The Last Chance- l.h ®

1: Luke Hemmings

"Kiddo, your shift ended two hours ago."

"I know, dad." Business was slipping. I had been working every possible shift to help my dad out. Working at the diner my entire life from dawn to dusk limited my time for friends. Of course I had a few but we weren't considered besties.

"Go ahead and go home. You have finals to study for."

"You sure you don't need me?" I asked, just making sure.

"I'm sure, sweetheart." I gave my dad a kiss on the cheek and headed out to catch the daily 6:00 pm bus. It was my senior year and I was to graduate in less than a month.

When I got home, I reheated some left overs and headed up to my room to study. After a few hours, I heard the door open and close, signaling that dad was home. My parents divorced when I was three so I lived with my dad. I went to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth.

"Addie?" Dad called.

"Be down in a minute!" I tied up my hair in a messy bun and walked downstairs. Every night when dad got home we had a traditional movie night.

"What's the movie tonight?" He asked, sitting on the couch and drinking a beer.

"Hmmm," I thought out loud. "How about Men in Black?"

"Sure!" I put the disk in the player and sat down on the couch. I must have fallen asleep because next thing I knew, Dad was waking me up. "It's almost midnight. You need to head to bed; you've got school tomorrow." I groaned and got up.

"Night, dad." I called before closing my door, getting in bed and turning off the light.

//

My alarm went off at 5:45 am. I groggily got up and went into the bathroom to take a shower. Dad usually let me take the car to school after I dropped him off at his office.

Once showered and ready, I went downstairs dressed in a skirt with a striped top.

"Morning dad!" I cheerfully said as I poured us some coffee.

"Morning!" He was dressed in a suit and tie and looked rather handsome. My mom and dad were high school sweet hearts and had me when they were just 20 years old. I was seventeen, soon to be eighteen, making my parents only 37.

"How about some bacon and eggs with toast?" I asked.

"Sounds good!" I dreamed of inheriting my grandparents diner but with the way things looked now, I didn't see it in my future. I loved cooking, and I did it every night when my dad didn't have to close the restaurant. My dad is in medical sales and my mom was a nurse at the hospital. My dad and I live in a ranch style house and things, money wise, are well. Although, business isn't as popular as it usually is. Dad tells me it will pick up this summer since people always come to Charleston for vacation and I hope he's right.

"Breakfast is served!" I announced as dad set his newspaper aside.

We ate in silence except for the few words exchanged here and there. I looked at the clock which said 6:56 which meant we had four minutes until we had to leave. School started at 7:30 am and dad liked to be at the office early.

"Ready?" I asked, taking one last sip of my coffee. He nodded and I grabbed my book bag and keys while he waited at the door.

The 15 minute drive to the office consisted of dad and I exchanging typical conversation.

"Are you worried about your final?" He asked.

"No, not really. I've studied a lot so I should be fine." We pulled up to his office and he got out. "Love you, dad."

"Love you too." He closed the door and I pulled out and began the ten minute drive to school.

I pulled up and had approximately five minutes to get to first period. I jumped out of the car and hurried off.

"Oof!" I exclaimed as I ran into someone. Two strong hands gripped my arms and steadied me. Luke Hemmings.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized.

"It's okay, really." I smiled and began to walk off.

"Wait," he called. I turned around. "I feel awful for asking this but hey, there are 900 kids in our class. What's your name?" I blushed.

"Addie. Addie Lancaster." He smiled which gave me a weird tingle in my body.

"Nice meeting you, Addie. I'm Luke. Luke Hemmings."

"I know," I nervously laughed. The minute bell rang. "I'll talk to you later." I began walking off again but he grabbed my arm.

"What's your number?" Luke wanted my number?

"Uh, let me see your phone." We exchanged numbers and promised to talk later. I arrived in AP chemistry just in time.

I tried to focus on what Mrs. Pikes was saying but my mind focused on Luke. I couldn't believe it. As we were taking notes, my phone buzzed.

Luke: hey ;)

Me: hi :p