Close As Strangers // C.H.

Chapter 8:

Brooke's POV

Max and I make it back from the aquarium to see Calum's rental car parked at the condo.

"I guess he already brought them back," Max speaks up.

My nervousness shows as I wipe my hands on my shorts. I haven't seen or really spoken to them since we left to come here to L.A.

"Don't worry. Once you get used to being around them again, it will feel like it used to." Max reassures me and I feel myself relax some.

I take my time getting out of the car and getting to the front door. I am not quite sure what to expect when I walk in, so I just have to be ready.

Walking in the door, I notice all eyes seem to land on me. My uncomfortableness clear, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

Marie is the first one up and the first to talk. "So good to see you again," she says giving me a hug.

Next is Ashton, he gives me a hug and a quick hello. He is followed by Mikey, doing the same. That leaves Luke, I believe. He takes his time making his way over to me.

I notice him take his lip ring between his teeth. It almost seems like he is trying to get a read on my emotions.

Luke carefully wraps his arms around me, like he is afraid that I might break. He lets out a breath and I hear him whisper to me, "I am glad you're okay."

"Me too," I whisper back.

Something about this feels so familiar, like I have heard these words before while hugging Luke. Maybe it's just me or maybe I am starting to remember something again.

Hearing a throat clearing, makes us let go of each other. Calum walks over to stand beside me and gives Luke a look. It's mixed with both anger and confusion. They both glance at me, and I pretend like I didn't see anything.

"What do you guys want to do today?" Marie brings the attention onto her. I couldn't be more thankful.

"Could we just go on a walk or something?" Luke asks focusing his attention back on me.

"Maybe if Brooke spends some one on one time with each of you it would help." Max brings up the idea that sounds fine with me. It only brings up my nervousness again.

"I don't know," Calum looks at me concerned.

"It will be fine," I assure him and myself at the same time.

"Okay, just be careful." He says more to Luke than to me.

Luke nods his head, sticking his arm out for me to take. "Shall we?"

I let out a small laugh and accept his arm, linking it in mine. "Sure Luke."

--

"So how's it going?" The silence is finally broken by Luke. We have been walking for about five minutes or more, and I didn't know what to say.

"Pretty good. What about you?"

"Good too. You know, I was wondering about how the remembering process is going."

I feel our hands brush each other's every once in a while as we walk. I take mine, and brush my hair back, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"It's going slowly. I remember a little bit every now and then. I mostly get memories in the form of dreams." I glance at Luke, seeing him nod his head.

"That's good."

Another few minutes of silence passes before Luke breaks it again.

"What about you and Calum?"

I start to twist my bracelet along my wrist, a habit that I have noticed lately.

"We are pretty good too."

Luke stops, causing me to stop as well. We both turn to face each other.

"You can tell me anything, Brooke. We used to be really close."

"That's the thing though, we used to be. I just don't know anything anymore."

My voice slightly raised at him. He looks down at the sidewalk and takes his lip ring between his teeth like he did at the condo.

"I... I'm sorry Luke. It's just so frustrating." We start to walk again.

"I know. Would it help if I tell you stories about us?"

I would love to know anything Luke can tell me. I want to get back to normal as soon as possible.

"Yes please. I haven't really heard anything about you and me," I tell him.

"Okay, let me think where to start." Luke scratches the back of his neck, taking a moment to think. I wait patiently for him to tell me anything.

"We actually went to the same high school, and were both sophomores. Gradually we noticed all of our classes were the same."

"Really? Wow, I never would have guessed that."

Luke and me attending the same high school. Why has nobody mentioned this to me yet?

"We got partnered together for a science project. That was the beginning of our friendship," Luke explains.

"Sounds simple enough," I laugh a little causing him to laugh too.

"Yes it was." Luke gets this look on his face, I can't quite read it.

"What is it?" I curiously ask him.

"Nothing, I was just thinking." Luke tells me with a small smile.

"What else can you tell me?"

"We were really close friends all the way to the end of junior year. Our parents could barely keep us separated," he smiles at the memory.

"What happened junior year?" I can see his smile fall, and he clears his throat.

"I had to move, which meant I had to change schools. We grew apart and didn't worry about the long distance friendship." He quickly explains.

"Oh," my smile falls too. 

"It doesn't matter now though. We are good again thanks to Marie taking you to that concert." Luke gives me a small smile, I return one to him.

"Do you want to go get some ice cream?" Luke asks me.

"Definitely."

--

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