The Boy Next Door ≫ l.h [on hold]

twelve

On Monday, it seemed like every other school day.

I went to my first few classes, ate lunch with Lily and Luke, went to the rest of my classes.
Everything was fine.

But the again, I said it was.

After school had ended, Luke had to stay after school again for rehearsal. He told me how decided to join the talent show and that Calum, Ashton, Michael, and him were playing together.

He said that his mom was going to pick him up later so I said my goodbyes and began to walk home since my mom was working overtime tonight.

A few minutes into my walk, my phone rang and I saw that the contact was blocked.
I never answered my phone if the number was blocked so I decided to ignore it and put it back into my pocket.

I continued walking and I couldn't help but think that someone was following me. I heard faint footsteps in the distance, so I glanced behind me only to be greeted with an empty sight.

Figuring that I was just being paranoid, I shook the feeling off and just started walking faster. As my pace sped up, so did the sound of footsteps behind me.

I got really scared and fed up at this point, so I started running.
The footsteps pounded faster and faster until suddenly a hand grasped me and covered my eyes to prevent me from seeing who they were. I spun around, wriggling out of their grasp to try to see who this stalker was.

Luke.

My eyes widened and I screamed, "What the fuck is wrong with you!? I thought I was going to get kidnapped you fucker?!"

He laughed and backed away, raising his hands in defense. "Woah Em, okay I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you that badly." He explained.

"Sorry? You're sorry?! God I thought you were some rapist or worse like Ca-" I stopped myself from finishing the sentence. "You know what? Whatever it doesn't matter. I'll see you at school." I muttered in anger and turned away.

"Emily, I'm sorry. Really."

I faced him again and said, "Sorry means nothing to me. I don't take these things lightly alright?"

Backing away shakily, I shook my head, ran into my house and locked the door behind me.

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I knew that I probably overreacted at the time, but it was merely out of shock and anger. I was upset that he would think that what he did was supposed to be funny. I don't understand why anyone would think it was.

I didn't talk to him on Tuesday or Wednesday. Every time I had passed by him in the hallway or saw him in one of our shared classes, he had this guilty look on his face. I could tell he was sorry, so I decided to bury the hatchet, which may have come off as confusing at first.

On Thursday, I had decided that was probably enough time for him to understand that I was upset, so at lunch I plopped down into the seat next to him where he was sitting with Ashton, Calum, and Mikey.

I began to unwrap my lunch and pretended as if nothing had ever happened and smiled at the four boys.

I looked up at him and faked a genuine smile, "What's up, Hemmings? Something the matter?

Luke opened his jaw in shock but quickly regained his composure and shut his open mouth.

The other boys were completely oblivious to our little incident and calmly chatted with me.

Luke whispered to me, "So I'm guessing you're not mad at me anymore?"

"Oh I'm still a little mad, but I can tell you were guilty about what you did. Plus...it was really hard trying to stay away from you for those two days." I replied.

He grinned at me slightly, "It was a hard fews days for me, too. I missed hearing your voice."

I smiled at him in return, "Oh the agony. I thought I couldn't be more annoying."

"Oh you still are." He chuckles, "We're okay now?"

"We're okay."

Lunch finally ended and the day went on normally, and I was quite glad that I decided to forgive Luke.