never letting go || lrh

Friends?

I woke up with a pounding head, and I felt sick to my stomach. I sat up in my bed and looked at the time, it was 11. I had plenty time to get rid of this hangover as quicly as possible.

I hopped out of my bad painfully and headed to the kitchen. I popped an ibuprofen in my mouth and swallowed with a glass of water.

I drank another 2 glasses of water to dilute the alcohol in me. I was feeling slightly better, and I headed for the shower. I looked at myself in the mirror, and saw I had puffy red eyes, bed hair and makeup all around my eyes. I groaned at the sight, and walked in the shower.

After my shower, I dressed nicely for Luke. I wore a cute strapless summer dress, it’s quite short, but I wanted to look my best. I paired it with a blue purse, a bold bracelet and light brown boots. I walked downstairs, and did what Rita had told me. A bacon sandwich and eggs apparently get you over hangovers. I didn’t know how, but I trusted her, and I made myself food. It was nearing 1.30PM when I was done, so I walked back upstairs and brushed my teeth, and put light makeup, dried my hair and put it in a messy bun. I didn’t want to sweat like a dog in front of Luke. I surprised myself at how much I wanted to impress him. Why was that? I didn’t even know what I would say to him. 

Anyway, by the time I had gathered all my stuff up, it was 2.35. I walked out, grabbing my sunglasses in the process. I locked the door, and made my way towards the coffee shop Luke and I prefered : it made the best hot chocolate in the world. 

I arrived 5 minutes early, and I waited outside, and scrolled through Twitter. 

As I was reading through the comments of Cal’s latest tweet, a high voice called my name. I looked up, confused, and I saw a teenage girl, about 15, tall and slim. She had artificially blond hair, and dark eyebrows. She was wearing way to much makeup, and was dressed in (very) short shorts, that didn’t hide most of her bum, and a crop top. Anyway, I answered.

«Um, hi!» I said, forcing a smile.

«You’re Maddison Dawkins, right?» She said in an uninterested voice.

«Yeah, that’s me.» I said, not bothering to smile.

«Who are you dating in the band?» She smiled, and my eyebrows rose up in surprise.

«Oh, no one, we’re all just friends.» I assured her, which was half true. 

«You sure? Coz’ there’s photos of you kissing Luke on Twitter, and you’ve been seen with Ashton a LOT.» She insisted on the ‘lot’ with her bitchy voice.

«Yes, I’m sure.» I snapped. And at that moment, Luke showed up, looking confused. He walked over, and hugged me hello. I glanced at the girl, she raised an eyebrow, and I rolled my eyes.

«Hi! I’m Tanisha Roberts, and I run a 5sos update account on twitter.» She said excitedly. «Would you mind taking a photo with me?» She smiled.

«Sure.» Luke said politely, and bent down to get to her height. After the photo was taken, the girl started talking again.

«Maddison here, said she is dating no-one in the band, but I don’t trust her.» She said matter-of-factly. I wanted to punch her just like I had with Aylin, just this time I wouldn’t regret it. Before I could defend myself, Luke wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him protectively. The familiar rush of electricity I had missed so much went through me, and my insides went all fuzzy, and I couldn't thik straight.

«You should trust her.» Luke said, simply. 

«Looks like you two are getting cosy though.» This Tanisha girl insisted.

«We’re just friend, okay? Now if you don’t mind, we’d like to buy a coffee in peace.» I snapped and turned around into the shop. I slipped from Luke’s grip, which left me with a cold sensation. Whenever I let go of Luke, I felt cold. Weird. But that grip was soon replaced with him taking my hand and catching up with me. Staying mad at him was really hard when I looked up at him and that he was smiling like an excited squirrel. 

I giggled to myself and we went into the queue. A couple girls came and asked for autographs, and photos and hugs and what not, so I just stayed behind. I got a few bitchy looks but I just shook them off. Once all the girls were gone, Luke wrapped me in a proper hug, we hadn’t geeted each other properly yet.

«Hi.» He smiled shyly. I giggled at his awkwardness.

«Hi, Luke. How’ve you been?» I asked.

«Oh, uh, I’ve been okay. You?» He replied.

«I’ve kinda had ups and downs, but mostly good.» I smiled.

When it was our turn to order, I asked for a signature hot chocolate, and Luke got a caramel frapuccino. We sat down at a table at the back of the coffee shop.

«Hey, I wanted to apologise.» I started, after a few minutes of excrutiating silence. 

«What for?» He asked.

«For over-reacting, that day at the studio.» I said.

«Oh, no you were right, I’d been a jerk, hooking up with Aylin and shit.» The term ‘hooking up’ sent shivers down my spine, it just made me feel even worse for Aylin.

«But, why were you so distant for a week before that?» I asked, dreading the answer.

«Well, that night you stormed out of the bar, I couldn’t remember anything that had happened the next day. But you were over me, and you started hanging with Ash and stuff like that.. So I though you were mad at me or something, because you were ignoring me.» Did he really not remember what I had told him? I thought that was important enough to be remembered. I didn’t know if I should trust him or not.

«Do you not remember anything from that night?» I asked, suspiciously.

«No, I really don’t.» He looked sincere, but I couldn’t wrap my head around it. «It’s like I woke up with amnesia.» He said, trying to hide his grin.

«Oh no, you didn’t just do that.» I said, laughing. 

«Ooh, but I did.» He full-on laughed this time. We got distracted from the serious subject for the rest of the afternoon, but when it was time to head home, he reminded me.

«So, friends?» He said, holding him arms opened for a hug. 

«Friends.» I said, moving in to hug him. The electric chock emerged as I nuzzled my face in his neck and took in his smell. I smiled and pulled away. 

We walked out of the café, and started walking towards the center of Sydney.

«Do you have any plans for tonight?» He asked me.

«Nope!» I answered.

«Cool, do you wanna hang for a bit? We can go grab dinner or whatever.» He smiled.

«Sure, sounds like fun.» I looked up at him.

«Wanna go to Nandos?» He asked, grinning.

«Yes please, I haven’t been in ages!» I said.

«Nandos it is, then.» He said, and wrapped his arm around my shoulders and shuffled my hair with his free hand.

«Hey, don’t do that!» I shrieked, jumping away from him.

«Or what?» He smirked.

«Or I’ll tickle you.» I said, grinning evilly.

«Okay, okay I won’t do it.» He said, seriously. I decided I would still tickle him though. I moved in and grabbed his hips and tickled. He almost yelled in the busy Sydney streets, and I was laughing my arse off.

«Hey! I didn’t ruffle your hair!» He pouted.

«Sorry I couldn’t resist.» I said smiling widely.

«It’s okay.» He said, wrapping his arm around my waist.

I spent the end of the evening distracted by his touch. I knew we were just friends, and I didn’t want more than that. But what was up with the electricity shock every single time there was contact between us?