Amnesia || Luke Hemmings

Six

Luke walked behind me, a few steps behind when he slipped his hands beneath his jacket sleeves. It seemed to be a strong habit of his, hiding his hands. I looked around to him with a smile but he only nodded.

We both returned back to my original table where Michael, Ashton and Calum were completely silent once we arrived. I welcomed them with a smile, gesturing Luke to sit down with us but everyone around seemed a little hesitant.

Ashton refused to move up to the edge of the table, crossing his arms firming over the table, confirming that he wouldn't be moving. Nothing but keeping his ground. I sighed and squeezed up as much as I could, leaving Luke the tiniest space to perch on the end.

He awkwardly shuffled, flicking his eyes occasionally to the corners of the room, seeming hesitant and a little uncomfortable. The other boys, as usual, surrounded themselves with the conversation of football and I half expected Luke to join in with them.

I looked to him with a light frown when he didn't, gently nudging at the side of his arm to grab his attention but he continued to keep his head down.

"What's wrong?" I whispered, easily guessing a reason.

He simply shrugged and fidgeted with his fingertips, knowing already that he was aching to leave our presence and mostly mine. Yet, he had already apologised and we 'started over' so that must of meant something?

His hands seemed shaky and I watched him in his nervous mind, body lightly on edge and eyes wide in alert. He seemed slightly agitated, the tips of his fingertips hidden behind his lips.

A jolt shivered through my body when Luke's opposing hand suddenly squeezed around my knee. My lips parted and I chuckled lightly, looking at Luke who was only gazing around the school hall, unaware of his actions.

"Luke," I coughed a laugh.

He spun his head slowly to my direction, a confused look flashing across his features and finally looked down where I gestured him to. When he noticed, he suddenly slipped his hand from my knee, hiding it tightly under his armpit.

The school bell rung seconds later and I gazed up to the source of sound, preparing myself for another lesson before the end of the day. When I turned my attention to Luke, he was gone. I saw him already exiting the door to the cafeteria, bag on his back and secured tightly.

Grabbing my bag, I scurried after him and pushed the doors to turn my head back and forth in search for him. He trudged in silence to the exit, purposely not heading in the direction of our upcoming class. I decided not to call, sprinting to his side even though he didn't stop.

"Where are you going?" I asked breathless.

"Home." He replied simply.

I thought for a brief second when he didn't hesitate on pushing on the heavy wooden doors to leave. When I bit my lip I quickly followed him, returning to his side and he looked confused at my appearance. I simply smiled and walked by his side.

"My parents will be home," he spoke slowly.

"Great, I'd love to meet them."

He laughed and looked down, gently shaking his head back and forth when he chuckled at my comment. We walked in silence for a long while and I vaguely remembered the area where we were going, I'd definitely been here a few times before when I was a child.

It was a small park that no-one really visited. Besides of a few rusty swings and a climbing frame, the park didn't consist of much. It was like a scary movie, where you wouldn't dare to step near as the neighbourhood killer would be watching. But somehow whilst I was with Luke, I felt safe.