[a/n: double update. the next chapter is published as well because i won't be able to update for the next few days]

//

LUKE.

You know that weird feeling in the pit of your stomach when the people around you are whispering God knows what, but you got that gut feeling they're all talking about you? You know that churning, acidic sensation when you feel so isolated in a hallway that's brimming with people? Well that, was exactly how I was feeling as I strolled to my locker on that seemingly normal school morning.

It was slow motion, kind of like a movie, the way I sauntered down the hallway, scanning my eyes left to right, noticing my peers whisper to each other as I passed. It didn't resonate with me at first, but when I caught glimpse of a peculiar piece of paper on the floor, I knew something was off. However, it wasn't just any random, glossy sheet of paper.

It was a photograph.

Slicked back hair, buck teeth in braces, acne, and a sweater vest, the old Luke Hemmings gazed up at me like a slap to the face. I bent down, picking up the photograph and examining it as if the replica didn't exist; as if the same exact photo wasn't framed on the wall next to the staircase at home. I ripped up the picture in my hands, crumpling it up before I continued my trek through the hall. As I dumped the photo into the bin, that's when I noticed them.

Photographs.

Hundreds of them and all identical to the one freshly ripped. They hung on the walls, they littered the floor, they were in the hands of cackling classmates-- they were everywhere. I wanted to pretend like everything was okay and that it didn't bother me, but it was far from the truth. I was embarrassed and pissed off and I wanted to disappear on the spot.

"Freak,"

"Asshat,"

"Bitch wipe,"

I walked faster and faster down the hall, attempting to barricade the comments that were rapidly hurling towards me like bullets to the chest. But the more I tried to ignore it all, the more their voices became colossal to the point that it was all I could hear. My power walk turned into a run, trying to escape but before I knew it I was enclosed by snickering with nowhere to go.

"No wonder you were so inclined to befriend Ari and her assfuck punk minions," Jake snickered, draping an arm around me as I unconsciously clenched my fists. "You Hemmings, are a loser and you fit right in with their crew."

"You're a cum guzzling thundercùnt Hansen!" I shoved Jake away from me, glaring at him with so much fury. "Will you stop fùcking with me?! You trash my house, mess with my mum's car and for what? Because I didn't want to be one of your Hollister robots? You're pathetic and a pain in my ass!"

"Firstly, I admit to trashing your shithole of a house and second, I did not fùck with your mom's stupid car. Third, I'm a pain in your ass?" Jake let out an exaggerated chuckle before shooting me a smug, tight-lipped smile. At this point the majority of the school surrounded us, pulling out their phones in our direction. "You've got it all wrong Hemmings."

"Oh do I? Well enlighten me then dickbag and tell me why I'm wrong because I've got an idle car in my garage that tells me otherwise!"

"Because I'm pretty sure your new punkass friends have butt fùcked you just fine, not me. Fàg!"

I hated Jake-- hands down. I couldn't believe that I was actually friends with the douchebag and it pissed me off that I couldn't take back the year and a half I've spent wasting my time with an asshole like him, like Katie and everyone else in the popular crew. Jake made me feel like sticking my head in a microwave half the time and the other half I wanted to throw him into oncoming traffic.

Jake gave me a satisfied smirk, his arms crossed above his chest as the entire hallway and his stupid cronies laughed with him. Several ohhhs escaped the lips of the students that crowded around us and I knew evidence of the entire altercation would end up on social media feeds across the spectrum. Just as Jake turned on his heel to be escorted out of this confrontation by the rest of the popular crowd, he turned back around. He looked me straight in the eye, a demonic vendetta diffusing from within him and sneered,

"For what it's worth, I wish I had fùcked with your mom's car. Because then homicide would give her a chance to get away from her mistake of a son."

Bitch.

My fist collided with Jake's nose so fast that he didn't have time to react. His body catapulted backwards, plummeting into a group of people behind him. He looked up at me with anger in his eyes and blood dripping from his broken nose while I stared back with satisfaction on my face.

"That was for my mum dickhead!" I spat. I curtly turned on my heel, ready to leave this hell hole and drive back home. But before I could even take one step forward, my entire body was throttled into the lockers, my back hitting the metal combination locks with a bang.

