*Laurel's P.O.V*

The flight back to Los Angeles is surrounded by an awkward silence. I think Luke is still upset because I got Jim's call while I was with him, and I really want to tell him the reason why, but I promised myself this would be a surprise and once he knows he's gonna forget it.

I mean, I hope so.

"Where will we be during New Year?" I inquire, closing my book and taking off one of Luke's earphones.

"Ashton said he is throwing a party, we could go there" He replies. "When is your flight back to Charlotte?"

"Tomorrow, actually" I chuckle. "3:45pm"

"Then it's all good. We have fun, drink like fish, kiss during the turning and go back home so you can rest to take it" He smirks, squeezing my cheeks. I lay my head on his shoulder, smiling to myself.

"I've got a feeling that everything will be better this year" I tell him.

"Why?"

"I don't know..." Actually I do.

"I hope so, dude" He small laughs. I look up at him and raise my eyebrows. "What?"

"Dude" I giggle.

"What? You don't like it?"

"On the contrary! I think it's so cool when guys call girls dude."

Luke beams and blinks.

"This is, in fact, something I've always defended. It really is cool, isn't it?"

"Totally"

•••
Los Angeles, December 31st

Luke and I are getting ready for Ashton's party when Megan calls me.

"I know I didn't call you on Christmas, but I barely talked to my own parents!" I try excusing, but she doesn't stop storming.

"Spare me, Laurel" She spits. "I miss you to death and you don't take one fucking minute to call me? I thought you had a single bit of consideration for me!"

"Meg, please" I laugh, nervously "You know I love you, but--"

"Let me talk to her, babe" Luke opens his hand so I deliver him the phone. "Hello, Megan? Hi! Remember me?"

I can hear her screaming from where I am standing, and Luke squints, moving the phone away from his ear.

"Yeah, I miss you too. Listen, I'm sorry that Laurel didn't talk to you during Christmas, but she was with me in Sydney. She didn't tell you? We're dating."

Luke glances at me and smiles. I feel my knees shaking.

"She's gonna tell you everything when she gets back. But meanwhile, I'm afraid I'm stealing her from you for some more time. Is that okay? I knew you'd understand. Take care!"

Luke hands me back the phone and I take it to my ear.

"Hello?" I try reaching her.

"FUCK YOU LAUREL GODDAMNIT HOW COME YOU DIDN'T FUCKING TELL ME YOU WERE DATING FUCKING LUKE HEMMINGS?!"

"Sweetie, I've got so many things to tell you!" I laugh. "You wouldn't believe it. But don't worry, I'll be back soon and we're having dinner together."

"We better have. Or I'll never forgive you" She retorts. I chuckle and hang up.

I love Megan. Specially when she's angry.

"She's truly that surprised?" Luke raises his eyebrows. "I can't believe she didn't suspect you had a thing for me."

"She knew it but it didn't exactly make us valentines" I roll my eyes, adjusting my dress.

"It's a step on the right direction, though" He shrugs.

We get to Ashton's and Bryana is the first one to talk to me. She hugs me tight and takes me by the hand to Ashton, who's with Calum and Michael.

"There she is, the loveliest girl in the room!" Michael smiles, opening his arms for a big hug. Even though we're not exactly close I've got this really special connection with Michael, like we'd be inseparable best friends if we actually got to know each other more.

"Laurel, I've missed you! We've got so many things to talk about" Bryana cheers.

"I'm glad you and Luke could make it" Ashton chuckles, greeting my boyfriend.

The party is somewhat full; lots of people I don't know but Luke makes sure to introduce them all to me. Alex Gaskarth is there again and I can't escape from the fangirl inside me: I end up asking for a picture. Luke states amusingly at me as he takes it, and when I get back to take the phone he changes completely and tosses it in my hand, huffing and walking away. When I look at the screen I understand why.

Message from Jim

Keeping secrets from Luke is getting harder and harder...

Bryana finds me before I could walk around looking for Luke.

"What's wrong?" She asks me. "You seemed full of joy 10 minutes ago and now it looks like you've seen a ghost"

"Luke is jealous of this guy" I sigh. "It's a surprise, I can't tell why I'm talking to Jim but there's nothing he should fear, you know?"

"Well, then maybe you should try telling him half the truth" She chuckles. "It always works for Ashton and I. Whenever we want to surprise each other we end up sharing a part of it so the other one doesn't get suspicious."

I smile at Bryana, she's right. I might not tell Luke everything but I can tell who Jim is, can't I?

"I need to find him, first" I tell her and she nods.

"He's gone that way. Probably upstairs to the rooms, maybe he's calling someone" She shrugs.

I thank her and go after Luke, walking through Ashton's big mansion. About fifteen people could easily live here.

I sneak my head inside the rooms and no sign of Luke. Lastly I check one of the guest rooms, in which the door is only half open. I silently tiptoe and lean myself against it. So I hear Luke's voice.

And he's talking to someone on the phone.

"I know. I just called to wish you a happy new year." I hear him say.

Who the heck is he talking to?

I think about stepping inside but my curiosity is stronger, so I simply keep on listening from behind the door.

"Thank you. Yeah, okay, we could talk later. No, don't you start, Amanda, we've already discussed this."

Amanda?!

"Listen, I'm not in the mood. Actually I don't even know why I insist on trying to believe you can change. We've had this argument already, I'm not ruining my new year's party even more because of you. Yeah, I get that. Bye."

Luke hangs up and I hear him lowly cursing Fuck me. His steps get closer to the door but I'm simply frozen, petrified, I can't move one single inch.

When he opens the door his eyes widen as he faces me. So he clears his throat and opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.

"Is this a game to you?" I glare at him. "Whenever you get pissed at me for doing whatever you think that's wrong you call your ex? Is that revenge?"

"What? Laurel I--"

"Don't even try explaining, Luke, I get it. That's very mature of you"

"Don't start trying to teach me lessons about maturity" He mocks. "And besides, I've never hidden anything from you!"

"Oh, you haven't? That's odd, because I don't recall you telling me about talking to A again! In fact, I know more about your family than I know about yourself, you never open up with me!"

"And because of that you talk to Jimmy so you and him can share all your secrets?! That's lovely!" He ironically claps his hands.

I feel the blood boiling in my veins and I'm sure if I was a cartoon character, there would be smoke coming out of my ears right now.

"If you can't trust me then I don't know why we are in this stupid less-than-a-month relationship!"

"You don't trust me either!" He storms. Thank God the music downstairs is incredibly loud, otherwise the whole party would be able to listen to us. "You are already assuming things just because I called Amanda!"

"She's your fucking ex girlfriend, goddamnit! I never called Austin after I broke up with him, ever!"

"You don't have to because now there's another fuckboy wanting you! I bet Jim plays football, doesn't he?!"

"You're being such a baby!" I yell.

"And you're being such a bitch!" He yells back, blue eyes glaring at mine.

I step away from him, turning my back as I feel the tears dripping from my eyes.

I hear Luke sighing and his steps coming closer. He grabs my arm but I abruptly pull it, heading downstairs.

"Laurel..." He whispers.

"First you calm down." I demand, firmly. "And then you can say whatever you want to say. This way you avoid regretting things."

I rush down the steps and walk through all Ashton's guests until I get to his huge backyard. There's a pool and a cold breeze hits me. I fight the tears and sit down on one of the sunbeds, massaging my temples.

New Year started nothing as I wanted it to.

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