Paper Cuts | Luke Hemmings ✔

32. Goodbyes & Graduations

Corrine ran off stage excitedly, right into Luke's open arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her legs around his waist. "I'm so proud of you." he said. Corrine leaned back and smiled.

"I'm proud of you to." she said, kissing his nose. Luke laughed. He set her back down on the ground, and then pulled her in for a kiss. Luke had been released from the hospital a few days before Grad with a clean bill of health, and Corrine couldn't have been more happier.

"So how does it feel to be free of this place?" Luke asked her, resting his forehead against hers.

"To be completely honest, I'm going to miss this place. So many memories." she sighed.

"Really?" Luke asked.

"Hell no. I'm glad to be gone." she laughed. "What about you?"

"I'm free." he smiled.

"Corrine!" Corrine turned away from Luke, only to be embraced in a tight hug from Lauren. "CONGRATS!" she exclaimed.

"Aw, thanks Lauren." She let Mali give her a hug, as well as Harry. Corrine gave the guys all a hug too. She laughed as Michael tried to hold back tears.

"I'm not crying, I swear." he said, trying to sound manly.

"Whatever you say Mikey." Corrine smiled. She turned around to face her brother. "What? Are you not going to give me a hug?" she asked. Owen nodded, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"If I hug you, then I'm saying goodbye, and I don't want you to leave." he pouted.

"Aw." Corrine pulled him in for a hug anyway. "I'll come visit."

"It's not the same!" he whined.

"You have Lauren."

"She's not my sister." he pointed out. "She's my girlfriend." Corrine just shook her head, and faced Lauren.

"Take care of him?" she smiled.

"Promise."

"Hey, no funny business while I'm gone yeah? Just remember that Harry still lives at home." Ashton said, hugging Lauren.

"I'm going to miss you." Lauren sighed. Mali went over and hugged her brother.

"It's not going to be the same with you gone." Mali frowned. "Can we keep you for the summer?"

"I'm going to miss you too shorty." Calum laughed, kissing the top of her head.

"This is why I'm an only child." Michael said, grinning. Lauren and Mali let go of their brothers, and hugged him.

"We'll miss you too Mikey." they said. Michael laughed, hugging them back.

"I'm going to miss you guys too."

Luke led Corrine away from the crowd later that night. Their parents had thrown them a going away party at Corrine's grandparent's. The two walked in silence out into the meadow, their hands intertwined together. Every so often, Luke would look down at Corrine, and once and a while she'd catch him staring. He'd only smile and kiss her cheek. "So why'd you bring me out here?" Corrine asked, as they sat down on the grass. She leaned into Luke's side. Luke took a deep breath.

"I just wanted to spend some time with you." he said.

"I thought we were doing that?" she said, confused. She glanced up at him, and noted a hint of sadness in his blue eyes. "What's wrong?"

"You remember back in November, how I said I wanted to do music after I graduated." Luke asked. She nodded. "Well, the boys and I had been posting covers and originals on youtube, and we finally got noticed."

"Luke, that's amazing!" Corrine smiled.

"Yeah, but-" Luke trailed off, looking away from her.

"But what?"

"They want us to come to the UK."

"Then what's the problem? You should be happy! Not only do you get to do music, but you get to see the world."

"We're scheduled to leave in two weeks." Luke said in a whisper. Corrine understood now.

"Oh." she replied.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you, and with everything that has been happening, I didn't know how to bring it up, and I know you just got be back, but this is my dream Cory, and-" Luke was cut off by her laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Luke," she began. Corrine straddled his waist, hooking her arms around his neck. "Go." Luke sat surprised. This was not the reaction he was expecting.

"But-"

"No. This is what you want, yeah?" Luke nodded. "Then I'm not going to stop you. Yes I just got you back, and yes I kinda want to keep you all to myself." she said with a smile. "But I'm not going to tell you no. Go to the UK. Live your dream. And when you have a break, then you can come stay with me in New York."

"Are you asking me to move in with you?" Luke asked.

"Maybe. That's only if you want to. I know that if this goes good for you, and I know it will, you won't be around a lot, but I figured, that when you're not, you could stay with me. Beats having to look for a place, huh?"

"I'd like that." Luke smiled. He leaned in and kissed her gently. "I'll move in with you." he laughed.

"Okay. Do you know how long you'll be gone for?" Corrine asked.

"A year, roughly. We're touring with this other band as an opening act." Corrine bit her lip at the mention of Luke being gone for a year.

"In one year." she said. She stuck out her pinky. Luke hooked it with his. "You'll come see me?" she asked.

"Yes. I'll write to you to." he said.

"Promise?"

"Yep. Every month. And I'll tell you everything. And then when I see you in one year, I'll be the happiest man alive." Corrine smiled.

"I'm going to miss you." she said.

"You still have me for two weeks."

"Maybe." she said.

"Why maybe?"

"Mum and Dad said they found me an apartment in New York. It's close to where I'm attending University. I don't know when I'm moving." Corrine frowned.

"I have an idea." Luke said.

"What's that?"

"I'll help you move. That way I get to know the area, and whenever I'm in town, I won't get lost."

"I'd like that. A lot." Corrine kissed him. Luke placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer to him.

"I love you." he said, nudging his nose with hers.

"I love you more." Corrine smiled.

"I doubt that."

"Oh do you?"

"Yes. I do."

"No way. I love you way more."

"Ah, no. I love you more."

"Prove it." Corrine smiled mischievously. Luke shook his head.

"Why you cheeky little-"

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ugh, this chapter sucks. I'm sorry!

-Raven