Chapter 76 | Cars

Isabella:

I'm seated in the passenger seat of Mia's car, arms crossed across my chest stubbornly, sitting upright as the two of them try to coax me into getting out of the vehicle. We have been parked for a good 15 minutes and I haven't budged from my seat at all since then.

My friends are liars.

The moment I had stepped foot inside Mia's car after hastily getting dressed, I had demanded for Mia and Grace to give me the hint they had promised to give if I had gotten ready.

But they hadn't.

Even after they had promised!

Grace had sat shotgun as Mia drove and for the entirety of the car ride, they had droned out my demands by blasting the aux on full volume and had ignored me the whole time.

But now you see, the joke was on them, because now I was giving them a taste of their own medicine.

"Isabella c'mon, look we're here! Don't you want to see what's happening at 2PM?" Grace speaks, trying to persuade me. Her tone is pleading and when I don't respond, she shoots Mia who is standing beside her an exasperated look.

I keep my lips zipped shut and my gaze straight ahead, at the wall Mia has parked in front of.

The sounds of cheers and laughter and chatter reach my ears and even though my curiosity is killing me and I'm filled with the urge to just turn and look out the side window to see what is happening; my stubbornness is stronger.

I know we were at the school or somewhere near the school. The roads had been familiar as Mia had been driving but at the same time I wasn't quite sure. For one, I was confused. It didn't make sense why she would bring us here when we were on break. It also didn't make sense why it seemed to be so noisy when the school was supposed to be empty because we were on spring break, which all made me believe that maybe we were elsewhere, away from school grounds.

"Bella I can see you're curious about what we're doing here, so why don't you just get out of the car so we can explain," Mia adds, her voice soft.

She's met with silence.

"Isabella please."

Pure and utter silence.

"Bella..."

Grace and Mia continue to stare down at me from the open car door pleadingly and when I still don't answer a good 30 seconds later; Mia growls.

"Fine," she barks, annoyed. "C'mon Grace, I know a way to get Isabella to come out of the car."

She slams the car door angrily, causing the frame to rattle and me to jump in surprise. I hear Mia continuing to curse me out as her and Grace retreat away, all whilst I force myself to wait a beat before turning my head to look out of the window.

Expecting the view to ease my confusion, I find that looking out of the window only seems to heighten my confusion. My assumptions are granted correct. We are actually at the school.

My eyebrows furrow as I try to take everything in - we'll try to anyways, (my view is still obscured with the sight of the wall).

The reason for this wall, I quickly realise, is because we're parked right in the corner of the school's parking lot, quite far away from the main building and quite far away from where any non creepy math teacher chooses to park their cars. Which is odd because the rest of the parking lot seems to be, or should be empty (again, it's spring break! There should be no one here!)

I lean over to the left side of the car to see if I can get a better glimpse of anything other than the wall but yet again, even without the brick on this side shielding the view, we're too far away and tucked right at the back to properly see anything.

When I sit up and swivel my head to look out of the rear window, I do manage however, to catch a peek of cars. Lots and lots of cars. And they're not parked in the parking lot.

I do a double take and blink a couple times to ensure that I'm not seeing things and that near the entrance of the school there is a long line up of a gazillion cars.

Why on earth is there a long row of a gazillion cars?

(i didn't know if what i was describing was making sense so i made a diagram LOL)

I can't see far enough to tell if there's something happening at the start of the line up nor can I also even spot a single other human from where I'm seated, making me unable to tell where is the cheers and chatter are coming from too which further gets on my nerves.

With a frustrated groan, I crane my neck to further analyse the long line of vehicles but I barely get any time to properly inspect anything as before I know it, I spot Grace's tall frame in my peripheral vision, walking back to the car and in panic, I promptly return back to the rug in, I'm not budging state before they get the chance to swing open the car door again.

"We're back," Grace announces as I straighten up my spine and re-cross my arms across my chest. It is also then when I feel a third presence along with her and Mia staring down at me.

"And look!" She adds enthusiastically as it registers in my mind who it is. "We brought Lucas!"

They didn't even have to clarify, I knew who it was without even looking at them.

