[time skip of a few weeks idk]
"I need to get a new job." Luke sighed, glancing at me through the corner of his eyes. He was looking a lot better than he was three weeks before even though he still seemed worn out, but he hadn't been out in a week to my knowledge. I've been having to leave for a few hours over the weeks because of work at the record shop.
I bit my lip, tracing my fingertips lightly up his forearm, making a few goosebumps grow on his pale skin, "You know," I murmured, "I could probably get you a job.. at El's, with me and Michael. You don't even really gotta do anything."
"That'd be nice," He spoke softly, his lips twitching at the corners into a slight curve, "I'd get to see my girlfriend and my best friend all the time."
"You already see me, like, everyday."
Luke shrugged, moving his hand and intertwining our fingers, "Do you think I could get a job there? I need one- as soon as possible."
I nodded, laughing a little, "Of course. And it's easy, just show up, really. Not a lot of people come by, so you don't have to do much."
Luke nodded, looking away with his eyebrows furrowed slightly as if he were contemplating it.
He was trying really hard lately to cheer up a little, I could tell. For the first week and a half after what happened, he never left the bed and he wouldn't speak full sentences and he looked sick and completely worn out. Eventually, he started to talk to me a little more and he'd smile and laugh rarely but I knew he was still almost always on the verge of tears. The past few days, he got better. We managed to talk about it a little, though I just listened more than speak since I really didn't have anything to say. I don't expect him to suddenly feel better and forget it all within two months, it'd be longer than that and I was going to be there the whole time to help him cope.
Since he was basically living alone now, he would need a job. Right now, he was living off of his last paycheck from the pet shop and if he needed it, I'd help him out. I'm sure he would be able to get a job soon, hopefully with me and Michael.
"When do you think I can apply?"
"Whenever, probably. I could probably take a rèsumè from you when you have one and give it to our manager. He's cool- kind of lazy, actually. He barely comes by the shop." I mumbled, hesitating a little. Michael did the same thing for me when I needed a job, so I might actually end up getting him to help Luke out instead.
He nodded, a weak smile on his face. His arm wrapped around my waist a little, pulling me more into his side.
"Thank you for helping me," Luke mumbled, pressing his lips against my temple and letting them linger for a little.
I smiled a little, leaning into the touch, "You don't need to thank me." I spoke softly, reaching for his hand and intertwining our fingers together.
He shrugged, running his thumb over the back of my hand a few times, "I kind of do, though."
I rolled my eyes slightly while smiling a little at him, giving his hand a light squeeze.
It was quiet for a few minutes, the only sound being our breathing and light laughs at each other so often. Eventually, I changed my expression and shifted around in my spot.
"I don't know if it's my place to be asking this, and it's kind of out of nowhere," I mumbled, becoming a little nervous. Luke was looking at me, confused, now.
"What happened with you and Ashton? I'm just- I've been thinking about it, kind of. Every so often, if you're asleep or something, just recently." I rushed out, glancing around the room and back to him quickly as I spoke. His hand tightened around mine for a second or two and when I looked at him, he was biting his bottom lip harshly.
"It's okay, I know why you'd be confused." He sighed heavily, using his free hand to run a hand through his blond hair.
I stared at him for a few seconds, leaning a little more into him and pulling his arm back around me like before.
"I've known Ashton for a few years, and since he's the oldest, everyones kind of liked him more, I guess," He mumbled, clearly unsure of how to explain whatever it was that happened, "He was close to me, but it always felt like he never liked being around me, in a way. But- whenever I got close to someone, like a girl," Luke paused for a second, glancing at me, "Ashton would always manage to get close to her, too. Then he would act like it wasn't his fault that she ended up with him, but we both knew it was. Hell- I bet Michael and Calum knew, too. Thats why I don't like when you're around Ashton, I.. I get scared. I feel like you'll end up seeing something- anything- in him, that I don't have. It always happens." He mumbled, sighing quietly as he leant his head on mine, "He used to tease me a lot, too. He would call me names often or something like that. Ashton ended up becoming really mean to all of us, but only to me, actually. I never did anything about it- none of us did. That kind of put a barrier between us, though. We haven't gotten along for awhile now."
I nodded slightly, looking at our fingers as he spoke. It made sense, when I was walking home that day and they started to fight. I didn't get it at first.
"Because of him, I had a hard time getting close to people. But you, when I saw you, I knew I couldn't pass you up." Luke murmured, kissing my temple lightly.
//
this was HORRIBLE im sorry but hey,, some things got explained!!
there are still a few things that will have to get cleared up that idk if u guys have forgotten about but !! more will happen thank
i dont really hav anythin to say besides,, make sure u vote and comment or something! please thank u
(ps sorry if there are errors i barely edited this lmao)
- liberty
