a/n: Hi there! Before you read, in case you didn't notice this chapter has got a song added to it if you want to play it. Enjoy your reading!

*Luke's P.O.V*

That was weird. Extremely weird.

It takes guts to do what I did, believe me; kissing Laurel could be the best or the worst thing to happen. We could work out or things could simply go totally wrong all because of me, and there could be no way back. Still, I would never know if I didn't give it a shot.

So yeah, I guess now you and I agree that it really does take guts.

Turns out that I kind of screwed up things myself, like, all was good, I was kissing her and dude it felt good, but suddenly the worst scenarios began to play in my head repeatedly; someone could see us, Amanda or Austin could show up, Laurel could start freaking out and decide to tell everybody about our kiss, if I wanted nothing more Laurel could simply make her personal challenge to destroy my career and spread the shit about me. The possibilities were endless.

Call me dramatic, it's not like I've never heard it before.

So I simply stepped back, a little embarrassed. I didn't exactly wanted to do so but those freaking thoughts wouldn't let me enjoy the moment.

Laurel asked me if I wanted to forget about it, and honestly, I tell her it would be the best. I can see on her face the complete confusion, like I was speaking a different language she could not translate - I guess she wasn't expecting I would say that -, but in the end she simply nodded and we headed back to the street. As we walk, Laurel keeps herself away from me, but there is an electrical force so huge between us that is impossible to ignore, as if she were a positive pole and I, the electrons attracted to it. At a certain moment our hands subtly touch and she pulls her arm, linking the fingers of her both hands. I look at her: she blushes.

So I suddenly stop and look back at the alley; the sun is setting. A light breeze caresses my face and I inhale deeply, exhaling a couple seconds later. Laurel doesn't stop next to me; she keeps walking for a moment before realizing I don't intend to move my feet anytime soon.

"What's wrong?" She questions.

I can't answer her right now, I'm on a debate with myself.

Luke, you know you want to, just let it be!

Luke, be careful, you've taken it too far already.

Shut up. Luke, you felt something, go with the flow dude!

I never thought having a conversation with no one but me could be that complicated, but I decide to listen to one of the sides; the one which I knew would make me feel better.

So I turn my gaze to Laurel and say, "I've changed my mind."

She tilts her head and narrows her eyebrows, not sure what I'm talking about, then I simply reach her hand and grab it, quickly pulling her back to the alley. Once we are here, I hold her tight and violently connect our lips once again. She doesn't take a single moment before kissing me back, with more urge, pulling my hair. I push her against the wall and gently lift her up, her legs around my waist. I bite her bottom lip and kiss her jawline and then her neck, sucking lightly on the skin. Laurel lets out a small moan and I groan, kissing her lips again. My heart beats so fast that I'm pretty sure she's listening, and my hands unwittingly squeeze the skin of her hips. She grabs my shirt to pull me closer and I press my body tighter against her, filling up whichever spaces there still were between us.

Out of the blue I hear the clash of a trash can and me and Laurel turn our heads, surprised, to the diretion of the sound. An old lady is taking the garbage outside. She's got the can's lid in one hand and a black sack in the other. She tucks it inside the can and when she realizes we are staring, she rolls her eyes.

"Don't mind me, children." She scoffs, putting back the lid and limping towards the stairs of her house. Laurel and I are still in shock until the old lady steps in and closes the door. I feel a small chuckle forming down my throat and when I look at Laurel, she's got her mouth covered with her hands, holding back the laughter. I set her back on the ground and we both giggle, still unbelieving what just happened.

"That was so embarrassing!" She comments, hiding her face on my chest. I grin and wrap my arms around her back in a protective way.

"I know right? I feel my cheeks burning right now!"

We stay there a few moments to regain our breaths and stop laughing. When we finally do, Laurel sighs.

"We should go. It's almost dark and you haven't taken your aspirin yet." She wraps her arm around my waist and I lay mine on her shoulder, and so we start walking again, this time for real.

"To be honest, I don't think I need it anymore" I chuckle, winking at her, and she playfully rolls her eyes. "Just kidding, I'm gonna take it. I didn't make you walk five blocks for nothing!"

"I don't think it was for nothing. Even if you don't take the aspirin." She looks up at me and smiles, timidly.

I crack a smile and place my chin on her head. I'm feeling really good right now, even though I struggled with whether kissing her would be a good idea or not several times. I can't wait to tell Michael.

When we turn the corner of Laurel's block we see three shades in front of her building. Two are paying attention to something in their hands and the other is sitting on the stairs, visibly bored.

