Pick Me - Luke Patterson x Reader

Pick Me

Ever since Julie introduced her to the boys, Y/N has been hanging out at her cousin's house more often to watch them play together.

"You know you don't have to come to every rehearsal?" Julie said, nudging her shoulder as they walked inside.

"Jules you guys are amazing, I love to watch you perform. I haven't seen you this happy in a while."

She put a hand on her cousin's shoulder and Julie rolled her eyes up at her, moving the older girl's arm back down her side. She looked past her cousin, a knowing grin spread across her face.

"Hey," a voice crept up from behind her, causing her to jump. She turned to see Luke smiling back at her with his guitar slung around his shoulders.

"Hey, you!" She mirrored his expression, following him into the studio. She found a place to sit to pull out her laptop and do some work as he tuned his guitar in front of her.

Julie sat down next to her cousin, moving to whisper in her ear. "Yeah, you're here for me....right." Y/N shoved her shoulder back, giggling.

Luke met her eyes with a questioning gaze but she just shook her head at him. Her phone vibrated, she pulled it out and smiled at the message she received.

Logan M: "Hey you :) I wanted to see what you're up to tonight?"

"Oooh is that Logannn?!" Alex pondered, walking toward the trio. She tried to hide her growing red cheeks, but Alex met her gaze and smiled even wider.

"I knew it!" He said, spinning his drumstick in his hand.

She tried to ignore Luke's strong hold his eyes held on her as Julie and Alex joined each other in a combined "oooooh" taunting her with their shared glances and smiles. Luke started freestyling on his instrument and walked away from them all. As he approached the mic, his voice cut through the conversation.

"Are we ready to practice?" She wasn't used to this curt tone that appeared in his voice. She furrowed her brows at him but he refused to meet her eyes. Julie tapped her knee, giving her a sympathetic look before getting up. Alex moved back to his drum set, smirk still stuck to his cheeks.

She watched them rehearse, as usual, taking breaks from retyping her lecture notes to watch her favorite parts of their songs. She particularly loved Luke's solo in their song "Bright." His vocals were so smooth, and his emotions really shone through his writing. As she heard the familiar chords her eyes met his, but instead of the usual smile he shot her way, the boy diverted his gaze to Julie, singing to her.

She didn't think much of it, Julie and Luke had undeniable stage presence and their voices blended so well together. She continued to listen to the song, moving back to her homework.

As the band finished practicing, she felt someone sit down next to her. She turned to see Julie staring at her with wide eyes. Y/N giggled, unable to look directly at her cousin's harsh gaze.

"What?"

Julie rose both of her eyebrows, continuing to stare at her. She got anxious from the lack of context, grabbing the younger girl's hands. "Jules what? Why are you grilling me with your eyes?"

Her cousin laughed "You really fired Luke up today, what is going on between you two?"

She pulled their hands apart and looked at her cousin confused. "What are you talking about? Nothing is going on between us?"

"Apparently not," A third voice chirped into the conversation. She looked up to see Luke wiping his brow down with the end of his shirt. Her eyes shot from the sudden skin she saw at his toned abdomen back to his scowling face. He walked away from the girls in a huff, walking outside of the garage.

"I'm getting some air."

"You are air," Alex joked, and Luke waved him off before disappearing outside the door.

Julie looked at her again and Y/N was at a loss. She ran a hand through her hair, chewing on her bottom lip. What was up with him today? Their banter was always full of playful bickering, but he was definitely more angry than she'd ever seen previously.

"You should go talk to him," Julie said, placing a hand on top of her cousin's. She looked at her and nodded, getting up from the couch and walking outside.

She saw him sitting at the back staircase of Julie's house and shoved her hands into her pockets before walking over. She leaned on the nearby railing as she looked over at him. He hand his hands over his face, elbows resting on his knees. She coughed awkwardly to break the silence over them.

"Oh, Y/N, hey."

He looked at her for a slight moment before returning his focus straight in front of him. She let the quiet linger for a moment before she started to speak again.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

His face scrunched, his cheeks turning a bit red "I don't know what you're talking about?"

She scoffed, her eyes burning into the side of his face "Luke, you've been avoiding me all afternoon," She moved to sit next to him on the stairs and he shifted a bit to make room for her. "You're never this on edge with me, I thought we were cool."

"Y/N, I-"

She interrupted him "You can tell me if I did something to upset you, you know that right?"

He finally gave in and met her eyes. His demeanor had softened as he searched her concerned face. He took a deep breath, rubbing his neck in discomfort before responding to her. His eyes set at the clouds above them.

"I don't like Logan."

She pursed her lips together, a confused look taking over her face. She waited for him to continue.

"I know I don't know him, but I don't like that you like him...if that makes sense, I don't know."

She let a little smile fall onto her face as she reached out to touch his hand. His eyes immediately met hers at the feel of her touch. His wide eyes calmed after he took in her reaction.

"Luke..."

"I know it's stupid, I'm a ghost and you're a lifer and I should give you a chance to be with someone who can actually be there for you, but I....I just can't shake the feelings I have for you, Y/N"

The grin across her face took over as she leaned closer to him. His cheeks flushed as his eyes darted from her lips back up to her eyes and back and forth.

"Then do something about it?"

He chuckled at her, reaching out to cradle her cheek in his hand before pulling her lips toward his. She fell into his touch, letting his hand wander to her neck as they kissed. When they pulled apart, she bit her bottom lip, moving to wrap her arms around his neck.