Foreign Exchange // Punk Luke Hemmings

Songs

"So what songs can you play?" I asked, glancing at Luke as he strummed a few chords on my old acoustic guitar.

"What kind of music should I choose from?" he smiled slightly.

"Hmm... Who's your favorite pop-punk band?"

"Easy. All Time Low. I can play almost all of their songs," he shrugged.

"Then play me a tune Mr. Music Man," I grinned in return. "Play.... 'Cinder Block Garden' off their new album."

"I don't know if I wanna sing, so feel free to join in," he chuckled and gave me a little half smile before looking down at the strings and beginning.

We sat on the floor of my basement, trying to get along. And surprisingly it was working thus far. I just had to give him a guitar to play and he was happy.

"Do you really want me to sing it Luke?" I asked, feeling myself flush a bit.

"Well, yeah... I mean, it's not like I haven't heard you sing. You've had band practice here twice since I've been here and it's not too hard to hear you from the basement... You're a really good singer, Haylee," he looked back up at me with a little genuine smile that made my breath stutter.

"Thanks," I mumbled as he went to repeat the intro chords. Taking a deep breath, I quietly began to sing.

Wait, I think we're on to something,
We can't run from fate,
But we can let it take us down,
Down this road,
Where all our colors run together,
Let's take the words to make it better,
Let's take this mess and make a home.

The prechorus came next, followed by the chorus. I had my back against the base of the couch with my knees pulled up, and I tried to look anywhere but like as I sang. But as I came to the line "I'll be the boy with the silver lining/You'll be the girl with the cinder block garden" my eyes passed over his and I tried a to keep my breathing steady as he smiled widely.

Soon enough, that song was over and we were onto the next. We played song after song, everything from Green Day's "Drama Queen" to Paramore's "Looking Up" to Good Charlotte's "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous". With each passing song my voice became more and more steady and sure-sounding.

"What about some of your songs?" I asked curiously, recalling the fact that he was in a band as well.

"What about them?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you should play one for me..." I suggested with a smile.

"You think so?" He chuckled. "I guess I could."

"Then go on. Play something!"

"Alright, alright. Calm down!" He smiled before forming a D-chord and picking a few notes.

I drove by all the places
We used to hang out getting wasted,
I thought about our last kiss,
How it felt, the way you tasted,
And even though your friends tell me
You're doing fine...

He went on to finish the song, and by the end I wanted to curl up and cry.

"Are you alright?" He asked as he set the guitar on the floor and mirrored my position.

"Yeah," I lied, putting on a smile. "That's... Really good."

"Haylee, you don't look like you're fine..." He drew his eyebrows together.

"Oh no, don't worry. I just got reminded of Trevor a little bit. Seriously, I'm fine."

"Oh yeah... I probably shouldn't have played that one now that I think of it..." He looked down sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck. "I'm sorry."