Bring Me Back (L.R.H)

~7~

A/N: if you want to listen to The District Sleeps Alone Tonight, and then I'll Never Forget You, both by Birdy, while reading this :-)

Wednesday 7:32 p.m
/ALY/

Saying my mother and Greg were furious about my weekend getaway was an understatement.
I was grounded from Monday when I got back, through this coming Saturday. And the only communication I had to the outside world was my iPhone.
Luke and I face-timed every night. I talked to Thea everyday as wells when my mother and Greg were out Thea would come over and chat for a bit. It was a long, long, week.
"You should sneak out tonight." Luke smirked.
I rolled my eyes and giggled. "Luke I'm already in hot water, if I sneak out they'll kill me." Literally.
Surprisingly they didn't go too extreme on my punishment. Yes they knocked me around a bit which resulted in a busted lip and a super sore arm, but it wasn't as bad as usual.
He huffed disappointed. "Please?"
The blonde boy wasn't going to give up. I must admit it made my heart happy that he was so desperate to see me. No one ever was.
"Hemmings I promise you I'll spend the entire day with you Saturday."
A huge grin spread across his face. "And Sunday...and Monday...and Tuesday."
I laughed and rose from my bed. "I better go fix dinner."
"Can't you stay on a little longer?" He pleaded.
I plopped back down on the bed. "Well I guess five more minutes couldn't hurt."
"Ahh yes!"
"You know smoking kills." I informed.
Through my screen I watched as Luke lit up a Marlboro Red. The lovely blonde scruffy boy inhaled and then exhaled the smoke.
I cringed just watching him. I thought about how cigarettes really do kill, and how I know from experience.
"Yeah but I figure I'm gonna die one day anyways, so why not be addicted to something that makes me feel good?"
I nodded. We sat in silence for a moment or two, just watching each other through our screens.
"I love outer space." Luke muttered.
"What?" I asked, confused by his sudden statement.
"In space, everything is...peaceful. There's no problems, there's no chaos. Just an empty, stunning, Galaxy."
He could make anything sound so lovely, so captivating.
"That's amazing Luke." I smiled.
Luke smiled a small half smile and then it faded as he took a drag of his cigarette. "I wish I was as amazing as outer space."
10:41 p.m
I lay on my bed reading a book, The Perks of Being A Wallflower. My favorite book, I've read it hundreds of times. Somehow, someway, I relate to Charlie a lot. It's strange really, but I can't help but feel like I am a Charlie. A wallflower.
I heard a knock at the window on the side of my room opposite from my bed. It wasn't just a knock, it was like a scratch.
I rolled over so I could face the window, but I didn't see anything. Climbing out of bed I strolled over to it.
Standing outside in the pouring rain was the blonde boy with metal in his lip. He had thrown a rock at my window. Very cliche, although very cute.
He looked up into my room a grin on his face. If I didn't get to him before my mother or Greg did, that grin would be there no longer.
I pushed open the window and was greeted with a gush of cold wind and raindrops.
"What're you doing here?!" I called down.
"I needed to see my angel!" He smiled warmly. His hood was pulled over his head but he didn't seem to mind the heavy rain too bad.
"I'm coming to get you!" I yelled, shutting my windows.
I was so excited to see Luke that I forgot I was in just gray pj shorts, and a gray bralette.
I flew down the stairs as quietly as I could. They must be in bed already. Careful not to wake Asshole 1 and Asshole 2, I headed through the dark 1kitchen towards the back door.
I flung the door open and motioned for Luke to come inside. That's when I realized what I was wearing, because it was freezing.
Shit. I thought, crossing my arms over my chest.
Luke closed the door behind him and took off his hood.
"What are you doing here so late?" I whispered.
"It's not that late." He smirked.
"Okay no it's not that late but still?"
"Like I said," He laced our fingers together. "I had to see my angel."
I blushed at his gesture and his sweet comment.
I tugged on his hand leading him out of the kitchen and towards my bedroom.
Once we got up the stairs we didn't have to be as quite. My room and the guest room were the only bedrooms on the second floor. Mom and Greg slept downstairs, it's easier to stumble in drunk if you don't have to climb stairs.
I closed my bedroom door behind us and locked it, just in case they came in.
My hair was tied back in a messy bun, and all the makeup I had on was mascara & foundation.
Luke was soaking wet, it was really pouring outside. "Do you want a towel?" I asked.
"Uh sure yeah." Luke smiled.
As I walked towards the en-suite bathroom, I turned my second nightstand lamp on so it wouldn't be as dim.
Grabbing a towel from the cabinet I placed it on my bed. I swiped some mascara on quickly, let down my hair into its' natural sort of wavy style.
"Here you are." I smiled, handing Luke the towel.
"Thank you." He looked up, biting his lip with that same devious smirk. Then his face turned to concern. His crystal blue eyes looked a shade darker.
"Aly what happened?" He stood, cupping my cheek with his hand he gently ran his thumb across my lower lip. When I was face-timing Luke earlier I had makeup on. The makeup had once covered my bruised lip and the side of my face that was a light mixture of blue and purple.
"Luke..it's noth-"
He brushed my long hair behind my ears and his eyes widened when he saw the same purplish blue color decorating my once tan upper arm.
Anger flashed in his eyes, but it softened seconds later. Then his face twisted into a look of pure sadness and confusion. He kept his eyes locked on mine, searching for answers. I just looked down and blinked back the tears as hard as I could. It wasn't his job to worry about me. It wasn't Luke's fault, he doesn't need to try and fix it.
"Aly darling, please don't say this is nothing," Lightly trailing his fingers over the tainted patch of skin on my arm he stepped closer to me. "I made you a promise that I would never let anything harm you."
