Faded // Luke Hemmings

chapter 4

Luke’s POV

                “Shit!” Tatum and I force back giggles as she trips over the doormat on the way into my apartment. We spent too long making out and talking in my car about the stupidest things. Eventually we’d dried off and wandered through the shops, Tatum buy a black bikini (I’m convinced solely to drive me absolutely crazy) that she slips on under my hoodie. After laying in the sand and watching the stars and making fun of how cliché it is, we climb into my car and start heading back, arriving at the complex at 11 o’clock at night.

                My eyes widen a bit when I notice Daisy sitting on the couch, a book forgotten in her hand. The room is dimly lit, one lamp remaining on with all other lights turned down. Everyone else is probably asleep; if even here at all. Following Daisy’s gaze to Tatum, my face pales. “I swear Dais, I know it looks bad but it’s not at all what you’re thinking.”

                Tatum cuts me off quickly, her voice light. “Oh, it’s exactly what you’re thinking.” That fucking devilish grin is on her face again and I really wish it wasn’t. She hops the couch, landing next to Daisy.  “Hi, we’ve met before but to do all the formal shit I’m Tatum and I’ve just stolen Blondie’s virginity.”

                My cheeks flush crimson when Daisy turns to me slowly, her eyebrows raised in surprise. I may hate being the baby of the group, but I still care what they all think of me. And jesus fuck the shit I’ll get if they actually think we fucked will be endless. “I’m not a virgin and we didn’t have sex.” I mutter, half wishing we had. After all, we’ve come close. With painfully slow movements, I sit down next to Tatum. We have never been together around anyone else before and I’m not sure how she’ll react.

                Happiness spreads through me like a sickness when Tatum readjusts and curls into my side. My arm goes around her waist and she grabs my fingers, pulling my hand closer and drawing shapes on my palm like I do on her hips. We’re both watching Daisy, waiting for her to say something. But I know something’s off. There is a certain anxiety in my best friend’s girl that I can’t seem to place, but she doesn’t let it show when she speaks. “I’m Daisy and I’m curious as to why you’re wearing Luke’s hoodie and no pants.”

                Tatum grins wildly, turning her head up to look at me. Fuck, her eyes are blue tonight. “Do you want to explain it to her?”

                Oh fuck… “Long story short, we jumped off the pier and Tatum didn’t have any clothes to change into so she got a bikini and borrowed my hoodie because-”

                “YOU JUMPED OFF THE PIER?!” Daisy’s voice is more like the shriek of a concerned mother than anything else. Anyone asleep in the apartment definitely isn’t anymore. Tatum is giggling obnoxiously at the look of worry that’s spread across Daisy’s face, clutching her stomach and leaning even further into me. Her shoulder blade is grinding into my hips, but I don’t dare tell her for fear that she’ll move away.

                A touch of panic swells up in my chest when Ash calls out, “Daisy?”

                “She’s in the living room!” Tatum calls out, startling us all. I’m loving and hating the fact that she’s already so at home here.

                Daisy gets up, returning a few seconds later with her hand locked with Ashton’s. I’m momentarily sad for him; he’ll never get to see the way Daisy looks at him with such admiration and fondness. I have a tense feeling in my stomach. Tatum is unpredictable and Ashton is… Well, Ashton is defensive. They’ll either love or hate each other. I’m quite certain there can be no in between and by the look on Daisy’s face, she knows it too.