I winced in pain, slowly opening my eyes as I fell to the linoleum floor. At first I thought I'd see Jake hovering above me but of course he couldn't fight his own battles-- probably too scared he'd break a nail. Instead, three huge football players towered over me with devilish grins. One picked me up before throwing me back onto the ground while another one kicked me in the ribs. I didn't even have a chance to defend myself; it was three against one. As I laid facedown on the ground and tried to endure the monstrous pain from being kicked and punched, I heard voices through the howling of the crowd.

"What's going on?"

"Who's fighting?"

"Oh my God! Luke!"

My vision was becoming blurry by the second, my eyes slowly closing. However, before they completely shut, I saw three pairs of legs run towards me.

"Stop hurting him!" A plea rang in my ears from a strained and familiar voice. Suddenly, I felt someone lie on top of my back, thick hair billowing all around my face as warm breaths tickled my neck.

"It's okay. I got you Luke. I'm here now," it was Ari and I couldn't be anymore thankful.

"Ow," a cringe laced with pain filtered into my right ear from Ari and I finally realized what was going on. She was using herself as a barricade against all the blows; her tiny body acting as a bullet proof vest from the assholes who were beating me up.

I wanted so bad to push Ari away. To yell at her for even considering that she'd put herself in jeopardy for me. I don't know what the hell was going on in her head because now she was getting kicked and punched instead of me. Hearing her wince in pain was hurting me more than getting clobbered. But as much as I wanted to tell her to go away, my body was weakening faster than I could count to one. I felt the buffered blows of the football players lessen one by one, seeing fizzy shadows rumbling around me.

Then everything went black.

//

I've never had my head stomped on by an elephant before but that's exactly how it felt. My head was throbbing like a hammer to my skull; my chest felt like fire every time I took a breath in and my ribs felt like they could snap at any moment. When I finally gained enough strength to open my eyes, I was met with fluorescent lights and white walls.

"Luke?"

A head bobbed before me, gazing down at me with worrisome laced in her eyes but when I forced a half-hearted smile, a sigh of relief escaped her lips.

"Ari,"

"How are you feeling?" She asked me, taking a seat at the edge of the bed.

"Like I was thrown under a train," my voice cracked and a small smile formed on Ari's face. She grasped my hand in hers, giving it a light squeeze. "Where am I?"

"The hospital," Ari informed. "You blacked out and teachers called the ambulance. I was afraid that you'd have a concussion."

My eyes widened with concern and Ari sensed it.

"Don't worry," she smiled, "you don't have one. But one more blow to the head and you would've."

And that's when I noticed it. My eyes fully adjusted to the surroundings, taking in the brightness of the room with ease, and when my eyes landed on Ari's forehead, I gasped with worry.

"Your head, what the hell?" I pointed at the thick bandage placed on the right temple of her head and was reminded of Ari's act of being my personal shield. In addition to her head, her left arm was also bandaged and in a dark blue sling.

"Don't worry about it," she insisted. "I'm fine."

"You shouldn't have protected me like that," I told her, a slight edge to my tone. Call me crazy but I was a little mad at Ari. I was mad that she put herself in harm's way just to protect me and now she's hurt.

"Luke, I wasn't going to just stand there and watch you get hurt. I did the first thing that came to mind," she expressed. "And I'm fine. I got a blow to the head and a bruised arm muscle, no big deal."

"No big deal?!" I exclaimed, sitting up in my bed. Ari tried to push me back down onto my pillows but I refused. "No, are you stupid? Did that kick to the head mess you up? It is a big deal Ari!"

"I got an x-ray and there's no trauma whatsoever. No concussion, no internal bleeding. I got a few stitches and I'll have them out at the end of the week. And I can take off the sling in two days. It's fine, I'm fine," she pressed. She gave me a smile, trying to prove that she was indeed okay but I wasn't entirely convinced.

"What else happened besides you?" I asked.

"Calum and Ashton were able to fight off the douchebags who were beating you up. Cal has a bruised jaw and Ash has a scratch on the side of his face--"

"What?! Are--"

"They're fine!" Ari bellowed, cutting me off. This girl was stressing me out. "I promise you. Cal and Ash are actually very proud of their battle wounds-- check their Instagrams when you can, you'll get a laugh."

