Daisy (lashton)

Chapter 10

Luke did everything in his power to avoid eye contact with the honey blonde man as he stood in front of him and his friends in the middle of the grocery store, praying that this painful encounter would soon end.

If it wasn't awkward enough running into a one night stand out in public, it was double awkward running into him and his daughter when you're out with friends. Although, Luke would admit he admired Ashton's apologetic panic when he thought that Crystal was his girlfriend. It showed character. Luke could never be with someone who condoned cheating, not that he would be with anyone at all. No, Luke did not date, if he didn't make that clear enough with his milk analogy.

"Shoot, um, we gotta go," Ashton's mumbled words broke Luke out of his thoughts as he glanced over at the man who was in the process of putting the little urchin in his cart. "Calum's on his way over." Luke didn't like the way his stomach involuntarily clenched at the mention of another man, and he tightened his jaw as he suddenly became fascinated with the scuff marks on his worn out Doc Martens. 

"It was nice to see you. Nice to meet you, Michael." Luke rolled his eyes at the man's polite tone, and he watched as Ashton gave Crystal a half hug before he shook hands with Michael. "Luke." Luke made the mistake of letting his eyes meet the man's once again and he felt an unfamiliar tug in the pit of his stomach as he fell deep into the pit of caramel gooeyness that was Ashton's irises.

"Who the fuck is Calum?" Luke scoffed as Ashton was finally out of earshot and he whipped around to face his friends who both had shit eating grins spread across their faces.

"Why? Is someone jealous?" Crystal's grin only increased as a growl ripped out of Luke's throat.

"I don't get jealous. Who's Calum?" Luke desperately wanted to know. He didn't know why he wanted to know so bad, he just did.

"Worried you have competition?" Luke glared at Crystal and in that moment he wished that he had the power to light her on fire with his eyes.

"Dude you didn't give that dilf enough credit, he's hot!" Luke looked over at Michael who was busy studying the back of a package of toaster waffles. "Yo! Did you know they made these in French toast sticks?!"

"Jesus Christ, Micheal." Luke scoffed as he pushed his way past his friends and made his way out the front of the store. He knew Crystal had a full basket she still needed to check out, so he'd at least have a couple minutes of alone time to think. 

He embraced the warm rush of air that engulfed him as he walked outside the refrigerated store and squinted into the bright mid day light as he leaned back against the wall. Luke felt like a house cat as he basked in the comforting warmth of the sun, letting it shine down across his face and spread across his exposed skin.

With a sigh, Luke grabbed his cigarettes and shook one from the pack, placing it between his lips. It took a couple flicks, but Luke finally got the cigarette to light with the crappy Zippo he'd pocketed at the last house party he was at. 

Luke loved the burn in his chest as he inhaled, letting the smoke curl up in his lungs before expelling it in a hazy cloud. He took a few more puffs, letting the nicotine clear his mind of those beautiful hazel eyes before he felt another presence next to him.

"So, on a scale from Amanda Bynes to the Olsen Twins, how much do you wanna smash that again?"

Luke quirked an eyebrow as he inhaled again before stubbing out the butt of his cigarette under his shoe. "Which side of that scale is supposed to be good?" Michael rolled his eyes and lit his own cigarette.

"Obviously the Olsen Twins."

"Obviously?"

Michael shrugged as he took another deep inhale. "Well, ya know, the time before the anorexia and after those creepy twin movies." Luke rolled his eyes as he shot his best friend a grimace. "Okay, okay, maybe not the best comparison. But still, how bad do you wanna hop on him again? The dude is hot, Luke!"

Luke pulled out another cigarette. "You know I don't go back for seconds, Michael. Plus, news flash, did you not see the little thing attached to his leg?"

Michael laughed as he flicked the ash from his cigarette. "You mean the kid? She was cute! Thought even you being ice queen Elsa herself would melt at her little lisp."

Luke scrunched his brows together and let the smoke come out his nostrils. "What the fuck is an Elsa?"

Michael scoffed as he looked towards Luke in disbelief. "It wouldn't hurt you to get out of the house every once in a while, ya know? Go see a movie."

A cheeky grin spread across Luke's face as he took another drag from his cigarette. "I do watch movies."

"I meant movies that aren't X-rated, fuckface." Both boys laughed as they leaned back against the wall and let the comfortable silence fall over them. The whooshing of the automatic doors beside them broke them out of their moment and they turned to see Crystal making her way towards them, arms loaded down with bags.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt you to give him a chance," Michael said as he and Luke made their way over to help Crystal with the groceries. "You might find out that you actually like him! Crystal tells me he's a really awesome guy, he's a chef at some restaurant downtown and-"

"Why are you now pushing for this guy too, Michael?" Luke stopped them before they could walk any further and he looked into his best friends eyes, immediately noticing the way the boy's forest green eyes softened as they met.

"I don't know, Lu, maybe because I'm your best friend? Maybe because I want you to find someone that makes you as happy as Crys makes me?"

"You've been together like a month."

Michael shrugged, and Luke pretended not to notice the glint in his eye as they talked about the pink haired girl. "I don't know, man, sometimes when you know, you know. It's just, I know you, and I know you haven't been truly happy since everything went down with Drew but this isn't like that-" Luke's jaw tightened and he didn't hesitate to push a finger into Michael's chest.

"What the fuck happened to never mentioning that douchebag again, huh?" Michael's composure fell as he noticed the way Luke still flinched at the name.

"Luke, I-"

"Just drop it, Michael." Before Michael could say another word, Luke stormed away to the parking lot.

"Woah, did I miss something? Who's Drew?" Crystal asked as she now stood next to Michael, straining under the weight of the grocery bags.

Michael sighed as he turned and released the small girl of a few of the bags that weighted down each arm. "Just a ghost from Luke's past that he won't let go of." 

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A/N: So I'm really trying to update more regularly even if it means a bit shorter updates, I hope that's okay?!? Sorry I didn't update this earlier, I had it about 3/4 written but then I got sick and was knocked out from NyQuil for like a solid 48 hours lmao but I'm back now!

So things are starting to pick up now and we're getting a few hints into why Luke is the way he is! Any ideas?! I'd love to hear people's predictions as to who they think Drew is and why Luke is being such a dick about the whole kid thing:-)

also I'm low-key not sure who my favorite character is anymore: Ashton or Michael lmao