Michael 'aw'-ed and laughed along at the story while I told him, occasionally interuppting me and asking a question, or making a sarcastic comment.
"You know," Michael spoke afterwards, turning in the spinny-chair that Michael insisted on getting for the shop. He took a drink of his pepsi before continuing, glancing at me, "I think you're the first girl Luke has gotten this close with."
I blushed, remembering that Michael had told me about something similar about Luke like that before.
"Seriously," He grinned, "I'm happy about it. Nothing ever works out for Luke, I hate to admit it, but it's true. It's not his fault either."
I frowned, taking the bag of chips that Michael had in his lap. I didn't ask or say anything, just kind of thought about it. Luke seemed like the kind of guy to make things work no matter what; like he would put his whole heart and soul into something. How could things just never 'work out' for him?
Almost as if Michael was reading my mind, he cleared his throat, cutting the silence and speaking, "You'll figure it out, I know you will. You're smart, and you change things."
**
The walk home that day was silent, I didn't even bother playing music through my headphomes. I still put them in, just never played anything.
It was cold out, having rained for a long while before. It was still raining, just not as hard, and the cold wind didn't help at all. All I had was Luke's flannel - that I forgot to return - and my own thin sweater over top.
Through my ear phones, I could hear a muffled engine of a car - or a rundown truck. I turned my head as I walked, seeing a dark red truck with little bits of damage littered on it.
I didn't think anything of it and flipped my hood up, pulling the sweater tighter against myself.
"Aren't you cold out here?" I heard a voice ask and I turned quickly, groaning inaudibly.
Ashton.
I looked away and huffed, ignoring him. Not today, I thought, I didn't want to deal with him.
I heard him sigh and I knew that he obviously slowed down, driving at the speed of my walking pace.
"Look, Jenna, I'm sorry," He groaned, as if he was annoyed with me, "I don't know what I was thinking."
I glared at him, now wishing I had music playing to block him out. He was the only person to call me Jenna in awhile, and I believe he was doing it to make me annoyed.
Ashton glanced from the road and back at me, and he almost looked genuinley upset. "I'll drive you home, really. Come on, I wont hurt you."
"I beg to differ," A new voice snapped, grabbing my hand. I turned quickly, biting my lip harshly when I saw Luke.
Ashton looked at Luke quickly and smirked, now stopping his truck completely. Me and Luke both stood in the rain, his tall hair falling as the drops hit it.
"Luke, you know this isn't gonna work," Ashton sighed, running a hand through his messy hair, which just flopped back in front of his face, "It never does."
I frowned, confused, but didn't say anything. I didn't want to play in a battle that wasn't mine to fight.
Luke's hand gripped my hand tighter, wrapping his other arm around me protectively, "It's your fault, though. You know that, Ashton." He snapped, and I held onto him tighter as he continued, "I'm not letting you take this away from me; not after all those other times."
Then, I felt Ashtons eyes lock onto me.
"Jem, you can't seriously like Luke, can you? You can do so much better, Jesus," Ashton groaned, and I heard him open the door to the truck.
