5sos Shorts

"Ghost: Part Two" l.h.

Between work and classes, it was almost two weeks before I had time to make another trip back to see Luke. I wanted to thank him for staying with me through the night when my friends left me behind, but he left so quickly just before the light of the morning allowed me to leave. I stopped at the gas station first, figuring I'd treat him to some food and drink as thanks, before making my way to the edge of town by around two in the afternoon. I shut my car door and pulled my laptop out of the trunk before making my way through the rubble of the abandoned warehouse and taking a seat where I sat that night.

I ended up being glad for the food and laptop. I sat playing on my laptop for a few hours before it finally died, and when I still hadn't seen him I blew through the snacks I'd brought in about an hour. It was dark and I was about to give up.

I grabbed my laptop and the trash from my snacks and threw it all into my backseat to take care of later. I opened up the car door and was about to get in when I took a final look and Luke was there in the dark. He was standing with his hands shoved into the pockets of a navy blue jacket, his black skinny jeans torn at the knees, and his lips tugged up into a smile.

"Luke!" I blurted his name happily and ran and hugged him without thinking twice. He let out a grunt as my body collided with his and he wrapped his arms around me. I let out an admittedly giddy laugh before pulling away.

"Wow," He stated with an amused tone and a wide grin.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to come back and see you!" I apologized in one breath. He shrugged.

"To be honest, I'm surprised you came at all. Most people tend to forget they ever saw me," He told me, before adding teasingly. "Even the sober ones."

I blinked a few times as an embarrassed blush took over my face. He chuckled at the sight and leaned back against the warehouse.

"I wanted to thank you for staying with me that night when my friends abandoned me," I spoke softly.

"No need to thank me for doing what anybody else would have done."

"My friends didn't. They left me there that night and when I tried bringing it up, they didn't even realize they'd left me. They tried convincing me that I'd never even come along with them in the first place! So thank you, Luke, for being the only decent person I know." By the time I'd finished speaking I was practically in tears. Luke looked angry by the time I finished.

"Why do you even hang out with those people?" Luke asked harshly, his eyes narrowed.

"They weren't always like this..." I spoke softly. "

"I say good riddance," Luke responded, then added teasingly. "Besides, they had terrible taste in music."

"We could be friends," I suggested with a genuine smile. Something flashed in Luke's eyes at my suggestion. It was deeper than sadness, than pain, than any emotion I was capable of comprehending.

"I wouldn't make a very good friend," He mumbled, his gaze dropping to his shoes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded instantly, feeling fired up. "Staying the night in an abandoned warehouse with a drunken stranger whose friends abandoned her just to make sure she's safe. That's, like, best friend material, Luke!"

"Of course I stayed with you, and I would have regardless, but I don't have a choice! I'm here in this building every night!" Luke exclaimed aggressively, looking like he was trying to keep his composure but was obviously failing.

"Are you saying that you live here?" I asked softly, taking a step forward and reaching out to him. Luke recoiled away and stepped back.

"No, Isabelle! I don't live here!" Luke shouted. "I can't leave here! I'm stuck in this trashy old rundown warehouse by myself and anybody who can actually see me forgets by morning! By then, when the light hits this building, nobody can see me, or touch me, or remember that I'm here! That's what makes me such a shitty friend!"

I stood frozen in place at his outburst, slack-jawed. What was he trying to say? What did he mean by all that? I took in a shaky breath before slowly releasing it.

"I still can't figure out how you managed to remember me and come back here. You saw me over a week ago in a drunken stupor. You should have forgotten me as soon as you fell asleep..." Luke rambled. "I shouldn't have been anything more than a face in a dream."

"Be that as it may... here I am," I spoke without thinking. Luke nodded silently, turning to meet my gaze once he'd calmed himself down.

"Here you are," He confirmed, pursing his lips. "But I'll be gone in a few hours."

"Maybe we could go inside and you can tell me exactly what you mean by that," I suggested with a small laugh. Luke shook his head.

"I'm standing as far away from the building as I'm capable of right now. I've spent too much time confined in those walls," He refused. "I'll talk with you out here, though, if you want."

"I do want," I assured him, settling criss cross on the ground. Luke gave me a lopsided smile, pulling on his lip ring with his fingers before settling on the ground in front of me.

"I'm not alive, Belle," He stated simply.

"I have a hard time believing that, Luke. You're right in front of me and I've definitely had no trouble touching you." I reasoned.

"I'm only tangible at night, when the light of the day is long gone and the moon is up," Luke explained.

"You're telling me that if I stay until morning, I'll pass right through you when I try to hug you goodbye?" I asked. Luke chuckled a bit before nodding sadly.

"I'm a ghost, Belle. You probably wouldn't even be able to see me if you stayed," He answered.

"You also say that I shouldn't remember meeting you," I reminded him with a smile of remembrance on my face. "Luke, I remember that night perfectly. It was like a pleasant dream, but the only reason that memory is foggy is because I'd been drinking."

"You're trying to explain facts away." Luke rolled his eyes. "Of course, you're right, you've been an exception to the facts I've come to know. Exceptions happen, though. Maybe you're not as completely human as you think."

"I'm quite sure I'm human, thank you very much, and I'm going to be here when morning comes. I'm going to prove you wrong," I decided.

"I know what I am, Isabelle. Don't stay another night in this hellhole trying to explain away the reality of my situation. You're tired already and you didn't bring anything to sleep in," Luke spoke as he stood up and offered me his hand. I took it reluctantly and he pulled me up.

"I want to stay until morning," I told him stubbornly. He grinned and brought his hand to my cheek, stroking it softly while looking into my eyes.

"Come back around noon tomorrow. I'll wait at the door. When you don't see me standing there, do yourself a favor and don't come back to visit me again. My life is over and I'll be in this warehouse for however long it takes to reach the end of eternity. You've got a long life to live in the light, and I want you to experience all of it," He spoke, gazing at me in adoration. It was the kind of look that every girl wanted to be on the receiving end of.

I focused on the feeling of his fingers against my skin. They were cold, but not in an unpleasant way. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pushed my lips against his without a second thought. It was only a moment before he kissed back eagerly, his hands settling on my waist. We pulled apart rather quickly, and he looked as surprised at me as I was.

"I had better see you at that door tomorrow afternoon, Lucas," I breathed as I took a step back from him. He let out a breathy laugh, his fingertips ghosting over his lips in disbelief.

"You had better make damn sure you see me. Especially after doing that," He shot back with a grin that melted my heart. "And my name isn't Lucas. It's just Luke."

"I'll see you tomorrow!" I called back as I got into my car.

"I hope you do."

He didn't say it loud enough for me to hear him, but I watched his lips move from my seat as I started the car and I made out the words. I smiled to myself before putting the car into drive and beginning the hour long journey back to my house.