boner // luke hemmings

birthday boy

almost every morning and evening, natalia would offer her mom's van as a carpool to the group of friends. the car was small, too small for the amount of people who tried to squeeze into it. ashton and natalia would sit in the front, with ashton having total control over the radio despite micheal's protests. michael and calum would slide in the back, taking up almost the whole seat, leaving one spot for the remaining two people.

so, almost every day, elle sat on luke's lap and prayed to God they didn't wreck and go flying out the window.

while she was sure she was crushing him, and even mentioned it a few times, luke didn't seem to mind one bit.

"it's ten-minute ride," he'd reminded her. "you're not gonna kill me."

elle and luke were the last to be picked up. even though they lived beside each other, luke always got in first, already comfortable in the backseat, a beaming smile on his face when he saw her. she never understood how he could be so lively at such an early hour. meanwhile, she'd be gripping her thermos full of coffee and mumbling replies as she tried to wake herself up.

however, on this particular day, elle was feeling wide awake. she was positively giddy. It was luke's birthday. she had gotten him the best present, something she'd seen him looking at in the window of the shop they passed sometimes when they were in town. elle couldn't wait to give it to him.

"happy birthday!" she greeted him as he opened the door. elle pecked his cheek, then took her rightful seat on his lap and placed her bag at her feet. she turned in place so she could see him.

luke smiled at her, his face red. "thanks, ellie."

"I got you the best present," she revealed, happily.

he raised his brows in interest. "really? because i only deserve the best."

she nodded enthusiastically and turned back around. everyone in the car was still focusing on waking up and warming up from the chilly weather outside. michael and calum were turned towards each other, blowing warm air into the other's face. natalia had six scarves wrapped around her neck.

to take pressure off of her neck, she shifted over luke's lap. elle could have sworn she heard his breathing hitch, but maybe it was her imagination. she tried to hold her own weight and shifted again, and luke took a sharp inhale through his nose.

luke cleared his throat. when she glanced back at him, he wasn't looking at her, but rather out the window at the passing landscape. everyone else in the car was chatting about projects, exams, and the latest gossip. the radio was up. no one was paying attention to either one of them.

lost in her thoughts as she stared out the window, elle had thought she'd imagined it when luke grazed his hand up her thigh, over her leggings. the movement was so quick and subtle that if it hadn't caught her attention, she would have missed it.

elle tried to conceal her burning cheeks.

•

luke smiled, sitting on the bleachers after the school day as he drank out of his water bottle, eyes trained on the other side of the field. there was a group of cheerleaders practicing but he didn't care for anyone else other than the taller one on the right.