I didn't respond right away. I was too stunned and too speechless that everything I was feeling had no words that could do it justice. I was pissed off, I was blessed and also kinda hungry and I didn't know how my mind should think. I was angry because I hated the idea of my friends getting hurt for me. But I was blessed because I actually had friends who were willing to get hurt for me. The guys threw themselves into the battle field, fighting two to three while Ari jolted through flying punches to protect me. It was insane.

"You guys are fùcktards," I finally spoke up after a few minutes of silence.

"Excuse me?!" Ari's jaw dropped and I noticed her free arm twitch. I knew she had a yearning to smack me in the chest, which she did often, but because of the circumstances, she held back.

"I'm sorry, but it's true," I declared. "I can't believe you guys would get hurt for me. You should've just left me alone. I'm nothing special anyway-- just a stupid nerd."

"And I'm a fùcktard? Luke if anyone is a fùcktard, it's definitely you," Ari actually let out a giggle, and though it was hard to breathe, her laughter was like a breath of fresh air. "First of all, you're special to me and you aren't a stupid nerd."

"You're just saying that," I protested, looking down to my hands with a pout. "I'm a loser."

As I fidgeted with my fingers, tracing lines across the plastic band that adorned my bruised wrists, Ari suddenly straddled my lap. One bent leg on either sides of my thighs, Ari delicately cupped my face with her supple hands and I looked up at her with surprised, wide eyes.

"Will you stop, please?" Ari croaked, gazing at me with ache painted on her face and I didn't understand why she looked so hurt. "Don't you ever put yourself down. You aren't a loser; you are my Lucas and when you belittle yourself it hurts me too."

"I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you," I breathed, placing my cold hands on top of hers. Ari rested her forehead against mine, breathing out as if to cease the tears that were brimming her waterline.

"Then don't put yourself down because you don't deserve it. Can't you see how awesome you are? That stupid picture means nothing but a glimpse of your past. All that matters is right now and the bright future ahead of us. So please, please, please, don't think of yourself as anything but amazing because you are Luke Hemmings and I adore you so much," Ari exhaled, a few tears trickling down her cheeks and damn did I feel horrible. She was hurt again and it was all my fault.

"Don't cry baby girl," I pleaded, my hushed voice carrying several notes of guilt.

I separated my forehead from hers, holding Ari's face in my hands as she dropped her hold from mine. I gazed at her tear streaked face, hit with a pang in my chest. I leaned into her, softly kissing the teardrop right below her eye. She closed them suddenly as I lingered my lips where her teardrop once was.

"I don't like seeing you cry," I whispered, lifting away from Ari's skin. I pressed my lips on another shiny bead on her cheek, "so I will do anything," then on the other cheek, "to make sure you don't shed," and then on her jawline, "another tear."

The salty taste of her despair glazed my chapped lip as I let out a sigh. I swiped the remaining tears with my thumbs as Ari's eyes fluttered open.

"Are you going to be okay now?" I softly asked her. She nodded her head without a word, letting out a puff of air.

"I'll be okay as long as you're going to be okay," she hinted, her eyes still red and her cheeks still bloated.

"With you around, I think I'll be just fine," I stated confidently. "And if I get some nuggets and ice cream in my stomach because I'm hungry."

"Alright fatty," Ari giggled, climbing off of my lap.

No, stay there.

"Excuse me, you eat just as much as I do," I pointed out, a little snark to my tone causing Ari to stick out her tongue. "Also thanks, to you and the guys. You're the bestest."

"No half-assed friendships, remember? We got your back. Ride or die. And you would've done the same for us," she predicted.

"Pshh, no wouldn't," I declared with pursed lips and sass dripping from my voice. Ari rolled her eyes before raising a brow-- she was not convinced.

"Okay, yes I would," I succumbed to her but I definitely wasn't lying. I'd make like Bruno Mars and catch a grenade for them. "Where was Michael in all of this?"

"He came to school late... again," Ari scoffed. It was predictable. Michael had been showing up to school late almost every single day for the last week. And when he wasn't late, he'd end up skipping right before lunch, which only added to my suspicions.

