This Old Town ✖️Muke

Chapter 24

(Luke)

"You're right, they aren't the same." I sigh. "You will never understand how much it hurts me to not be on my tour right now." I glare at my hands. Then after a while of neither of us talking, i push myself off the gate and walk back over to where we tied Eclipse and Blaze to the fence. I untie Eclipse and pull myself into his saddle. I can feel Michael's eyes on me but i don't look at him as I steer the horse away.

"Come on Eclipse" I click and nudge his flanks softly, riding back to the house as fast at I can, not looking back once.

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"Hey Luke, where's Mikey?" Uncle john asks when I make it back into the stables. I scoff and continue to take Eclipse to his stall.

"Luke." he follows me.

"What?" I roll my eyes, sighing and turning to face him.

"What happened? Where's Michael?" he asks, concern in his voice. I shrug.

"Out on the south side." i reply, turning back to take the tack off of Eclipse and lock his stall door.

"Ok, well Chelsea is here, she was asking for you." he says and my head perks up.

"Really?" why is she here? He nods.

"I let her wait in the house, she hasn't been here long." he shrugs. Before he can get any other words out i'm racing out of the stables and in the direction of the house.

"Chelsea? What are you doing here?" I ask, walking into the kitchen to find her sitting at the table.

"Hey Luke! Long time no see huh?" she grins, standing up from the chair. I raise an eyebrow.

"We went trail riding yesterday?" she just laughs.

"I know that silly, i meant just us two. Anyway, let's go out tonight. I know a great place to ride too and watch the stars." she smiles at me. Hmm, sounds like fun.

"Ok. when?" I ask, placing my hand on the table and leaning on it.

"Later, when it gets dark. We can sneak the horses out and take them for a ride." she smirks.

"But i thought we weren't supposed to take the horses out without permission?" i frown. She just laughs and puts a hand on my upper arm.

"Oh Lukey, you underestimate me. Were taking the horses for a ride, it's nothing bad. Besides don't you want to ride without Michael telling you what to do every five minutes?"

"He's just trying to help" I try to defend my best friend.

"Come on Luke, i've known him since we were kids. You have had 8 years away from him. Besides, he's been nothing but rude to you since you got here." i frown at that.

"You were friends with Michael?" i ask. There is no way, michael hates her.

"We were for a while, then i realized that he's such a loser. All he wants to do is live here and work on the farm. He's no fun." she shrugs.

"That's how you knew where he kept his guitar that night?" I put two and two together. She nods.

"Ok. what time and where are we meeting?" i ask. I'm starting to get excited. I can finally do something exciting for once since the bonfire. 

"Meet me outside the stables at 8, we will go from there."

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(8 pm.)

"Where you going Luke?" I cringe when the light flips on and spin around on my heel. I almost made it out the door without anyone seeing me.

"Out" i say, gaze flickering between the door and my uncle. He raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms.