More Than // Luke Hemmings

Chapter 7

"Well what are you gonna do?" Shane asked me while biting a French fry. Thank goodness we figured out we had the same lunch, I was tired of eating by myself.

I open a bag of Cheetos, "It would just be plain rude if I didn't tutor him. He needs help! He may even want it."

He rose his eyebrows, "That's not all he wants." And points at me.

I roll my eyes, "What are you saying?" Before Shane could answer his eyes got big and face got red. I got confused and turned around seeing Luke tower over my sitting body. He smiled and I just looked at him, ooh he was looking nice.

"So are we doing that tutor thing or not?" He said and patted my small shoulder.

"I mean- I," I was lost for words and I turned to look at Shane, he was just staring at his hamburger. "Yeah." I flatly answered him. He quickly pumped his fist for happiness? Who knows.

"Ok meet me in the library after school." He pointed at me and winked then walked off slowly joining the rest of his friends.

"He wants you." Shane said without making eye contact. I threw a cheeto at him, "Hey!" He laughed and picked it out of his hair.

"He doesn't want me. He has Chelsea." I say and munch on my food.

"That's what you think." Shane finished the conversation and quite frankly, I was confused.

•••••

Before I walked into the library I was just confused, 'why did Luke what me to tutor him so bad, no way it was because he wanted good grades.'

When I signed in and tried to find my way around this confusing library I saw Luke sitting at a round table not by himself. Another boy was with him, "What?" I strained, I didn't want to have to tutor two of them. When I made my way over the boy who was with him stood up.

"Hey!" Luke said and the other boy smiled. He had curly hair and deep dimples.

"Hi I'm Ashton!" He said and stuck his hand out. I shook it quickly, he seemed sweeter than Luke.

"I'm Christine."

Ashton giggled a little, "Oh I'm aware of who you are. And yeah great to meet you too!" He came closer to me and as he started walking away he whispered in my ear, "Teach him good. He needs it!" And ended it with a cute chuckle.

I sat across from Luke and said, "He seemed nice!"

Luke sat up, "Oh yeah, Ashton is one of my best mates." Scratching his forehead he said, "Let's just get this over with."

I realized that I have never tutored someone and I really wasn't sure what the heck I was supposed to be doing.

I took out a notebook, "Well first just tell me the stuff you need help with, ya know, the specifics."

He sat quietly like he was thinking and he took a breath, "Uhm let's see... Everything." He smirked.

"Are you kidding?" I already felt stress.

Luke stretched out a bit, "Oh cmon Chris, it's not like you actually planned on tutoring me right?" I scoffed, first of all because he called me 'Chris' no one but my mom and Jake can do that.

"Yeah I'm gonna help you, jeez you need it. And yeah, don't call me Chris either." He smiled so one of his dimples shows up.

Luke cocked his head, "Well aren't you just a firecracker today?"

I scootched my chair out, "I think before we do this I should talk to Mr. Miller more about the curriculum." I really did need to do that to give Luke the best help I could.

Luke grabbed my arm, "Wait! Don't go." He kind of whined which made me uncomfortable. "Why don't we get some milkshakes or something? Don't you think we ought to get to know each other more instead of these short awkward meetings we keep having?" He was right but I wasn't in the mood for his small talk and smooth accent. He stood up, "Please." I wasn't sure what to do, maybe I should go.

"Ok just for a little bit, I will follow you there so I can head home right after."

He lead me out of the library , "Great! Sounds good. Meet you at steak'n shake?"

I tried to smile, "Yeah."

•••••

When we walked into steak'n shake, I immediately wanted to leave. I saw Chelsea and some of her 'followers', other girls like her. They were all on their phones and fake laughing and trying to look pretty. I pointed to the door, "Hey why don't we go some where else?"

As I started walking to the door Luke engulfed me, "Nope, let's stay." He said as I saw him for sure make eye contact with his girlfriend. As we were seated i thought 'what the heck is going on?' As Luke kept staring towards Chelsea's way. He was acting so strange. Every once in a while he would smile very big at me and grab my hand. I'm not going to lie, it felt wonderful. But with Chelsea sitting tables away from us, I felt extremely awkward.

He leaned forward, very close to my face, "Just play along, ok?" He whispered. I became still and angry. My face got super red and hot. I turned around and saw jealousy plastered on Chelsea's plastic face.

I hopped up in pure anger, "Are you kidding me?" I yelled at him and slammed my hands on the table, ow that hurt.

He shook his head slowly, "Christine what the he-"

I threw my hands in the air then got close to his face and said in a normal tone, "Believe me Luke Hemmings, I know why you brought me here. And I am not going to fill in the spot of making your issues boil up or go away with your freaking girlfriend! I'm not that girl. Never will be!" I finished and walked away.

Leaving him sitting in the booth all by himself. I sit in my car and fume, 'I knew all of that was too good to be true.' I wiped the sweat of my brow and drove home. I don't even care about him anymore.