"Oh my God, I locked the door!" Laurel exclaims, slapping her own forehead. "And we took longer than I expected."

"No way! They got stuck here outside!" I laugh. "They're gonna kill us."

"Now I guess A will definitely have an excuse to murder me." She says, elbowing my stomach.

"If she finds out about today she will have more than one." I joke.

"Don't worry, okay? No one will know." She winks at me and clicks her tongue.

I nod and we remain silent but before getting closer to the three shades, she lets go of me and keeps a respectful distance.

Discreet. I like that.

"There they are!" Michael shouts, pointing at us. "Where have you guys been? I thought you were kidnapped or something"

"We're fine" I smirk, lifting up the small paper sack. "We went out to buy aspirin."

"I ran out of them." Laurel adds. "Got a lot of headaches lately."

I look at A and she's glaring at me, then at Laurel, then at me again. I know that expression; she won't mince her words later.

"We brought pizza" Austin tells Laurel. His tone suggests he's as pissed off as A right now, and I can't help but grin. Moron. "I mean, the rest of it. There's only one slice left if you want."

"What topping is this?" Laurel asks him, opening the box to peer inside it.

"Pepperoni."

"Then I'm definitely accepting the offer." I reach the box in Austin's hand and grab it. "Thank you very much. Laurel, would you like some?"

"I'm good, thanks" She giggles, pointing at the door. "Don't you want to eat it inside? I can get you something to drink and you'll take your aspirin."

"Sure." I wink at her, and she starts walking towards the door. I follow her and feel A scratching my arm with her nails. I glance at her and roll my eyes. "What was that for?" I mutter.

"I want to go home. Now." She demands.

"Chill, stick of dynamite, let the guy eat." Michael pokes A and she whispers a fuck you to him. If there's one thing I love about Mikey is that he marvelously ignores her attitudes.

Once we are inside Laurel's apartment again, I follow her to the kitchen and watch as she bends down to get a plate and then opens the fridge.

"Do you want juice? Soda? A beer? I don't know, just pick whatever you want." She says, not looking at me.

I look over my shoulder to see if there is anybody coming after us. There's not; I can hear Michael laughing and DoucheAustin talking back in the couch, and probably A is scrolling down her phone. So I turn again to Laurel and she's washing her hands on the sink. Slowly I wrap my arms around her stomach and move her hair so I can kiss her neck. She raises her hand and grabs my nape, scratching it lightly.

When I'm about to spin her around and kiss her lips I hear steps approaching. We both jump in surprise and split up; me heading to the fridge to grab a beer while she keeps washing her hands.

"Yo, guys" Michael leans on the doorframe. "Can I have some water? You've left us outside for quite some time."

"Sure, the glasses are right there" Laurel points at a shelf on the left, stuttering. "And sorry about that, Michael."

"It's fine, I had a nice time with Austin. I showed him some of our songs and he seemed to enjoy it." He tells her, grabbing a glass and filling it with water.

"Seriously? That's awesome. I'm glad to know you guys got along."

Michael hums in response and grabs his phone. He starts typing and when he pockets it again, mine buzzes. I look at him and he tilts his head, grinning, before leaving the kitchen. I unlock it to check his text.

so?????

I smile at the screen before sending.

got a lot to tell u man

I go back to the couch holding a plate with the pizza and the beer, followed by Laurel. She sits next to Austin and he immediately passes his arm around her shoulder, glaring at me. I roll my eyes and pretend I didn't see it, sitting next to A, turn my attention to my food.

After we talk for about 15 minutes and I finish my slice, Michael stands up and says we should go. A follows his lead and says goodbye to Austin but, once again, says nothing to Laurel. I shake my head to Austin and hug Laurel tight.

"Thanks for today" She whispers "It was truly amazing".

"Agreed." I whisper back. "I'm gonna text you as soon as I get to the hotel."

"I'll be waiting."

I let go of her and start walking through the hallway after Michael and A, but I look back one last time to see Laurel standing by the door watching as I walk away. I wink at her and she giggles, waving, so I turn to face my path again.

Oh boy, now we're talking!

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Let me just say that this is my favorite chapter so far, I'm so happy that I could add a song to it! I love Dirty Little Secret very much and it simply seemed to fit so much the story right now! I hope you liked it as much as I did!

Please don't forget to vote and comment, tell me what you think! Ghost reading is really bad, give me some feedback so I can improve my writing and make the book even better!

Counting on you, sweeties! Stay beautiful xx