Not Fine at All (Luke Hemmings a.u.)

Chapter 6

LUCEY'S POV

"We really didn't need to leave," I told Luke as we pulled out onto the road.

"Lucey, you passed out."

"That doesn't mean anything. I was just dehydrated," I insisted for the third time.

I leaned my head on the back of the seat and turned to look at Luke. He was so concentrated on his driving and I couldn't help but stare as he flicked his lip ring with his tongue before opening his mouth to speak. In all of the commotion, he had forgot to grab a shirt before shuffling me off to the car, and I was finding his bare skin a bit distracting. His arms flexed as he gripped the steering wheel, getting worked up over whatever he was rambling on about. The water had dampened his perfectly styled quiff, so it had deflated a bit and was laying against his forehead. Light hairs covered his skin like peach fuzz and made him appear to glisten in the sunlight. He looked over at me briefly with his deep blue eyes to see if I had heard him.

"Are you even listening?" He groaned.

"I'm still dizzy from the heat," I said dramatically, pretending to swoon.

He rolled his eyes. "As I was saying, if you'd dressed a little more weather appropriately, this wouldn't have happened. Why the hell would you wear that to the beach?" He motioned toward my outfit.

"It's comfy," I said simply, shrugging my shoulders.

"It was comfy to sit on the hot sand in a hundred degree weather wearing something more fit for the arctic tundra?"

"Yes."

"Ugh, Lucey! Cut the act!" Luke yelled as we pulled in the driveway. "There's nothing normal about the way you've been acting lately, and I know you're hiding something. There's no other explanation for your behavior."

I rolled my eyes and opened the door, tired of being treated like a toddler. I knew I was being difficult but I was in no mood to have this conversation. Luke called something from behind me but I ignored him as I used the spare key Calum had given me and walked into the house, heading toward my room. Well, technically it was the guest room, but it was the room I had claimed as mine since returning. 

"I expect you to tell me what's going on! Even Calum noticed it!" I heard Luke holler as he came in and shut the door. 

By the sound of his footsteps, he was coming after me, so I quickly slammed the door and locked it. He knocked fervently, but I pretended I didn't hear as I began pulling my shirt over my head. I was being childish, but I couldn't care less. 

"Open the damn door, Lucey!"

"I'd rather not," I replied calmly as I searched my closet for a shirt that wasn't drenched in sweat. It was really kind of Kelsey to loan me all those clothes until I was in a better position to get some of my own. 

I heard Luke sigh and then walk away, and I was relieved, thinking the argument was done, until he returned a few moments later. There was some jostling of the doorknob and I was amazed at how determined he was. I rolled my eyes at his attempts. Just as I was about to tell him to give up and go away, the door swung open and Luke smirked triumphantly. I screamed in shock and frantically wrapped my arms around my body to shield myself from his eyes.

"You're forgetting that his is my house and I have a skeleton key so-," he trailed off as he stared at me. I reached to grab something, anything that would cover me up, but it was too late. "Holy hell," he breathed out, and I thought I was going to be sick.

------

LUKE'S POV

I stood there, frozen, completely clueless as to what to do. My gut wrenched and I still couldn't wrap my mind around what I was seeing. Lucey dropped the shirt she was holding and looked at the floor where it fell, not willing to meet my eyes as they scoured her damaged body. It all made perfect sense now.