✔ DRUNK words, SOBER thoughts ✖ hemmings au

52: Triggers & Revelations

ARI.

Despite the amount of lacerations my heart took, and the months of pain that dwindled down my heart's ability to function, nothing seemed to have mended the broken pieces faster than in the moment my eyes locked with Luke's. It was like a beacon of light beaming through the cracks of my heart, weaving the shattered pieces together till it was whole again. All it took was one look; one genuine smile from the boy with the blonde quiff for me to feel complete.

I don't know how long I was standing there with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. I was just surprised that I was still standing. My entire body was shuddering from utter shock and I wasn't so sure I remembered how to breathe. I was completely overwhelmed, ransacked with emotion that I didn't know what to do but stand there with my hand to my open mouth and tears brimming my waterline.

"Lucas," I breathed to myself, still unsure if what I was seeing was real or just a figment of my imagination. And if it were just my brain messing with me, it'd be the sickest joke my subconscious could ever play.

"Good evening everyone. My name is Luke Hemmings. Hope every body is having a good time. I-um- I'm a friend of Ari's," Luke stammered, and his voice sounded so beautiful in my ears, "at least I hope I still am. I owe her a lot. The thing about Ari Quiroz that you may not know about her, is that she is loyal and she is true. She taught me how to be myself and she taught me that half-assed friendships aren't friendships at all."

"Oh my God," I whispered, still at an awe of what I was witnessing.

"Some of my greatest memories are with Ari, one of which was when she pulled me out of my shell. Well, more like dragged me out," Luke paused, giving the crowd time to chuckle at his remark. "But that's the thing I love the most about her," his eyes locked onto mine, like two puzzle pieces joining as one, "when she believes in you, she stops at nothing to make sure you believe in yourself."

"I adore you," I mouthed. I blinked, causing a few droplets to trickle down my cheek.

Luke still had his eyes on me, nodding his head before mouthing back, "I adore you."

It would be a lie to say I smiled, because what formed on my face was not a smile, but a grin so wide it could catch all the hopes and dreams the universe could hold. My grin turned into a chuckle, paired with more tears because God was I happy. And it wasn't a happy feeling that would only last a few minutes or a few hours, but a happiness that surged through my insides and could fuel enough energy to move mountains. It was the type of happy only Luke could produce, and the only kind of happy I wanted.

"This song that I'm going to play for you all, the song that Ari, her sister and their mother will dance to, is a song that is a family favorite. A song, I learned, that was used as a lullaby to help Ari and Mia fall asleep," Luke continued to speak, his voice reverberating from the microphone and against the walls.

But the words he used to describe this song, all added up to a song I didn't know he knew about. No one knew about this song except for family- hell, even Calum, Michael and Ashton didn't know about it. So how did Luke know?

"Ari, your mother told me that this song used to make you feel better," Luke broadcasted, "and I'm hoping that it still can... Happy Birthday, baby girl."

With that, Luke began to strum his fingers across the strings of his guitar, playing a tune I knew so well. He stepped back up to the microphone, opened his mouth, and with his soothing voice, sang the first verse. His singing could inspire a million people, cause stars to dance and the sun to shine brighter. It was epitome of beauty and I was blessed to be surrounded by it.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and when I turned over my head, Mia stood with her arm out. I smiled at her, grabbing her hand and leading me back to the center of the dance floor where our mother still was. With enclosed hands, the three of us swayed the the sound of Luke's voice, all with tears in our eyes. Every once in a while, I take a moment to look at Luke, whose eyes never gazed anywhere else but in my direction.