Love, Finally

Chapter 4

   Weeks have gone by since that one afternoon, and even though I try to talk to Luke, he avoids me. It's funny, really. I thought that maybe I had finally found someone that cared about me, but he left too. I'm not mad at him, just down. 

   My mind wanders a little bit as I walk down the hall towards the cafeteria. I can't stop thinking about Luke. A million questions run through my head. He said he was there for the same reason I was... Suicide. So what made him save me?  What could make him want to end it in the first place? These questions race around my mind.

   I'm about to walk into the cafeteria when someone pulls me into a classroom. I struggle a bit before realizing who it is. Luke. My heart soars a little bit, because he's talking to me. Hopefully he won't avoid me again after this.

"Mike. It's me. Luke."

"What? Why did you pull me in here?"

"I have to talk to you." 

"Okay. About what?" I asked, though I had a pretty good guess.

"Umm, well, you know how I told you that thing a few weeks ago?" He stammers.

"Yeah? What about it?"

"Well, I wanted to tell you that I'm okay."

"What do you mean?"

"Me, uh, wanting to... you know..."

 "Oh. Got it," I say.

"Yeah. I was kind of just not thinking. I didn't think it all the way through. But I'm okay."

"Good."

   An awkward silence hangs in the air between us. I'm not really sure how he can just be "okay". But then again, he probably doesn't have an abusive uncle and dead family, like me. Oh my God, did I really just think that? Jesus. Whats wrong with me? I come back to reality as he starts to head out the door, saying:
"Well, thanks for listening."

"Wait!" I exclaim suddenly.

"Yeah?" He responds, confused.

"Do you... I was wondering... Do you want to, um, I don't know, hang out sometime?" Oh my God, what am I doing?! Did I just ask him out? 

"Yeah, sure! When? Where?" He responds. His tail starts wagging, and his ears perk up a bit. That's a good sign, right?

"Are you free tonight?" I stammer. I can feel myself blushing. I must be bright red.

"Yeah, sure! What do you want to do?"

"Oh, well the carnival's in town right now..." I propose. Really? A carnival? Out of all the things, I chose the carnival. That's gotta be one of the cheesiest ideas ever. Oh well.

"Sure, sounds great! I'll pick you up at 6?"

   I'm about to agree, but then I remember that Max will be home then, and if he's like he always is, he'll have had at least four beers all ready. He won't let me go out. Even if he would, I don't want Luke to see him. I frantically try to think of an excuse. 

"Sooo, is that good?" Luke asks, staring at me.

"Oh, um, I-er, I'll just meet you there. 6 o'clock, okay?"

"Alright, sure! See you then!" He responds, smiling that adorable smile he always has. 

  I walk out the door of the classroom, and head to the lunchroom. I haven't felt this... Happy in a long time! 

  The day goes by quickly, and before I know it, schools out. I need to get home so that I can change into something nice before Max gets home. As you've probably guessed, I don't spend much time at "home". Anyways, I hop on the bus, pay my fare, and put in my earbuds. I turn on some Twenty One Pilots, and lose myself in the music. Before I know it, it's my stop. I get off and walk the few blocks to my house.

  It's 4:30, and Max gets home at 5. I better hurry. I quickly choose my outfit, and decide on black skinny jeans and a red flannel with my Vans. Then I take a quick shower and make myself look presentable. I look into the mirror. The bruise Max gave me has faded, but is replaced by couple of small cuts from a backhand he swung at me a few days ago. You guessed it; he was in a drunken rage. Again. 

  Let's not relive that, however. I change into my outfit, and head out the door at 4:50. I take the alley behind the house so I have no chance of running into Max as he comes home. I still have an hour left, so I head to the park. I hang out there till 5:40ish, and then head to the carnival. I get there at 5:55, and look around for Luke. I don't see him yet, so I hang out by the entrance, looking for his car. I sit down, turn on my phone and start looking through Instagram. Before long, I hear "Mike!" and look up.

  If this were a cartoon, my jaw would've dropped through the floor. He was wearing a navy blue polo and khakis. It seems simple, but he pulls it off really well. The polo shirt is a little tight on him, revealing his muscular frame. Damn.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Lets go have some fun!" He exclaims as he grabs my hand to pull me up off the ground. I stand up, and in we go.