You tugged on the hem on your t-shirt nervously, anticipating what was about to be said. “Yeah, she’s cute and all, but she can be so dull sometimes.” You held your breath expectantly, hoping for the best and simultaneously dreading the worst. “Honestly, Cal, I kind of like someone else.” This was it. He was making his decision. “Y/n.” There was a long pause, and you froze, worried that Luke had heard your little sigh of relief. “I know it's not a smart move socially, but nothing good in life ever is. Cal, I have to go, we’re getting nowhere.” A frustrated sigh was barely audible through the closed bedroom door. “Bye,” he muttered impatiently. You jumped quickly out of the way as the door swung, pulling out your phone and pretending to be lost in your Twitter feed.
Looking up innocently, you queried, “How did it go?”
“Fine,” he replied, a little too quickly. “Calum’s—uh—mum— is doing fine.” A pause. “You weren’t, uh, listening at all, right?”
“Of course not!” you lied, falsely indignant. It was hard to mislead such an innocent guy, but you did what you had to do. “You’re my best friend, Lucas, I trust you.”
The flustered look in his eyes dulled to one of grim resignation. “Yeah. Best friend.”
“You sound disappointed,” you teased him, trying to hide what you now knew.
As you watched, Luke drew in a deep breath and blurted out something you didn't expect. “I am.”
“You... don’t want to be friends anymore?”
“No!” he exclaimed, shocked. “I mean, well, yes, but...” he stumbled over his words.
“Good, because I don’t want to be friends either.” You surprised even yourself by cutting him off so blatantly, but you knew you were saving him from humiliation in the long run.
“You don’t?”
“Nope. I want to be more than that. I want to be lovers.” At this, you made what was arguably the most rash decision of your life and grabbed Luke by the shirt, pulling him in close enough that your noses touched, but not quite kissing him. His shocked expression said it all. “Just, not yet.” Turning on your heel, you flounced away, hoping you didn’t just destroy a beautiful thing. But you had more important things to do than be in love if you planned on being a successful, independent woman. Like studying for the midterm coming up.
