disconnected // luke hemmings » au

one

I scan my eyes over the many CDs in the store before I find the one I'm looking for. My hand grips All Time Low's album, Don't Panic.

As I spin my body around to make my way to the counter, I almost crash right into a tall blonde boy. I let out a shocked yelp and he take his lip ring between his teeth and steps back slightly.

"Good choice." He says, nodding towards the CD held in my hands, his voice deep and laced with a strong Australian accent.

I blush and smile. "Yeah, it's one of my favourites." I say to this unknown, extremely attractive boy standing in front of me. He grins. "Mine too. I like your accent, where are you from?"

"London." I reply.

"I love it there! I'm Luke by the way." He smiles and holds out his hand for me to shake.

I giggle breathily and shake his large hand as I tell him my name. "I'm Sienna."

Before Luke can say anything else, three boys join us in the aisle.

"Luke! We've been looking for you!" A pale boy with dark purple hair says before looking at me then back at Luke curiously.

"Sienna, there are my friends, Michael, Ashton and Calum." Luke tells me, gesturing at each boy as he says their name.

I give them a shy smile and look down at the CD in my hands. "It was nice to meet you all, but I better be going. My boyfriend is waiting for me outside." I tell the four guys with a smile.

"Boyfriend?" Luke questions and I blush at the unexpected question.

Before I can answer, I see Toby making his way towards us, a frown carved into his handsome face.

"Sienna... You said you'd only be a couple of minutes." My boyfriend practically growls.

His grey eyes are angry and he runs his hand though his dark blonde hair.

"Yeah, I was just about to leave." I assure him, flashing the confused boys a fake smile before walking away, making sure Toby is following.

I buy the CD quickly and climb into Toby's car after he unlocks it.

"Who the hell were they?" He asks angrily.

"I don't know, they just said they liked my CD choice." I shrug, finding myself thinking about Luke's kind blue eyes.

"They seem like dicks to me. Did you see that guy's fucking purple hair?" Toby scoffs and I fight the urge to roll my eyes at his judgemental statement. I can't help but suddenly feel self conscious about my own slight pink hair.

When I don't say anything, he looks across at me. "Fucking answer me when I speak, Sienna!" He yells.

His harsh tone makes me flinch. "Yeah, I saw." I say, not wanting him to yell again.

"It looks fucking stupid. Don't you think?" He adds.

"I think he pulls it off." I mentally slap myself for disagreeing with Toby.

"If that's what you think then you're fucking stupid, Sienna." He spits and I sigh.

Toby and I had known each other since we were kids and started dating when I was 13 and he was 15. After five years with him, I have learnt to put up with how badly he can treat me, because I love him and I know he loves me. Even though he doesn't show it often.

Normally the extent of his anger only leads to verbal abuse, but sometimes it was more than that.

The first time Toby hit me, I thought I'd never go back to him, but I decided that living without him was worse than his abuse.