You Promised (A Luke Hemmings FanFic)

Favorite Sweater

Luke’s POV

I ladled the soups into the bowls when the sleeve of her sweater brushes my arm.

It’s her favorite one.

It was a regular grey sweater, but it was washed-just-the-right-amount-of-times kind of soft.

She once forced me into it, just to understand how comfortable it was.

But I already knew, because I’d wake up with my arm around her.

Her sweater against my skin.

The many times I’d bury my face in the crook of her neck and shoulder.

Her hair and sweater tickling my cheeks.

The many times we’d sit side by side, arm by arm.

Her arms and sweater comforting me with a hug.

I must have looked odd from zoning out, because Cass touched my arm lightly.

“You okay?” her voice was soft and quiet, like it always is when she’s worried, concerned, or sad.

I try to give her a reassuring smile, but she sees right through me.

She knew that there was something up on my mind.

Like always, she gave me time until I wanted to talk.

So she gently took the ladle out of my hand, and steered me over to my neatly stacked pile of pillows and duvet. They sat patiently at the end of the pull-out sofa bed.

Again, just like that.

Just. Like. That.

The many times she’d give me time to think. To talk. The sweater would brush my arm.

All this time, I knew how soft the sweater is.

The comfy couch that sat across the TV was a pull-out sofa bed.

I pulled it out after I got back from the grocery run.

The coffee table was pushed out of the way, the cushions were laying on the ground.

I sat down quietly and draped the duvet over my legs and stared at my hands.

I didn’t know why, but, the sweater just made me think about how she had been there for me all along.

But I have been oblivious to all the little things that she did for me.

When I was sick, she took care of me.

When I wanted to talk, she listened.

When I was nervous, she stayed by my side.

Everything, and anything. She was there.

God. I’m such a horrible friend.

Cass came over and brought the food over, breakfast-in-bed style, with the tray and everything.

The legs of the tray sat on either sides of my legs.

She came back and sat on the other side of the bed.

We didn’t turn the TV on, no music, no distractions.

Just us.

“How’s the tour?” she asks.

I look over and see her warm brown eyes on me.

“Good, we get the week off since we’re in Australia.”

“How’s the shows?”

I find myself smiling at all the memories on the road and on stage.

Before I know it, I was rambling about all the things that happened for the past year.

The awkward tension subsided as we went back to our normal selves.

Back to being best friends.

We filled each other in on everything, and avoided the topic of being more than friends.

Time flew by, and the food was gone.

Soon enough, we had ran out of things to say, and sat oddly in front of one another.

Picking up the empty breakfast try, “I’ll wash the dishes.”

“No! It’s fine, I’ll do it,” she starts to get up but I was already in the kitchen.

“Too late,” I replied.

The smile I had on my face seconds ago quickly vanished.

My words hung in the air, reminding us both of what happened.

She let out a small-but-forced laugh.

I watched the water wash away ribbons of soup, as I heard her shuffle away.

Moments later, she was stationed back in her seat, the middle of the bed, laptop and book in hand.

She loved sitting in the middle, it was the perfect view of the TV.

We would fight over the spot sometimes, but she would always win.

Sometimes, she was too tired to push me off her spot, so she’d sit in between my legs.

Her back on my chest, her head gently resting on my shoulder.

Our arms laced around each other to reach the bowl of popcorn.

Our legs tucked underneath the covers, surrounded in a fort of comfort.

At some point, one of us would fall asleep first.

It was mostly her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was pouring the remaining soup into a container when Cassidy’s voice trails off.

“I’ll be in my room if you need me.”

I look over as I watch a wisp of her hair disappear behind her door.

Popping the lid on, I place the soup into the fridge and wash the remaining dishes.