utah || hemmings au {sequel to camp || hemmings au}

thirty-five

Kyle and I had stayed up most of the night watching movies on my laptop. We had been doing this frequently for the past week and a half because since I had talked to Luke at Graduation, I seemed to be even worse. I knew it wasn't going to get any better any time soon, and Kyle knew too, so he did everything in his power to comfort me. It was kind of strange considering that Kyle and I were never really close. We used to fight all the time before we moved to Utah, and even some after we moved, but it seemed that we were actually starting to get along better. I liked that.

The two of us were lying on my bed, we had already watched four movies and it was roughly three in the morning, which is why I found it strange when my phone began to ring on my bedside table. Kyle looked over at me and furrowed his eyebrows, to which I did the same back. I paused the movie and reached over to answer it, becoming completely surprised by the name that showed up on the screen. The picture made my heart ache, it being a picture of Luke kissing my cheek and me smiling widely.

"Who is it?" Kyle asked as he leaned over to get a better look at the screen. I tilted it so he could see and he immediately shook his head. "Don't answer it, Caroline."

The phone continued to ring and I fought with myself, trying to decide what I should do. I knew I shouldn't answer, but I really wanted to. Luke had hurt me, but he had never called me so late. I couldn't help but think that something was wrong, but even if there was I didn't see why Luke would call me. I didn't even care really, if Luke was callinftg me and at this hour, it had to be important.

I quickly answered the call and Kyle thumped my head to which I slapped his chest. He glared at me and I took a deep breath before speaking into the phone.

"Hello?" My voice came out uneven, and I had hoped that Luke didn't notice, but once he spoke I knew that my shaky voice was the least of his worries.

"Caroline?" Luke choked. I knew instantly that he was crying, it was obvious. I sat up in the bed and so did Kyle.

"Luke, what is it? What's wrong?" I asked frantically. Something was definitely wrong, and I instantly became worried. Sure, he had screwed me over, but we were both still human.

"I-I'm scared." Luke stammered, his voice cracking as he did so.

"Why are you scared?" I held up a hand as Kyle began to ask what was wrong with Luke. I was confused, and I just really needed to have my full attention on Luke.

"I-I want to do it, but I c-can't." Luke began to sob into the phone and the sound broke my heart. I let him cry until he calmed down a bit and before I could say anything, he spoke. "Can you come over, please? I need you right now."

"Luke-" It was three in the morning and I had no way over there but to walk. I really didn't like the idea of having to walk to Luke's alone, especially at night. And although I was really worried, I wasn't sure that I even wanted to be around him at the moment, I was still hurt.

"Please, Care, please." Luke's voice broke and he began to cry again. I sighed and looked over at Kyle, who still held a very confused expression. I knew I had to go over there, I couldn't just leave Luke alone in the condition he was in. He needed someone and if it was me he wanted, then I was going.

"Okay, I'll be over in a bit."

-•-

I ran all the way there. Kyle said he would come along, but I assured him that I would be fine and besides, I was sure that Luke didn't want him there and have him see him in that state. I wasn't even worried about being alone out there or about myself at all, I was more concerned with Luke's well-being.

As I approached Luke's house, I noticed that the whole house was dark inside. I wasn't sure where his parents were, as their car was gone. I assumed they had left to go on a trip and left Luke behind like they always did. I walked into the house, still trying to catch my breath, and turned on the lights as I began to call out for Luke. I didn't get a reply and I couldn't find Luke anywhere downstairs. I made my way to his room and it was also dark, but the bathroom light was on. I walked to the door to find Luke on the floor by the tub, curled into the fetal position, pills scattered around him. His face was hidden by his hands, as he was still crying, and I got the most uneasy feeling in my stomach.