disconnected // l.h

[two]

I didn't talk much as I chewed on my hamburger, watching in awe as Calum laughed along with his friends. I dragged a french fry across a pile of ketchup on my plate, listening to them reminisce. Truth is, I didn't know what I could say; the boys were hilarious. I couldn't get a word in without laughing until my stomach hurt.

Luke, however, was quiet as a mouse. He'd chuckle at his friends, but then continue scrolling his phone. When he looked up from his food, I gave him a small smile, which he returned, but didn't say a word.

"So, Leena," Michael asked, putting his chin in his hands, "you're in uni with Calum?"

I nod, finishing off my plate, "Yeah. Different university, though." I took a sip of my drink, looking around. The restaurant was near empty and I could feel the glares of the waitresses behind the counter. "How'd you guys meet? School?"

Michael nodded, "We all did. Seems as though you know him better than we do now." I smile, looking over at Calum, who was arguing with Ashton about something completely irrelevant.

"I wouldn't say that," I shifted and looked up notice Luke watching me as a talked, "You guys just have a lot of catching up to do, I suppose."

Luke smiles, "You might just be as cool as we are, Leena. Don't get your hopes up, though." Oh, so he does speak.

"And, why not?" I asked, setting my forearms on the table.

"Because our waitress just might have you beat." He turns his head, licking his lips. Flustered, I follow his gaze to our server, who was bring an extra platter of french fries over to our booth. When she reached, he gingerly grabbed the plate from her hands and smiled up at her, muttering a thank you in response.

The waitress giggled and I rolled my eyes as she left, "I'll have you know," The boy looks up at me with a mouthful of french fries, "I am a master at cooking popcorn without burning a single kernel."

"Impressive." Luke says, taking a sip from his water. "But we'll see." Rolling my eyes once more, I reach over and steal a fry from him, which he tries to block, but I win anyways. "Hey!"

"Sharing is caring, blondie." I smirk, and he squints his eyes at my impromptu nickname. "Nicknames are my strong suit, by the way. And, you, my friend, have just earned one."

"Alright, Lean bean." He smiles, sickly, shoving three more fries into his mouth.

My mouth drops open, "Lean bean? Pitiful."

"It's clever." Luke hands me another french fry, which I take, reluctantly.

Before I could spit out another comeback, Michael interrupts us, "You two are ridiculous."

"No, they're obnoxious." Calum laughed, stealing yet another fry from Luke's platter.

"You're obnoxious!" Luke and I said, simultaneously, glaring daggers at Calum.

Ashton laughed, sitting back in his seat next to Luke, "See, I told you they'd get along." I shook my head, but the boys didn't pay it much attention. Calum called for the bill, which caused a riot among the boys of who was going to pay.

When the server placed the black holder on the table, the arguing only increased. Rolling my eyes, I carefully slid it to my side of the booth and opened my wallet. Before I could reach for the money, a foot kicked my shin from underneath the table and I let out a small yelp before the holder was snatched from my hands.

I rubbed my shin for a moment before looking up to see Luke signing the reciept. "Blondie!" I whisper, loudly. He doesn't look up as he closes the booklet, waving his hand in the air to call attention to the server.

In that time, the boys realized the absence of the check and scrambled, attempting to snatch it from his grasp, and ultimately failing considering his six foot four stature.

Luke handed the waitress the check as she approached and he smiled as she took it from him, dimples and all. I couldn't help but stare. Jesus.

"Ass." Ashton muttered, to which Luke stuck out his tongue.

"Nice, blondie." I laugh, "I appreciate the strategy."

Luke leans over the table, "What can I do for you to stop calling me blondie?"

I shrug, "Hmm. . . dye your hair purple and then we'll talk." The boy rolls his eyes at me and leans back in his seat. He takes out his phone and angles the camera at me, but before I could lift my hand, the flash sets off and a tell-tale click sounds.

I blink the blue spots out of vision, "What was that for?" I rub my eyes, making sure to avoid smearing the mascara I had put on hours ago.

Luke looked down at his phone, "I like taking pictures of fascinating things." He tilts the screen up towards me, showing me a candid snapshot of me staring at the camera, wide eyed and surprised. It was the epitome of embarrassment. "And, you, Lean bean, are fascinating."

"Oh, God." I put my face in my hands, "Retake?" I shift my fingers so that I could see the slither of a smirk on his face from behind my hands.

"Nope," He shuts off his phone and slides it into his pocket, receiving a death glare from yours truly.

"You guys coming?" Calum asks, shrugging on his coat. The other three boys had already gotten up from their seats while Luke was taking his "fascination photo shoot". God, was this boy even real? I took a deep breath, sliding out of the booth, and Luke followed suit.

We gave the staff members award-winning smiles as we exited the restaurant. The cold autumn air stung my skin underneath my leather jacket, and I shivered. As a response, Calum draped his arm around my shoulders, as always, and all five of us walked down the street.

Luke and Michael chatted along, while Ashton, Calum, and I traded jokes. "What do you call a funny person from New Mexico?" I asked, stifling a chuckle.

Calum sighed, "Jesus, not this one, again."

"Shh, don't ruin it." I hit him in the arm and the dark haired boy yelped. Ashton leaned forward in anticipation as I told him the punchline, "Albuquirkque."

Ashton burst with giggles, and I laughed along with him, pressing a finger into Calum's side, "See, I am hilarious."

"They're only laughing to be nice!" Calum shrugs and I shove him in response.

After the five of us walked together for a few blocks, Michael, Luke, and Ashton left us to walk in the directiong of the subway. Before then, we'd exchanged numbers and each contact name had more emojis and letters than needed.

When we finished saying our goodbyes and we parted in different directions, Calum put his arm on my shoulder, "So, I see you've gotten on with Luke."

"No," I argue, "Shut up. Did not."

Calum rolls his eyes, "Whatever, Lean bean."

"I will honestly throw you into traffic, Hood."

"Bring it on." Calum said, lifting his arm from my shoulder and putting both fists in front of his face, resembling a fighting position he'd seen in one of the million movies we've watched together.

I pushed his hands away from his face and pinched his cheek, "Aw, how sweet." He swatted my hand away and I laughed, "But, anyways, I like your friends."

"That's what I was hoping for." Calum says before pulling me across the road, just in time to catch the bus stopping at the corner.

He grabbed a hold of my hand and pulled me in, leaving the sounds of traffic and car horns to blend together behind us.