Loving Luke | muke [c]

Fifteen

"A little more to the left," I nodded, taking a sip from my Vitamin Water before quickly screaming, with my mouth still full of the drink and lips pressed together, for Ashton to stop. "No, that's too much!" 

"Michael," My close friend sighed, letting go of the couch and ignoring the loud thud of it hitting the wooden floor of the new house Luke and I would be sharing for the next few months. "When I said I'd help you move in, I meant putting your books on shelves, not moving all your furniture around for your Feng Shui crap."

"Hush, child." I exclaimed, raising a finger. I had no idea what I was doing or why I was acting the way I was. All I knew was that Luke would be home in less than an hour and I wanted to surprise him having the house looking tidy. The truth was, coming back home from Melbourne made me feel worse than I had ever felt in my life. I felt like the worst friend I could have possibly been and all I wanted was to make up to Luke. "Now, just nudge the couch right a little, and we're good."

From the corner of my eye, I could see Ashton glaring at me before he pushed the couch with his leg. He stopped once I told him it was perfect, taking it as his chance to fall face first into the comfiest white leather couch my money could afford. It was a shit couch, but it was the intention that counted. I sighed, walking around the white coffee table Mum had gotten us as a small gift before sitting on Ashton's bum, knowing that the curly haired man wasn't going to be bothered with me sitting on him. 

"Can you feel the positivity wavering around us already?" I sighed contently. "I sure can."

"I can feel your ass bones digging into my skin. Is that positive enough for you?" He grumbled, digging his face into one of the baby blue cushions I had gotten to match the painting on the wall. 

I was lucky enough that Liz had found us a house where all the walls and counter tops were white, meaning we could add our splashes of colour all around. How Liz had found that house, I had no idea. But I was glad she did. I had complemented it with white furniture and baby blue and green details all around it. I knew Luke was obsessed with things that matched his eyes, so I made sure his house matched his eyes too. And mine, of course. I just really hoped Luke would appreciate the effort and not be upset with me for leaving him back in Melbourne.

"So, we're done, right?" Ashton asked, trying his best to turn around and look back at me. I nodded slowly, knowing that that meant Ashton was about to leave, and I really didn't want him to. "Alright then," He sighed, pushing me off of his body as he stood up with a groan. "I gotta go pick Calum up from Uni. I'll see you soon, yeah?"

I nodded again, wrapping my arms around Ashton's torso and suddenly feeling small. He held me tight, rubbing my back and telling me everything would be okay. Even though the sliding glass doors to the back garden were open and the curtains were drawn back, the house still felt dark. The late afternoon sun was shining through, but I couldn't help but feel stuck in the darkness. I just hoped Luke would come in with a smile and brighten everything up. 

I heard the front door close and Ashton's car roar into life, meaning I was once again alone. I paced around aimlessly, walking into Luke's room and smiling at the job I had done organising everything. I had gotten us some nice white bedsheets and white nightstands. Luke had a baby blue lamp in his room while I had a pastel green one in mine. I had put so much effort into making this house both aesthetically pleasing and something I knew Luke would like that I couldn't help but be extremely anxious about his reaction to all of it. All I hoped was that the two of us could manage to keep the house looking nice and clean.

Hearing the sound of car doors slamming shut outside made my heart stop for a split second. I took a deep breath, licking my lips as I walked back out into the living room, standing before the front door nervously. I could hear two voices outside, obviously Luke's and Liz's, before I heard a car door closing again and Liz's car drove off. The fact that Luke had come in alone was making it even harder for me to wait to see him. The door opened and I couldn't help but take a step forward as my best friend came into view. He looked up at me, dark bags under his blue eyes and hair flat against his forehead and the shattering of my heart could most likely be heard all the way in China. I felt like the biggest piece of crap for leaving him alone when he needed me most.

I didn't hesitate to walk over to him, wrapping my arms around Luke's waist and pulling him in. Luke instantly hugged me back, dropping his bag to the ground and letting go of his large suitcase. His arms wrapped around my neck tightly, holding me still and keeping me steady. I told myself I wasn't going to cry, I was going to smile and act happy, because that was what I wanted Luke to see me as: a happy person. That was what Luke had always seen me as even though I hadn't been so in so many years. Pulling away was almost too hard for me to do, but I knew I had to before I started sobbing. I gave him an encouraging smile, looking around us.

"It's good to see you." I said rather shyly. I wasn't usually this shy around Luke, but this time around, I couldn't help but be so.

"You too," He sighed heavily. "You have no idea." There was a small silence between us before Luke clicked his tongue. "You know what? I'm starving."

"Me too." I nodded with a huff. "I've been organising this place all day and didn't even have lunch. Why don't you go take a shower and I'll go grab us some Nando's?" 

Luke smiled widely, eyes fluttering closed as he nodded. "Sounds ideal. Thanks, Mike."

"No worries." I shrugged as I took my car keys from the kitchen island. "It's my pleasure."

-

"I am so tired." Luke whined, leaning his head against the counter. His cheek was flat against it, lips slightly puckered as he closed his eyes. "I think I could just sleep right here."

"No," I chuckled lightly as I took our plates and threw the remains in the bin. Luke groaned loudly as I placed both plates in the dishwasher, deciding he was definitely not going to move. "You have to go to bed, come on."

He sighed, sitting up again as his eyes met mine. "I don't want to sleep alone again, Mike."

I smiled sadly at him. For so long in my life, that had been me, dreading sleeping alone and missing the one person who would always sleep next to me and that was now gone. Luke had been that person for me, Luke had been the body who filled the other side of my bed at night and held me close until I fell asleep. I had always wondered if Luke ever felt the way I did whenever he didn't come over to cuddle. I wondered if he missed me, if the bed felt too big and if he felt empty. Now, it was only hurting me because I knew he felt like that about someone else. All I ever wanted was for him to feel that way about me.

"We all do, sometimes." I said softly, trying not to give in to Luke. I hated knowing he felt that bad, but at this point, it was his wellbeing or mine and Ashton had reassured me so many times that being selfish was okay at times. I wanted to be selfish now. "You'll be okay, I promise."

"I'll be okay if you're next to me." He pouted. "Mikey, please?" 

If I had once thought I was strong, I was wrong. One look at the tired blond and I gave in, walking over to him and picking him up. I knew I shouldn't, but I just couldn't help myself. Luke needed someone and I just wanted that someone to be me so bad, I couldn't stand the idea of neglecting Luke's wishes until he went off and found someone else. I carried him into his bedroom, sitting him up and pulling his shirt over his head. Luke hummed, undoing his shoelaces as I began pulling my jeans down, deciding that sleeping in my boxers and a shirt was enough. Luke was going full out, ending up in only his boxers as he got under the covers. I walked over to the other side of the bed, slipping into the soft bedsheets and letting my head sink into the pillow.

Luke turned over to me, close enough so that our breaths could mingle into one. Neither of us had brushed our teeth after that meal, but with Luke tired the way he was and that close to me, I was pretty sure neither of us even thought of that at that moment. We simply looked at each other in the darkness, even though we could barely see anything.

"The house looks great, by the way." Luke remarked in a hushed tone. "Thank you."

I was about to reply with a short 'you're welcome', but before I could, soft lips were being placed over mine in a chaste kiss that caught me by surprise. My heart was hammering in my chest, stunned as Luke pulled away and turned around, taking a deep breath as he began to drift off to sleep. I lay there awake, reliving the feeling of Luke's lips on mine for the first time. And after all those years, all I could really think was that, at that moment, I should be the one thanking him.

~~~

i posted the blurb for my texting story :-)

it's called "on tour" pls go check it outs