*Laurel's P.O.V*
I always thought there was something wrong with me. As I already said, I have the worst habit of overreacting about everything that happens, and it wouldn't be different with Luke.

He asked me about college and well, all I did was answer him but got a little too excited about it and ended up talking too much. Nobody ever asks me about college and when he did... I thought he wanted to know, so I told him everything! The problem is: he took one entire day - and with that I literally mean a day, like 24 hours and a couple more - to answer, and when he finally does he acts like he didn't want to. I don't really understand his weird changes of behavior, and I can't help but think if it's something that I've done.

I consider texting him again to see if I change the subject the conversation will last, but then again: what if there's something wrong with me? I'm gonna be disturbing him, and that's the last thing I want. So I just stare at this last message. What did you do, Laurel?

I'm starting to feel sick when my phone rings.

"What's up, Riley?" I greet my colleague, slowly massaging my left temple with the free hand.

"Hi, Laurel. Just wanted to keep you informed. The samples we've ordered last week? They're here!" She says, excited. "You should come by and take a look at them... Unless you're busy today."

"Sure... I wasn't exactly planning anything today. Are you already there?"

"Nah. I got a call from Damian, he was responsible for the lab today. Even so, I'm way too overwhelmed to wait until tomorrow! Meet you there in 30?"

"Fine. I'm leaving my room now." I tell her and then hang up.

I grab my keys and put my shoes before heading to the lab, which is about 10 minutes by foot away from my dormitory. I really like the atmosphere on campus; students are always outside. While I'm walking some people greet me from their spot sitting on the grass. I've once had classes with two of them - Evelyn and Steve -, but I'm not so sure of who the other three guys are.

I finally get to the lab and when I open its door this guy comes out of nowhere, walking backwards while carrying a box and bumps into me, causing me to nearly fall.

"Holy shit man! Watch your steps!" I curse, massaging my left arm.

"Sorry! I really couldn't see you." The guy says. When I turn my attention from my arm to him to answer, I get petrified. He's one damn hot clumsy guy.

His hair is dark and his eyes are the brightest I've ever seen.

"I hope you didn't get hurt." He tells me after a moment, awkwardly smiling.

Fuck, what kind of smile is this.

"I-it's okay." I stutter, looking at my feet because I feel my cheeks burning. "But next time you should try walking facing your path. It could avoid worse accidents." I smile, timidly.

"You're probably right." He smirks. "I was just trying to help, my friend works here too and asked me to leave this box outside next to the trash. I guess he doesn't want it anymore."

"Wait, what?" I open the box on his hands and check the content. There are just some old papers and broken test tubes wrapped in a plastic bag. I take it in my hands and shake. "I broke one of these."

"You work here?"

"Yeah. I'm coordinating one of the studies."

"Sweet." He smiles. So I allow him to keep his journey with the box. "I still think I hurt you. We bumped hard! Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm positive, don't worry about me. I've got strong arms" I laugh.

"If you say so... By the way, what's your name?"

"Laurel. What's yours? I've never seen you around."

"I'm Austin." He puts the box on the floor and shakes my hand. "I'm always on the north side of the campus, Engineering. But today some friends and I decided to play baseball on the field, so yeah, I ended up here. They're just waiting for me to finish this."

"Oh." I smile. "Don't worry about the box, I can get rid of it. Go play with your friends." I bend down to grab the box and carry it away, but he doesn't allow me to touch it.

"You're a lady, no need to do such a hard work." He chuckles, grabbing it and walking by my side towards the trash.

"I'm a feminist! You can do it, therefore I can do it too." I giggle, showing him my biceps.

"Hey, I'm just trying to be a gentleman."

Once we're done with the box we face each other, not sure of the next move. So I pay attention to his whole figure: tall guy, lightly tan and extremely fit. I probably look like a freak; clear my throat before talking.

"I should go." I finally say, pointing to the lab.

"Yeah, me too. The guys are waiting." He smiles. "It was nice meeting you, Laurel."

"Same. See you around!" I say goodbye, waving at him while heading back to the lab.

"Sure you will!" I hear him say.

I get inside the lab to find Damian making an incredible mess.

"What's going on here?" I ask him.

"Hey, Laurel! Didn't know you'd show up today." He greets me without stoping looking for whatever.

"I wouldn't." I shrug. "Riley told me the samples arrived so here I am."

"Yeah, they did! But we needed space to keep everything that came with them, so I asked Austin to help me out. This place needed a massive clean up!"

"Yeah, I just met him and he was carrying your box. Where are the samples anyway?"

"Inside Dr. Jones' office. You can try them now if you want to."

I dress my coat, do my hair up and put on gloves before taking the samples. I open them up and place them on the microscope to take a look. A few moments later Riley arrives and tries the samples with me. We stay in the lab for the entire day and when I leave, I see Austin and his friends coming back from the baseball field; he was shirtless and carrying a bat.

"Yo, Laurel!" He yells at me. Rushing his steps a little. "Going home?"

"Yeah, spent the whole day working in there." I tell him.

"These are Jason, Ben and Tyler." He points at his friends, who shake their heads at me and I do the same. "Hey uh, did anyone tell you about this party next Saturday?"

"Not really. Frat?"

"Not exactly. I mean, yeah, it's gonna be at a frat house but for what I know they rented it. Anyway, you should come. We've heard it will be cool, the entire campus is talking about it."

"Oh" I smile, surprised. "Sure...? I'm calling a friend, see if she's up to it."

"All right then." He smirks. "I'll see you there. Don't miss it, okay?"

"I'll try not to." I laugh.

"I'll take that as a okay Austin, I'm not missing it" He winks at me.

When I get back to my room I check my phone. Luke didn't send any messages after that one and for the first time in more than a month we stop talking. I feel my stomach contracting but ignore it. I decide to text Megan.