"Yeah look, Lucas is here!" Mia exclaims when I don't react. "And he's shirtless, so if you want to see Lucas, shirtless, come out of the car."

Silence.

"Emphasis on the shirtless," she continues relentlessly.

Again, silence.

"Yeah, maybe he'll let you touch his abs if you come out of the car Bella," Grace says before lowering her voice. "If that's okay with you Lucas."

"Yeah that's more than okay with me," Lucas whispers back to Grace in reply.

I try not to let my passive facial expression wilt away into one of disbelief.

"See Bells, look at the reward you'll get if you come out of the car."

The offer of the 'reward' doesn't tempt me enough to break my silence. (However, it is enough to cause me to struggle with keeping quiet just a tad).

I mean no it's not...I'm not that weak.

(I am).

At my lack of reply, the three of them, in unison, let out a huff of exasperated breath.

"Isabella Quintero, get out of the car now!" Mia orders angrily and when I still haven't budged half a second later, she screams out in annoyance and resorts to tugging her hair out of pure frustration.

From my side vision, I see Grace step away from Mia out of fear and draw her hands up to her face protectively, as a precaution and the urge to not roll my eyes grows harder and harder as every second passes.

"Okay...let me try," Lucas then offers, placing a hand on Mia's arm to stop her from pulling out all of her hair. "Maybe she'll listen to me."

"Good luck," Mia growls. "She's being a stubborn little b and if she doesn't move in the next 5 minutes I will be removing her 'listening to Mia talk about her sex life because I'm not experiencing it' privileges.'"

"Somehow I don't think that's a threat that will make Bella any less willing to budge from her seat," Lucas answers on my behalf.

He's quite correct.

"Whatever, just get her out of the car. Although I bet it won't work."

"Have faith Mia!" Grace scolds, drawing her hands back down from her face. "You know she'll give in to Lucas!"

"Sure," Mia deadpans.

"Stop being a negative nancy!"

"Hey! Don't call me a negative nancy!"

"Don't tell me what to do!"

"Oh shut-shut it you!" A string of expletives follow Mia's reply to which Grace gasps out in absolute mortification.

"Fucking hell girls, shut up!" Lucas interjects his eyes narrowed as he reprimands the two of them. "I need full concentration and I can't have that if you two are fucking arguing!"

"Who's arguing? I'm not arguing!" Mia turns her angry attention onto Lucas. "So stop making lies and just get her out of the bloody car!"

"I'm fucking trying to!"

"You're standing here and talking back to me! That doesn't sound much like trying to get Isabella out of the car Lulu."

"I would be trying right now if you'd stop fucking yelling!"

"Oh my God shut up!"

"You shut up!

"Everybody shut up!" Grace screams at a volume and tone I've never heard her speak, waving her phone in the air crazily. Grace always keeps her cool (except for when she's crying) so this is new and scary.

"You," she points at Mia. "Step the fuck back and let Lucas do his thing, and you," she points at Lucas. "Use your charm to get her out as fast as fucking possible please, Aidan just messaged me and told us to hurry up because he misses me and it's been 19 hours and 6 minutes and 15.5 seconds since we've been apart and that's basically fucking eternity! So get moving now!"

Both Mia and Lucas promptly quiet down and stare at Grace looking scared shitless. They turn back to each other and after a continue beat of quiet where Lucas and Mia have a silent eye standoff, Lucas clears his throat as Mia steps back.

"Finally! Good God!" Grace mumbles, rubbing her temples tiredly.

Lucas snorts and after rolling his shoulders in preparation, leans down and ducks his head inside the vehicle.

He clears his throat. "Hey Bells," Lucas greets, his voice gentle and smooth like melted chocolate, his mouth tipping into a small, dimpled smile. "Why don't you come out of the car?"

When I don't reply, he leans down further, getting closer and this mere action alone is enough to cause me to want to surrender my protesting.

What can I say, it's hard not to react when Lucas' glorious scent is enveloping my nostrils and his body heat is invading my space. Any sane person would have caved in that moment. Don't judge me.

"C'mon, from the sounds of it, you've been curious about this all day, so just come outside and you can see it all for yourself."

Silence (but struggling with silence).

"I promise I'll tell you everything if you come out of the car."

