Let Go

Chapter 26

The next week was perhaps, the easiest week of my life.

Perhaps it was because I had finally visited my best friend. Perhaps it was because I wasn't living with the guilt of being the only one who knew why. Perhaps it was because everything was fixed with Luke.

So I sighed happily as I exited the school on Friday with Jared. He was giving me a lift because Luke had to stay after for practice.

"I feel like we haven't talked in ages." Jared comments as we get inside his car.

"Probably because we haven't." I point out, earning an eye roll. "You can come over for a bit and we can catch up." I offer.

"Alright, but I can't stay too long because I have a shit load of homework." He tells me.

"Okay." I say, flipping indecisively through the radio stations. As we pull up to my house, I fish my key out of my pocket and open the door.

"Do you want a drink?" I ask.

"I'll just take some water." He says. I nod, grabbing two water bottles and tossing him one. Then we settle down on the couch and proceed to update one another on each other's life.

I like Jared because I always liked how easy it was to talk to him. How easy it was to open up to him, and trust him. It was easy to be myself around him, and it was easy to laugh around him. I definitely valued Jared's friendship more than others, because I feel like he understood me better than other people. He empathized with me instead of sympathizing with me.

And two hours later, I was reluctant to wave goodbye to him as he drove down the street, because perhaps Jared was the most pleasant guy I've ever met.

Quickly after I shut the door my phone begins to ring from where I left it on the couch.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Hey." His voice sounds rich as it comes through the phone.

"How was practice?" I ask, and I can't help the small butterflies I feel in my stomach. I always feel them when I talk to Luke, or when I'm with him. I guess I just get used to them.

"It was good. I'm gonna go home and shower, but I was wondering if you wanted to do something tonight?" He asks.

"Sure." I shrug.

"Alright. I'll be over in a bit."

"Okay. I'll see you then."

"I love you." He tells me.

"I love you too." I tell him.

~

Roughly one hour later I hear the doorbell ring, so I close my textbook, set down my pencil, straighten out my clothes and make my way downstairs.

I open my mouth to greet Luke, but the words never make it out, because in front of me Luke Obenham is standing in a black tuxedo with a dozen red roses.

"Hi." I squeak out after a minute or so.

A smile grows onto his face. A genuine one that shows off his dimples and makes me feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world. "Abigail Lawrence a while back I asked a really pretty girl if she would go to anti homecoming with me, but then I messed up really badly, and it never happened." He pauses for a moment, "So I was wondering if you just so happened to have a nice dress and some nice jewelry and some nice heels and a free night and would like to accompany me to the anti homecoming dance tonight." He explains.

"Luke," I start, a smile twitching at the end of my lips.

"And I really would like to make it up to that pretty girl." He smiles.