english class | l.h.

chapter seventeen

It was Friday, which meant it was the last day before spring break. Darcy was going to spent it alone, in her bedroom. She didn't have any friends, she was an actual loner.

She had not yet come around to ask Ashton about Juliet, just because she was scared of his reaction. Juliet has always been a touchy subject, Ashton always immediately was tensed when he heard her name. Darcy thought she should maybe call up Juliet and ask her, but that idea had too many difficulties.

Darcy put on her shoes and then grabbed her bag and headed downstairs. Ashton was offering her a ride and she accepted, but she has been nervous around him because of the whole 'secret'.

"Ready?" He asked and she nodded, following him to his car. The ride was silent until the last few corners came up, "Darcy why are you so quiet ever since Wednesday?" Ashton asked her and she shrugged, slightly widening her eyes.

"It's nothing." She said quickly, Ashton was driving slowly on purpose. "Ashton I'm going to be late." She said, staring at him. "If this about Luke, it's for the best." He said, looking at his sister. "Luke is not a good guy." He said, Darcy just nodded, finally getting out of the car. "Bye," She said quickly and then walked to the big doors of school.

She had to ask Luke about it, he was the only one who would be able to answer her on this. She hurried to her class and grabbed her phone, opening her messenger.

To: Lukieee <3

Back of library, next period.

She hoped he would read it and think it's okay. She really needed her answers. He was obviously still mad at her for last Wednesday, but any interaction with Darcy would make it better. Darcy got a 'k' back from him and then smiled.

When the bell rang for the next period, she did not go to her class, she went the opposite direction and walked in to the library. Completely in the back is where he stood. His perfect quiff and loose black t-shirts, exactly how she liked it.

"Hey." She breathed out and hid behind the books next to Luke. They sat down on the ground besides each other and it was quiet for a second. "Why did you ask me to come here." Luke said monotone.

"I have a question." She started. "Actually, more than one. I need honesty." She then spoke and looked at him. He was staring right in front of him, but looked in to her eyes when she looked at him. Their face just inches away from each other.

"Okay." He said, and broke the stare.

"Did you hook up with Juliet when you were fourteen?" Darcy said, squeezing her eyes shut, scared for his reaction. She had expected he would go crazy, but instead he let out a chuckle. A CHUCKLE.

"Trying to find out why your brother hates me I see." He chuckled again and Darcy hit him playfully. "Answers!" She said, a little too loud for a library. "Okay calm down." He said and stared at her.

"I-" He said but stopped talking for a second. "Oh my god, you did!" Darcy said, staring at him. "No! No wait let me explain!" Luke shushed her and she was silent again. "Okay." He started, "To state the truth, Juliet is indeed a very gorgeous girl." Luke said, pulling one of his knees to his chest and staring right in front.

"But, I have never had a crush on Juliet because I already had a crush on somebody else, who was as well unreachable." He said, biting his lip. "Don't wander off, please." Darcy said, obviously not realizing he was talking about her.

"Calum did." He said. "Seriously? I know, God come on, Calum has been my best friend since I was twelve." She said annoyed, begging him for answers was just not enough. "Wait, first, I need to say something else." Luke said. "Oh my GOD!" Darcy said, letting her head fall back and rolling her eyes.

"I have known Ashton since I was thirteen, obviously. And we used to be friends as you know, the good old times where I still hung out with him and Michael." He said wandering off. "When Ashton started dating Juliet when he was fifteen, we were all surprised." Darcy laughed remembering that.

"So when a year later he found out Juliet cheated, he was heartbroken." Luke said, shaking his head. "Juliet cheated? With you?" Darcy said softly. Luke took a breath for a second, but then shook his head. "No, I was covering up for somebody." He said, "I was covering up for Calum."

"Wait what?" Darcy yelled out. "So this whole hate that Ashton has for you is all based on a lie? Seriously, and why would you even cover up for Calum? What the-" Darcy began talking, asking as many questions as possible. "Darcy, keep breathing." Luke whispered and grabbed her hand loosely.

"Ashton never found out it was actually Calum, he just stopped being my friend. Michael picked his side and Calum stayed neutral. They did not want to tell you this because they wanted you to not be a part of this." Luke spoke. "Why, my age wouldn't be the problem because we're the same age." Darcy said, annoyed.

"Listen, I cared about Calum so much I wanted to take the blame if that ment he kept his friendship with Ashton. I had enough other friends." He said, "Or at least I thought." He said softly, playing with his hands.

"The first few months after the whole fight were really lonely, Calum did his best but it was just really weird to not have Ashton around. So Maxwell became my new best friend, and he brought me in to all that bad stuff." Luke started explaining.

"But Maxwell didn't do any of that I thought?" Darcy furrowed her eyebrows. "That's what everybody thinks, Darc, but he is the one that started it all. His brother would buy him alcohol and weed and he just-" Luke said, getting annoyed by this subject.

"Stop I don't want to know it."

"And now, I finally thought after all this time we could be friends and then we got close and then you left me and Maxwell hates me and I am all alone again." Luke said, his head was in his hands and Darcy was shocked at the sudden sadness.

"Wait Luke." Darcy said as she scooted closer to him. Their arms were touching and Luke looked up in to her eyes. "I never knew you really felt that way." She said, grabbing his hand. "I-I don't know what to say. Ashton-He-I-" She started saying but she had no ideas what she could possibly say at this point.

"Just promise me you won't leave me alone anymore. I am so tired of being all alone, I don't want to become who I was, I want to change." He said, a whispering tone. He scratched his arms and then looked back in to Darcy's eyes.

"Luke." Darcy said, grabbing his hands and staring him right in the eyes. "I promise you, to never give you the feeling like you have nobody." She said, a small smile appeared on his face and he looked away.

"Promise me to talk to me, I don't care about Ashton. I was right, you're one of the good ones." She said, and Luke nodded.

"Thank you."

"Of course."