Pretty Girls ⇼ Luke Hemmings

“Valerie,” Luke’s voice was soft. He pushed a hair out of my face as I struggled to open my eyes, ultimately keeping them shut because it’s much too bright in his room.
“What?” I groaned, pulling the blanket over my exposed arm.
“It’s time to get up,”
“Five more minutes,” I pleaded as he laughed.
“I already gave you five minutes. I don’t want you to be late for class.” I was so comfortable in his bed, I wanted to lie there forever. I peeled my eyes open to see him sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed and ready to go.

“I don’t want to go,” I complained. “I want to sleep.” Luke smiled, shaking his head.
“I brought you coffee,” he handed me a mug and I sat up, taking a sip.
“What time is it?” The bitterness of the coffee ran down my throat. I’m normally not one for black coffee, but I figured it’d help with how exhausted I was.
“Seven.” I didn’t have to be at class until nine, but I appreciated that he knew how early I needed to be awake in order to get ready in time. If I wasn’t back to my room in 30 minutes, I would be late. With reluctance, I pushed the covers off my body and took another sip of the coffee. “We have to leave,” he stood, grabbing his keys and I groaned.

“Can’t we just stay here and sleep in?” I begged and he turned back around with a small smile.
“Are you suggesting we play hooky?” He asked.
“Maybe.” I set the mug on the nightstand, lying back down. I peaked at him, watching as he peeled off his black shirt and began undoing his pants. “What are you doing?” I asked with a small laugh.
“Getting back in bed,” he pulled his jeans down and crawled under the covers, pulling them over my arms and nestling into the pillow. He pulled me closer to his body by my arm and I tensed, setting my head on his chest. I didn’t know why I felt uncomfortable being so close to him, when less than 24 hours ago I seemed to need it. When he began to rake his fingers over my spine, I relaxed into him and all the feelings of uncomfortability went away. I forced my eyes shut and went back to sleep.

***

When I woke up, it was nearly 10:30. My head was still on Luke’s chest and he was scrolling through Facebook his phone. One of his arms was trapped under me, his hand on the small of my back. I didn’t move, I didn’t want to leave the warmth of his body. My eyes fell to the arm that was holding up his phone and I reached over, tracing along the black lines of his tattoos. He stilled for a second before tossing his phone beside him. I sat up and went over the ink on his chest. He didn’t say anything, he just let me continue my actions.

“Did they hurt?” I finally asked and he smiled.
“Some of them did, but with others I didn’t feel a thing,” I smiled, tracing the words across his ribs. He moved his arm behind his head to give me more access and his eyes fluttered shut.
“Did this one?” I asked, drawing my hand back from his ribs. His smile faltered and I wondered if it was because of the loss of contact.
“Like hell,” he laughed. I crooked my head to read the words. ‘Art never comes from happiness’. My eyes fell to his chest and I watched it slowly rise and fall with his breathing. The tattoos covering his arms were seemingly pointless. Some of them were simple scrawls on his skin that I didn’t understand why he’d permanently put them on his skin. Others were more reasonable: A mermaid with it’s top off, a pinup girl, a boxer holding his tattooed arms out to fight. Although I’d never consider getting any of them, I understood how someone would like them enough to get them. “Have you ever thought of getting one?” He asked and my eyes widened.
“I don’t know,” I smiled. “I think my parents would kill me.” He raised an eyebrow.

“But I think I want one,” I blushed.
“What would you get?”
“A sunflower,” I told him and he smiled. “Probably on the back of my shoulder,” I lied back down and set my head on his chest.
“Why a sunflower?” He set his hand on my arm, his thumb slowly grazing back and forth.
“When my dad picked me up from school for breaks, he would always bring me a big bouquet of them.” I set my hand on his chest and heard his heartbeat quicken.
“That’s nice,” his thumb stopped moving.

“Luke?” My voice was quiet and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to have the impeding conversation. He hummed in response and the way his chest vibrated made me nervous to speak. “What are we doing?” I finally asked. I wanted to pick my head up and look at him, but his grip was firm and I wasn’t ready to be without his touch.
“I don’t know Val,” he sighed, “You know that I like you.” He paused, “and I know you like me.”
“So why are you doing this whole back and forth thing with me?” I frowned.
“Fuck, I don’t know.” He wriggled out of my grip and sat up. I did the same, sitting across from him with my legs crossed. “It’s just what I do,” he leaned against the headboard. I didn’t reply. Instead, I looked at the floor. Petunia was lying on her bed in the corner, chewing on a rawhide bone. Luke sighed. “I don’t know what you’re doing to me,” he admitted.

“What do you mean?” I looked back at him, but his gaze remained on the wall.
“You’re turning me into someone else. I mean, when I’m with you… I-I don’t want to go to parties or get drunk and do drugs. I don’t even want to pick fights or fuck with people I just… I just want to be a better person and treat you well,” I was shocked at his admission. He’s never opened up to me like this.
“Well, why don’t you then?” I asked and his blue eyes finally met mine. He shrugged.
“Because that’s not me. I don’t know how to do that shit,” I didn’t know what to say to that. I stared at my lap, picking at the skin around my nails. “I wish I did, Val. But my family didn’t raise me that way.” I nodded, still unable to look at him.

He pulled my face up so I could meet his eyes, but I looked away despite his hold on my chin.
“Come on,” he rasped. “Look at me,” he pleaded. “I’m trying. I swear I am,” I finally met his eyes and nodded.
“I know.” Even a blind man could see how much Luke had changed since our first encounter.
“You mean a lot to me. Did you know that?” He moved his hand from my chin and intertwined our fingers.
“Not really,” I let out a dry laugh and he frowned.
“Why else would I keep bothering you?” He joked. I couldn’t help but smile.
“I don’t know what you’re doing to me either,” I whispered and his eyes saddened. “I’ve had my entire life planned by the minute since I was born and now… Now I don’t even know what I’m going to do tomorrow. Let alone in the next couple hours.” He didn’t reply.

We sat like that for a while. His hand holding mine, just staring at each other. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine. It was much different than our usual passionate kisses. This one was slow, soft, and delicate. I kissed him back for a split second before he pulled away and pressed his forehead to mine.
“I want to be the right person for you Val,” He whispered.
“I want you to be the right person for me, too.”
“Then just give me a chance,” he pleaded.
“Luke, if you hurt me-” I began, but was quickly cut off.
“I won’t,” he promised.
“Okay,” I agreed and he pressed his lips to mine again.

Notes