Locked (l.h)

Twenty Eight

A few months pass and everything carries on like normal. I live a happy life at the Hemmings, thankfully never seeing my parents. Nothing extraordinary happens, until a Sunday at the beginning of December when one conversation changes everything.

We were just watching TV, Luke sitting on the couch while I sat on floor with my head resting in between his legs.

"Jane?"

I turn my head to face him. "Yeah?"

"Nothing." He says, showing a smile which looks almost forced. I know he wanted to say something, but I don't ask, it's so peaceful right now- I don't want to ruin it.

I feel Luke's fingers carefully begin to braid my hair, a habit which he'd picked up recently. "Do you wanna go somewhere?" He asks.

"Go where?"

He smiles cheekily. "It's a surprise."

It only takes a few minutes for me to recognize exactly where we're going. The park we went to on our first proper date, the best memory I have.

My face lights up at the thought. "Luke, why are we-"

"It's a surprise." He sing-songs.

Eventually he parks the car a few streets away from the park, on the same road we walked down to get here last time.

"This place looks so different in the daytime." I say, sliding my hand into Luke's.

"Yeah." He agrees. "It's still beautiful though."

We walk in silence, taking in the sounds and sights around us, which is when I spot the picnic bench covered in roses hidden away in the trees. A couple of pizza boxes sit on the bench along with a bottle of lemonade - my favorite.

"Luke, your being adorable again." I chuckle.

"What?" He asks, clearly not realizing I'd spotted his surprise.

"Your so damn cute." I smile.

-

"That one looks like a penguin." Luke says, pointing up at the sky above. The clouds slowly changing to form new shapes and the both of us lying on our backs watching each movement.

"Everything looks like a penguin to you." I laugh.

Luke opens his mouth, as if to say something, but quickly closes it.

"Today's been fun." I say, rolling onto my front to face him.

"Yeah." He agrees, seeming rather distracted.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." He sits up. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"You seem a bit distracted today, like something's bothering you? You can tell me anything, you know."

He sighs and runs his fingertips through his hair. "I've been meaning to tell you this all day, but I've been so nervous about it."

I give him a reassuring smile, telling him he doesn't need to be nervous.

"Max thinks it's a good idea to go to England. The bands not going very well over here - he thinks we might just make it in England. I know it's the right thing to do, but I can't do it. I can't leave so many things here. I can't leave you."

"Luke..." I begin. "What would you do if I wasn't here. Honestly, would you go?"

"Well, yes but-"

"Then go. And if you don't, I will shove you in Calum's suitcase and force you to go. There's no way your risking your career because of me."

"I'm not going." He argues.

"What do the others want to do?" I ask.

He starts picking at the grass around us. "They want to go."

"You're going then. Don't worry about me - I'll cope."

"But- but I can't cope." He stutters. "I can't get out of bed without you saying good morning, I can't walk without your hand in mine, I can't sleep without your body pressed against mine. I love you Jane. And I'm not leaving without you."

I shake my head. "We both know that I can't afford to get to England."

"I'll pay."

"You can't afford it either." I point out.

"I'll find a way!"

I stand up to leave. "I'll see you at home, Luke. I think you need some time to think about this alone. I'll get the bus home, okay?"

"No, Jane, I -"

"I'll see you later." I reply.

-

"Now, stir in the tomatoes." Liz instructs.

I haven't seen Luke for hours, so Liz decided she'd teach me to make her family tomato sauce.

"Be careful!" She exclaims as I accidentally flick the sauce out the pan.

"Jane should really come with a safety warning." Luke chuckles. I turn to see him standing against the door frame, sunglasses on even though it's December.

"When did you get here?" Liz asks.

"Just now." Luke replies. "Mom, I think we and Jane can make dinner on our own."

Liz, clearly seeing that Luke wanted some alone time with me, smiles and goes upstairs.

Luke comes and hugs me from behind. "I need to talk to you later." He says quietly into my ear.

"Why not now?" I ask.

"It can wait." he smiles. "What're you making anyway?"

"Pasta sauce." I reply, wiping some of the contents of the pan onto his nose.

He wipes the sauce off his nose before tasting it. "Tastes good."

"Liz did most of it." I admit.

"Do your remember that time we tried to make cookies?"

"Yeah." I chuckle. "Didn't get much cooking done though."

"No, it was a great day anyway."

"I like those days, not set up to be romantic. Not in a fancy restaurant, or a gorgeous beach, just us in an everyday place. They're my favorite days." I agree.

"Luke," Liz interrupts. "Can you start cooking the pasta, please?"

-

It wasn't until I was almost asleep that England was brought up. "Jane, I made up my mind about England." Luke says out if the blue. "I'm gonna go."

"When are you leaving?" I ask, coming to the realization I wouldn't have Luke for a while.

"Beginning of January. But that means we can have Christmas and New Years together."

Tears slowly begin to well up in my eyes. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you more." He says, placing a delicate kiss on my forehead. "But I'll be back in March, just in time for your birthday."

"And I'll call." He continues. "Everyday, every morning and night. We can FaceTime, we can text, I might not be here physically, but I'll always be here to talk to."

"It's only two months, it'll be over before we know it." I say knowing that, in reality, it'll feel much longer.