Here's To Teenage Memories ~ L.H.

Chapter Four

Listening to the crazy haired rock-climbing instructor Michael explain the basics of rock-climbing Luke fidgeted next to me. Ever since our conversation and the painting yesterday the tension between us had been palpable. I still wasn't sure  how I felt about Luke Hemmings.

"So, have fun and be safe." Michael finished and I realised I hadn't heard a word of his explanation.

Glancing over at Luke, his eyes were already on me, "Did you hear a word of that?"

"Nope." I said with a small smile.

He laughed, a loud laugh with that made his eyes crinkle. He was attractive when he laughed. Joining in on his laughter we laughed together for the first time ever. Soon the laugh died out and the tension set back in. Looking away from each other at the same time Luke and I began to divide our group up into pairs.

"Tess!" Michael called, jogging over to me.

I smiled at him, "Hey. What's up?"

"Well I was thinking…" His voice faded into the background as I spotted Luke talking to Stacey, one of the girls in my group.

She was clearly flirting with him but he either didn't notice or brushed it off, she was twelve after all. Smiling at her he nodded, his blue eyes sparkling in the summer sun. He had an attractive profile, that was for sure.

"Tessa! Earth to Tessa!" Michael called, clicking his fingers in front of my face.

Pulling my attention away from Luke, I focused on Michael again, "Huh? What?"

He laughed, and tousled his green hair, "I was wondering if you wanted to be my partner? For rock-climbing?"

"Oh, yeah sure. Let me get harnessed up." I nodded and he grinned.

"Great." Michael said before walking off to help one of the girls with her harness.

Grabbing a harness from the rack I pulled it up and tightened it around my waist.

"Red! Partner with me okay?" Luke yelled confidently, weaving though the kids.

"I cant!" I called back to him, tightening my harness even more.

He stopped in his tracks and I swear I saw his face fall a little, "And why not?"

"Michael's already asked me." I shrugged.

"Oh well then." He shrugged before turning away from me and striding off.

He was pissed and I shrugged it off, I didn’t care if Luke was angry at me I told myself, though I knew it was at least partly a lie.

"You ready to climb Tess?" Michael called as I jogged over to the cliff face.

"Her name is Tessa. With an 'A'." Luke muttered bitterly to Michael as he pushed past him to get a to the cliff face.

Michael glanced between Luke and me, "What's his problem?"

I shrugged, rubbing my hands on my leggings before finding hand holds on the cliff, "Who knows. Am I all good to climb?"

"Yeah go ahead." He said and I began to scale the cliff, "So what's the deal between you and Luke? Are you like a couple or?"

"What?" I scoffed, my left hand slipping due to shock, "We're not together."

Regaining my hold, I glanced down at Michael. I was about five meters off the ground now.

"Really? Oh. It doesn't seem-"

"Michael, can you please let Tessa climb in peace. We don't want her to fall now do we?" Luke's blunt and assertive voice cut Michael off.

Michael huffed below me. I could feel the tension between the two boys and I was hovering ten metres above them. Glancing down I felt a wave of vertigo wash over me. I had never had a problem with heights before but the churning in my stomach was telling me otherwise now.

"Michael!" I called down to him, "Can I, you know, come down now?"

"You sure you don't want to climb a bit higher?" I heard his voice call up to me, my fingers were starting to sweat making my hold on the wall harder to maintain.

"No. Please bring me down." My voice was starting to shake.

"Tess you've only got like five more metres until you reach the top. You can do it." Michael encouraged.

I tried to take a deep breath but my it got caught in my throat, "N-no. Please. Just bring me down."

I felt like I was about to have a panic attack, I couldn't breathe and my stomach was doing backflips and not in the good way.

"Michael." I whimpered quietly, as I still wasn't being lowered down, tears were beginning to prick the corners of my eyes.

"Just keep climbing and don't look down-" Michael's voice was cut off suddenly and I wasn't sure why.

I felt my right hand slip and suddenly full fledged panic set in. There was a dull thud below me followed by a small gasp. I wasn't game enough to look down again though.

"Red. Just push away from the wall alright? I've got you. I promise you won't fall okay?" Luke's low voice was calm and soothing.

Taking a wobbly breath I pushed myself away from the wall, thanking God that the rope held. I was lowered down slowly keeping a tight grip on the rope. Feeling my feet hit the earth I let out the breath I didn't realise I was holding. In a moment Luke was by my side, one hand on my lower back the other tilting my face up to look at him.

"Are you okay?" He asked me gently.

I nodded, taking deep measured breaths.

"Come on. Let's get you some water." He said quietly leading me away from the cliff face and down to a bench next to the lake.

As we walked I noticed Michael helping one of the boys climb. There was a dark bruise beginning to blossom on his jaw. Glancing back at Luke, he offered me a small smile.

"You punched him didn't you?" I asked as we sat down by the lake, my breathing had finally evened out.

I hadn't had a fully fledged panic attack but if I'd been up there any longer I knew I would have.

He handed me a bottle of water and pressed his hand against his chest in mock innocence, "I would never."

I laughed quietly, taking a small sip from the bottle, the panic was fading quickly though I was still a little jittery, "Thank you Luke. For helping me I mean."

He shrugged, "What can I say? I'm a gentleman."

"No really. Thanks." I said quietly, I didn't want to admit that I almost had a panic attack up there to Luke and add rock-climbing to the list of things he was probably better than me at.

"It's okay. You looked pretty green up there. Are you sure you're feeling better?"

I nodded and he grinned, "Good 'cause I've been waiting to do this all day."

Leaning towards me, he pressed his lips against mine. His mouth was warm and soft and made my stomach erupt in butterflies. He pulled away all too soon and I was left wanting more.

"You really need to stop doing that." I sighed, "Someone's gonna see one day."

"Nah. It's too much fun," He shook his head, a smirk playing at his lips,  "Are you sure you're feeling okay? You look a bit green still."

"That's from your kissing." I joked, taking another sip of water.

Luke nudged me in the ribs, "Oh. You think you're so funny don't you?"

I grinned proudly, "I'm hilarious."

"Sure, sure." He laughed, his blue eyes gleaming with confidence, "So are you busy tonight? Around midnight?"

"Midnight? Yeah I'm busy. Busy sleeping." I scoffed at his question.

"Great you're free. How do you feel about coming swimming?"