mistake || c.h au

|| chapter fifteen ; first aid ||

•

|| september 15, 2013 ||

•

It was late, and it was dark outside. Tegan sat on the cushioned seat at the bay window by the phone and stared out over the city.

Luke had gone out for drinks with the guys, and Michael and Ashton had promised that they would make sure that Luke was returned home safely by at least an hour prior at the very latest. Luke wasn't one to handle his alcohol very well, and it didn't take a lot for him to drunk. Tegan knew that they were all probably fine, and just having such a good time that the concept of time had escaped them, but she couldn't help but fear the worst.

Tegan decided to make herself a drink to take her mind off things, she knew that there was no point in trying to go to sleep, because sleep wouldn't take over her until she knew that Luke was home.

On her way to the kitchen, Tegan turned up the hall and looked in on Kian, but he was fast asleep and oblivious to the world.

Once in the kitchen, she raked her hands through her hair and pulled it up into a ponytail and securing it with a hair tie. Tegan pulled a small saucepan from the cupboard next to the fridge to heat milk in.

She allowed the hob to reach an appropriate temperature before she stood over the saucepan, stirring the milk continuously to prevent it from burning.

It was at times like this that Tegan missed Calum excessively; when she was left with nothing but her thoughts to consume her. She didn't think that there would ever come a time where she wouldn't miss him anymore, and she felt guilty about that. Whenever Tegan thought about how differently things could have turned out with Calum, she felt guilty for Luke; like she was simply using him, or cheating on him, although there was never anything untoward about the thoughts she had.

Tegan sighed as she ran her finger around the rim of her hot chocolate mug and meant her head against the glass of the window. She continued to look out over the city just like she had done before, the only light coming from a lamp across the room.

After a while, she heard the familiar sound of keys in the lock. She sat still for a few minutes waiting expectantly, but all she heard was the fumble of keys. Tegan wasn't alarmed however, the only person it could have been was Luke, whether with or without their friends. So she just waited until he found the right key.

Once he did, the door opened and Luke snapped on the main lights straight away - something that he always did when it was dark out.

"Luke!" Tegan stumbled to get up and across the room, setting her mug down rather harshly to the extent where a little liquid spilled out over the top - but that seemed to be the least of her worries. "What the hell happened to you?"

She ran her hand down Luke's left upper arm as she reached behind him to push the door closed. Then she stood back and took in his appearance.

Luke's hair was incredibly dishevelled, his face bruised and bashed, paired with a bust lip and bloody nose. His hands were cut up too, his knuckles grazed as if he had punched a wall, or what looked more likely, been thrown to the ground excessively.

"Luke?" Tegan prompted again, reaching out to touch his arm gently.

"I don't know," Luke attempted to shrug, but the action seemed to bring him pain. "Some guy just beat the crap out of me."