Handle With Care

11. He's Single, She's Single.

HANDLE WITH CARE

11. He's Single, She's Single.

L U K E

Annie was sat it Luke's mums seat. 

It was next to Calum's mum who was with Ashton's mum. They had all gotten a seat next to one another, as Michael and Olivia did the seating plan, and they decided to leave seats for the friends and family they lost.

This meant at the other end of the isle was another empty seat next to Calum's dad, and Luke noticed this as soon as he saw the row of parents. Two blank, empty places.

Luke's eyes were tearing up, he realised he wasn't the only the person to miss his parents. Everybody else did too, and they had to miss Luke as well.

He swallowed thickly, seeing Annie sat in his mother's place made him feel as though the universe had planned everything out for this exact moment. As if his parents were supposed to pass so he could have Annie in his life. Not that Annie could ever replace his parents or fill the void they had left behind, but she could create something new, show him a love he's never felt before.

She gave him a thumbs up, smiling excitedly as everybody waited for the bride to enter the room. Luke returned the gesture, taking in a deep breath as he felt Calum's hand on his back. He turned to face his friend, eyes still trained on Annie as he focused his ear on Cal.

"As happy as I am that you're here, I hate you for steeling my title of best man." Calum whispered, eyes wondering from Luke to Annie and back again. "Stop staring at her." He punched Luke in the arm, trying to get his full attention.

"What?" Luke asked, turning to Calum and raising his eyebrows. He was holding his own hand in front of him like the other groomsmen as they waited, looking smart and formal.

"She's definitely not just a 'friend'... You like her don't you?" Calum smiled, nudging Luke's side and watching as his face began to heat up.

Luke shook his head, a wide, obvious and giving away smile on his face as he clearly lied about his feelings. He felt like a child who couldn't admit their crush, not that he had a crush because Annie was his therapist and you can't date your therapist. He wasn't going to tell Calum that though, or anyone for that matter, because they most definitely will think it's strange how close he is to his therapist. And he didn't want to risk Annie's job, it was obvious how hard she had worked for it and how much it meant to her, he couldn't take that from her. 

"No, we're friends." He shook his head, and even if Calum hadn't seen him for a year he still knows when he's lying. Like now for instance, his face always goes a shade brighter and his hands start tapping away.

"You're allowed to like her Y'know, it's not a bad thing." Calum shrugged, looking to Annie who was having a conversation with his mother. The both of them were smiling, sharing casual greetings as they discussed their relation to the wedding couple.

Speaking of, the organ started to ring through the church hall, echoing off the walls and silencing the guests. All heads turned to the end of the ally way, where Olivia and her father began to walk.

When Olivia saw Luke her face lit up in surprise and happiness. The two had never been close, they were friends but not close enough for abnormal conversations like what they had with the others. Olivia knew how close Luke and Michael were and it broke her heart when he left, feeling so deeply saddened for his loss and also for Michael's loss of his practically second family.