Ambivalent

8.

Luke

Going out with everyone was exactly what I needed. Ever since the encounter with Alex in the store last week, I haven't been able to keep her and what happened out of my head. Being out with everyone really helped me clear my head. After our movie finished, we headed back to Michael's and ordered take out like we said we would. Once the food arrived, we all chilled out in Michael's living room.

"So Luke," Calum began with a mouth full of stir fry, "Michael told me you had an encounter with a certain someone last week." So much for not thinking about Alex. I had almost forgotten Michael was the only person I told about Alex. "What happened?"

And so, for the second time, I explained to everyone about how I ran into Alex, leaving out the part about the could-be boyfriend Sam. Just talking about her made my stomach erupt in butterflies. Jesus, get a grip Luke.

"Dude, at least she's hot now," Ashton said once I had finished explaining.

"That's exactly what I said!" Michael chimed in excitedly. Him and Ashton immediately fist bumped, and Calum and Christina laughed at them.

"How do you even know this girl anyway?" Christina asked. It didn't occur to me that only Michael, Ashton, and Cal knew about the accident.

"Well," I began slowly, "about two years ago I was walking home in this really nasty storm. It was absolutely god awful outside and I was trying my best to get home quickly. As I was walking I noticed that a car had pulled over way ahead of me, which was understandable since it was completely dangerous to even be out on the road, let alone the sidewalk. I kept walking, and soon I noticed that this huge truck lost control on the road and was moving straight for the parked car. I didn't even have time to react before I saw the truck ram into the car. The damage was bad, like REALLY bad. I didn't think the person inside could have possibly lived through that. Anyway, once both the car and the truck stopped moving I starting running for the car. I'm not sure why but I just did. When I got there, I managed to get the driver's side door open and could see the girl laying there completely unconscious. I carefully took her out and surprisingly found her to still be alive. By that time, bystanders had already called 911. I did my best to keep the girl alive until the ambulance came. When it finally did come, I rode with her. I had no clue what was going through my head. I had no clue who this girl was, yet I was riding with her to the hospital, praying that she'd survive through this. She was banged up pretty bad. I'm pretty sure at one point I started crying a bit. Once we got to the hospital, she opened her eyes for a second before passing out again. I realized then that she was the most gorgeous girl I had ever seen, despite the shape she was in. I thought maybe seeing her that day in the music store would have jogged her memory, but I guess not. I never met her parents or anything since I left immediately after I was sure she was in good hands. I kind of regret doing that, but I knew if I didn't leave it would only cause trouble."

I never enjoy looking back on that day. It always makes my stomach clench, like it did when I thought she wasn't going to make it. To this day I still wish I had stayed with her in the hospital. After finishing my insanely depressing story, I looked over at Christina whose face had gone completely pale. This is why I never tell people this story; it just depresses everyone out. Except Christina's faced seemed a little, I don't know, concerned? No, terrified would be the right word.

"What did you say her name was again?" she asked slowly.

"In the music store her friend called her Alex. Are you alright?" I asked her. Honestly, she looked like she was about to throw up.

"Yeah babe are you alright? You look like you've just seen a ghost," Calum asked her tenderly.

"Holy shit," she whispered. "Good god this can't be." I didn't know what was going on but I didn't like it at all. "Cal, have I not told you that story before?"

"Huh?" Calum said just as confused as the rest of us.

"Calum, Luke's Alex is OUR Alex. As in my best friend Alex. The accident happened before you moved here so of course you wouldn't have known her then. She doesn't really tell people because it depresses her out and makes her head hurt. I was with her at the hospital that night."

No one said anything. Michael's mouth was open and food was slowly starting to pour out. Ash's face had lost its color. I looked down at my hands and noticed that I was shaking. Calum's mouth kept moving but no words were coming out. "What?" he finally managed to get out.

"At the hospital, when Alex finally woke up the doctor explained to her that a stranger had been walking by when the accident happened and basically saved her life. No one knew his name and Alex said all she could remember after the accident was seeing a pair of blue eyes looking down at her. She has nightmares about it all the time."

No wonder she looked so scared when we met. She recognized my eyes, but she had no idea that my eyes and the ones she has dreams about belong to the same person. Oh god. OH. GOD. This is not good at all. Now I felt like I was about to throw up.

"Luke," Christina's eyes were now filling with tears. "You saved my best friend's life."

Before I could register what was going on, Christina had engulfed me in a hug and was silently crying on my shoulder. She pulled me back and quickly kissed me on the cheek. "Thank you so so so much Luke. If it weren't for you, you would have never ran into her at the music store."

"Christina you can't tell her it was me," I said quickly. "I want to tell her myself when the time is right. But for now, none of you can say anything to her, specifically Cal and Christina." I don't know how I'm going to tell her. I barely know her. Maybe she'll come into the music store again, hopefully without Sam, and I can talk to her again. Maybe even ask her out on a date. Woah there, Hemmings. Don't get too ahead of yourself.

"I understand," Christina replied while getting up to go back to Calum. "You do what you have to do."

"Yeah mate, we understand," Cal said wrapping his arms around Christina and kissing her on the neck. Don't get me wrong, him and Christina are cute, but those two need to get a room.

"Thanks you guys. Anyone up for Call of Duty?" I said eager to change the subject. I need time to process all this new information, but for now I just want to forget about it.

"Ready to get your ass beat, Hemmings?" Christina said taking the other controller.

"I like her," I said to Cal who flashed a big grin at Christina. And for the rest of the night, I tried my best not to think about Alex.

Oooooo the plot thickens. Stay tuned for more(maybe?)

Also 10/10 recommend Anarbor's new album fyi