And, chapter 2! Warning, I break it off at places that make sense in the story, not word counts, so some chapters will be a lot longer, like the last one was 1,000 words and this one is 560 ish, and that's kinda how it's gonna be, some pretty long, some pretty short, etc. lol.  sorry. 

Luke's POV: 
"Whatcha thinking about there?" She lightly punched my shoulder and I realized we were at her locker. I leaned against the one next to hers and tried to come up with a good cover up. 

"Huh? Oh, um- well..." 

"You're really struggling L." She teased playfully. 

"Yep." 

I turned and bammed my head against the locker I'd been leaning on. I took a deep breath and tried again. 

"I'm going to the haunted house tonight with Josh and Ava later tonight and wondered if you wanted to go with me? We could get like dinner before or something if you want." 

"Lucas Brady," She smiled. "Are you asking me out?" 

"Trying." I winced a little. "So... ?" 

"So, when are you picking me up?" She smiled again. 

"Oh I didn't really... um- plan that far ahead. I was sure you were gonna- say no so... I don't know?" I stammered, partly in shock, fully thrilled. 

"Well you're driving me home after school right?" 

"I mean, yeah, I usually do." 

"Then we can just do stuff after school like always, you can drop me off at home, and pick me up at 6 ya dork." She teased. 

"O-okay." I turned so I wasn't facing her and celebrated quietly. "Yes!" I whispered. 

"I heard that." She laughed. 

I fake-coughed a couple times to try to cover. 

"Nice try Luke but I'm not an idiot." She pointed out. 

"Fair enough." 

"I gotta put my hair up as we walk so can you carry my bag? We're literally gonna be late if we don't get going." 

"Yeah of course, here." I took her backpack and slung it over my shoulder as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. 

I put my baseball cap on her head sideways like I always did. She fixed it so it as backwards and bumped her shoulder into mine playfully. 

"Now, race ya!" She started to run and I took off after her. 

YES! FINALLY! YOU DID IT LUKE! YOU GOT A DATE! WITH LAYNE! SURE IT'S WELL DESERVED BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A DECADE BUT STILL! YESSS! 

As we ran I couldn't help but get excited for the evening's events. I'd been trying to ask her out for so long, I had so many amazing ideas and so many things I wanted to do with her. But finally, they can start happening. I finally have a shot with her. A fighting chance. It was my time to prove how much I care and how much I'd wanted and needed it. 

Nothing will ruin this night. 

Nothing can ruin this night. 

Man, if only you knew how much I wished that was how it would go. 

But it didn't. 

Instead of an amazing, first date with the girl of my dreams, I experienced one of the scariest and most shocking nights of my life. 

Boy, are you in for a wild ride, and this is just a retelling, years later. 

Imagine experiencing it. 

Sounds lovely, right? 

Just lovely. 

Lovely.