Trouble - 5SOS (L.H.)

-5-

I walk out the front door, worried about Luke convincing Mikey about the party.

I walk to a cozy café a couple blocks down, since I don't have a car and I'm about to die of starvation.

It's pretty hot out now, I don't know why I chose to wear jeans.

When I get to the café, I sit for a bit with my coffee and I order something small.

What's on my mind right now? What's bothering me?

I decide to text my mom, asking her how things are back in California. She says things are well and she misses me already. I smile and feel a little better.

After I'm about halfway done with my food, I hear my ringtone (Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys) and I look at the caller ID, "Luke"

"Hey," I say as I open the call.

"Hey. Where you at?"

"That café a couple blocks from the house."

"Alright, I'll be there in a few, don't leave."

I laugh "I won't. Bye."

"Bye."

Within a few minutes, I see Luke walk in and I call him over.

"Hey! How'd Michael go?" I ask as he sits down.

"Good! Party's tomorrow. He's inviting everyone he knows, and telling them to invite even more people. Should be crazy."

"Sweet! Nice job." I say, giving him a high five and he smiles.

"People are staring at us." Luke leans forward and whispers.

"Why?" I whisper.

"We're matching." He smiles.

"Who gives a fuck? We have good taste." I return a smile.

"Have you gotten to know me? You're swearing."

"Guess so. Did you wanna order something? I'll stay with you." I offer.

"Yeah."

Luke gets up and comes back with a sundae with two spoons, which he ordered from the front.

"Want some?" He offered, handing me a spoon.

I smile, "Maybe just a little."

I dig the spoon into the ice cream and take a bite.

"Holy shit!" I swear on purpose and he smiles.

***

"I'm gonna wear this outfit again tomorrow. Is that bad?" I ask Luke on our way home, joking but not really. I'm actually wearing this tomorrow.

"No. I'll wear this tomorrow too and we can match again." He jokes.

"Sounds like a plan." I laugh and high five him.

"You know, you've got good music taste." He says.

"I do?"

"Sure," he continues, "I saw the posters you put up, and your hoodie. They're all great bands."

"I just wish I could go to the concert."

"And you will! We can do this. How hard can it be?" He says.

We stop at a crosswalk and he presses the button.

"I guess it can't be tha-"

The chirping noise from the crosswalk happens, "Race ya!" He says and runs backwards down the crosswalk, facing me.

"You're gonna trip!" I yell at him, laughing, as I walk.

He waits for me at the end.

"Race you down to the beach!" I say when I reach him and sprint as fast as I can.

He's laughing, running after me and I stop before I hit the water.

"I beat you!" I say.

"And you know what your prize for first place is?" He asks, getting a weird look on his face.

"Don't. You. Dare."

He makes a quick move and suddenly he's carrying me on his shoulders.

"Luke!" I laugh at him, "Put me down! Stop!"

He starts stepping into the water, "What! Lia, don't you want your prize?" He's laughing at me.

He starts maneuvering me to his front and drops me into the water, laughing hard.

I come up from the water, "I'm soaked! It's so cold!" He laughs at me again and I splash him, "You're gonna get it."

"Stop, that's cold!" He says, flinching.

He tries to walk over to dunk me again, but he trips and lands on all fours in the water.

"Holy shit, it's so cold!" he says with a chuckle.

"Now you know my pain!"

He takes his soaking wet flannel off and throws it at me. It lands on my shoulder.

"Ohhhh my God, it's soaking!" I scream, and he laughs.

I take it off my shoulder and ring it out.

"I'm using this as a towel now, thanks." I yell over the waves.

He smiles and turns around to walk back to the sand. I dunk the flannel back in the water and run to him, and I ring it out on his head.

He flinches, and I run up the sand toward the beach house. He runs after me, catches me and puts me back on his shoulders.

He spins me around on his shoulders, laughing, and carries me up to the beach house.