Letters to Luke || 5SOS #Wattys2015

- 10 - L u k e - Writing Back

- Tuesday, December 13th -

"What to do, what to do, what to do." Ash sang as he joined me on the couch.

"I know. We've already gotten the tree, decorated it, and put lights up outside." I agreed.

"We could make Christmas cookies?" Cal tried.

"Knowing us, we would burn the house down tring. If we didn't end up in a food fight first. And the Lord knows none of us want to clean up after one." Mikey deadpanned.

"I could invite Nora over. She would love to force us to make cookies." Ash chuckled. I joined him, remembering last year.

Ashton's girlfriend was one of my favorite people ever. She had just gotten back from visiting her mother in Norway and probably couldn't wait to see us again. And force us to try (and fail) to make cookies again. Last year, Nora had come over about four days before Christmas and said she was in a baking mood. We agreed to help her make some cookies as a surprise for her father, but we had all ended up covered head to toe in flour instead. (I don't even want to mention the kitchen.)

Just before she left, she vowed that this year, she would come over again, and force us to make cookies under her supervision again, and that this time, we would succeed. I have no doubt that she'd be over any day now, and hearing that we WANT to make cookies would make her all the happier. However, before our laughter had subsided, there was a knock at the door, and then Nora, followed by Lauren and Harry, were walking into the living room. Nora had a letter clutched in her hands.

"Whoa. How'd you get in?" Calum asked.

"I have a spare key, remember? Plus, the door was unlocked anyway." Nora answered.

"Oh yeah."

"NORA! Welcome home!" Ashton jumped up and hugged her, then the four of them joined me on the couch. Lauren sat next to me, with Nora on her other side and Ashton next to Nora with Harry on his lap.

"Thanks. So, I have this letter here, and it's addressed to Luke, but these two made me check the mail for it, and bring it in anyway. Why?"

"It's from the 'L' girl!" Harry exclaimed.

"Wait. The mail already came?"

"AAAAA- Permanently."

"What is that from?"

"I don't know, some movie, I just don't remember which one. . ." Nora trailed off.

"Well, since you got the letter, you get to read it." Ashton said.

"What? But it's addressed to Luke?" Ashton explained

"Well, see, for a while now, Luke has been getting these letters from someone overseas. We know it's overseas because they all have that international bar code thing, anyway, since November, the boys and I have had this contest of whoever gets the letter gets to read the letter, because they're really quite interesting, an-"

"And Luke agreed to this?" Nora cut him off.

"Yep. It makes this more interesting. Not that this isn't interesting to begin with but-"

"I get it. I guess I'll read the letter then."

Dear Luke,

I don't know how much longer I can take this. Last week,my mother started slapping me, and today, my father started abusing me as well. I was hoping it would stop, but it hasn't. And today, my father wasn't drunk, so I know it was intentional. I could see Marie wasn't comfortable with it, and even though we do nothing but fight, I still really care for her. It's better that I'm abused than her, and when I leave I'm taking Marie with me. Maybe I'll adopt her. I just have to wait  until May.

But Luke, as much as I don't want to leave Marie, I don't think I can wait until my 18th birthday to leave, without someone to talk to. Of course I have my friends, but I've never opened up with them as much as I've opened up to you. Of course, I know Roxie would understand, but I don't want to explain everything again. Plus, she's the one who convinced me to do this.

I don't know if this is pointless or not, but, remember how I told you not to respond in the first letter? And how I've never given a return address or name, so even if you wanted to write back you couldn't? Well, unless you traced the bar codes. I assume you either aren't getting these letters, or you've been polite enough not to trace them. Anyway, I've changed my mind. If you didn't notice, there's a return address on the envelope. If you are getting these letters, please reply. I'd like to know.

Hoping you'll reply,

-Lyra Faulls

 

"Huh. So her name is Lyra. What an unusual name." Calum said.

"Yeah. But it's really pretty." Nora said.

"I agree. I like it."

"I never said I didn't like it, I do. I just said it was unusual." Calum said.

"And I wasn't disagreeing with you, I was just saying that I liked it." Nora laughed.

"Ohmygodmohmygodohmygod! She wants you to write back! Do it, do it, do it!"

"Harry. Clam down."

"Fine Ash. But I'm not leaving until the letter is in the mailbox."

"I agree with you Harry. Let's get this letter written and sent!" Nora smiled.

"Well, this sure beats making cookies." Calum said.

"Who said we weren't? Technically, this is Luke's letter to write. So he can write it, and read it to us, but while he works on it, we're making cookies!"

"Yes! This is going to be so much fun!"

Lauren herded everyone into the kitchen while Nora wrote down the address for me before joining everyone else in the kitchen.

353 Rockwell Farm Lane, Farragut Tennessee, 57950.

"BOYS! SHE'S AMERICAN!"

"REALLY! NO WAY! WE FIGURED THAT OUT ALREADY, REMEMBER?"

"SORY! I FORGOT!"

"WHAT PART OF AMERICA?"

"TENNESSEE. HER SISTER WAS THE MARIE THAT WON THE HALLOWEEN PAGEANT! THE ONE IN THE MUSICAL ARTIST DRESS."

"HOW DO YOU KNOW?"

"THEY HAVE THE SAME LAST NAME!"

"OH! SO WE KINDA DID FIND HER!"

"YEP!"

I rewrote the letter four times before I read it to everyone aloud. I got their comments and ideas, and ended up rewriting it about 50 times before we all agreed that it was perfect. By that three batches of cookies were cooling on the counter, another was in the oven, and the last one was sitting on a baking sheet waiting for there to be room in the oven.

"What are we going to do with all these cookies?" I asked as I addressed the envelope.

"Give them away of course! We have enough for everyone's family, and then some!" Nora answered me.

"Sweet! Cookies!" Lauren cheered.

As the last batch was put in the oven and the cookies were divided into six even(-ish) groups, I added a postscript to my letter before sealing it in it's envelope and putting it in the mailbox.

I wonder how Lyra will react when she gets the letter.

 

A/N: I've been waiting to write this chapter for the LONGEST time! I hope you all liked it! Dedication goes to @clairebearr199 for always commenting and being so supportive!

Song of the Chapter: Strange Birds by Birdy

- Kat -

 

Words: 1176/1219

***Edited***