𝙏𝙀𝙈𝙋𝙏𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 • 𝙇𝙍𝙃

11. crash and kill us all

it had been three days since luke's run in with derek. three days of luke feeling like something was wrong. his nerves were at an all-time high, and he knew derek had been keeping tabs on him. luke has been trying his best to put distance between himself and emma, but he can only do so much before his friends get suspicious.

luke still desperately needed the extra money for his father's hospital bills, as his condition was deteriorating day by day. leaving wasn't an option for luke, it was his only sense of security despite the fact that it made him feel on edge and worried for emma's safety. derek had been sending luke a series of threats, nothing too serious but still threats nonetheless.

he wasn't sure what went down between derek and emma, all he knew was they had a rough breakup. he was worried yet slightly intrigued on how the pair met and eventually dated. but he didn't dwell on that for long— he was trying to keep emma off of his mind as much as possible.

luke had been avoiding the girl like the plague — even going as far as hiding in the back of the bar when he noticed her walk in alone. she had noticed his strange behavior almost immediately, everyone had. he was more closed off, always jumpy and less likely to hang out in the group. luke wasn't acting like himself, and he hated that derek could make him feel that way. but that was just a constant reminder of how powerful derek could be, how easily he can get inside your head and make you question every decision that comes to mind.

the feeling of impending doom and not being able to keep his friends safe is the reason luke was impatiently sitting at his kitchen table—  legs shaking and hands clammy as he waited for ashton to respond to his question.

"so let me get this straight," ashton began, clasping his hands together and placing them on the table "you want to take my girlfriend out of town because you're having money problems? that makes no sense, luke"

luke let out an exasperated sigh before rubbing his face with his hands. he wanted to get emma out of town for a number of reasons. the first being that derek couldn't follow them if they left —  he has too much business to take care of here to even think about leaving. second, luke could ensure that they would be safe. he felt like this was the smartest move on his part, but he couldn't tell ashton any of the real reasons luke needed to make a small getaway. 

emma was still in the dark for most of this, too. she knew luke and derek knew each other, but never found out anything more. she had also put together that luke's strange behavior began the night she ran into derek. things were different, emma hadn't been woken up in the middle of the night and dragged out of bed by luke in days — and she would be lying if she said she didn't miss it.

"one of the guys I work for is pissed at me, and he's seen emma around the bar and is threatening her" luke stated, a little too calmly for ashton to believe his story. it was only partially true, but luke wouldn't dare confess to ashton that he had been bringing emma along to his drug deals and that was how she had been spotted.

"me and maya both work, there's no way in hell I can take the days off right now" ashton argued.

"then just her and I can go, it will only be for a couple of days until I can figure this shit out" luke bargained. he stared at ashton with an eager look in his eyes — as if ashton's approval was all luke needed for things to be okay again.

ashton shook his head "yeah, that's not happening"

luke rolled his eyes, pissed that ashton was still holding a grudge. it was two years ago, let it go dude.

"she can either stay here and get targeted or come with me where I can make sure she's safe. your choice, man" luke shrugged and raised his eyebrows at his friend — surely he wasn't dumb enough to let his bubbling thoughts about luke and emma get in the way of her safety.