Two Broken Pieces ; L.H

Chpt. 22 || Front Porch

(Regular Time)
• 3:02 pm, Tuesday - Alex

We had already gotten back from our trip from Hawaii. I still haven't gotten the memory of Luke and I at the luau out of my head. He played it off telling me he felt like he had to do it because he was caught up in the moment or whatever. What a load of crap. Nothing has changed ever since that night, well except for Luke not showing up to school since we got back and Mrs. Hemmings seemed to be so out of it. She often zoned out during class, and she hasn't been her cheerful, happy self.

"Hey Alex." Ashton greeted as he appeared beside me.

I forced a smile, "Hey Ash."

"What's wrong babe?" He asked, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"Nothing. Just not used to the time change s'all." I shrugged.

"Your place?" Ashton asked as we approached his car.

"Yeah." I nodded.

The trip to my house was quiet and felt so much longer. Maybe because it was such a dreary day. The sky was gray, it was so cold and there was a faint mist in the air. As we pulled into my driveway, I noticed a body on my front porch.

"Luke?" I asked in confusion.

He was sitting there; puffy red eyes, tear stains on his cheeks, looking like he hasn't slept for days.

"I'll let you guys talk," Ashton said, "Catch you guys later."

I sat beside Luke, "What's wrong?" I asked sympathetically.

"My dad's getting remarried." Luke quietly spoke, "It just doesn't feel right you know? And my best friend is- Anyway, it's not like I don't want him to, I'm happy for him but it's just my mom. I feel awful for her. You should've heard her cry through the phone. How her voice cracked through each tear."

"I'm so sorry Luke." I said rubbing his back. He slumped down and rested his head on my neck, he sniffled a few times. I could hear him faintly sob.

"At least you're going to have more people in your life who love you. I've never even met my real parents, and the other ones already died, Mindys' all the family I have." I said. "So think about it this way, even though your dad is remarrying someone else, that girl is another person who will love you. You have your mom, your dad, Michael, Angel, and now her."

Luke removed his head from my shoulder, "Alex, can I tell you something?"

I sent him a confused expression, "Yeah?"

"Angel and I aren't really dating-"

I knew it.

"Michael had set us up because she was having guy troubles with her boyfriend and she was using me to make him jealous." He explained.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Because, Angel never loved me. So really my mom, dad, and Michael are the only ones." Luke said.

"Luke, stop being such a downer. It's weird when people are sad, and I don't really know how to cheer a person up." I told him.

Luke stifled a laugh, "You slightly did."

"Can we go inside? It's starting to get really cold." Luke asked.

"Yeah." I answered.
.....

Luke showed up to school the next day. But we haven't talked since yesterday. I saw him talking to Calum before school ended, but every time I would try to ask Calum what Luke said to him he would ignore the question.

"Have you seen Callie around?" I asked him, finally giving up on asking about Luke.

"I've actually been avoiding her." Calum sighed, "I really like her, but I think I like Serinity too."

"So, you've been avoiding both of them? Calum, hiding isn't going to solve your problems." I said.

"Shut up. This isn't easy okay? Callie is really nice and pretty, but I feel so much more comfortable with Serinity, like I've known her forever." Calum told me. "But it wouldn't be fair to either of them if I chose one of them. So, I think I'm just going to die alone."

"Oh really? I think I know who you're going to choose." I told him, pointing towards Callie's direction, who was walking hand-in-hand with Michael.
***********************************
• 7:02 am, Tuesday - Luke
(the same day Alex saw Luke on her porch if you're confused)

"Really Michael? You know Calum likes her!? How could you do that?" I exclaimed.

"I know, I know. I'm a terrible person, but you know what. Callie isn't a terrible person. She's really nice, funny, smart, pretty, and she really gets me you know. It's hard to find a girl like her bro." Michael said. "A-And I know I rushed into things, and I know that I asked her out too soon, but she felt the exact same way I did." He added.

"Mike- as long as you're happy, I'm happy." I told him, with light grin.

"But what are we going to do with Calum? I feel really guilty about all this. All he's ever been to me was nice, even after that day I stormed off after you did at Alex's house." Michael said.

"I told you, I have a feeling he likes Serinity. And I know he'll choose her." I said confidently.

Just then, I felt my phone vibrate and heard my ringtone start to ring. I looked at my phone to see that it was my mom who was calling.