When We Grow Up// L.H.

Chapter 1

I wish I could say I remember the day I met my best friend, Luke Hemmings. But, sadly, I can't.
We met a couple days after I was born. Our mothers were really close growing up, and, miraculously, they ended up both getting pregnant at the same time.
Liz, Luke's mom, had him on July 16th. My mum, Lisa, had me on July 20th. I was born four days after him.
I'm lucky to have my best friend live next to me. My mum's lucky, too. The Hemmings' and I are neighbors. Luke and I are inseparable and our mothers are, too. I guess loyalty runs in the family.
~
I glance over to my alarm clock. 6:50. "Shit." I mumble to myself. I have to leave in ten minutes.
I throw on some clothes and get ready for school.
"Marley! Luke's outside!" I hear my mum call to me.
"I'm coming!" I yell back as I throw my hair up into a ponytail.
My phone buzzes.
New text from Luke:
"Come onnnn"
I reply that I'm coming as I run downstairs to my front door.
"Bye, Mum." I tell her as I walk out the door.
~
I speed walk to Luke's car and open the door to the passenger seat. Ashton's there. In my spot.
"Sorry Mars, you took to long." Luke chuckles. Ash sits there grinning.
"Go on Ashton, this is where I always sit." I plead.
"As you said, you always sit here. Now it's my turn." He giggles.
"Lukey....tell him to move..." I whine.
"I've already tried." He says.
"Fine, I guess I'll just have to sit with these losers." I say, trying not to laugh. I climb into the back seat and sit next to Calum.
"Hey! I want the middle!" Calum whines.
"Well I wanted shotgun, but I didn't get that." I tell him.
"Ok, ok. Have the middle." He says, pretending to be offended.
"Where's Michael?" I ask, confused.
The guys start laughing.
"What?" I question them.
"We ditched him!" They laugh.
"Guys that's horrible!" I say, trying not to laugh.
"Well he drank all of the beer from my stash!" Luke laughs. "He deserves it!"
Luke starts driving and off we go to school.
~
We arrive in the parking lot and get out of the car.
"Well, I'll see you guys in class." Calum says as he puts on his backpack.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"I'm meeting up with Becca before class." He tells us, nervous.
"Ooh. Calum and Becca are gonna 'talk'..." Ashton teases.
Calum laughs and rolls his eyes, then walks off to meet up with his girlfriend.
Ashton walks off to the band room. Ashton graduated two years ago. He volunteers in the band room now, teaching the underclassmen percussion.
"I'm so glad senior year's almost over!" Luke tells me, not even trying to contain his smile.
"I can't believe we're almost eighteen!" I say.
"I know. I remember when we used to take baths together when we were five. Man, that was thirteen years ago. That's crazy." He says.
I blush. It's so weird to even think about taking a bath with Luke. I know we're best friends and we were only five, but it's still just...awkward. It's weird to think that, even though we were little, Luke has seen me...exposed.
"Why are you blushing, Mars? Do you remember?" He chuckles.
"Luke!" I squeal.
"What? Do you like what you saw?" He teases.
"Luke! Stop it! We're in public!" I laugh and hide my face.
Luke suddenly stops laughing.
"Luke? Are you okay?" I ask him.
He stares behind me.
"Oh shit."