Connected [Luke Hemmings]

• Chapter 03 •

• Chapter 3 •

Luke

"What do you mean 'my tweet'?" I ask. My voice is groggy due to my half-asleep state.

You guys just look so damn cute! I had to," jokes Michael.
"Flor- I mean Renn is not my girlfriend, nor do I wish she was," I clarify.

All eyes go to Renn who's on her phone. She doesn't notice until Calum snatches her phone and starts to scroll down the tweets himself. Renn pouts and then sighs. "Wow, first Belle and Ash now it's Luke and Renn," says Calum.
"Except Renn is not my best friend," I say, "Dakota is."

I see Renn roll he eyes and I raise an eyebrow at her. "What?" I ask.

"How can someone like Dakota Williams mean so much to you?" she asks.
"What do you mean someone like Dakota? She's way better than you," I snap.
"I don't suppose you want me to believe that because last time I checked I never tripped her in the halls, glued her textbook covers together, dyed my gym clothes red, nor did I ever trash her locker on her goddamn birthday!"
"She only did those because you're a lame bitch!"
"Me? I'm the bitch? What on earth did I ever-"

"Enough!" yells Ashton.
"Look, you two will learn to forgive and forget. You will learn to be friends and we won't take no for an answer," he says.

The three boys leave my room but before Calum shuts the door, he chimes that breakfast is ready. I groan and yell Ashton's name again so that Renn and I can get ready for the day.

"New rule," says Ashton, " every time you fight, you have to be cuffed for another day."
"Then we'll never be separated!" I yell.

Today, the boys have decided to go to the mall. It's been awhile since we've done some regular people stuff. I'm actually a little afraid to be seen in public, handcuffed to a girl I cannot stand. You're probably wondering why and how it started.

Well...........

*Flashback - Year 7*

I sit in the back with my friend James, his eyes on his new book that he's been obsessed with. James isn't my only friend, except this year I didn't make the soccer team, and so all my friends are away for a tournament.

"Luke, Dakota wants you," whispers James. This is supposed to be a study hour, basically our teacher let's us do whatever while she goes photocopy, get some tea or whatever.

I stand up and go to Dakota and Hannah's table. I look over at Hannah, who smiles happily at me. "Hi Luke," she says.
"Hey," I say.
"Can you believe Florence Knight was talking about how much she wants you?" Dakota asks, chuckling.

No, I can't. But I don't mind, Florence is a very beautiful girl. I sit next to her in maths, and I enjoy it, because she always jokes around and has fun. But, she does her work.

"Wants me?" I ask.
"Yeah, like she thinks you're hot," says Dakota.
"Kind of creepy. Why would you want a loser to date you?"

It's the first year of high school, my parents aren't really going to be happy with me bringing a girl home, or something like that. Not that I'm going to any time soon, but once one of my brothers find out, I'm screwed.

"She's not a loser," I say.
"You're kidding right? I heard the reason why she left is because she hid herself most of the time in the public bins. Everyone was afraid of her because she would have these freaky tantrums, and then pretend like she saw things. Dude, it was a freak show," whispers Dakota.

I look over at Florence, sitting at the other side of the room. She's sitting alone, because she injured herself in soccer last week, and couldn't go to the girl's tournament. I suggest to sit next to her, so I move.