Ha, like I'll be trusting any of their promises after the stunt Grace and Mia pulled!

Also, there is still silence.

"Izz..."

Silence.

"Okay...." he looks over his shoulder back at the two girls. "How about we try this a different way?"

Silence again from my part but Grace gestures with her hand for him to go right ahead.

"Go on, use my tactic."

Lucas nods before turning back to me. He reaches over my body to unplug the seatbelt before looping his arms around my waist and pulling my side to his chest. His bare chest. The heat of his skin sears through both my jacket and my t-shirt and it causes me to gulp as well as beginning to mess with my breathing pattern.

Jesus, get it together woman!

"Okay Izzy, talk if you don't want me to do this," he tells me, his breath fanning the side of my face.

When I still don't reply, this time not because of my stubborn silence but because if I was to speak I'd probably say something down right embarrassing, Lucas uses my silence as a green light to hold me closer and to begin half pulling/half carrying me out of Mia's car with ease.

"I bet you just wanted to be held by me huh?" He smirks, just as we emerge out of the car and as Grace and Mia step to the side to make space. "That's why you're not speaking."

His comment breaks me out of my star struck daze and I narrow my eyes at him as he finally, (and much to my dismay), removes his arms from my body and sets me back into my two feet.

Completely ignoring his accusation and at last breaking my silent spell, I say: "What's with you guys and manhandling me today?"

"Not our fault, you're being a brat," Lucas responds pointedly, grinning at the fact I decided to speak after he was done pulling me out, proving that what he said was right.

Dammit.

I pretend to be completely oblivious to the fact he's caught on and instead reply with: "Because no one is telling me what's going on!"

Lucas raises an eyebrow before gesturing to Mia and Grace. "They have been for the past 20 minutes."

"I-" I begin, but stop short when I realise I have no comeback to that. "Shut up," I mumble, scrunching up my face. "I've come out the car now so just tell me what's happening!"

"In a second," Lucas returns cheekily, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and guiding me away from the car park before I can begin protesting again, Mia and Grace hot on our trail.

"Not in a second! I've been waiting long enough!" I whine.

"I'm only kidding," he snickers. "I'm showing you instead, now hurry and walk faster if you're desperate to know."

"I'm practically running with the way you're dragging me like this."

To further annoy me, Lucas begins to walk faster and I literally break out into a full on sprint to catch up.

Laughter rumbles out of him and I smack his chest lightly in retaliation, the reminder that he's shirtless hitting me again in full force. I clamp my mouth shut and continue basically half jogging after him as he continues with his typical long strides, arm still around my shoulders.

Lucas begins to go on about this morning and his encounter with abuela when he had been giving her my note as well as hers and I nod absentmindedly, only half paying attention to what he's going on about and the rest of my focus on trying to slyly check him out in a way where it's not blatantly obvious so that I don't get caught.

Side glancing down his frame for only 0.3 seconds per interval, I begin to memorise every dip and edge of his broad chest and how he looks in only a pair of red shorts, shoes and a silver chain around his neck. The bright afternoon sun hits his bare chest in the best way possible and I eventually have to force myself to draw my eyes away when my staring becomes a little to creepy and apparent.

"You done checking me out?" He says cockily and randomly, long after I've stopped staring at his body. (It's been 5 seconds).

I clear my throat. "I was not checking you out, you had a, um, bug on your chest." I smack a random part of his stomach. "See, it's gone now, you're welcome, I know you're scared of flies."

He laughs and the rich sound brings heat to my cheeks, knowing that my excuse failed and he sees through my lie.

"Okay, whatever you say," Lucas teases before his voice drops a decibel as well as an octave and the heat on my cheek grows. "But you know, you can check me out anytime, I give you full permission to do so. Just say the word and I'll take my shirt off just for you."

"Mhm sure, why are you shirtless anyways?"

Lucas simply shrugs his shoulders and replies with an ambiguous: "You'll see."

"I don't even get an answer to that?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Nope."

"Even why you're shirtless has got to do with 2PM and my lack of answers?"

"Yep."

"Seriously?"

"Yep."

"Oh my God."

"Okay how about this," Lucas grins, whilst glancing down at me. "Why don't you try and guess what's happening and if you get it right, maybe I'll tell you."

