Falling [cake 5SOS] ✔

Twenty: I Love You

Chapter 20 I Love You

Luke

"Hey Aleisha, you know how it's our anniversary today and all?"

"Uh-huh?"

I paused, mentally wanting to kick myself for being such a horrible person. "Wanna go out this evening?" Her eyes lit up and she jumped into my arms in ecstasy.

"Oh my god Luke, are you serious? I'd love to, oh my... let me text my parents."

I felt like dying from all the guilt. She was genuinely happy and excited for our date but she had no idea what was to come, but at the same time I was doing it so I could fully be Calum's, so by constantly reminding myself that, I eventually got used to the fact that I was going to do something awful.

"Yes! They said I could go, but I have to be back before eight because we're going out tomorrow," she explained, tucking her phone away in her blazer pocket. "Where are we going?"

"The place we first kissed."

She looked as if she was going to cry. "Awh Luke... you're so adorable. The mall, right?" I nodded. "Are we eating there?" Oops, hadn't thought of that. I intended on breaking up with her as soon as we arrived.

"Uhhh yeah probably."

"Are you okay? You look a little tired."

I shrugged and swallowed. "I'm good, sorry. Didn't sleep much last night, that's all... Oh, here's the bus." I caught Calum's eye as he left the school, walking in the other direction, and winked. He staggered back in fake pain, clutching his chest and earning a good few looks from his friends.

The weather was relatively chilly that day, but bearable now that it was almost Spring. A few little buds had popped out of the ground, having been planted by the school gardener, and when we hopped onto the warm bus I took out my earphones, offering one to Aleisha. She took it and we went through a playlist of All Time Low and Green Day. She'd hum along to a couple but most of the time, she didn't recognise the song, as she was more into popular music and lighter stuff like things that were played on the radio, often with electronic sounds and rarely real instruments.

We arrived at the mall at four, where it was full of shoppers milling about with paper bags and drinks. "Let's get a coffee first," I suggested, pointing at our usual café that was right in the middle of the ground floor with real trees planted around it. "You want the usual, right?" She nodded and found us a seat, whilst I went up to the till to order an Americano and a latte. Paying with a ten dollar note, I grabbed the hot drinks and brought them to the table, not forgetting to pick up some sugar on the way. "Here you go."

"Thanks Luke. You're being a real gentleman today, you know that right? Honestly, when Michael accused me of kissing you last year I felt really special. I kinda had a crush on you back then, despite the fact that I was sort of dating Michael... so once I realised that I dumped him."

"Wow, I finally understand why! You realise, he wanted to kill me because of it, right?"

She gave an embarrassed look, stirring her Americano. "I'm sorry. I didn't think he'd get that mad at you. Besides, you guys are really good friends now, right?"

"I guess."

"So you could probably say that it was me who brought you together, right?"

"I guess."

She chuckled and took a wary sip, afraid that it would be too hot. "Anyway... and then there was the Jake incident in the music room. I think that was when I really started liking you. You looked so strong at that moment, and you've got such a nice voice too. When did you start liking me?"