redamancy // l.h au

three

"Where's the gig at?" Sam asked over the phone as I walked to the subway, making sure to avoid the taxi service. It was late afternoon when Charlotte had let me go home that Thursday.

"Central park, I think." I said, pushing passed a few men in suits on the stairs.

Sam giggled, "Aw, perfect first date." Please tell me why this boy is my best friend?

"Samuel, I don't like him!"

"Rhea, please. Even I like him and I talked to him for two minutes." Sam explained, "He's an Aussie! And he plays in a band! Two of your favorite things."

I roll my eyes, "Don't forget about the quiff,"

"Mind if I come along?" Sam asked as I paid for my train ticket, smiling at the worker.

"Why not? Then maybe you can help me not make a fool of myself." I sat on the bench, playing with the laces on my combat boots.

He scoffed, "Of course, darling! What are friends for?" I listened as he talked about what he'll wear for the rock concert, debating whether I should throw myself in front of the subway when it started rolling down the tracks in my direction.

As I boarded the train, I began thinking.

Luke Hemmings: guitarist and lead singer of an amazing band. Not to mention he was absolutely beautiful. Why hadn't I ever seen him before? I worked nearly three days a week (sometimes four) in the summer at Barnes and Noble. It was the beginning of June and this was when most of the customers would come piling in because of the new releases.

Even with all those customers, I would've seen him. . . right?

Char always told me I was in my own world. I mean, with endless amounts of books to read and movies to watch, who could bear reality? Well, if Augustus Waters existed in my world, I don't think I'd ever pick up a book again.

Instead, I got a gorgeous, tall, blonde, and dimpled Luke Hemmings. Which, is not bad at all. Minus the fact that I get so nervous around him that my heart beats in my throat.

"Hell-oo? Rheeeeeea?" Sam exclaimed from the other end of the line.

Startled, I nearly jumped up from my seat next to an old woman, who looked as if she wanted to stab me with the knitting needles she held in her hands, "Sorry, Sam. I was just-thinking."

"About Luke?" I could feel Sam smirk at the other end of the call.

"You're impossible," I groaned, "Anyway, pick me up at seven on Saturday?"

"You mean you weren't being sarcastic on me coming?!" Sam yelled out and I mumbled a barely coherent, 'mhm' before he screamed again, "OH-EM-GEE. YAS! Okay, send me a picture of your outfit the day of, please. I need details. See you soon, Rhee. Bye!"

I sighed, muttering goodbye, before pressing "End Call" on the touch screen. I took out my earphones from my beige cross-body purse and plugged them into my phone, turning up "Happy Little Pill" by Troye Sivan.

I couldn't take my mind off Luke, no matter how much I turned the volume up. I think I actually got a few death glares from a forty-year old lady , who was concentrating on her book across the room (which was, drum roll, Fifty Shades of Grey! She must have some guts to read that on public transportation . . .)

Anyway, my experience with guys was at a all time low at this point. Having liked guys who didn't even look at me twice, I learned that I was just normal. Ordinary. I wasn't the amazing heroine that you see as a protagonist.

Which made me think; why would a boy like Luke Hemmings ever take interest in me? He was attractive - oh, hell, was he attractive - but I didn't compare.

I had long raven black hair, too wavy for my liking, that reached my waste. My olive skin was far from clear as well. My dark chocolate eyes were boring, if not constantly tired-looking. The only thing interesting about my appearance was the stack of books temporary tattoo I had given myself a week or two earlier. Mostly, it just showed what a book nerd I was.

Just as I tried to rid myself of all that is Luke, a ping! erupted from my phone, interrupting my music. It was, of course, from Luke:

The boys really want 2 meet u, can't wait for saturday :D

I bit my lip to keep from smiling. I didn't want to be that weird girl on the subway that blushed at her phone. I tried to keep my calm as I typed back, waiting a moment to send so it wouldn't be too creepy:

me 2! thx 4 inviting me, maybe i can become a roadie when u guys get famous B-)

His reply just about killed me:

of course you will, rheee-ahhhhhhhh xx :)

Maybe I did like him. A little bit. A teensy little bit.

________________________

When I got off the subway, I walked a few blocks to my house, which was a beautifully styled Victorian on a narrow street lit up with street lights. I walked up the cement steps, turning the key to the lock and letting myself in.

The foyer was painted a deep maroon and accented with a beige rug. The kicked off my combat boots and hung up my bag, calling out for my brother, "Nate? I'm home!"

Nate, my thirteen-year-old brother, peaked his head out from the living room to my left, "SHH! I'm playing Call of Duty and currently beating these losers to a pulp."

"Oooh, can I play?" I asked, entering the room and plopping myself down on the couch. Nate sat the floor, his black hair a mess and his clothes rumpled.

"The last time you played, you 'accidentally' deleted everything on the game. So, no." He un-paused the game and continued to play, ignoring me.

I groaned, making my way to the kitchen and grabbing a slice of leftover pizza from the fridge. A note on the counter caught my attention:

Double shift at hospital, be back late. love u both, dont burn the house down. ps- rhea, i have some good news!

xx - Mom

Mom worked as a nurse in the children's hospital on the other side of the city. Since my dad isn't really in the picture, it's just Mom, Nate, and I.

A couple months ago, I had asked Mom if I could move in with Charlotte for the summer in her apartment so I could get used to living on my own for university. She said she'd think about it, talk with my Dad (who, might I add, lived half way across the globe), and tell me what she decided later.

"Later" ending up being months. I never asked about it, but I knew she hadn't forgotten. She knew Charlotte, she trusted her. Sam lived in the same apartment complex and Mom had always said he had a "good head on his shoulders" Pfft. Oh-kay, Mom.

Excitedly, I pulled out my one and dialed Mom. She answered on the third ring, "Rhea-"

"MOM, WHAT'S THE GOOD NEWS?" I yelled, causing Nate to groan from the other room.

"Darling, I was going to have you wait till I got home-"

"MOM!"

She huffed out a sigh and laughed, "Yes, Rhea. I've made up my mind and yes you can stay with Charlotte for the summer. I'll discuss rules when I come home."

"OH, MY GOD, MOM, YES, THANK YOU!" I ran out of the kitchen, toward the stairs, and up to my room to begin packing, "I LOVE YOU, SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET HOME"

"I love you, too, Rhea. Bye!" As soon as I ended the call, I freaked out.

I was staying with my best friends. For the entire summer.

HEY GUYS so thank u for checking out my story ur rly cool n stuff

i really wanted to update today and as much as i can before school starts bc then itll be less frequent but yeaaah

also i wanted the whole parent thing to not be a problem so i gave rhea more independence by living with Charlotte!

s/o to @esthetic bc she is the inspiration for Sam & the most amazing person ever also i lub her

OK UNTIL NEXT TIME :-)