in the trees. He climbs up first, firmly holding my waist to pull me up.

I first spot a pirate's steering wheel type thing. "Aye, Aye Cap'in." I say, mocking a manly voice.

"Your such a dork." Luke laughs, nearing me. I know how he meant that to sound, but after years of being called names by someone, it still hurts. "I-I- Not like-"

"I get it. I know what you meant. So what other kinds of nic-nacks you got?" I peck my way through old boxes of toys and costumes and comic books.

"There not 'nic-nacks'. They're collectibles." Luke corrects me. I scoff.

"Why didn't you take this with you?"

He shrugs. "I just don't have any use for them. Maybe if some kid moves in here, they can have em. Plus this thing couldn't come with me."

"Whys that?"

"There's no way in hell this tree house could fit in my car. And I don't own the house we live in, so there was just no way."

"Your forgetting that my parents own it. They wont care if you have a tree house in the back yard. My dad's a builder, so if it gets ruined on the ride over, he can fix it. Make it better."

"Your amazing." Luke smiles, towering me with his height. He swiftly walks over and wraps his arms around my waist, hugging me close. I too hug back, wrapping my arms around his neck. We both lean back some, creating enough distance for our lips to brush one another. Luke leans in right when his phone starts ringing, making us jump apart.

He sighs, reluctantly answering. "Yeah? Michael, why are you at my house?.."

I sneak out of the tree house, quietly but fastly moving. "Addy?" I hear Luke call. I snicker to myself, crawling away. "Adeline?!" Luke calls again.

"Come find me!" I yell back, giving away the direction I was facing. I stumble along a creek covered by some trees and shrubs. I find Luke walking down the muddy path, so I quietly walk up behind him, snaking my arms around his waist.

"I found you." He whispers, and without hesitation, his lips crash onto mine. The fourth of July must've come early. My stomach lights up with a dozen fireworks.

"I've been waiting for that all my life." Luke twinkles as he pulls away.