"Party on Saturday. U in??"

A few minutes after she replies.

"Partying is my surname!" 

I giggle and lock my phone to take a shower. Even though today was a good day, I'm still thinking about the whole Luke thing, and can't help but wonder if that was the last text I'm gonna get from him.

*Luke's P.O.V*

Why does American Airlines always offer apple juice on their flights? Seriously. It's dinner time on the plane and I don't feel like drinking alcohol or soda, but apple juice is the only option standing.

"Water?" Calum suggests, and I nod. We eat mac & cheese on our way back to LA. The tour is finally over and we'll be able to rest for amazing 4 months. I've been talking to A for a week now and we're planning on hanging out when I arrive, probably going to the club or something.

I scroll on my texts to check if she sent anything. She didn't. Then I enter on Facebook and scroll down the news feed. Nothing but family photos and those weird cartoons that for some reason I still don't know, people think they're funny. I scroll down a little more and there's this photo of Laurel holding a red cup, wearing a blue flannel shirt and shorts. She looks incredibly beautiful... And she's with a dude. His hands are wrapped around her waist, holding her tight, and her head is leaned on his chest. Laurel was tagged on the photo by the guy - Austin Johnson. It was posted on Instagram and linked directly on Facebook. The caption was the nerd and the bud 😛 and I can't help myself.

Who the heck is that?

"Eeeey, is that Laurel?" Michael asks me, peeking on my phone. "She looks hot! And who's that guy?"

"I don't know" I shrug.

"Do you think it's her boyfriend?"

"She doesn't have a boyfriend" I roll my eyes.

"Did she tell you that?"

Crap.

"Not really." I stutter. "But I don't think so. I can ask her if you'd like."

"Fine, do it." Michael laughs. "Are you guys still talking?"

"It's been a week since I last texted her."

"I see. Then text her now, but don't just directly ask who Mr. Muscle is."

"I'm not this stupid, Mikey." I laugh while closing Facebook and opening my texts.

"hey u! its been a while 😁" I send. I didn't even need to wait two minutes, there is a reply already.

"Hey!! I know right? Hows tour? Tell the boys i said hi"

"Laurel said hi to you all." I tell the band, and they say hi back while finishing eating their dinner.

"they said hi. we just ended it yesterday. now we're moving back 2 the US to rest. hows college?"

"It's fine. I'm still coordinating the project. It's good u guys can rest now, it must be extremely tiring!"

"it is indeed. hey, who's this?" I take a screenshot of my Facebook page and send it to her.

"That's Austin 😂 why? Know him?"

"is he ur boyfriend?"

And, as always, wifi on the airplane stops when it shouldn't. I murmur some curse words before waiting for iMessage to work again.

"Gosh, no! Hahah hes just a friend..."
"Y u ask?"

I knew she didn't have a boyfriend. She couldn't.

"Mikey was asking. I told him u didn't have a boyfriend but he didn't believe me!"

"How did u know I didn't have a boyfriend? I don't recall telling u about my love life 😂"

"I assumed it 😁 got superpowers."

"Damn, i must be really ugly if you directly assumed i didn't have a boyfriend lol 😂"

"Shit!" I slap my own forehead.

"What's wrong, dude?" Ashton asks me.

"Laurel got me wrong. I told her I assumed she didn't have a boyfriend and she thought I was calling her ugly."

"Wow... That's harsh." Calum shakes his head, chuckling.

"Give me your phone" Michael grabs it from my hand and holds the voice recorder. "Hey Laurel, we miss you! No, don't say that, you're gorgeous, isn't she guys?"

We all agree with him.

"See? You don't have a boyfriend because you don't want to, that's why. Nobody worth your time showed up yet, right?" He releases the voice button and presses 'send'. Some minutes later my phone buzzes and I unlock it.

"Nobody I truly wanted... Michael, ur the sweetest haha thanks for the compliment guys!"

"And that's how I saved your ass" Michael smirks, taking my phone again to send another voice message. "No worries, dear, you know it's true! Listen, now that we're on a break we could meet up and do something fun, don't you think?"

"Yeah, we could watch How I Met Your Mother" I suggest.

"Or we could go bowling!" Calum says.

"We've got tons of options. Tell us what you think!"

The flight attendant passes to collect our empty glasses and after we hand it all to her Laurel sends a voice message.

"Hey guys" she begins. Wow, I missed her voice! "Whatever you are willing to do, I am! Are you planning on coming to Charlotte again?"

"Are we?" Ashton questions. We stare at each other.

"Not that I know of" I reply. "What if she goes to LA?"

"We need to know if she can, first." Michael comments, and so he sends a voice message for her asking, to which she replies:

"Well, I never thought of going to LA, and I don't think I would be able to anytime soon; I just got a job as program coordinator, can't leave it now. Besides, I don't have money enough for hotel and plane tickets..."

"That's bad" Michael says. "Would it be weird if I paid the hotel for her?"

"Are you willing to do that?" I question in disbelief. "You were telling me a week ago that she could be taking advantage of me!"

"I agree with Luke." Ashton says. "Why the hell would you do that?"

"Guys I'm just wondering!" Michael laughs. "I would really like to hang out with her again, and she can't go to LA."

"Then let's go to Charlotte." I suggest, hurried. "Within a fortnight. You in?"

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That's all, folks! Hope you enjoyed this chapter 😬

Comments, suggestions, I'm all ears! And don't forget to vote if you like it; as I said, it feels like a big bear hug to me!

(I'm thinking about adding a soundtrack to some chapters from now on, just so it can be a little more dramatic and you can get the feeling of the story through music... Tell me if that would be a good idea 😉)

Stay beautiful! <33 xo