change [luke]

nineteen days before

Have you ever laid in bed in the late hours of the night (more seemingly, the very early hours of the morning) and thought about the person laying less than thirty metres away from you? Before, I would have answered with a definite never but now as I toss and turn trying to pry the image of the blue eyed boy out of my sleep deprived mind, I unwillingly can agree with that statement. They say it takes more than three weeks to develop a crush on someone, so how could it be possible for me to be so deliriously thinking about him so much.

After a round of twisting and turning and trying to clear my head, I threw my legs over the side of the bed and padded towards the balcony doors. Carefully and quietly unlocking the doors, I stepped outside to a slight chill in the air. But before I could even rest my behind on the woven chair in the corner of the space, I heard a startling cough coming from beside me. I knew then I wasn't the only one that couldn't sleep.

"Can't sleep?" Luke's slightly husky voice called from the balcony less than a few feet away from
me. I sighed.

"Unfortunately. What's your story?" I asked, leaning my forearms against the cold railings. Luke stood up and leaned against the railing opposite mine.

"Too much on my mind" He mumbled, pulling the sleeves of his worn out hoodie further down his hands making sweater paws. I chuckled lightly. If only he knew.

"Same here actually" I added.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Yeah, I wanna talk about why I can't sleep. I wanna tell you that you're the reason for my sleepless nights.

"It's nothing major, I'll be fine. I just needed some air"

You're clouding my thoughts Luke, stop.

"Well if you insist. Although, I have another way to clear our minds"

I looked up to face a grinning Luke, his face shaded from the lack of lighting outside. I smiled weakly.

"So Hemming's, what do you have in mind?"

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So then I found myself walking barefoot through the sand at three am with Luke Hemming's talking about anything that came to mind. The waves were calming, soothing almost. I mentally noted to talk a walk out here again some night if I couldn't sleep.

"So then they asked if we'd like to tour with them around Europe and America! Isn't that amazing?" Luke beamed, throwing his hands out for dramatic effect. I was really happy for Luke. When Luke acted like this it made me want to never stop smiling.

"I'm so happy for you guys, honestly, you guys deserve the world and more" I pulled him into a side hug as we still walked along the sand.

"Thanks Aims it really means a lot" He mumbled into my hair. I found myself smiling in contentment during the embrace. Once we pulled away we continued to walk along the sand in silence. Not an awkward silence, a comfortable silence.

"You never told me why you couldn't sleep" I mentioned, folding my arms to keep myself protected from the light breeze. He scrunched up his nose and looked down at me.

"It's not that important, really"

"You can tell me Luke"

He paused for a moment before plonking himself in the sand, patting a seat next to him. I set myself down and crossed my legs waiting for him to speak.

"Have you ever liked someone. But you shouldn't like them. Like, the way you like them is absolutely bonkers and completely out of the ordinary?"

Yes Luke, I like you and I've known you five days.

"I get what you mean, go on"

He paused again before speaking.

"I know I shouldn't like this girl, but I do. Wow like, I really fucking like her and I really shouldn't. I mean, I don't even know her that well, I only started talking to her recently" Luke blabbered on hysterically. My heart clenched as I closed my eyes nodding to indicate I was still listening.

He liked someone else.

"And I know it's stupid but I think I'm falling for her already. And I'm only sixteen, I don't even think I can and-"
I rested my hand on his shoulder breaking his mad debate. His once focused expression turned soft as soon as I rested my hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and gazed at me through the moonlight.

"Relax Luke, it's not stupid. It's completely normal. You like her a lot, maybe she's like your soulmate or something"

"Can sixteen year olds even have soulmates?!" He shrieked.

"Let's leave your age out of this for a moment" I chuckled, picking at the threads of my pyjama leggings.

"I'm just... so confused Aimi, help me" He whimpered, resting his head on my shoulder. I was hoping he wouldn't drape his arms over me in fear he would feel my now quickened heartbeat, but he did, but around my waist. I laid my head on his and rested my arm across his back.

"You'll figure it out Luke, don't worry. Just focus on your career right now, girls will come and go but you've only got one shot at this" I murmured, tracing patterns into his back. I felt him nod his head from beneath me. Whoever this mystery girl was, she was one lucky lady. He was really uptight over the whole situation.

But through it all I couldn't get rid of the pang of jealousy coursing through my body or the twist in my heart that made me feel physically sick to my stomach. I liked Luke.

But Luke loved someone else.

I never first handedly experienced unrequited love. I only read about it in novels. But now that I got my first taste, I dreadfully regret it.

"You're a really good friend Aimi"

That one word, friend. It was enough to make my eyes prick with salty tears, threatening to spill down my cheeks. I coughed and blinked them away quickly and composed myself before answering.

"You're a really good friend too Luke" I whispered.

That night I had come to face the harsh reality...

I was Luke's friend.

And that, unfortunately was all we would ever be.

Friends.

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im getting feels while writing this fic like i have a major plot twist for yall just wait