My best friend... h.s

8

Paradise - George Ezra

*

1 year later (2011)

I was curled up on the sofa on this rainy August day waiting for Luke to come over and join me watching this film. Yes, the same Luke I ran into a little over a year ago. The pretty, quick witted boy had 'ran into me' on more than one occasion before he finally got my number. He was always so sweet to me, treated me like gold all the time. He asked me to be his girlfriend about 6 months ago, which I said yes to, needing little persuasion. He was the perfect boyfriend, and my parents loved him. It was a bit suffocating at times, and it made me feel like I was going to be him for the rest of my life, which I may be, but at 17 I don't think I'm ready to be settling down yet. I felt guilty whenever I was with him though, like I was betraying someone. I don't really know though, maybe he just gave me butterflies when he flashed his pearly smile at me. He had told me he loved me very early, and he wasn't deterred when I didn't say it back, he understood it was early. I said it back a few weeks later which he was over the moon about, admitting he had been worrying that I would dump him for being to clingy or for admitting his feelings to early and scaring me.

I looked out of the window of the living room, out over the road and onto the hills behind. Even on this rainy day they still held beauty and magic within them. They held a special place in my heart, as I will always remember running up and down the side of those hills with my brothers and cousins and having picnics with my parents and numerous other relatives. The door bell pulled me out of my memories and back into reality. I uncurled myself from my ball to answer the door to no doubt Luke. He smiled at me and stepped over the threshold of my house. He looked good. He wore his green raincoat over his black sweatshirt and jeans, which fitted him well and showed his muscular legs. His bright yellow ankle socks peeked out over the tops of his Vans and were spotted with water, where he no doubt stepped in a few puddles on his way here. Luke lived about half an hours walk away, but he always walked, whatever the weather, when it would be so much quicker and easier to get a lift.

He shrugged off his coats and hung it on the hooks by the door before placing his hands on my hips and pulling me towards him in a small chaste kiss. I smiled, he always knew the perfect way to say hello.

"Hey darling." He smiled, looking down at my lips again. Something didn't sit right with him calling me darling, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"Hey Luke." I said, letting him leave another short kiss on my lips. "I've got the film all set up."

"Oh yeah? What are we watching?" He said, probably expecting a rubbish chick flick or something.

"Shutter Island." I replied. He looked shocked at my choice, but as I had seen it loads of times it didn't scare me anymore, whereas I knew he had never seen it. "I promise you it's worth the watch."

"Okay Florence, what ever you say." I gave him a disapproving frown, to which his smile grew.

"It's one of those films you have to concentrate on though, meaning we can not distract each other." I said, this time putting my hands on his toned hips. He groaned at me, dramatically throwing his arms in the air before they landed on my shoulders.

"But that's my favourite thing about watching films with you." He groaned, putting his head on my shoulder as well.

"Come On, lets watch it."

*

By the first ten minutes of the film, he was completely engrossed, he had even removed his arm from around my waist and instead was leaning on his knees in anticipation. I smiled at his reaction, albeit a predictable one. I turned my head to watch him watch the film, to see all of his reactions as the plot twists were suddenly revealed. About half way through the film I heard a knock at my front door. Frowning, I went to open it, not having a clue who it could be. Luke was so engrossed in the film I don't think he even noticed me leaving. I walked down the hall to the front door. I could see a vague shadow of someone stood outside, waiting for an answer, but it didn't give me any clues to who it was. I mumbled a quick 'coming' so they knew I was there, and they hadn't been ignored. I pushed down on the handle and pulled open the door. I looked up at the stranger that was before me. Except it wasn't a stranger at all. It was...