chasing stars || lrh

eleven

june 5

at 1:32 a.m., luke received a call from estrella's mom. he panicked, his breathing coming fast. her mom said she wouldn't ever disturb him unless there was an emergency

"what's wrong? is everything okay?" luke rushed his words as he thought of the worst case scenario.

"everything is alright, love," the familiar voice and giggle soothed his tense nerves. relief swiped through him, relaxing his worried heart and mind.

"why are you calling on your mom's phone?" luke asked, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

"because my dad took away my phone," she paused for a brief moment and continued, "let's run away."

"what?" luke was confused; this was something that he would've never expected from her.

"please, luke. we're going to separate colleges really soon. i don't wanna be so faraway from you," her playful tone had dissolved into desperation.

"estrella," luke sighed, knowing this was a horrible idea that was meant to fail.

"luke, please," she begged, making luke's heart hurt, "c'mon! let's chase the stars!"

"okay," he mumbled, getting up and making his bed creak. maybe, just maybe, he would be able to convince her that this was a bad idea.

he packed some clothes in a duffel bag and shoved some toiletries as estrella told him to meet her in his front yard.

*

the two were hiking along the interstate, their duffel bags slung over their shoulders. they knew it was illegal to walk along the interstate so they stayed on the other side of the railing, hiding in the shadows of the trees. they weren't even holding hands; the distance was already growing.

"why?" luke asked for what felt like the billionth time, for estrella hadn't spoken since they left luke's neighborhood.

"estrella, let's just go back home. this is a stupid and selfish idea," luke was extremely frustrated and stopped in his tracks. she looked back at him and stopped, not wanting to leave without him.

"you don't understand," estrella tugged on his arm, but he didn't budge.

"luke, please," she begged again, tears beginning to sound thick in her trembling voice. he felt his heart ache once more, but he wasn't going to give in; he wasn't going to give estrella her way like he had done so many times before.

"tell me a good reason," luke spat out crossing his arms.

"luke, let's just go, please," tears started streaming and her voice changing in pitch; she was a pro at making others feel guilty. she continued to pull at his arm, which annoyed luke, and he pulled his arm away harshly.

"tell me why," he replied in the calmest tone he could muster.

"because," estrella's voice broke, "because, luke, because the people i thought were my friends hate me; they said i was annoying as hell. because my dad has been cheating on my mom for two fucking years. because, even though my mom knows, she's pretending like he never cheated on her. luke, i'm scared of the future. i don't wanna be so faraway from you. i feel like i'm not ready to be by myself, and i feel like i won't ever be able to afford the expenses. i don't wanna grow up yet, i'm not ready. i just want to stop everything, and can we please just leave?" she rushed her words; her breathing was ragged and she began tugging at her clothes and hair. the tears streamed down her cheeks, glistening under the little light the moon and stars provided. she looked crazy; maybe she was.

she was still so beautiful when she was so sad.

"love, i didn't know," luke mumbled, feeling terrible at how he treated her. he began to pull estrella into a hug, but she pulled away, cringing at his touch.

"please, let's just leave. you love me enough, right?" she tried assuring him, her hazel eyes wide and glassy.

"i love you," he whispered, wanting to hear her say it back. maybe she didn't hear him, because she only smiled sadly and nodded her head.

and maybe she did.

"c'mon," estrella mumbled, "we just have to cross the interstate. i know a place where we can stay for the rest of the night." she climbed over the railing and motioned for him to follow. he jumped over the railing and sighed loudly.

"estrella," luke was hesitant, because this just didn't feel right.

"luke," she continued, stepping onto the interstate and taking a few steps forward.

everything went too slow and too fast. luke could see the semi-truck approaching quickly out of the corner of his eye. his mouth was too slow to scream out before she was hit.

time seemed to stop when she glided through the air and hit the pavement with a loud, sickening crack.

luke ran out to her, the headlights from the stopped truck illuminating estrella's still body.

"no, estrella, please, babe," he sat next to her and pulled her into his lap. her head was bleeding onto him, but he didn't really notice. her eyes were wide open, and her breathing was so slow and so shallow.

she was trying to focus on luke. everything hurt and she could barely even think, but in that moment, luke was everything, and she was really in love with this beautiful boy. nothing else mattered.

"please, estrella, hang on. you'll be okay, love," luke cried into her still-warm neck. he didn't want her to be cold and gone. the guilty driver stood nearby, frantically calling for an ambulance.

"i love you. i love you, dammit! estrella, don't leave me!" luke sputtered out, his tears making him feel as if he were drowning.

estrella died in luke's arms before the sirens could even be heard.

2:56 a.m.

he lost her.

•

well I did say they wouldn't break up....... and aw her last word was his name :(