close as strangers | lrh

zero

prologue: what lays beneath is all but the truth

"How do you think the chorus should go?" Luke asked distracting me from my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You weren't paying attention to a thing I just said, were you?" Luke asked with a small smile tugging on his lips.

I smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, I was just," trying to find a way of how to say that you won't see me tomorrow, won't ever, without hurting you, "thinking."

"It's fine, I could just really use your help with this song because Calum and I aren't getting much of anything done. You know what, you can just have it," Luke said shoving the papers into my lap.

I sighed. "I can't make sense of any of this," I was squinting at the first paper, the paper crumpling a bit at the sides.

"That's because it's upside down," he said standing up. The moment he had the papers in his grip I let go of it. He turned them around and I grabbed the papers again.

"Pfft, duh, of course I knew that, haha ha ha," I replied awkwardly, pushing the glasses up more on the bridge of my nose. I could feel my eyelashes brush the lens every time I blinked.

Luke burst out laughing, it took him a while to regain enough composure to speak again. "Mhm sure, keep telling yourself that Del."

"You know what, I will," because if you repeat a lie enough it becomes the truth, "watch me."

"Oh trust me, I will. For the rest of my days," he said. Oh.

"Well, I should head home. It's getting late."

"Just stay here Del, my mum won't mind."

"Oh no, no. Really, Luke, it's fine. I'm next door if you need anything ever, alright?" Why are you doing this? Stop. Stop lying to him.

"Always?"

I smiled at him in return, feeling the lump in my throat start to grow, "Always."

He smiled at me back, "Mum, I'm walking Del home!"

"Okay honey!" we heard from the kitchen as we started to walk out the front door. She knew, everyone knew that I wasn't going to go to school tomorrow. Everyone being Calum, Ashton, and Michael along with Luke's brothers and parents. I had already told them goodbye. I just couldn't with him, it hurt too much.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing. Everything."

"Nothing and everything all at once?" he asked as we fell into step, nearing my doorstep.

"Yeah," I mumbled barely audible, but I knew he caught it. A couple more moments and then you won't see him again.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said once I started to unlock my front door. He said as more of a statement than a question, like he was so sure. Crap. Crap. Crap. Bloody hell.

"Not likely," I muttered under my breath, knowing he wouldn't hear. I turned around to face him, to take one last good look at Luke before I left. Who knows when I'd see him again. Probably not anytime soon. His blue eyes reminded of the sky, and I remember saying that to him when I first met him. Then again I was like five years old back then, I didn't see the harm. Now though it's completely different, now I wouldn't want to be caught staring at him in maths. So I did the last sensible thing I could think of.

I hugged him, wrapping my arms around his neck, still having the papers he gave me earlier in hand. He didn't really expect me to do that, so he stumbled a couple steps back. He put his hands on my waist, trying to balance us, before we fall and someone misinterprets what's going on. My face was on one of his shoulders, I didn't want to let go and I tightened my grip a little more when he wrapped his arms around my waist. I wanted to stay here with him and just never leave, but life has a very cruel way of playing out.

"It's okay Del, you'll see me tomorrow, and the day after that, and it'll continue like that for the rest of our days," he mumbled into my hair and I could feel the tears forming, prickling my eyelids, threatening to spill. This would probably be the last hug I'd ever receive from Luke. Don't start crying, it's your fault. You should have told him.

I broke away, nodding my head. I knew I must have looked like a mess, but I didn't care at that point. "You're right," I said quietly as I opened the door. I looked at him once more, tempted to tell him everything right then and there. I gave him a small smile before I walked in and closed the door.

"But I can't see you when we'll be 8,128 miles away from each other."

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lmao i wonder how done you people are with me for taking the chapters back down.

wattpad was being stupid so i had to, but don't worry nothing really changed.

chapters 1 and 2 shall be uploaded soon.

see you soon

- lilia