I raise an eyebrow. "Fine." I respond after mulling over his suggestion for a beat. "That's better than nothing I guess."

"Alright go ahead, start guessing."

"Okay," I begin, eyes scouring our surroundings. We're still crossing the car park and are now slowly approaching the line up of cars. However, we are still too far away to see anything clearly much to my advantage. "It's something got to do with cars?" I question.

"Yep. Partially."

"Um..." I gaze at the floor and spot an empty popcorn box. I then glance back at the cars and then back to Lucas. "Is it some drive in movie thing. I see popcorn," I point to the box. "And it kinda makes sense with all of the cars too."

"Good guess but no." Lucas shakes his head.

"Okay um...is it like some car competition?" I offer lamely when I come up with nothing else.

"Nope."

"Alright," I throw my hands into the air defeatedly. "I give up. Can't you just tell me!"

"Hm." Lucas pauses in his step and stares down at me before cocking his head to the side as I raise my eyebrows and give him an expectant look.

"Lucas," I plead.

"Hm." He says again teasingly, purposely longing out his answer and I run a hand down my face frustratedly.

"Lucas please."

"Alright," he drawls in reply, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Fine."

I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that finally, he's done torturing me. "Fucking finally."

Lucas snickers and gestures lazily to the line up of cars and I follow his finger. "It's a car wash," he declares pointedly.

Both my eyebrows fly up in surprise. "A car wash?" I repeat, feeling even more bewildered than I had been before.

"Yeah."

What has a car wash got to do with me?

"I know you have a lot of questions so let me just show you," Lucas interjects before I can even open my mouth to ask a flurry of follow up questions he knew I was about to bombard him with.

I simply nod instead and try to piece the car wash and what it has to do with me together as Lucas drops his arm from around my shoulders and grabs my hand instead, tugging me forward and causing me to walk faster as he directs us closer to the car line up.

"Jesus Christ you're slow."

"Shut up."

We finish crossing the parking lot and Lucas guides me onwards. It's then when I look over my shoulder and realise that both Mia and Grace have disappeared. I look around to see where they had run off to and because of this, I don't notice that after a short while, Lucas and I have come to a halt, causing me to bump into his back.

"Ouch," I say, rubbing my temple.

"Look," Lucas states, turning my body for me so that I'm facing where he's motioning with his other hand. "It's car wash."

I blink and bring my hand down from my forehead.

Yep, it's a car wash alright.

I freeze in my step as I begin to properly take everything in. It's frankly a lot and I'm floored momentarily as I scan my eyes across the vast area.

My entire view seems to be filled with shirtless boys.

Lots and lots of shirtless boys.

Shirtless boys dressed in shorts, shirtless boys holding sponges and rags, shirtless boys carrying buckets of soapy water, shirtless boys using hose pipes.

I watch (and try not to ogle) as soapy water drips down each of the guys' muscular frames, wet shorts clinging onto their legs, hair completely soaked as they walk about holding their cleaning supplies.

It takes a second, after my initial shock, for it to register in my mind that most of the shirtless guys are all from the football team, excluding a couple, such as Sammy, Mia's boyfriend, amongst the throng of athletes and that they all seem to be hand washing cars.

It is a freaking car wash. Just a different version of one from what I had initially been envisioning.

Yeah, I was imagining more of a traditional car wash and not the panty-dropping central version of one.

In this case, the term 'car wash' should also be used lightly because 50% of the guys aren't even washing the cars but seem to be getting washed themselves.

The first car of the line up has the doors completely swung open, with the car owners, who I recognize as two senior girls from school, outside of the vehicle, giggling as they use a sponge to scrub down two of the guys' chests.

Another guy a couple of metres away seem to be getting hosed down by some girls from my grade.

Mia, who I finally re-find, is over by Sammy, rubbing soap my water all over his toned chest as her boyfriend stares down at her with heart eyes.

Grace beside her, dollops a dot of soap onto Aidan's nose and Dylan beside her is throwing water all over himself.

Sheesh, there's a lot going on.

"What's all of this?" I question amusedly, eyes flicking back to Lucas and suddenly noticing that he seems to be the only shirtless boy here that is completely dry.

