18| "kid in love"

Sometime in the middle of the night, I awake cold and disoriented. Screwing my fist in my eye, I glance at the clock. Eleven thirty - it's pretty late. I contemplate on going back to sleep, but then my stomach grumbles and I know there's no way I'm gonna be able to rest without food.

Crawling out of bed, I slip into a pale blue cable knit sweater, and cross my arms over my chest before heading downstairs.

All the lights are off in the house and I stumble into the kitchen, smacking my hand against the switch, and yanking open the refrigerator.

There's leftovers from dinner yesterday, but I'm not in the mood for anything heavy so I grab the peanut and jelly and set off to making a sandwich. After I've eaten and put everything back, I start upstairs, but the flicker of light coming from the backyard distracts me.

"Mom?" I call out, peeking from around the staircase and out the balcony glass doors. I can still see the light, and I take a step closer. It's glowing bright and orange and I automatically realize that it's coming from the fire pit. "Andrew?"

No one answers and I roll my eyes. Of course those two idiots forgot to put the fire out. Gently sliding the glass back, I go to step out onto the deck, but when the sound of a mellow guitar melody starts to play, I freeze.

It's Luke.

I take a step back, shielding myself from his view and I watch as he falls gracefully down onto the couch in front of the pit, before sliding his guitar onto his lap and continuing.

"I know that we just met
Maybe this is dumb
But it feels like there was something
From the moment that we touched," he stops and looks down at something in his notebook for a quick second before continuing on.

His voice is the same smooth, calm, velvety perfection that I remember and love, and transfixed I take a step closer and watch as he readjusts his long fingers on the strings before he starts up again.

"'Cause, it's alright, it's alright

I wanna make you mine." Luke sighs, closing his eyes and scrunching his face up in a way that makes him look extremely cute. He sings,

"Maybe I'm just a kid in love

Maybe I'm just a kid in love
Oh, baby
If this is what it's like falling in love
Then I don't ever wanna grow up."

A small smile crosses my face and I can't help but marvel at the lyrics. And as mad as it makes me, I also can't help but secretly hope that it's not yet another song for his secret girlfriend. Otherwise known as his booty call.

Ew.

Scoffing, I knock my head back against the wall in annoyance. Why does his songs have to be so good? And why do they have to be about her? Whoever she is.

Luke stops playing, and then almost as if he can tell he's being watched, he glances up and right at me.

Shit!

Jumping back, I flatten myself against the wall and squeeze my eyes shut, praying that he doesn't notice me.

"Anastasia?" He calls.

I don't say anything, and after a minute or two, I cross my fingers and risk a peek. Luke is standing now, his guitar in his hand and a slight smirk lifting the corners of his mouth, "I saw you. You can stop hiding now."

Defeated, I sigh and poke my head out the glass door, calling out, "Who said I was hiding?"

"So then what are you waiting for? Come out." He runs a hand through his hair and flops back down, stretching one his arms around the back of it.

Stepping out, I slide the door closed and cross my arms over my chest before walking over to him and taking a seat on the couch. The whispering hisses of the fire fills the quietness around us, and illuminates against his face, turning him a glowing red and orange.

Luke looks over at me, and traces his mouth with the eraser end of his pencil, "Any reason why you're spying on me?"

I roll my eyes, "I wasn't."

"Yeah right," he sets his guitar down and leans over to grab his notebook. He folds it and tucks it underneath his leg and out of my view.

I nod my head towards it, "So you lied."

"What?"

"You lied," I repeat.

"Lied about what?"

"You told me you didn't have any other songs that you wrote," Drawing my legs up to my chest, I rest my cheek on my knees and stare at him.

"I may have," he shrugs. "What's it to you?"

I shake my head, "It doesn't matter." Pausing, I look down at my nails, and try to look and act nonchalant before asking, "Are they about her?"

"What?"

"Your songs. Are they about her ... the um, the booty call?"

Blue eyes gaze at me for a long while and then he picks up his guitar and starts to strum quietly again. It's sweet-sounding and relaxing and closing my eyes, I let the heat of the fire wash over me, rosying up my cheeks.

"Why? Are you jealous?"

"Not at all."

"Just so you know," he whispers, "I didn't even write that song."

