Playing Pretend (A Luke Hemmings/5SOS Fan Fic)

Chapter 9 | AwKwArD

-Talia's POV

The past few days with Luke were the most awkwardest days of my entire life. Occasionally, we would be in a room full of people and we would just stare at each-other. No words were spoken but I could tell he was thinking just as much as I was. 

I was currently in my own room, not wanting to face Luke. I ended up getting bored fairly easily and Netflix wasn't an option. I had finished Gossip Girl and wasn't emotionally stable enough to start another TV series. I was avoiding Ricky so he wasn't an option either. So I ended up knocking on Ash's door wondering if he wanted to hang out with me and chill.

After Luke, I was the closest to Ash. I first met him when I was in the seventh grade. He played varsity soccer with my older brother and he was always at my house with the rest of the team. So when I walked in on 5 Seconds of Summer's first practice together as four, I was quite surprised to see him again.

"Yeah," He smiled, walking back into his room. "Just let me turn off the TV." He walked out and followed me into my hotel room, plopping onto my bed. 

"So what are the plans for tonight," I asked, turning down my TV volume. 

He thought to himself for a short moment before dusting strands of his dirty blonde hair  out of his eyes. "Well, you're going out with Luke for your publicity date. Cal, Michael, and I are going to be hanging around Time Square."

"Great," I muttered.

I didn't want to see Luke or have anything to do with him at the moment. The empty conversations weren't conversations we were used to having. Whether we were talking about something serious or funny, Luke would always be the bubbly confident boy he was; unafraid to speak his mind. 

My homescreen wasn't helping either. Whenever I unlocked my phone, a picture of Luke and I came up and it reminded me of our relationship. The picture was pretty recent but things weren't how they were during that picture.

"What?" He asked, a slight tone of amusement in his voice. He had a goofy grin on his face. It was hard not to smile at the sight.  "Not excited for your date with Luke?"

I nodded. I wasn't excited at all. "It's going to be so awkward between us."

"How? You guys are so close!" 

"That's my point." I decided on telling Ash what happened three days ago. Usually, I would vent and rant to Gracie but I hadn't talked to her since I left. Not speaking to Gracie made me feel guilty and really craving for a female friend. "Luke and I almost kissed yesterday."

"Woah! What? No way!" He exclaimed, a shocked expression taking over his soft features. Although he was surprised, I could tell he was trying hard to control the smile growing on his face. "What happened? Why didn't you kiss?"

"You walked in the room," I laughed causing him to gain a sheepish look on his face. "You're missing the big picture though. I have a boyfriend and he has a girlfriend."

"Yeah well no one is quite fond of your tool bag and his bitch." I glared at him and he shrugged. "It's the truth!"

I ignored Ash and continued. "Anyways, I can't even have a real relationship with Luke. We're too close and if we ended up breaking up, I wouldn't be able to handle that. People are never friends after breaking up. I mean, you can still be friends but it'll never be the same way it was. I can't lose him at all."

Ash sighed. "Don't over-think it. You two would be good together." He paused. "I mean for real, not just for publicity." 

"Thanks for listening to me rant. It won't happen again."