redamancy // l.h au

eighteen

"This is a terrible idea." I whispered to myself as I closed the taxi cab door. I reached over, handing the cabbie a twenty dollar bill, before he sped off, leaving me on an abandoned, wet pavement. 

The all-too-familiar "Cinaplex" sign buzzed up in front of me. I crossed my arms over my chest and walked closer to the doors. The lights in the foyer were completely dark, but I swear I saw a faint light coming from one of the cinema doors. 

I pushed open the door, surprised that it wasn't locked. I walked in pitch darkness to the light, whispering, loudly, "Luke? Are you there?" 

No response. Reluctantly, I pushed open the cinema doors. 

The lanterns on the sides of the movie theater were glowing with an orange light that I hadn't seen before. The screen was a blank white, though the projector sent off a soft hum.  I saw his blonde hair first - shimmering underneath the lights.  His sat, slumped over, in the first chair of the very first row. 

"Luke?" I say, this time louder. He turns his head, seeing me. The boy shifts in his seat as I reach him. I'm standing across from him now as he looked up at me. I couldn't read his expression; neither of us knew what to say. 

He spoke first. "Rhea," His eyes were bloodshot, as if he'd been crying. His voice wasn't slurred, but I couldn't tell for sure if he'd sobered up. "I didn't think you'd - " 

"I thought you were drunk." I say, firmly. "I came to - help, to help you." 

Luke stands. I suck in a breath, taking him in. He wore a black muscle tee shirt and his favorite black ripped skinny jeans. His face, however, looked awful. He was still beautiful, but the dark shadows underneath his eyes and crimson tint on his neck and cheeks sent shivers down my spine. 

"I'm, uh-" The boy swayed, and instinctively, I reached out to grab him. My hands went on his shoulders while his hands went on my upperarms. I steadied him as he continued, "Tipsy." 

"I can tell," I bite my lip, letting Luke go. "What was it? A party, or something?" 

Luke shurgged, sloppily, sitting back down, but this time on the floor in front of the seat. Rolling my eyes, I followed suit. He tangled his fingers together as he spoke, "The guys took me to this party. Distraction and shit. Didn't go well." Luke turned grabbing a bottle he'd placed underneath the seat. He brought the beer bottle to his lips and finished it off before I could stop him. 

"Sorry," He slurred, once again. "I called you. Sorry." 

I ignore him. "Where are all the guys? They let you leave?" He shrugs then. which renders him useless. I sigh, pulling out my phone from my pocket and dialing Michael's cellphone. 

His picks up on the fourth ring. "Helll-oo?" Ugh. Great. Tipsy.

"Mikey?"

"Rheaaa! Whatchu' callin' for?" He laughs. The noise in the background drowns out some of his voice. 

"I have Luke here with me. I'm taking him home, okay?"

"What-no. Luke's here with-" Michael stops, abruptly. "Damn it. Ash was suppose to keep watch of him." 

"Why?" I asked, quickly, but changed my mind. "Nevermind, explain later. He called me, so I'm taking him home. I'll check back in later." I hang up after he agrees. a little baffled. 

I slid the phone back into my pocket and look up, only to see Luke staring at me. "What?' 

"Nothing." He snaps his gaze away, looking down at his hands. "I just . . . miss you." 

I take in a shaky breath, "Luke, please-" 

He scoots closer to me, cutting me off. "No, Rhea. Listen." I shake my head, standing up from my position on the ground. Luke follows suit. "It's been hell for me, alright? I can't be without -" 

"I can't do this right now, Luke. I just need to get you home." I grab his arm to pull him along, but he shakes me off. "Please-" 

"Look, I know you haven't missed me, or probably even cared at all, but, Rhea, I-" 

"Are you kidding me?" I burst, crossing my arms  across my chest. "Luke, if I didn't care, would I have come here? For you? It's two in the morning!" He's taken aback, but I don't stop. I step closer, my anger rising in every step. "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad that I can't be mad at you, for god's sake! Let's not forget who made the mistakes here, Luke." 

"Why am I here, honestly? I don't know. I really don't." I continue. "So, whatever it is you want to say to me, talk to me when you're in your right mind." 

He stays silent and nods. I turn on my heel, "Come on." I walk out of the theater, not even bothering to check if Luke was behind me. From the slows steps I head, I knew he was. 

                                                ______________________________

The cab ride was silent. Luke payed for it without a word, and I had no time to argue before he jumped out of the car. 

We rode the elevator to his apartment, our arms nearly touching, and my heading pounding. I hadn't been here since. . . .

I pushed the memory out of my head as we reached his floor. We walked to his apartment door and he put the key in, turning the lock and opening it. He let me inside first before locking the door behind him. 

The apartment was the same as the last time I'd come; minus the people and streamers. My back is turned to Luke when he speaks for the first time. "I miss you, Rhea." 

Shutting my eyes, I didn't respond. He continued, "I called you because I wanted to hear your--your voice. I don't know what it is and I know you don't want to hear this from me right now, but I don't know what else to say to you other than I'm sorry." 

"I'm so sorry. God, you don't know the half of it." Somehow, I knew he was pulling at his hair, tbe way he always did when he was frustrated. 

Slowly, I turned around, staring at my shoes. "Well, it hasn't been rainbows and daisies for me, either."  I laughed, weakily. "I'm not sure what to say."

Luke shakes his head, "You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know." I took a step closer to him, and without thinking, I was on my tip toes. My arms wrapped around his figure and I hugged him tight. Without hesitation, the boy hugged me back, clutching me like I was fine china. 

"I missed you, too." I whispered, softly, into his shirt. I'm not sure if he heard me, but he hugged tighter and my heart beat faster. "I missed our friendship." I blurted. Luke went stiff for a moment, but recovered a few seconds after. God, sure I missed our friendship, but I missed him. Him. Him. Him.