You Only Live Once | lrh

2.5

E M B E R

"So it is true."

"What?" I close my locker and look at who's talking to me. It's the school "popular girl", Paige, and her posse.

"That you're dating Luke Hemmings."

It's taken them a while to figure that out.

"And that's your business because?"

"Considering he's my future husband, I think it is my business."

"You do realize how delusional you sound right now, yeah?" I try not to laugh.

"If he'd like an uglyass bitch like you, he'll fall in—"

"Oh, sorry to burst your bubble, sweetie, but beauty means nothing if the inside is shit, so yeah." I shrug, trying to move past her.

"I can't understand why he'd downgrade from Ann," she says as she steps in front of me.

"God, don't you have your own life to worry about?"

"Again, this is—"

"Oh just get the fuck out of my way," I groan, pushing past her and walking down the hall.

"I'll bet he doesn't even like you. He probably just wants an easy fuck," she shouts after me, making a bunch of students mutter and stare.

A part of me wonders if she's right, but a larger part of me knows that she's just trying to get under my skin.

I walk into my English class and sit down, relieved that she's not in my class.

The day passes slowly, and it's a welcome comfort to fall onto my bed when I get home. Even with Sam literally jumping on top of me. I check my phone, wondering if I can call Luke. They're probably in the middle of a show, and I sigh.

Before I know it, I've passed out, and Sam is whining, wanting to go on a walk. I check my phone, and I have a text from Luke.

Miss you

I type a quick reply back.

Miss you too xx

Getting up, I get ready to take Sam for a walk. Once we get outside, everything from today keeps replaying in my mind. I look at my phone again, and I finally decide to call. I dial his number, and it rings. And it rings. And rings. It goes to voicemail, and I hang up. I dial again, this time a different number. It rings a few times, but I get an answer.

"Em?"

"Ash."