With cock of his brow, he steps back and begins walking towards two lamp posts before smacking a banner hanging between them with his hand and standing under it.

"This," he says with an almost nervous smile. "Is why I wanted you to come here at 2PM."

My gaze draws up, away from Lucas' face and onto the banner he is standing under. The frankly, ugly, hand painted banner that reads 'fundraiser'.

My eyebrows draw together in confusion. "Fundraiser?" I question. "This is a car wash fundraiser?"

Lucas nods and places a hand on the back of his neck, the movement causing his biceps to flex and me basically trying not to salivate on the spot in response. "Yeah."

"What's the fundraiser for?" I then ask when he doesn't explain himself, looking around as if that will give me answers.

And well...it does. It is exactly that moment when my gaze zero's in on the large scale flyer attached to the flagpole a little distance away

Specifically to the last few lines and what it reads.

'Charity fundraiser; raising money for the Charles Barnett eating disorder treatment centre.'

Oh.

I simply stare at the poster for a lengthy amount of time.

'Charity fundraiser; raising money for the Charles Barnett eating disorder treatment centre.'

Oh.

It's a charity fundraiser for a eating disorder treatment clinic.

Oh.

My brain goes on pause mode for a second and it's only when Lucas clears his throat and says: "Surprise," when my brain jolts back into action and my eyes fly back to Lucas.

When I catch sight of his face again and my breath hitches.

Lucas clears his throat again, his cheeks blooming pink. "Let me explain," he says, his smile wavering slightly at my shell shocked expression. "Um but lets sit down somewhere."

I nod once, suddenly unable to form words in my mouth as Lucas beckons with his hand for me to follow him.

He takes us around the side of the school, down the corner that leads onto the football pitch and the stands. I continue scouring my surroundings in astonishment, taking in as we move from the car wash by the entrance of the school and onto the field where a various number of stalls are set out over here on the grass.

Recognition promptly floods trough me as I realise that there's a product sale happening over here. The fundraiser doesn't just stop at the car wash.

Oh my God.

Makeshift booths and stalls are set up with folding tables, I note that a various number of items are being sold. Some stalls are selling baked goods, others are selling mugs, knitted items, jewellery, t-shirts etc.

I spot Mia and Grace approaching one of the tables, they are taking over one of the baked goods stalls beside Luna who is selling clay rings and Faye who is selling knitted items and the two of them wave at me as they catch me staring.

"Bella," Lucas calls and I turn my attention back onto to him. "Let's sit up here." He gestures for me to follow him up the stairs leading to the top of the stands and I promptly follow.

We get to the crown of the stands and move right to the corner where we can overlook everything; the car wash as well as the item sale.

Here it also makes it clear how many people have actually turned up to the fundraiser. The school grounds seems to be bustling with people and cars. I'm pretty sure I even spot my grandmother and mom somewhere amongst the sea of people too.

This is crazy.

I take a seat on the cool metal bench, turning so that my body is facing Lucas but unable to draw my eyes away from everything happening done below us.

"Lucas..." I breathe, finally forcing my gaze to pull away and look back at Lucas. I say his name but no other words seem to leave my mouth afterwards.

Lucas himself seems to be in the same predicament. He fiddles with his rings, a nervous trait of his, as he opens and closes his mouth a couple times, struggling to get coherent words to form in his mouth.

After a beat however, unlike me, he manages to spit out four words: "So that's my job."

I blink, my confusion and need for clarification finally causing words to appear in my mouth.

"What's your job?" I ask.

"I, uh, work at that eating disorder centre."

I blink again and gaze at him through a puzzled expression. "...I thought you work at a pharmacy?"

"No," Lucas shakes his head, a sheepish expression crossing his features. "I lied."

"You lied?" I repeat pointedly.

"Yeah," he clears his throat. "I actually work at that clinic."

"Oh."

"It...um, getting a job there was a coincidence actually. You know how I was looking for work experience back in January?" He asks and I nod my head.

"Well, uh, when I was researching places I stumbled across this clinic across town." He stops to give me a serious look, the nervous expression that had previously been drawn across his face wilting away. He smacks my thigh for emphasis. "Bella I swear it's karma."