Even though my eyes are closed, I can still feel myself rolling them. "Well, it's not like I care."

"Look," he mutters, and I can hear him set his guitar aside again. "I'm sorry about earlier."

I peek an eye open to look at him. His eyes are dark and he runs his long index finger across his bottom lip.

"Don't worry about it, it's fine." I mumble.

"Good," he nods, "It's just -- that guy looked like a total dick."

I laugh quietly and shake my head, "Actually, he's not usually that happy." Luke raises a wary eyebrow, and I have to shrug with a slight smile.

"Come on, let's go in."

I nod, and after he puts the he puts the fire out and gathers his stuff, I don't know what comes over me, but I jog up to him and jump up onto his back.

"Annie!" He laughs, immediately clasping his free hand underneath my thigh to hold me up. "What are you doing?"

"My legs hurt," I lie. Wrapping my hands around his neck, I press my cheek against his and whisper, "I think you owe me this much."

Luke rolls his eyes, and lifts me higher on his back, "Can you at least hold my guitar case?"

"No problem," I giggle.

And then without any struggle at all, he walks me in the house, locking the door behind us, and carries me all the way upstairs and into his room where he ungracefully tosses me down onto his bed.

My hair fans out around me, and I lie back laughing as I stare up at him. Luke cocks his head to the side and my eyes draw to his lips that twitch in amusement, "You're weird, Annie."

"Back at ya'." Sitting up on my knees, I pass him his guitar and then take a look around his room. It looks the same as it did from the last time I was here; muted light due to his black curtains, and very much cozy and comfortable feeling.

I inhale deeply.

Luke tugs at his lip ring, and then flashes me his beautiful smile before stalking over to his dresser and grabbing a t-shirt. He doesn't tell me to look away as he changes, and I don't. In one swift movement it's off, and I don't care about him catching me looking this time.

I let my brown eyes sweep over his long torso, and up to his defined chest and over his broad shoulders. I swear -- those shoulders will be my undoing. When I finally look up into his sapphire eyes, he's staring at me; sending me his dazzling boy-next-door perfect teethed smile.

My breath catches in my throat. "What?" I croak hoarsely, staring into the depths of his beautiful eyes.

"Nothing." Luke slides on a clean t-shirt and then in a second he's standing in front of me. Grasping my chin, he carefully tilts my head back, and I can't help but gaze into his wary blue eyes.

"Did I tell you how lovely you look with your hair like this?" he asks, his voice low and husky. Leaning down, he rests his forehead against mine, closing his eyes, and slowly he wraps a tendril of my hair around his finger.

I shiver, "No, I don't think so."

"Annie, you look fucking lovely with your hair like this."

I can feel his warm breath against my lips and I can't help but grin, "Thank you."

"My pleasure," he playfully growls at me. Then he pushes my shoulders, making me fall back with a giggle. "Now go to sleep, or get out."

--

Luke's alarm awakens me, and I stretch out in bed, feeling him behind me. It's only nine, but it feels like two in the morning and I turn to face him.

He's still asleep, hair fluffy and falling over his forehead, and I smile before reaching up and touching it. Of course his blue eyes open, and he blinks sleepily at me.

Wow, waking up next to Luke Hemmings is a joy. How did this happen?

"Good morning," I whisper, sitting up and staring down at him. "I should um, probably head back in my room now."

He frowns, "Why?" His voice is laced with disappointment, making me grin inside and he reaches out and touches my hair.

"Um, because I shouldn't be in your bed." I say, "What if your dad or my mom comes in here?"

"Trust me, they're not gonna come in here. Plus, it's not like we're doing anything." He mutters in confusion, staring down at me. "Don't worry about it, just go back to sleep."

Then he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me down and against him, nuzzling his chin on top of my head, "I'll wake you in an hour, alright?"

"Alright," then cradled in his warm embrace, I inhale him deeply and drift.

--

AN -

IT'S FRIDAY, FRIDAY GOTTA UPDATE ON FRIDAYYYY *rebecca black voice*

lol anyway the song luke sang in this chapter is kid in love by shawn mendes !! it's one of my fav songs so go check it out ;D

what's your favorite song? commentttttt

also, I love you all & DONT FORGET TO VOTE