Second Chance || Luke Hemmings

|| 21 ||

What the hell was I thinking? Coming here, dressed like this and actually thinking that somehow Luke would magically ignore her?

I walk down to the end of the street but I come to a halt. I take the heels off from my blistering feet and decide to just carry them. I don't know where to go though.

You would think the street would be filled with kids walking with their parents, trick or treating, but surprisingly it was silent. It was dead silent, except for the footsteps I here following from behind me.

"Alice, wait!" I hear the voice call for me, and it physically hurts just to hear him say it. Who knew I could hate my name so much for a period of time.

Do I run? Or do I stay and talk to him?

Where would I run to though?

"Please, talk to me." I hear him plead. I continue to stare at the stop sign above me. I hear his panting from just running however far he did.

"Alice," he breathed out again. I sighed and turned around, trying to make it known that I'm mad at him. But it was hard when he already looks guilty.

"Here," he reaches his hand up to untie his cape and wrapping it around me, noticing I was uncomfortable. I hugged it as if it were a blanket, thankful that Luke gave it to me.

I watch as he gives me a half smile. He bends his long and lanky self over to sit on the ground. Even in the faint light, I can see how his shirt hugged him nicely.

I sigh, moving to sit down beside him.

"I'm sorry for not telling you," he speaks, staring blankly at the house across from us.

Sure you are.

"I just didn't know how to say no to her. It's hard for me to say no to people sometimes, and you know that. I completely forgot to tell you, and to be honest I was kind of scared to tell you too," he continues to speak to my silence.

"I'm an idiot, and believe me, I know. I have no excuse and what I did to you was so wrong. I hope you know how sorry I am," he finally looks over to me. His blue eyes were bright against the black clothing he wore.

What I've noticed in the year that I've known Luke, is that he won't beg for forgiveness. He will apologize, but he doesn't beg people to forgive them. He waits for them to forgive him on their own time.

"Can I ask you something?" He said, breaking the silence that sat between us. "How come you wore that costume? I mean, believe me. You look incredible in it, but it doesn't feel like you."

I shrugged, "can I ask you something? Is there something going on between you and Emily?"

His eyes lightened up at me finally speaking, but just as quickly, they softened by the words I had spoken.

I continue to fumble with my words before he can say anything, "i mean, I saw you guys hanging out at that coffee shop when I had been under the assumption that you were going by your word and actually going to be with your uncle. And then on top of that, I find out that you lied to me about going to the party with Emily?" I feel the heat beginning to rise up to my cheeks. I feel like I'm more frustrated with myself than anything. I let him slip through my fingers. I had the chance but I missed it by a few.

"You're taking this all out of context. I was with my uncle, but I had gone to get some coffee and she was there and so, yes, I did sit down with her for a little bit to talk to her. But you shouldn't be the one talking, I mean I saw you and Calum looking pretty cozy," he groans in frustration as well.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I sit back, appalled by what he had just said.

"Forget it, ok?" He wipes his face with his hands quickly, finding no other way to take his frustration out.

I sit there silently beside him, staring down at the street below my bare feet. There's so many thoughts racing through my mind, but I don't know what to say. I'm at a loss for words.

"Emily isn't you. I'd much rather be here with you arguing than with her in there. I just thought you should know that," he finally speaks, his voice low.

I watch him as his eyes focus on the same spot as before.  As flattered as I should be by this, I just can't help but think.

"You know, I've found myself asking 'why am I not together with Luke? What's holding me back?' But I think I've finally found my answer for that tonight," even just saying the words makes my heart plummet, "look at this Luke? What are we doing?"

He scoots closer to me, then he wraps his arm around my shoulder, embracing me in a comforting side hug. I rest my head on his shoulder.

"I miss being together, believe me. But if we're still getting jealous over little things like this, then I don't think that it's the right time for us yet." As much as it hurts to say it it's true.

"I really hate when you say that. We both know that we love each other. It just doesn't make sense," I sit up and look at him, but he looks away quickly, staring at the ground.

"But you're getting jealous of Calum. For fuck sakes, Luke. He's your best friend. You really think anything would happen between us?" I say, exasperated.

He looks at me, but doesn't say anything. "I love you Luke, but I don't want to be together if we're just going to act like this."

"You act like you want us to see other people," he sighs. I lay my head back on his shoulder.

"I don't want us to see other people, though. That's the thing," I sigh myself and I feel stumped.

"So what now?" He grabs my hand with his, and begins to lightly rub it with the pad of his thumb. It's always soothing to me, I can't explain it.

"I'm not quite sure."

--

I hope you all enjoyed your week and have a wonderful one coming up!

I hope you enjoyed this somewhat short chapter and thank you for continuously reading this :)

-k