The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 12- The Battle of the Swings

As I stroll over to the boys, a plan forms in my brain. It's not that I think that Luke really cares about me. Obviously he doesn't. But Ashton's words from earlier keep playing in my head—the ones about it driving Luke crazy that I'm not fawning all over him, but giving that affection to someone else. Clearly that someone else isn't really my brother, but who's to say it can't be someone right in front of his face?

I stop in front of the boys and link my arm with Calum's. It's something we've done all day long, so I know he's not going to think anything of it. I notice Ashton glance over my head and frown. Luke must be coming up behind me.

Sure enough, the jerk pulls up right beside me. I noticeably move away from him and closer into Calum's side, causing Ashton's eyebrows to furrow when he looks at me. I just give him my wide-eyed, innocent expression.

"So where to next? The night is young," Michael says as we leave the pier, headed for a small parking lot where Ashton's car is waiting.

"Why don't we show her our park?" Calum suggests, walking arm and arm with me. The rest of the boys shrug their agreement. "It's where we used to always hang out when we were in school."

"Shotgun!" Michael yells, running straight for the passenger door.

Calum chuckles and pulls me along. "That means you're in the middle, Stephanie. Luke and I can't fit."

Luke makes a groaning noise behind us, which I ignore. I follow Calum to the driver's side where he motions me in first. When I slide in, I find Luke already in place. I do my best not to come close to him, but when Calum plops down, he jostles me over. Luke and I end up bumping thighs like on the plane, only this time, he doesn't laugh.

As I pull my seatbelt over to buckle, my hand comes in contact with someone else's.

"Oh, for crying out loud," I mumble, pulling back as quickly as possible.

"If you wanted to hold my hand again, all you had to do was ask," Luke snipes, whispering in my ear so that no one else hears.

In response, I press up against Calum, but there's really no escaping Luke in this backseat. Even sitting flush against Calum's side, my arm and shoulder are still pressed against Luke's. In fact, our shoulders don't really seem to fit back here at all. On every turn, either someone's shoulder or elbow digs into someone else. And since I'm the one in the middle, that someone else is usually me.

I also don't think I can take another moment of this awkward, I hate you, but I can't get away from you stuff with Luke. I grab Calum's arm and lift it over my head and across my shoulders. He grins and allows me to snuggle closer.

"That is definitely more comfortable," he says, tapping lightly on my arm where his hand rests.

In the rearview mirror, Ashton makes eye contact with me. When our eyes meet, he raises his eyebrows. I do the same in response.

The rest of the car ride, I manage not to come in contact with Luke again. I even go so far as to wrap my arm around Calum's waist on turns that would typically lean me towards Luke, making sure I don't slide to his side of the car.

When we get out, the boys race off to get a swing since there are only two, but Ashton grabs my arm before I can follow.

"What was that about?" he asks.

"What?"

He stares at me. "You know what."

"I don't."

"All that with Calum. I thought you liked Luke?"

"When did I ever tell you I liked Luke?" I say, raising an eyebrow.