Social Casualty

*Luke* Chapter 3
2010
“What did you want to talk about?” I ask, sitting down next to Calum at the lunch table. All my friends look at me like I’m crazy. He’s not what you would call popular. He’s just that nerd that sits with his sister at lunch. Kind of weird if you ask me.
His sister, though, is a different story. She has a whole crowd sitting with her. He just tags along. It seems like, at least. She’s beautiful and has amazing outfits. Everyone loves her. She doesn’t talk to any of those other girls though. It’s strange. She’s amazing. I swear she hates me though. I talk to her all the time. We’re like best friends. Except she hates me.
“My sister,” he says. Big surprise.
“What about her?”
“You like her?” he asks, more a statement than a question.
“Yeah, is that a problem?” I will get her to go out with me. I love her so much that it’s not even funny.
“She likes you.”
“No, she doesn’t. She hates me. Like a lot. I talk to her all the time though,” I say.
“I’m aware. She doesn’t hate you actually. She would love to go out with you,” he says, having a hard time saying these words. He’s kidding. No way.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, just ask her out. If you do anything, though, and I mean anything to hurt her, there’s a chance you might not live,’ he says, very serious.
“I-I won’t. I swear. Can I ask her out today?”
“I don’t care. That’s your problem. I’m just warning you, Hemmings. I’m only giving you one chance.”
“Um, thank you?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Yes! She loves me. I’m going over to her table to ask her out. I stand up and leave Calum by himself. He pulls out his phone to text someone. Probably Michael.
“Hey, Reign,” I say, reaching her table.
“Hey, Luke.”
“What’s up?”
“The sky, idiot.” She is so funny. Always has been.
“Wow, okay,” I say. This is so awkward. What am I doing? I look like an idiot. That makes sense. She just called me an idiot.
I turn to the girl sitting on her left. “Move.”
“Umm, I’m sitting here.”
“I said, move.”
“Fine.” The girl grabs her bag and stood up.
I sit down and face Reign. Everyone at the table stares at me.
Adelaide whispers something in Reign’s ear.


*Reign*

“Don’t let him get to you,” she whispers in my ear. I nod. Hayley and Amber sit next to Addy and speak quietly while listening to us.
“What do you want, Luke?” He struggles for words.
“I-I like…like you,” he stutters.
“That’s not new information,” I say, unsurprised. I already knew this. His facial expression immediately changes from concentrated to disbelief.
“How did you know?” he asks, like it’s magic. I’m not Harry Potter.
“You don’t have to be Harry Potter to figure it out, Luke. You make it too obvious. You talk to me constantly. You care too much about me than you should. Sure, it’s nice but people can tell that something’s up. You’re not nice and caring for random reasons,” I explain. He’s not very nice to many people.
“Do you like me?” he asks. I’m not stupid. He already knows the answer.
“You talked to Calum. I know that you already know what I told him, Luke. You don’t have to pretend.”
“How do you know that I know anything?”
“Because I’m just awesome like that,” I smile.
“Reign, will you go out with me then?”
I sigh. “I don’t know, Luke. I need to think about it.” He frowns. “YES!” I shout a couple seconds later.
He grabs my face and kisses me deeply. Everyone at the table says, “Aww.”
“Hemmings, Hood, my office now!” the principal shouts.
Luke lets go of me and stares at me. “I love you already.”
I grin. “It’s a little too early for that, babe.”
He simply answers, “I don’t care.”
“Now!” The principal again.
Addy looks at me sympathetically. Luke and I stand up, holding hands. I glance at Calum and Michael. Calum smiles sadly and Michael winks.
Before we leave, I see Calum and Michael run to Adelaide. Probably to ask about what happened before the kiss.

*Luke*

“Just so you know, that beanie looks adorable on you,” I say. “And your sweatshirt.” She has a penguin hoodie, my favorite animal.
“Just so you know, that lip ring looks adorable on you,” she says back.
We sit outside the office. The principal talks to someone else.
“Luke Hemmings and Reign Hood?” the office assistant says. I look up. “The principal would like to speak with you now.”

*Adelaide*

Reign walks out, her mascara running down her face. I run towards her. “What happened, babe?” I ask.
“He’s going to call our parents and separate us in our classes. It’s not fair. PDA happens all the time. We’re old enough for it anyway.”
“Where’s Luke?”
“He wanted to talk to the principal alone.”
“Reign!” Luke shouts. He runs to her and pulls her into a tight hug. She wraps her arms around his neck.
“What happened?” I hear her whisper against his chest.
“I fixed it. He isn’t calling our parents. I’m in all your classes now. It’s okay, baby.” He kisses her.
“How?”
“Gave him ten thousand dollars,” Luke says, shrugging like it’s no big deal.
“Ten thousand?” I ask in shock.
“Why did you bring ten thousand dollars to school?” Reign asks.
“I always bring at least fifteen thousand. Just in case. I’ve never needed it until now. Also, I got him to let us go early.”
“Just me and you?” she asks.
“No, me, you, Addy, Ashton, Calum, Michael, Hayley, and Amber. I knew that you would want them to be with you. You seem so close to them.”
“Thank you, Luke. I love you so much.” Hayley and Amber run out of the cafeteria to us.
“What happened?” Hayley asks. They also sat at our lunch table.
Addy explains what happened to them and that we got the rest of the day off. I text Calum to tell him about it.

Me: Hey, Cal Pal. Guess what?
Calum: What, Rainbow?
Me: We got the day off!
Calum: Sweet! What happened in there?
Me: We talked to him and he said he would call our parents. Luke gave him $10,000 and he changed his mind.
Calum: That’s awesome!
Me: Also, Ashton, Michael, Hayley, Addy, and Amber get the day off.
Calum: YES!
Me: Where are you? Meet us in the lobby.
Calum: Going to get Michael.
Me: Kay, Hayley and Amber are here. Addy will text Ashton.
Calum: See you in a few, Rainbow.

“Addy, can you text Ashton and tell him to meet us here?” I ask.
Addy whips out her phone and says, “Sure thing.” As she types away, Calum and Michael appear.
“Hey, Cal,” I say, giving him a hug.
“Hey, you okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Good,” Calum says, eyeing Luke.
“Hey, Michael,” I say, kissing his cheek.
“Hey, Angel,” he says. He hugs me and wipes my runny makeup.
“Are you guys ready to go?” Amber asks.
“Yeah,” I say, grabbing Luke’s hand.
We walk out to Ashton’s car and wait for him. A couple minutes later, he runs out the front doors.
“Sorry I’m late. Hey, Honeybun. How you doing?” he asks me.
“I’m okay,” I say. “Just a little freaked out. How about you, Teddy Bear?” I ask, laughing.
He smiles. “Pretty well. I guess. Thanks for getting me out of class, Luke,” he says, fist bumping Luke.
“Who wants to ride with who?” Ashton says.
“I’ll ride with Ash,” I say.
“So, Reign, Luke, Hayley, and me. Are you guys okay with that?” Ashton asks.
“Yeah. Where are we going anyway?” Cal says.
“Dairy Queen,” Michael and Luke say at the same time, excited. They look at each other and both say, “Bro!”
“Sounds good,” Ashton says, smiling.
I sit in the back with Luke. I lean against him.
“So, are you okay?” he asks.

Notes

I will update soon! I promise!
-Emily x