"Karma?"

"Yes. Karma." He says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Like this situation has been presented to me in order to make it up to you for you know being rude to you and stuff."

Oh.

My mouth subconsciously tips up into a smile. "Luke I think you have the wrong definition of karma," I tease slightly. "Karma would be if you did something bad, something bad would happen to you."

Lucas stills for a moment, his serious expression dropping and his eyebrows drawing together as he evaluates what I had just told him. "Oh," he responds somewhat unhappily at this new revelation. "Then what's the word to describe what I'm experiencing then..."

"I'm not sure," I admit honestly. "But it's certainly not karma."

I watch as the cogs basically reel in Lucas' brain as he tries to think of the word but after a moment passes and he fails to come up with his answer, he gestures with his hand dismissively. "Alright whatever, it doesn't matter, let me just continue my explanation."

"Okay," I return amusedly.

Lucas shifts in his seat before beginning to speak again. "Okay so yeah, I, uh, work at that clinic," he says. "I only do admin work there and stuff, nothing really important I just help out at the reception and get coffee for people and stuff...my job is kind of useless I guess."

He nods his head slowly as understanding dawns on him. "They just use me to make coffee and perform menial tasks that no one else wants to do because they don't have to pay me a lot because of my age..."

He trials off before waving his hand dismissively again. "Okay that's besides the point," Lucas continues. "Anyways so um, one day I was just talking to the main receptionist, Jen, and I was suddenly remembered of how you said you said that speaking to a therapist helped a lot more with getting better than just being in the clinic and stuff and that got me to ask if the patients at the centre get to see psychiatrists and that if they don't maybe it'll help more if they did."

"So what did she say?" I ask regardless of more or less knowing what his answer will be and when a sad smile crosses Lucas' lips, it proves my assumption.

"She said they want to," he tells me disappointedly. "But they can't because funds are really, really low."

I nod in understanding, my mouth curling into a sad smile too.

"I mean I wasn't really surprised," Lucas continues, fingers still twisting the rings adorning his hands. "The place is quite...run down. Like there's a broken elevator that has been broken for years now but still hasn't gotten fixed, the wifi is so slow and is always going, the tv's are like 100 years old...it's...it's crappy."

"Anyways, so I went home that day feeling sort of frustrated you know? Like there's a way that could really help all of the people at the clinic struggling so much but it can't be obtained because of fucking money and that's when I, um, got the idea of doing a fundraiser. Even if I could raise enough money to pay for just one session with a therapist for one person it would still be something y'know?"

He look up to meet up to meet my gaze and I nod my head again to show that I'm following.

"I've become friends with a lot of the patients because they get so bored at the centre with the slow ass wifi and shitty TV so I like talk to them and stuff and a lot of them really have no one to talk to like that, they don't feel comfortable speaking or venting to their friends or families and that's understandable but I know first hand that keep everything to yourself does no good, so like I said before if I could help even just one of them to be able to open up to a professional and get all their feelings out...I guess it would help in some sort of way."

"So yeah, I began planning this fundraiser and even though I barely get paid minimum wage, I basically am going to donate my salary back to the clinic and hopefully that paired with the fundraiser I'll raise enough money to be able to get a psychiatrist to visit the patients for a week every month for 3 months...I know it's not a lot but therapists have every expensive wages." He throws his hand in the air defeatedly. "God they get paid so much."

I snicker and he grins slightly before clearing his throat.

"Anyways," he continues. "As for keeping it a secret from you..." his grin slowly droops and he pauses to wince slightly. "Um saying this out loud makes it seem sort of dumb because all of this is not directly like helping you and stuff but...I just thought maybe helping the other patients struggling with the same thing that you're struggling with would kind of be like making up to you and I just thought it would be a nice gesture for you...but now that I think of it, it sounds stupid-"

He stops short when he notices that I've stopped paying attention to him and I'm now scouring the entire fundraiser, taking note of all the hand painted banners and the car wash and the stalls as I process the main bulk what he had just told me.

"But yeah, this is what the fundraiser is for."

I nod absentmindedly and continue looking over everything.

He did all of this? Is what plays around in my mind on loop. He organised all of this?

