change [luke]

eighteen days before

*One week later*

This week had been the longest week of my life. Routine. It's something I never had in California but now I saw myself doing the exact same thing everyday and I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. My days consisted of waking up, showering, laying on the couch until Michael came home from school where he would then visit me. Some days we went for a walk along the neighbourhood, some days we watched bad movies in my bedroom. Some days Calum and Ashton would join us, but never Luke. I decided after that night in the sand where Luke confessed his love for another girl, I would try and move on. It was a little harmless crush, it didn't mean anything. I was probably obsessing over him because it was the first guy I had full frontal contact with that was mildly appealing to my eyes. Well, apart from Jamie Parker, but I never held much of a conversation with him.

"We should totally do something tonight" Michael said. We were laying opposite each other on the couch watching re runs of Degrassi. I was sprawled across my side of the couch in a very unattractive fashion.

"Enlighten me, Clifford" I mumbled rolling off the couch onto my knees. I sat back down on the couch in a more appropriate position before he spoke.

"Let's go to a party" Michael announced, pursing his lips. I contemplated the pros and cons of going to a party in Australia with a guy I've known a week and a half. But the pros weighed out the cons so I decided to answer him.

"I don't know Michael. I've never been to a party" I muttered leaning my head on the palm of my hand. He sat upright abruptly making the couch bounce.

"C'mon Aimi! Live a little" Michael cheered. I rolled my eyes. Maybe one party wouldn't hurt.

"Who's party is it? And who's going?"

"A guy in my year at school. It's his seventeenth birthday and literally the whole town"

"Fine"

Michael's eyes widened as he threw himself on top of me in a wild embrace.

"I love you Aimi! I'll help you pick an outfit, I'm strangely good at picking them out"

I laughed lightly pulling Michael off the couch towards my bedroom.

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"So what's going on with you and Luke?" Michael twisted a scarf he found lying on my floor between his fingers.

I confided a lot in Michael. I had explained to him, Calum and Ashton about my weird crush on Luke after knowing him for such a short period of time. They didn't think it was odd, although for some reason Calum shifted uncomfortably in his seat once I explained the situation.

"Nothing. He likes someone else so there's no point trying. Besides, it was only a silly crush" I mumbled pulling out a pair of high waisted distressed shorts from my wardrobe. Michael shook his head a little chuckle escaping his lips. It wasn't in any ways humorous though. I turned around to face Michael staring up at my with a soft expression etching his features.

"You're very oblivious aren't you?"

"Oblivious to what?"

"Aimi, he like, loves you"

My heart started pounding and I felt a rush of heat reach my cheeks.

"Michael, how many times do I have to tell you... I've known him like a week he cant like me" I scoffed, turning to face the wardrobe. I squeezed my eyes shut trying to rid the feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Look, I know you and Luke keep saying the same thing. 'Ive known them a week!' So? If you think it takes like a couple months to fall in love with someone thats bullshit. My cousin met her husband on a Friday morning and she married him in a registry office the following Wednesday. Some people are just meant to be Aimi and I honestly think you and Luke do. Even though you're both very stubborn teenagers" Michael added a soft chuckle at the end of his little speech. I stood in front of him with my hands on my hips. He was right. I didn't want to admit it but he was. I couldn't even say anything I just ran to his side, dropped on my knees and hugged him. I felt Michael smile into the warm embrace as he craned his long arms across my back.

"Thank you Mike" I mumbled into his shoulder.

"What are friends for baby girl" Michael laughed winking at me. I smiled in appreciation before turning back to the wardrobe to get a pair of vans.

I needed to look very good tonight because tonight was the night.

I was going to tell Luke Hemming's that I was falling madly and deeply in love with him.

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"Okay you have all four of our numbers?" Michael stressed as we pulled up outside the jam packed house.

"Yes Michael for the fifth time, I do. If I get lost and can't find any of y'all I'll call straight away"

Michael nodded, before bursting into a fit of giggles.

"Yall" He breathed. I rolled my eyes and got out of Michael's moms car that he borrowed to drive us here.

"You ready to party?" Michael said in a fake American accent. I laughed and kicked him in the back of the leg.

"Welcome to Australia, Aimi" Michael greeted waving his hand past a room full of girls with slutty clothing on and guys chugging more than two bottles of beer at the same time. There was booming music coming from all sides of the house and a table with any sort of liquor you could name on it.

"Wow" I muttered to myself as two boys, one on the others shoulders ran past me with a bottle of vodka in their hands.

"Ok well, you look for the guys over there and I'll go this way to tell Coady a happy birthday. Meet in the kitchen in like five minutes"

I nodded walking towards the direction of the kitchen, sliding between drunk teenagers, a few guys groping my ass, I shot them a firey glare and they turned away. I continued on into the kitchen where I saw a few couples and groups just talking casually with a cup in hand. This must be where all the calmer people are. I instantly recognised two blonde haired boys standing beside a group I've never seen before.

"Aimi?!"

I turned and Calum had just entered the kitchen, absolutely shit faced, Ashton and Luke had now turned their attention on me and Luke watched me tentatively with a red cup in his hand. Even when he took a slug from the cup he still watched me.

"What are you doing here?" He slurred a content smile on his face as he grabbed another bottle. I smiled. Calum was always so friendly.

"Michael kind of dragged me here" I shrugged, grabbing a random bottle of something. Turned out to be vodka and lemonade in a bottle. I didn't mind though.

"That's cool! Are you enjoying yourself?" He smiled at me showing his teeth. It made me laugh, he was like a little puppy.

"Yeah it's great" I giggled.

"Would you like me to wait with you until Michael comes-"

"No Calum go on and party she can come over with Ash the girls and I" I felt Luke slip his arm around my waist in a protective manner. My heart hammered wildly in my chest.

"Okay! Talk to you guys later" Calum cheered sending us a big wave and leaving the room.

Luke still stared at the spot where Calum once stood. I snapped my fingers infront of his face and he released my waist.

"Come on" He muttered sounding quite embarrassed. I followed him to his group where Ashton stood talking to a few girls and one guy.

"Nice of you to join, Aims!" Ashton joked, throwing his arm around my shoulders. I laughed and took a sip of my drink.

"Where are my manners, guys this is Aimi! She's from America she's here with her aunt for a couple months" Ashton introduced, smiling down at me. My cheeks turned a light shade of pink as I waved to the other people standing round.

"Hi I'm Geordie, this is Coady and that's Aleisha" A fair haired girl with the prettiest eyes I've ever seen.

"Hi, nice to meet you all" I returned the smile.

We stood round talking for a while about everything and anything. Mostly about the boys band and their news about touring with One Direction next year. The chatter quietened down a little bit and we all got lost in conversations between each other.

"So Luke, when were you going to tell us that you and Aleisha were dating?"

And I swear I felt my heart stop.

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well fuck me luke