The Luggage // hemmings

Ch. 5: "Shut Up, Michael"

Jilly

"Well?" I repeated.  Now we were close enough to hear each other breathing really hard.  I could tell we were both nervous to see each other.  My heart beat faster as I took in his scent because he smelled damn good. 

Here I was, having a conversation with Luke Hemmings of 5SOS in the damn flesh.  I'd had a few other conversations with him before, too, except in those two days (is that even accurate?), I had known him as Robert, the really hot and mysterious guy I'd met at the airport.  I even had his number. 

I had his number.  The fact that I had Luke Hemmings' number made me feel so powerful. 

"I was scared to tell you," Rob -- I mean, Luke said finally.  I raised an eyebrow, and he said, "I didn't want you to treat me any differently because I'm Luke Hemmings.  When you asked me for my name, I panicked and just used my middle name.  Creative, I know."

"I guess that's an acceptable explanation," I said.  He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair, fixing his quiff.  Oh, god, it was so hot. 

"Jilly," he continued, and I almost choked on air because my name sounded so good coming from him, "even though you were kind of mean to me, and made fun of me, and other stuff that I normally wouldn't have let anyone do..."  Luke trailed off. 

Luke acted exactly the way I thought he would: cute and awkward.  Surprisingly, I felt calm, or, at least, less nervous than Luke.  If anything, I should have been hyperventilating and rocking myself in a corner. 

"Ikindoflikedhangingoutwithyou," he rushed out.  It was obvious on my face that I didn't understand him, and he repeated himself, slower.  "I kind of liked hanging out with you."

"Bull shit, you loved hanging out with me."  I grinned, and I saw the corners of his lips quirk up slightly. 

"Those unexpected outbursts are part of the reason I liked hanging out with you," said Luke. 

"Here's your suitcase," I said, and his hand rested on mine for half a second because he didn't wait until my hand was off the handle first.  I could have sworn I'd felt that familiar electricity again, and I knew he felt it too.  He moved his hand away quickly and blushed. 

Luke Robert Hemmings blushed.  Literally, my heart skipped a beat.  Again.  Who gave him the damn right to do this to me and a few million other girls?!

"Here's your suitcase," he said, and used his foot to wheel it into my hands, so he could avoid touching me again, avoiding the electricity that had surged through our whole arms.  "I better go."  Luke turned around and opened the door.  He hesitated to walk through. 

"Will I ever see you again?" the both of us blurted out at the same time. 

I let him speak first. 

"The boys and I aren't doing anything tomorrow... Do you wanna...hang out again?  You can bring Kate if you like," he said, not making eye contact with me.  I didn't know how long we'd been out here, but the whole time he hadn't looked me directly in the eye. 

"Sure," I said, and though I wanted to look cool in front of Luke, I felt this stupid smile creep on my face. 

"WE'RE GOING TO SEE 5SOS TOMORROW???" Kate yelled at me once we got back to my apartment. 

"Yes, Kate, thanks so much for letting the whole building know," I said sarcastically, walking over to my room and leaving my luggage in there, the luggage that was actually mine.