Home (sequel to Guardian Angel) . l.h . Luke Hemmings .

Chapter Two: Didn't Happen

"Luke." Two fingers snapped in front of my face causing me to break out of my trance.

I turned toward the source, my best friend Calum, "Where you even listening mate?"

"Uh yeah, something about a game?" I rubbed the back of my head, trying to get her out of my mind.

"Not just any game today, it's our big homecoming game. I can't believe you aren't even going."

I shrugged, "I'm not in the mood."

"Is it your parents again?" Ashton butted in, trying to understand the situation. My best friends knew all about the stress my parents placed on me and they knew that sometimes it created problems at home.

"Yeah." I one worded them, not really wanting to explain the predicament. It would just add another worry I didn't need.

"Or is that girl that's on your mind?" Calum shoved me my shoulder with a suggestive smirk.

"Oh!" Ashton realized, "The girl we talked about in the group chat?"

"She was so pretty!" Calum squealed in a high pitch voice, mimicking the exact words I said.

"I think I found the one!" Ashton joined him, laughing and me just becoming more frustrated.

"I still don't understand how you didn't get her number." Ashton said after he calmed down his laughing fit.

"Don't remind me." I groaned, slamming my face on the table. Yesterday had been the absolute definition of amazing, after the awkward exchange, Cayden and I agreed to start all over again. We spent the rest of the time just talking about nonsense like what our favorite season was or why did we prefer ice cream over cake.

It was strange, all the weight and stress was instantly gone from my mind the minute she started talking to me. I felt like there was nothing to worry about, just being there with her was enough. Even when the night started to rise and she refused to let me walk her home, I was happy. I was happy the whole walk back to my house. I was happy when I entered the door and found my parents on the couch watching a movie.

"Someone seems better." My mom commented and I nodded, she was right.

It was only until I took a shower did I realize, I never even asked for her phone number and I didn't even know when I would ever see her again, if ever.

Stupid Luke, stupid.

I had spent the rest of the night, texting my mates about her. Replaying every single moment in my head and when I told them I had no way to contact her now, they basically told me I was screwed. That didn't help much at all.

"Do you not even know what school she goes to?" Calum asked, eating a French fry.

With my head still on the table, I turned toward him. "No. I told you we just talked about randomness."

"You know what would be funny? If she went to this school and was a freshman." Ashton giggled his old man laugh.

"Trust me, I know for sure she doesn't even go here." I stated, remembering that last night I carefully inspected our whole yearbook to find her. I thought to myself, maybe I hadn't noticed her all year of maybe she was in a different grade, but to my dismay she didn't go to my school at all.

Fortunately for me, luck somehow seemed to be on my side as the bell rang. I rushed out of the cafeteria before my friends could grill me any long about her.

I didn't even tell them her name. I felt like she was my own secret and if I revealed her to anyone, she would instantly slip from my finger tips.

"Well, just don't get too hung up on her. If your grades fall, we won't be able to take our road trip." Ashton warned, looking at me dead in the eye, "We have been planning this for months."

"I know, don't worry we will be going." I assured him, after all my mates and I have been planning this road trip for over a year now.

"Is your dad really going to let us take the van?" Calum grinned, clearly excited for this trip.

"If I still maintain my grades." I groaned but Calum smirked, "You're Luke Hemmings, co captain of the soccer team and soon to be valedictorian, there's no way this could go wrong."

"Yeah but they want me to stay close to home, you guys know how I feel about that." I sighed, I have practically grown up in these damped streets, I know every inch of every corner, every street. Familiarity is comfort but I only could take so much, my essence was practically craving to escape the bubble my parents sheltered me in, I wanted to explore and travel, to learn more about me, to have an adventure worth remembering. But none of that will happen if I remain here in Washington.

My parents just didn't understand, they are too conservative and set in their ways and unfortunately being the last one in the nest, meant they clung to me more than they ever did with my brothers.

"It's okay, everything will sort it self out. This is just a stressful year." Calum assured me right when the bell rang. The boys and I parted ways to the next class, but instead of the stress of university being on my mind, I couldn't stop seeing her eyes.

Her mesmerizing laugh, wicked sense of humor, just everything seemed to control every single thought. I could barely pay attention in my advanced Chemistry class, and by the time the period ended, I had written down a measly two notes.

When school had finally ended, Ashton and Calum were waiting for me at my locker. "So here's the plan, we meet up at the game and then after wards we can hang out at my house." Ashton explained while opened my locker to toss in a few notebooks. The boys had managed to somehow persuade me during class to join them.

"Is Michael meeting us there?" I asked. Our other best friend attended another school two towns over. We all meet in pre school but Michael's dad's job forced him to go to a different school.

"Yeah." Calum answered, texting on his phone, "He's going to meet us by the front. Also, I think he's bringing his girlfriend and one of her friends."

"You know what would be funny?" Ashton playfully jabbed me in the stomach.

"What?" I questioned, slightly confused at the toying smirk forming on his lips.

"What if Ivy's friend was your mystery girl?" Ashton queered, his eyebrows going up and down in thoughtfulness.

I snorted, "The chances of that are slim to none."

"Hey you never know."