Imagine A World (Luke Hemmings a.u.) [in editing]

11 Truth

Madeline's POV

The next few days go by in a blur. We didn't do very much. We all just sort of sat around on the couches, filmed a few Instagram videos, played FIFA. I picked it up after Luke fully explained it to me, and I have to say, I'm getting pretty good.

Finally it's Tuesday the 15th, the night before mine and Luke's birthday. I'm tingling with anticipation, but I don't expect very much. It's not just my birthday anymore. Besides, I've only known the guys for about a month. We still don't know too much about each other.

Until tonight.

After dinner, random takeout, Luke suggests a game.

"What kind of game?" I ask.

"How about...Truth or Dare?"

The other boys shout positive responses, and I nod my head quietly. Luke grins at me.

We sit down in a circle on the living room rug, and Ashton volunteers to go first.

"Alright, Ash," Luke says, "truth or dare?"

"Hmm...dare."

"Okay, I dare you to slap Mad in the face."

"WHAT?" Ashton and I both exclaim, looking at each other with alarm.

"You chose dare, Ash. Sorry, Mad," Luke shrugs.

I glare at him, then scoot in front of Ashton, closing my eyes and biting my lip.

I hear Ash take a deep breath, then feel a soft pat on my cheek.

"WEAK!" Michael yells.

"I can't hit a girl!" Ashton shouts in response.

"Come on, Ash, you chose dare, put some effort in!" Calum exclaims.

"It's okay, Ashton, I don't really give a damn," I mutter, my eyes still shut.

"Don't swear," he says in return, then I feel a stinging sensation on my left cheek.

I open my eyes to see Ashton blushing furiously. The other boys clap lightly as I rub my cheek a little.

"Sorry," Ashton grumbles.

"It's fine," I tell him. "I'm tough."

He smiles lightly, then turns to Michael and says, "Truth or Dare, Cliffordconda?"

Luke's POV

Michael calls on Madeline after saying his most embarrassing moment, and Madeline chooses Calum after she says how old she was when she had her first kiss (13).

Once Calum finishes doing the Chicken Dance while Madeline sings the Macarena, he picks me.

"Luke, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Say how you feel about Madeline."

I freeze up. "W-What?" I stammer.

"You heard him," Michael snaps. "You made Ashton slap Madeline. You have to follow through with it."

"Unless you'd rather do my dare," Calum challenges.

I bite my lip, playing with my lip ring between my teeth. I glance over at Madeline, who's gone silent.

"Guys, stop, you're making her uncomfortable," I say quietly.

"Come on, it's Truth or Dare! Stop being a wimp," Michael says, hitting me upside the head.

"I'm serious, guys, stop it," I growl.

"It's okay, Luke, I don't mind," Mad speaks, her knees against her chest.

"No, I don't want you to be uncomfortable. Stop it, lads."

"I've noticed that all of these dates have included Madeline in some way," Ashton notes from the corner.

"Shut up, Ash. Just do it Luke," Calum begs. "Just do this or the dare."

I sigh. "What's the dare?"

Calum grins.

"I dare you to do 7 minutes in heaven."

"CALUM!!" I scream, and it's too much for Madeline. She scrambles to stand, and when she does, she rushes to her room, slamming the door shut. "LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!"

"You suggested the game, mate," Calum shrugs, somehow unmoved by Madeline's actions.

"And you took it a step too far! I'm going to get her," I tell them, rising from my cross-legged position on the floor.

The boys don't object, so I use long strides to reach her room quickly. I knock, and I hear sobbing.

"Mad, please, it's me," I assure her quietly through the door.

"Go away," she sniffles.

"Mad, please."

"I said go away!"

I hear her throw something at the door, but I ignore it, pulling it open and immediately ducking as a shoe narrowly misses my head.

"Madeline! Calm down, please!"

"Stop saying please! I can't be mad when you're being polite!" Her head disappears behind the other side of her bed, away from me.

"Mad, come on, it's all good natured, Calum didn't mean to hurt you."

"Well, he did! 7 minutes in heaven? WHAT THE FREAKING HELL??!! I'm 17!!!"

"You won't be tomorrow," I point out.

She peeks over the edge of the bed. "Neither will you."

"Mad, is this all about tomorrow? Are you just nervous or something?"

She hesitates. "In all honesty...yes. I've never been away from my family for my birthday before. All of this is still new to me, Luke. It's different. It's difficult."

I sigh and sit on her bed, leaning back onto the headboard and looking over to her, daring her to come up as well. After a moment of thought, she does.

"Mad," I begin, placing her hand in mine, "this is never going to get easy. I miss my family, too. You never get used to it. You think I'm not homesick for Australia right now? I am. But I have the boys. They're like family now. I know that I'm not alone. Don't let stuff get to you. Worse stuff is going to come along some day and make this tiny, irrelevant situation feel like nothing. Life doesn't go the way you plan. You get sidetracked at some point or another. Whether that bothers you or not is your decision."

She doesn't look at me for a moment. Instead, she intertwines our fingers, then untangles them, over and over again.

"Why were you so scared to do the truth?" she finally asks.

I exhale and squeeze her hand. "I was scared because I wasn't sure if you would agree with what I said."

"And what would you have said?"

I take a very deep breath, then let it all out again. I feel like a balloon with a hole in it. I can't keep the air in.

"I would have said..."

She watches me expectantly.

"Mad," I whisper, holding her hand in both of mine, "I would have said I love you."

Tears well up in her eyes.

"Luke," she replies softly, "I would have said the same thing."

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GUYS I NEED A SHIP NAME PRONTO!!!!! It can't be Muke, that's Mikey and Luke. Maybe Laddie? Or Make? Wow, both of those are awful, sorry. Maduke? MADUKE!! Comment ship names please!!!

Sorry this chapter kind of sucked. I'm rushing through this for some reason. Idk, I guess I'm just excited because I have some ideas!!!

I won't waste anymore of your time. Please vote, comment, and follow!!