Using his pointer finger Luke tilted my chin upwards so I was looking at him. I tried to resist, ashamed of the state I was in. However he kept my gaze, those ocean stained orbs hypnotized me.
"I- I'm a mess Luke...I'm gonna ruin you."
He shook his head. "No, no, Aly not at all. You are the most exquisite girl, so divine," The space between our mouths lessened as he whispered. "You are unquestionably a masterpiece, and I adore you immensely."
Our lips were just barley touching as he whispered those heavenly words. His lips ring was brushing against my lips slightly. Slowly, but suddenly his mouth latched onto my own. His lips were soft like silk, our mouths moved in sync. I'd never felt so much passion as I did in that moment. The kiss was filled with fervor, so much desire. The cold metal that curled around his lip pressed into mine causing an unexplainable feeling. I ran my fingers through his wet hair. Everything around me dissolved. All I could think about was the taste of cinnamon gum and nicotine on the edge of his lips.
After what felt like a zillion seconds, we breathlessly pulled apart. I couldn't stop the smile that stretched across my face.
Bringing my fingers up to my lips I gently placed them there. It wasn't my first kiss but it sure felt like it. This was definitely the most amazing experience of my life.
Luke had his arms around my waist as he lightly rubbed my back. We were hardly even an inch apart.
"I've dreamed of doing that from the moment I saw you standing in aisle 6." He smiled a crooked smile.
Millions of thoughts were running through my mind. I didn't know what I wanted to say to him but I did know what I wanted to do. "Then do it again."
He guided my head up and once again our lips molded perfectly together like clay. Luke kissed me with as much fire and ardor as he had seconds before.
Once we pulled apart our fingers laced together. "Stay?" I asked.
I was definitely not ready to go all the way if that's what you're thinking. Hell we just had our first kiss. But I did want Luke to stay with me. Ever since he kept me tucked to his side in that motel room, I was homesick for his arms.
"It would be my pleasure." He bent down to kiss my forehead.
I led him over to my bed. He took off his signature black converse and hoodie, and we climbed under the white comforter. As I was reaching over to turn of one lamp Luke place his hand on my arm.
"Wait."
I turned to find him holding up the book I had been engulfed in earlier.
"Read me something."
I nervously chuckled. Reading was like my favorite thing in the entire world, but reading to someone not so much. I'm an excellent reader, not to brag, but if I have to read to or in front of someone I get anxious.
"Hemmings." I pleaded, smiling. Although I was smiling I could feel myself internally having a mega freak out.
"Cohen," He pleaded back. "It's just me sweetheart. Besides I love your gentle voice, it soothes me."
That's when I knew I could fully, wholeheartedly trust Luke. I know it sounds crazy or stupid or absolutely ridiculous, but it's true. I know reading to him was such a small thing but he was right. It was just Luke. Luke had felt like home, and I hadn't had that feeling in such a very long time.
"Fine." I took the book from his hands and flipped to my favorite part. "I don't know if I will have the time to write any more letters, because I might be too busy trying to participate. So, if this does end up being the last letter, I just want you to know that I was in a bad place before I started high school, and you helped me. Even if you didn't know what I was talking about, or know someone who's gone through it, you made me not feel alone. Because I know there are people who say all these things don't happen. And there are people who forget what it's like to be sixteen when they turn seventeen. I know these will all be stories some day, and our pictures will become old photographs. We all become somebody's mom or dad. But right now, these moments are not stories. This is happening. I am here, and I am looking at her. And she is so beautiful. I can see it. This one moment when you know you're not a sad story. You are alive. And you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And you're listening to that song, and that drive with the people who you love most in this world. And in this moment, I swear, we are infinite."
"Wow, that was...captivating," Luke breathed. "Almost as captivating as you Aly Cohen."
I placed the book on my nightstand, turned off the lamp, and scooted to him, kissing his temple. "God ,I'm so fucking happy I met you Luke Hemmings."
Luke turned off the lamp on his side of the bed and we lay down, his arm around me, pulling me closer to his side. "I'm so fucking happy I met you too my angel."
That night I slept the best I had ever slept. The boy I adored lying next to me, his arms around my smaller body, his fingers drawing shapes on my shoulders. My head nuzzled into his shoudler, my hand rubbing circles on his chest, feeling his heartbeat shoot sparks into my fingertips through the fabric of his white t-shirt.
In that moment, I felt like I was going to be just fine. I felt like there was someone other than Thea who deeply cared about me. I hadn't felt that way since my dad passed. Lying there late at night with this special boy made me realize that maybe life didn't suck as bad as I thought. Life is full of bizarre and unique opportunities, twists and turns you never see coming. You meet strangers in record stores who turn out to be the farthest thing from strangers in a matter of weeks. Life is beautiful again. For the first time in nearly three years, I am thrilled to be alive. For the first time in nearly three years, I feel alive.

A/N: I hope this was an okay update! I tried not to make it too cliché haha. I'd appreciate any advice and feedback. I have included some pictures below:

Above is sort of what I picture Aly's room to look like

Aly's outfit