Always - Sequel to Stay Together For The Kids

Luke.

The news that Michael could of been killed seems to convince Mum that maybe I'm in no psychological state to see the outside world, so I guess there's a silver lining. Ruby however, much unlike myself, wanted more then anything to go out today. So, leaving me to my own painful thoughts, Ruby and Mum decided to make a day of it.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Mum asks with hesitance.

The glare I give her seems to be the answer she needs.

"Fine." Mum says, admitting defeat.

"Bye, Mummy!" Ruby bounds over to the couch that I'm sitting on and gives me a big sloppy kiss on the cheek.

I smile slightly, and make her promise to behave.

"We'll be home before tea I suspect." She tells me, pulling open the door.

Mum seems startled for a second, and soon I see why.

"Luke!" Mum throws her arms over a blonde figure, who I assume is Luke.

Luke, looking a bit worn out, but nevertheless ok, manages to pull out of Mum's grasp. "it's good to see you Mrs. E." He smiles.

Mum gives Luke a big smile. "We were just leaving unfortunately." She says, indicating to Ruby, who is trying to get Luke's attention. Luke responds by gives her a small wave. "But Lily's staying here if you wanted to talk to her." Mum nods over to me, sitting on the couch.

Luke looks over, realising that I'm in the room. He gives me a small smile and I try to return it.

Mum peers at us both, but starts hurrying out the door, Ruby trying to dodge a kiss from Luke, but Luke succeding, giving both Ruby and him a bit of a giggle. He waves goodbye to them both, then quickly turns to me as soon as the door shuts.

"Turn on Channel 10." He demands, walking swiftly over to the living room.

"Hi to you too." I say sarcastically.

"Have you seen the news?" Luke asks, ignoring my comment.

"What do you think I'm watching now?" I say, indicating to the tv.

Luke almost runs over to sit next to me. We both watch in silence.

The lady, an attractive older blonde, tells us all in an 'entertainment special' about how becoming a pop star has risks, and an inside source has told them that someone had been sending threatening letters to Michael. Which Luke and I both knew was a load of crap.

So the media had somehow clawed tree way into this. "There is a killer out there, and he needs to be caught." I manage to hear someone on the TV say. I want to throw things, there's so much fear mongering, and they were using Michael to fuel it.

"This is crazy. People didn't hate Michael." I say, shaking my head.

"Abigail Breslin came pretty close." Luke says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

I glare at him, and I can see his stupid grin on his face. "This isn't a joke." I say, punching him in the shoulder.

"But don't you see, it is." He says. I must look as confused as I feel because he sights in frustration. "You're right, no one hated Michael. To think he was murdered is a joke."

I don't say anything, but turn back to the TV. It isn't a very funny joke.

"Ashton won't even let the TV be on in the house." Luke continues.

I snap my head over to Luke. "Ashton's staying with you?" I ask, surprised.

"Yeah, why?" Luke frowns.

I shrug. "He didn't tell me."

It's now Luke's turn to look surprised. "When did you see him?"

"The day Calum left, he came over." I say quietly, avoiding his gaze. I don't want to mention Calum. I do wonder if he had seen the news too, though.

"How is he?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

Luke pauses, thinking on what to say. "He seems, different."

I nod. "I know what you mean. He's different to what I remember him. But, it's like he became a better person from what he was."

Luke smiles slightly. "I'm kind of glad to have this new and improved Ash in my life. I mean, I wish they were different crcumstances. But, I'm grateful he's back."

"Me too." I say softly. And I am. A lot more then I ever thought I would be.

"Have you spoken to Calum?" Luke asks suddenly.

Great, the conversation I was avoiding. I shake my head to say no.

Luke smiles sadly. "He's probably just taking a break to wrap his head around things."

I nod, though neither of us believe it. If anything, both of us know Calum's coping method, and both of us were worried. But we also know we couldn't help him unless he let us in first.

Luke puts his arm around me. "You know what I think we need?"

I raise my eyebrows and try not to laugh. "What's that?"

"We need to have a girls night." He says, in the best mock girl voice I've heard him do.

I put my hand over my mouth to stiffle my giggle.

"You know sometimes I feel like you're my straight gay best friend."

Luke laughs, but walks over to my DVD cabinet as if he was posing for the catwalk, causing me to giggle.

Luke turns as he hears my laugh. "That's what I wanted to hear." He says softly, with a small smile.

"Thank you." I say quietly.

Luke and I look at each other briefly, but his attention quickly turns back to the dvd cabinet.

A gasp from Luke makes me jump. "Yes!" I hear him cheer, half his body in the dvd cabinet, and his ass sticking out in the air, his jeans falling down slightly so his boxers are showing.

"What?" I frown.

Luke doesn't say anything, but turns to me, his eyes pleading, holding up Mean Girls. I try really hard not to roll my eyes.

"What are you, a 14 year old girl?" I half joke. He does worry me sometimes.

Luke smiles but takes it as a yes, quickly turning the news off and putting on the DVD.

He bounds over next to me, jumping onto the couch.

"I'm so excited." He announces, as if he needs to, as if its not apparent on the outside. He is pretty much giddy.

"You know, if you squint, you kind of look like Regina George." I tell him, cocking my head to the side.

"I'm way more fabulous than her." He mocks offended, flipping his imaginary long hair back over his shoulder.

I chuckle at him, and rest my legs on him. His hands instinctively go to my knees, and starts to give me a massage.

The movie starts, though its pointless to watch because Luke is saying every line word for word anyway. I watch him mainly, just because I've watched this movie too many times before.

"What?" Luke says, noticing me looking at him.

"Thank you." I tell him.

Luke grins at me. "It's ok. I think we both need each other right now."

I nod, and feel Luke's hand slip into mine. I feel myself drift off to sleep, Luke's hand in mine and his other resting on my shin. I feel Luke laugh against me, and I can't help but smile. He was trying so hard to make me happy. I know all the boys were. Even Calum. It was good to hear one of them happy too.

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Writers block kind of sucks.

I've wrote a little prequel thing for Stay Together for the Fanfic Contest!

Go check it out, it's called 'A Very Mikey Christmas'

Enjoy :) xx