Broken Wings

Chapter 4: Friends

"They used to shout my name, now they whisper it." - Lorde

I opened up the front door when we got to my place. "Mom? I'm home."

"With a guest!" Luke shouted.

I gave Luke the eye and almost laughed out loud. This boy will do anything to annoy me somehow.

Paula stepped out of the living room. "It's nice to see you again, Luke."

"You too, Ms. Grey."

"We were assigned to work on a history project together," I explained quickly.

"Alright, then. I'll let you two get to work." Paula went back into the living room. "Let me know if you need anything at all!"

I led Luke up to my room. The October sun shone through my window as set my school bag on my bed and sat down.

Luke placed his own backpack on my desk. "Nice room."

"Thanks."

He took a seat next to me on my bed. "For how long have you lived in Bar Harbor?"

Somehow, it felt good to be seated so close to him. His arm touched mine slightly and I don't know if he noticed or not. His warm skin tickled against mine, but it felt too amazing to move away from the contact.

"It'd be almost three years now," I answered.

He nodded as he looked around my room. "Where did you live before you moved here?"

"Um, Florida."

He turned his head to face me. "Why did you move?"

He asked so many questions, and for some reason, I felt that I could trust him.

"Um, after my dad passed away, we couldn't afford our house there so Paula thought we should move here. It's where she grew up."

Luke's forehead creased slightly. "Your dad passed away?"

I nodded. "When I was twelve."

The memory of losing him came back into my mind.

"I'm sorry." He put a hand on my shoulder.

I placed a small smile on my lips. "It's okay."

An hour later, we were working on our history project. Luke was really quiet when he worked but he asked a few questions every now and then. I had never thought working with someone would be so easy and fun.

Paula let Luke stay for dinner after he called home to say he would be staying at my place until nine or so. I couldn't help but think he just wanted to spend more time with me. Maybe I was falling for him. I brushed off that thought and focused on dinner. But I couldn't stop thinking about the desicion I had made to let him be a part of my life. Was it the right thing to do?

"So, Luke. How are you liking Bar Harbor so far?" Paula asked.

"It's nice. Much quieter than LA always is," he replied.

I heard the home phone ringing in the kitchen and ran for it. I hoped it was her. I'd been waiting for this call forever. Ever since she had told me she'd think about hiring me, I ran for the phone every time it rang.

I answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi, Sasha. It's Danielle Brown calling from Acadia West Street Shop. I have made my decision to hire you."

Yes.

Oh, my word. I was so excited that I just wanted to jump up and down. I exhaled a huge breath.