Say It Ain't So, I Will Not Go - A Luke Hemmings fanfic

Part 33

Soon enough the two boys had calmed me down. We were now sat at the kitchen table, Calum on my right, Luke oposite him. It had been established that Calum had not actually lied to Luke, and that Luke had only made the accusation as a resulf of being half asleep.

'I've never cared about someone they way I care about Kelsie,' Luke was saying now. 'I know that doesn't excuse the fact that what I did was uncalled for, and I'm not trying to make excuses. I take full responsibility for what I did and I know it was wrong to act that way towards you, Calum. I'm sorry and I hope you can forgive me.' Calum accepted the appology easily and slipped an arm around my shoulder to comfort me.

Luke looked to me, then. 'I'm sorry about how I acted, honey,' the sincerity in his voice stunned me the same way as it had the first time it had become evident when we were talking in the airport Starbucks only hours ago. 'I know it wasn't right, and I'm prepared to own up to it. This is completely new territory for both of us and I know I really should be more careful, and I will be. It's something we both need to get used to, and I'm sure we will, we just need to give it time and take things slow.' Luke was speaking carefully, as if he expected me to yell at him or something. 'I'm more than happy to do that, if you'll let me.'

'I don't know why you're sorry,' I admitted. 'You didn't do anything.'

'I made you uncomfortable, Kelsie,' Luke said simply. 'As your boyfriend, making you feel that way is something I should, and always will be, prepared to appologise for.'

'I'm sorry too,' I sighed.' 'I know it's no excuse but I've never been in this situation before and I don't know how to deal with it and the fact that you and Calum are so close just makes me really conscious that I have to be careful so that I don't mess things up with either of you and the whole thing kinda just messed with my emotions and thinking and it wasn't fair to either of you.'

'Why don't we all go back to sleep?' Calum suggested. We agreed and then Luke asked where that would leave he and I.

'We can forget this ever happened and when we wake up again you two can go on a date,' Calum propsed. 'That way you'll spend time with each other on your own and become more comfortable with the idea of being a couple.'

'Calum!' I warned my best friend, 'Don't be so pushy.'

'I actually really like the idea,' Luke told me. 'I'd be more than happy to take you on a date if you'd be alright with it.'

'Really?' I asked.

Luke nodded. 'I think Calum has a point, and now I don't feel out of place suggesting it.' Calum was looking at Luke carefully.

'The right way to do this would be to man up and ask your girl on a date yourself, Hemmings,' my best friend hinted. I was somewhat flattered, even in my tired state, that Luke's cheeks had dusted a light shade of pink, barely noticeable in the minimal light of our current setting, and his eyes had twinkled on hearing Calum refer to me as his girl, not only because it meant that Luke and I hadn't ended things, but also because it meant that Calum really gave Luke permission to be with me. 'I'll leave you two alone for now,' he added before going back up to his room.

Luke stood from the other side of the table and cautiously dropped into the now vacant chair beside me. He reached for my hand slowly and smiled. I let him take it before standing up and sitting carefully in his lap, which prompted him to wrap his free arm around my waist. He whispered a thank you against my shoulder before kissing the skin lightly. I gave his hand a gentle squeeze in response and that seemed to be enough for him. He rose from the chair, then, and carried me caefully back up stairs to the spare room. He tucked me in again for the second time that night and perched himself on the edge of the bed, looking at me fondly as his hand brushed over my cheek. 'Stay with me?' I mumbled.

'I'll be right here,' he promised. 'I should really only stay until you've fallen asleep, though,' he pointed out quietly. I nodded. He reached for my hand and ran his thumb soothingly over my knuckles, before shuffling so he could bring it to his lips. 'May I please take you on a date tomorrow?'

'I would really like that,' I agreed. Smiling, Luke squeezed my hand and stood up, leaning over to place kisses to my forehead, cheeks and finally my lips.

'You don't have to worry anymore, baby,' he whispered as I dozed off.  I'll take care of you. You'll see.'