My eyes zoom in on a discarded flyer on the floor of the stands we're sitting on and I reach down to pick it up. As I looking down at it, a jolt of emotion rushes through me, beginning to consume me until tears begin to prickle at my eyes and I have to bite down hard on my bottom lip to stop it trembling.

He did this for me?

"Oh shit," Lucas' eyes widen in panic as I bring my eyes back to him, taking my almost crying as something else. "I'm sorry, shit, I'm so sorry Izzy-

My vision becomes hazy with tears and I cut him off by throwing my arms around his waist and burying my face into his chest. "Shut up," I tell him, tears running down my cheeks. Lucas stills for barely half a second before melting under my touch and wrapping his arms around me.

"It's not dumb," I tell him my voice wavering and thick with emotion, "I love it, I can't believe you planned all of this."

I feel the breath of relief he releases at my response and he tightens his arms around me.

"Thank God," he murmurs into my hair. "I was so scared something was going to mess up or that you'd absolutely hate this."

"No I absolutely love it."

The way my head is pressed into his chest means I can hear the way his heart is thrumming against his rib cage, the fast pace is a mirror to mine.

"I can't believe you planned all of this," I repeat in awe.

"It's nothing..." Lucas replies and I shove him away to glare up at him.  "Shut up " I tell him, scrubbing my eyes with the back of my hand. "It's not nothing, how did you plan all of this. How did you get the whole ass football team to volunteer to do all this this?"

Lucas scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "That would take 3 hours to explain the process. It took a month," he snorts. "But the football team was easy to gather, they all owed me for all the parties I've thrown in my house and them and plus you saw how they had hot girl all over them," he pauses to throw me a look. "I'm doing them a favour by asking them to help me out by this."

"That's true," I smile, still sniffling slightly.

Lucas grins and my entire being softens. He wipes away a stray tear with his thumb and my eyes scour his face as he does this. My heart swells so large it feels like it's the size of a fucking watermelon.

"What?" Lucas asks, his smile softening.

I love this boy.

The thought settles through me and for the first time I don't try to kid myself that I don't. Because I do, God I do. There's no hesitation or denial just pure acceptance of what I feel for the boy sitting in front of me. The feeling settles in the pit of my heart and the words settle right at the top of my tongue.

The urge to just say the words begin to overcome me. Telling him would be like the biggest breath of fresh air. Fuck, it would.

Lucas blinks at me curiously, a strand of his dark hair falling haphazardly onto his forehead, an inquisitive look etched across his features.

"Do you want to say something?" He prompts me with a raise of his eyebrow.

I opt for nodding as I try to get the words out of my mouth but unfortunately my mouth betrays both my heart and my brain.

"I forgive you," is what leaves my mouth instead and immediate disappointment surges through me.

Oh my God why didn't I just say it?

In an instant the moment for me to reveal my feelings passes, but the way Lucas' face lights up you'd think I had told him that I loved him.

"You do?" He asks, absolutely thrilled.

I sigh wistfully but nod my head. "Yeah," I tell him earnestly. "I do. It's not fair for me to put all the blame on you and you've done more than enough to make it up to me."

He nods, his smile widening. "Thank you," he murmurs, so quietly is barely audible before he leans down presses a quick, chaste kiss onto my cheek.

"You don't need to thank me," I return, my face softening and the spot where he had kissed me tingling like crazy.

He raises his shoulders into a shrug and nods his head in acceptance.

"C'mon," he then says, rising from his seat and shifting the subject. "I was waiting for you so that I could get started on the car wash." He stops short before grabbing my hand and hauling me up. "Well more like waiting for you so you could come wash me instead."

A small laugh draws its way out of me. "Alright, lead the way."

━

AUTHORS NOTE:

LOLS i hate myself for this. but don't worry the  next couple of chapters will surely make up for it. kind of a lot is going to happen so get ready heheheheh

also i was re watching victorious clips and now i keep seeing sammy as beck :p

anyways hope you have fun reading!! happy ramadan to all my muslim friends on here :), love you all - mai xx

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AND THANK U SO MUCH FOR 900K NANDAKXJJAJZJZ LITERALLY I'M IN SHOCK I LOVE U ALL SM <33