KNOCK OUT [LH]

Chapter 15: Change of Plans

Ever witness the boxer you're trying to seduce and fall in love with fanfic style kiss someone else?

Yeah... this is definitely a first for me.

Which may explain why, as I watched the pair pull away from each other with shameless smirks on their faces, I felt absolutely nothing, yet everything at the same time. It was like my brain couldn't process what I'd just seen and an explosive mixture of shock, betrayal, disappointment, jealousy, confusion, and funny enough, happiness all hitting me at once like a freight train, was the result.

In the end, my body's inability to pick and stick to one emotion left me feeling numb.

Maybe I was about to pass out...

"Winnie! Hey!" Michael suddenly popped up beside me, I had been too caught up with Luke and Stephanie's movie worthy snog to notice him wander over, as my feet remained rooted to the floor in the middle of the living room where everyone else embraced each other, wishing Happy New Year.

"You look like a deer in headlights just standing here." Michael chuckled lightly, wrapping a friendly arm around my shoulder as he directed us toward Luke, Stephanie, and Ashton. "Where's Calum?"

Snapped back to reality by his question, I blink a few times and shake my head lightly to refocus."He's-uh-with your dogs." I answer.

Calum's adamancy about not going through with the kiss all made sense now. He must have caught on to something between the pair before I came sprinting down the stairs, and as a way to possibly spare my feelings, didn't want to break the news in such an overwhelming and public setting.

For once I wish I'd listened to my best friend.

Michael simply nods in reply as we step up to the small group, who are engaged in a lively conversation, the excitement from the New Year lightly buzzing around them. Ashton is the first to notice me.

Our eyes meet for a mere second, an apologetic look in his kind hazel eyes, before he averts his gaze, giving me a reason to believe he knew about my plan to kiss Luke at midnight. Maybe he even knew about the entire project. I honestly wouldn't put it past him, since I get the vibe that Ashton Irwin seems to know everything and anything.

Awkwardly shifting my gaze over to Luke, who still has his arm draped around Stephanie, a wave of pure embarrassment washes over me, as I now realize how dumb I must have looked running around the house like a complete madwoman on an already busted mission.

"Oh, Winifred." Luke seems surprised by my presence as he turns to me, smiling, before reaching out a hand to clasp my shoulder, giving it a friendly shake. "Happy New Year, kid."

Shoving the overwhelming mixture of emotions swarming throughout my body deep down into the darkest pits of my stomach, I return a brave smile,  sending him a finger snap. "Happy New Year, Luke."

I can't keep my eyes from darting between the boxer and the waitress, as I still try to make sense of tonight's loss, subconsciously fiddling with the silver sequins on the sides of my pants.

"Hey, are you alright?" Luke asks leaning toward me a bit, genuine concern crossing his features as he furrows his brow. "You look a little pale."

"No, no, I'm good. Perfect even. Just peachy. I am, a-okay." I awkwardly flash him the 'ok' sign and he nods slowly, seeming to be entirely unconvinced, but he doesn't dwell on it, and I'm mildly relieved when he changes the subject.

"You remember Stephanie, right? From the diner?" The boxer asks, pulling the woman impossibly deeper into his side as he gestures to her with a tip of his head and a cheeky smirk, probably remembering the time she gave him her number.