record shop//lrh

chapter twenty two

r e c o r d  s h o p
☽
L U K E

After what happened at Hummingbird's childhood home, Luke had more of an understanding as to why she was so scared about going back. He knew that what happened couldn't have been the extent of it, as he had seen the hideous bruises that randomly appeared on her skin with his own eyes, but now he had an idea as to how hurt Hummingbird must've always been.

He had to work hard to calm himself down, because he decided that getting into a fight with Hummingbird's family member on Hummingbird's family member's lawn wouldn't have been the best idea.

Plus, she told him that she wanted to leave, and he was sure to make that happen as quickly as possible.

So now, Luke and Hummingbird were walking to Luke's apartment. She was leaning into him, blinking rapidly, and Luke could tell she was trying not to cry. He knew she was trying to be strong, but he didn't want her to always have to hide her emotions. He wanted her to know that, especially with him, it was okay to show how something affected you.

That's why he figured he should try and talk to her.

"Hummingbird," he trailed off, using the arm that wasn't wrapped around her shoulder to wipe a few stray tears away.

"Hm?" She hummed, and Luke would've shown a large, toothy smile at the pretty sound if it weren't for the circumstances.

"Well, I just want to make sure that you're okay."

"Dandy," she sniffled, hugging his waist tighter.

"C'mon, just talk to me."

"I-I just don't know, Luke, I thought that maybe this time I would've went there and not ended up sad. And I know that you were there and you helped a lot--thank you, by the way, but I'm just really sad. I wish they would've loved me. I wish that I could've grown up with a normal family. I wish that the first time I would've brought a boy home that we all could've had dinner. And maybe my family would've been a little hard on you, because in this alternate world they care for me, but they would love you. And we'd both go to bed happy and-and-" sobs erupted from the beautiful girl's mouth, and Luke was baffled. He almost had no clue what to say.

"Hey, hey, listen," he stopped both of them from walking and took both of her hands into his.

"I know that the world we're in now, and the world that you had to grow up in isn't fair, but that was just part one. That was the part that toughened you up, made you stronger, and I know how strong you are now. You can go through anything, Hummingbird. Look at your life now. You moved out of that awful place, you've gotten a job, and you live with your boyfriend-kinda-person-thingy," he laughed a bit and she giggled, before he continued.

"Life isn't always going to be easy, but whatever happens to you--happens to us--happens for a reason, and I'm going to be here with you through everything."

She wiped her eyes, "promise?"

"I promise," and he sealed his promise with a soft, sweet kiss.

☽

hi, thank you for reading i love you all.

question of the chapter is:

who's your fav 5sos pet (lemon tree included, duh)?

-a <3