Mend Me? ➸ hemmings a.u

6. Infinities

Happy Tuesday. Yes, today was the day. The according to Michael, 'barely human being' was going to be in the room of the 'whatever-I-am'. There was no Biology today, meaning I only had breaks to admire the blonde haired, blue eyed, awkward and oddly but perfectly proportioned, tall boy.

As I was gathering belongings from my locker for the day my mind was stuck in the future, with Luke in my room. My mind raced thinking about this inevitable, certain and very real happening that is to occur this afternoon.

Would he think my room was childish with all the posters and plushies? Michael sure never shut up about it. Where would he sit? Would he sit down on my squeaky bed and laugh at the noises it made? Or spin around on my computer chair like Michael always does? Would he get tired after a while and want to lie down in my blankets and stretch adorably and snuggle my teddy bear? Just as my mind drifted into less innocent thoughts about Luke, someone ran up to me beside my locker. I looked up and almost had a heart attack.

"H-hey, Rose?" I momentarily freaked out thinking if it was possible she could read my mind. "Ava," she placed a hand on my arm and I had to resist the urge to slap it off. "I apologise for my behaviour in class yesterday. As you know, Luke and I are very close and we find it pretty hard to be away from each other, so I had to say those things about you to try and be with him," she explained and I just nodded. "I think you're a lovely girl. And I shouldn't worry about you and Luke, should I?" She asked with a stare that was far too intense. I felt like I was being interrogated. Her eyes were like bright lamps and her grip was the ropes tying me to the cold, metal chair. I shook my head and laughed. "Of course not, why would you think that?" I chuckled nervously. She laughed with me, "of course, how silly of me. I mean," she looked me up and down, "you're obviously not trying to attract any guys, are you!" She said it as an assessment, not a question. I again had to hold my hands from slapping the fake smile off her pretty, flawless face. "Obviously not," I looked down at my skinny jeans and Sleeping With Sirens tank top. "Great, nice speaking to you, Ava," she said and strutted off with her perfectly curled, blonde hair bouncing behind her like a wig.

"Holy shit," I heard Michael behind me. I turned around quickly and saw him staring at me with wide eyes. "Did she bite you? Are you poisoned? Infected? HIV positive?" I slapped him. "No, but my hand is crying right now because I didn't give it permission to slap her silly," I said and he nodded. "I understand hand, my hand feels similar. And so does every hand at this school," he gestured to everyone around us. "She's a nightmare," I mumbled. "A pink, bubbly, nightmare," he added. "It's sickening," I replied and he agreed. The bell rung. "Time to go our separate ways, darling. I shall talketh to you later," Michael farewelled me dramatically and I laughed. "See you, Michael."

I met Luke out the front of the school. And by 'met', I mean awkwardly approached Luke and Rose making out inappropriately against a wall. Luke heard my footsteps and pulled away quickly before Rose practically forced him back onto her lips. My face flushed from the intense awkwardness of this situation, I debated walking away and having him find me later, but he pushed her off gently and smiled. "Gotta go Rosie, I love you," he said and kissed her cheek. She giggled and hugged him before letting him walk towards me. "My bus comes in a few minutes, come on," I said and he followed me. His head leaned forward and I noticed him smile at my tank top. "You like Sleeping With Sirens? That's awesome," he complimented and I nodded. Take that, Rose.

On the bus we compared the songs on our phones and found out we shared a lot of the same ones. "So Michael spilt strawberry milkshake all over my All Time Low shirt a few weeks ago and it's ruined. I'll never forgive," I said and Luke laughed. "I uhm- I have an All Time Low shirt that doesn't fit me that well anymore. I mean, it'll probably look like a dress on you but-" I blushed and he noticed. "Not your fault, I'm just freakishly tall," he said. "I could give it to you if you want?" He asked, biting on his lip ring, causing my stomach to flip about three times. "Are you sure?" I asked and he smiled. "Who else would I give it to?" He asked and I hesitated before suggesting, "Rose?" His eyes widened. "She wouldn't want it! I'm not taking no for an answer, I'll bring it next time we work on this," he said, referring to the assignment.

Of course I was freaking out more than I'd ever freaked out in my life about thinking of owning Luke Hemming's tank top, but the insecure demon in the back of my head had to keep reminding me one thing.

He's only talking to you right now because he's being forced to. He doesn't like you. He never will.

I kept it quiet for the moment and noticed Luke had an extra bag with him. "What's in there?" I asked and he followed my gaze. "Oh, I gathered some stuff we could use for the display. Sorry for not asking you first," he blushed, "but I had a good idea. I think. I mean, if you don't like it, it's cool," he rambled and I couldn't help but giggle. He looked down and started fiddling with his fingers. Nervous? I didn't ask.

Luke was becoming less of a dream to me and more of a reality every second that passed. I noticed him smile adorably at a little dog outside the window, and laugh quietly to himself about a joke he'd probably heard hours ago. He's more like me than I thought. Michael was right. He was awkward, blushy and quiet. But he somehow pulled it off, unlike myself.

"Okay," he was biting his tongue in concentration glueing on some information we gathered onto our display. "No!" He exclaimed. "It's too diagonal, look, ugh," he pointed and I laughed. "It's fine, Luke," I assured him and he sighed. "I really like your room, by the way," he looked around at all my posters. "Really?" I asked and he nodded, "and this teddy bear is freaking adorable," he took my favourite teddy bear off my bed and stared at it with wide eyes.

Luke Hemmings - sexy, mysterious and tall teenage boy? Or adorable and awkward, giant five-year-old?

Part of me couldn't help but wonder why he was so in love with Rose. Was there a side of her no one but him got to see? In the dark lighting of a park at night, did they talk about the meaning of life and love and the infinite nature of the universe? Did he get butterflies from her kisses like I get every time he blushes or laughs?

"Luke, what are your thoughts about the afterlife?" I asked randomly and instantly regretted it. I forgot these types of conversations were only normal between myself and Michael. He stepped away from the display and sat on my bed, looking at me sitting cross legged on my computer chair. "I think there is something. But it scares me to death," he mumbled and I nodded. "Infinity scares me to death," I said and he looked up, seemingly surprised. "That's what scares me the most about the afterlife," he began. "If we still exist after death, first of all, what are we? Will our senses be different, since we wouldn't be human anymore?" He asked and looked down immediately. "I've never thought about senses. All that scares me is the fact that we either exist forever or cease to exist the moment our hearts stop beating," I said and he looked up. "What are ghosts even?" He asked and I laughed, "don't get me started on ghosts," he giggled. "Oh my god that was adorable," I said, referring to his giggle. "Shut up," he blushed, "it's embarrassing."

Just then his phone rang, and he picked it up immediately. "Hey mama," he answered and my hand flew to my mouth to stifle a laugh. He looked up and rolled his eyes. "Sure," he hung up and started packing his things. "She's picking me up in a few minutes, we'll leave the thing here?" He asked, referring to the display. I nodded and he slipped his shoes back on. "Can I come over tomorrow?" He asked. "To finish it off?" He bit his lip.

I, of course, wanted to drag out his visits for as long as possible. But how could I say no? I nodded and he smiled, but the corner of his eyes hadn't crinkled yet.

He left and my mother's interrogations begun. Not that I'd expected anything different.