"Have you found anything out?" I asked her and Ari shook her head. "Do Calum and Ashton know anything?"

"They're just as clueless as we are. You don't really think he's up to something do you?"

"I don't like thinking about it, but it's a possibility,"

"There's Reese too," she pointed out. "Which I don't like thinking about either because he seems like a really decent guy."

I rolled my eyes. I still hated Reese's Pieces with a passion and just thinking about his stupid face made me want to jump into a pool coagulated horse shit.

Buzz. Buzz.

My head snapped over to the loud vibration sound coming from my left side. Ari grabbed her phone off of the side table and gazed at her screen. I waited patiently for her to say something; not out of nosiness but because I wondered if she had recieved another mystery text message.

"Everything good?" I pipped up. Ari lifted her head to look at me and smiled.

"Yea, it's actually your mom. She said she's all done grabbing stuff and will be here soon," she informed, "your mom will be staying the night with you and wanted to grab you extra clothes and some food."

"I hope it's ice cream!" I earnestly exclaimed.

"For your sake, I hope it is too," she laughed.

Ari stayed by my side for the next thirty minutes. We forgot all about what happened this morning and focused for the more important things in life: like the next episode of The Bad Girl's Club and the marathon of Amish A Haunting coming up in a few days. We also discussed our excitement for Thanksgiving break, which meant an entire week of sleeping in for me but extra shifts at work for Ari. But despite it all, I was hoping for a relaxing holiday, one filled with nothing but video games, movies and lots of pizza.

The sound of squeaking rubber shoes to linoleum floors trickled into my ears and not a moment later did my mum appear from behind the blue curtain that separated me from the open room door. She sighed with relief when her eyes landed on me and my apparent recovery. She ran to my side as Ari stood up from the chair, gesturing for mum to sit down.

"My baby boy," mum whimpered, caressing my bruised cheek. "Why would this happen? We left Sydney so all the bullying would stop."

"I guess I'm cursed," I shrugged. The words kinda just slipped out and I wished my brain had caught up to my mouth so I could stop the word vomit. Because when my mum shot me a look that expressed so much pain, I felt the sting in my own heart.

"Things were supposed to get better," she cried.

"They are better," I insisted. Mum let out another whimper and I knew she didn't believe my statement. "It's because we're stronger this time around. We have each other, mum."

"And you both have me," Ari suddenly chimed in. Mum and I looked up at Ari who had a smile plastered on her face; a smile so full of hope it could cure cancer. "You have my mom," she went on, "and even though my sister doesn't really live at home, I know she'd do anything to help you guys out."

"Come here sweetheart," mum brandished out an arm towards Ari, prompting her to let her hand be enclosed by my mum's. "You are one of the greatest blessings in both mine and my son's life. I am so glad to have you here. You aren't just my student or Luke's best friend," mum paused, another round of tears rolling down her face as she let go of Ari's hand to gently graze the bandage on her temple, "Ari, you are family."

In life, there are several times when life seems to go well; when joyful moments worth cherishing happen and a rush of warmth seeps through your skin like the sun's rays on a hot day. While there might be hundreds of happy times in life, there are only a few select moments, like weddings days and graduations, that sparks tranquility and ignites whimsy like no other.

And this, this was one of those select moments.

//

Everytime I think about Luke or any of the guys getting hurt or feeling like crap about themselves it makes me really sad. Which is why I wish I could give the guys a hug or send them a simple text message or surprise them with pizza whenever haters start attacking them on social media. I'm pretty sure they know how much they're loved, but Luke, Ashton, Michael and Calum are still human. They still have feelings and sometimes and I wish haters could see that. Haters are bullies and bullying is so wrong. There's no excuse to bully anyone (online or off) no matter what.

ANYWAY, done with my two cents! I REALLY hope you liked this chapter. Started off sad but ended happily with lots of Ari/Luke feels. Thank you guys SO much for reading, voting and sharing. Please let me know in the comments what you think, you guys are freaking awesome!! Chapter 30 is already posted as well. Double update because I won't have time to update for the next few days. Thanks guys! :)