neon.

extra unordinary

I stretch and Luke is gone. There is a note on my desk.

"Hey, had to go to a party with um guys that I work with. Love you!"

I furrow my brows. I don't actually know what Luke actually did. I mean I just recently learned he likes running too. I shake the thought out of my head.

But it enters my mind again in seventh period. It was at the back of my mind all day. The bell chimes in my ears. This week every day was going to be let out early.

I gather my stuff and Ailya says she'll drive me. It's silent until I think she might know.

"What does Luke do for like a job?" I ask out of the blue.

"Oh umm Luke?"

"Yes the boy who officially has given up on his quiff."

"Haha umm yeah I don't know hahaha." That was such a nervous giggle.

"What are you not telling me?"

"Well." She sighs.

"Does he not want me knowing?"

"Umm I don't know. All I can say is he might want you to know. He might not. So I'm going to shut up now."

It was quiet for a few seconds.

"College, aye?" She takes a sip of her coffee.

"Umm I'm actually thinking of going to that running academy here."

And Ailya's coffee which was in her mouth was now in her lap. She spat it out.

"Why is there something wrong?"

"Oh um no. I don't know you're acting weird." She makes a panicked face as she is turned away from me.

"I'm touring it on Friday." I nod.

"Oh. Umm. Just talk to Luke." She smacks her hand to her forehead as we pull up on the curb.

I get out and neither Mikey or Luke is home.

We wait for a few minutes. And a few minutes turned into hours. They snuck in the house.

"Okay, I don't think that either of them are here." They say.

"Ahem." I stand up.

"Shit." Michael laughs.

"Oh hey." Michael says awkwardly on purpose.

"Michael Clifford you are not helping." Luke avoids my eye contact.

"Okay, what's going on. Why are you so sweaty? And why are you out until 4?"

"Okay. I have a lot of explaining to do." He sits down and I sit across from him.

"So what do you do?"

"Um well?"

"Spill."

"I'm a track running coach." He says quite quickly, as if he was ripping a band aid off.

"Oh. I was wanting to go to that well I guess academy."

"Yeah, I'll take you there on Friday. I heard you were coming. There is only one other girl."

"Oh, that must suck for her. I'm going to go get some sleep. Love you."

I sneak upstairs and climb into Luke's bed. I slide off my shirt and my pants. He comes in with wet hair and shorts.

He jumps in next to me.

"Why do you not do your quiff anymore?"

"I don't know." He smiles and kisses my cheek. I fall asleep almost immediately afterwards. Tomorrow was a new day.

And I'm learning more about Luke everyday.

And I'm trusting him even more everyday.

And I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

And at the back of my mind I'm just thinking...

this "Jennifer" girl is going to have to get used to being friend zoned.

...

Thank you for all the reads and the feedback I'm receiving!!

And on an even higher note:

HAPPY 10 YEARS OF PHIL!! Oh I'm so proud of him and I can't believe it has been a decade of having this bright soul in this world! I hope you cried as much as I did today😂 LETS HOPE FOR MANY MORE💙💙