On the Road Again || Luke Hemmings

Part Forty-Four

*Luke's POV*

"Do you need any help sweetie?"

Amanda was currently working on 2 different essays and 2 presentations. Her English essay was due tonight online, and her Psychology essay was due tomorrow, as well as her one presentation, and the other one on Tuesday.

Poor girl is spreading herself way too thin. She takes on too many tasks at once. Instead of working on her assignments, she spent all this past week working on setting up and getting ready for Emily's baby shower, which we just came home from. I kept telling her not to wait until last minute but she kept reassuring me that she'd be fine and would get everything done. But now here we are, I'm sitting on the bed with my guitar, and she's sat at her desk, typing away.

"Lewi I told you I'm fine." She huffed, her eyes still glued to her laptop. I sighed and looked back down at my guitar, strumming it once. "Are you sure? I can take out my laptop and work on the presentations for you-" "Luke I told you I'm fine okay! I don't need your help!" She snapped. I just stared at her and her face softened. "Lewi...I-I'm sorry." She whispered and I nodded, putting my guitar down.

"C'mere."

"Luke I can't, I gotta get this other essay done."

"Is the one that's due tonight finished and sent in?" I asked and she nodded. "Okay then come over here."

She stood up from her chair and slowly made her way over to the bed. I opened up my arms and she froze. "Sweetie I'm not mad, I promise, just let me hold you. Please." I pleaded and she hesitantly sat down, cuddling herself into my side. I tightly wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "Lewi I'm really sorry I yelled. I'm just so stressed." She muttered. "I know, but this is exactly why you can't keep doing this to yourself Amanda. You're only letting your anxiety get worse sweetie." I stated, looking down at her. She looked up at me with furrowed eyebrows and glossy eyes. "I just didn't think college was going to be this hard Luke. But now I'm almost 2 months in and I feel completely drained and overwhelmed."

She nuzzled her head into my chest and gripped onto my shirt and i just held her even tighter. "Can't I just drop out and become a stripper or something?" She laughed slightly and my eyes went wide. "Absolutely not." I deadpanned and she giggled. "Why not?" "Because you're only allowed to strip for me." I smirked and she shrugged. "Fair enough."

"But I'm serious baby, you can't keep spreading yourself so thin, it's not good for you."

She relaxed in my arms and I rubbed my palm up and down her back soothingly. "I know Lewi. I'll try not to." She mumbled, looking up at me. I smiled and pressed my lips to her forehead. "Alright now c'mon." I said, patting her bum. She slowly pulled away from me and sat up against her headboard. I slid myself off the bed and grabbed her laptop off of her desk. I sat back down next to her and she immediately cuddled back into my side, making me chuckle. "Why'd you grab my laptop?"

"I'm going to help you with your presentations."

"Luke no-"

"Amanda stop, I'm helping you."

She sighed, defeated. I smirked to myself and pulled up her half-started presentations. "Okay so what's the one for English on?" I asked. "Chinua Achebe. He's an author, but I already did my part for the presentation, the rest is for my partner to do." She stated and I nodded. "Okay then you're one down already. See me helping is a great thing so far!" I exclaimed and she rolled her eyes. "What about the other one sweetie?"

"Well my professor just told us to do our presentations on literally anything. So I was going to just do mine on the things that make me happy."

"So me?" I grinned cheekily. She giggled, nodding her head. "You're one of them Lewi."