Demons (hemmings au)

Fourteen

“Luke,” I call out shyly as I poke my head in the door. I slowly step into the house and close the door quietly behind me. Looking around I see that the living room is quaint with a small television sitting on a table with a brown sofa and recliner turned towards the screen. There is a shelf with picture frames but I notice that they are all turned over so as not to be seen. 

Walking quietly over to the shelf I pick up one frame and see a much younger, much happier Luke sitting on a park bench with a younger dark headed girl sitting beside him. Even without noticing how tightly his arm is wrapped around her, and how big his smile is I can already tell this is Claire just from their facial similarities. 

I silently look at the rest of the photos to see many more of Luke and Claire smiling, and even one family photo showing Luke in a nice black suit, Claire in a pretty dark blue dress, and his mother and father behind them. I look around to see that a small kitchen with a little round table situated in the corner is connected to the living room. I see a hallway at the other end and figure this is where the bedrooms must be. 

I start to tiptoe towards the hallway but stop when I hear a noise coming from one of the rooms as if someone is listening to classical music. I walk until the music gets louder and I realize I am right in front of the door that it is coming from. Taking a deep breath I slowly turn the knob and peek in, my jaw hitting the floor from the sight I see. 

I notice that the whole room is empty except for a large, black grand piano situated in the middle of the floor. Sitting on the bench is none other than Luke in his black jeans and a black and gray striped sweater. I watch in awe as he continues playing the piano, not noticing that I am here. His feet are moving quickly as he taps the different pedals, his long fingers looking as if they are barely grazing the various keys. I recognize the tune he is playing as something from Beethoven, it’s one of those really common melodies that plays in movies and things. 

As I keep listening I take a look at Luke and see that he is lost in his own world; his eyes are closed and his head is moving in rhythm to the music. Before I can control myself I find that I am walking towards Luke and the piano, leaving the door ajar behind me. I guess Luke hears my heavy footsteps because suddenly he stops playing and looks up over at me. 

“El, what are you, what the hell are you doing at my house?” Luke questions, not necessarily in a mad manner but more as in a really surprised tone. 

“I, well um, you told me where your house was and I wanted to check on you,” I say really quickly, “I was worried about you,” I add a few seconds later, quietly. I decide since I’m already in here I mine as well sit down. I walk towards the bench that Luke is occupying, and he moves over to give me room to sit down beside him. 

I watch as he sheepishly looks down and puts his hand around the back of his neck as if embarrassed that I’ve caught him playing the piano. “I didn’t know you played,” I say, motioning toward the piano with my hand just trying to get Luke to talk to me. 

“It was something my parents made me and Claire do when we were younger. She hated it, but I picked it up quickly, it just helps me relax,” he shrugs, like it’s nothing. I nod my head, not really knowing what to say in return. This is the first time he has ever brought up Claire to me even though Ashton brought her up earlier. 

“Why did you come here Arielle?” Luke asks, now in a harsh tone. I feel like he is starting to remember what happened earlier, and his anger is coming back. I flinch from the way he uses my full name, not being used to it. 

“Luke I’m really sorry about earlier. I just, what I’m trying to say is, I’m just sorry,” I stammer, not knowing what I really want to say right now. To my surprise Luke actually chuckles.