Pretty Girls ⇼ Luke Hemmings

“A pretty boy is nothing if he has an ugly attitude,” Luke laugh loudly as soon as the words left my mouth.
“Well, pretty girls are nothing if they can’t hold their liquor,” he shot back, staring down at me. I felt so vulnerable in this moment. Like at any second, he could ruin me.
“I can too hold my liquor,” I defended myself, knowing that probably wasn’t true. Luke raised an eyebrow.
“I bet you’re one of those girls who gets really horny when they’re drunk but won’t give out.” My eyes widened at his brash words.
“I am not!” I don’t know what came over me, but my voice was loud. Much louder than he or I anticipated.
“Sure looked that way when Ashton’s hands were all over you,” he smirked. I could tell that he found amusement in my uncomfortability.
“I let him buy me a drink, I had no control of him putting his hand there,” I huffed. “And besides, I wanted to tell him to move it,” I don’t know why I was trying to prove myself to him.

“I’m just testing your purity and faith,” Luke’s eyes were wild and I wanted to stand up and slap him, but I didn’t.
“Well, that is none of your business,” I told him, and I meant it. Who was he to judge me?
“Just saying. You shouldn’t let a guy buy you a drink if you’re not going to fuck him,” I clenched my jaw at his words. What I do with my body is my choice.
“Boys like you are so entitled!” I snapped, standing up. The tips of our shoes were touching and with the added height of my heels, he still towered over me. A smirk plastered on his face. “You always think someone owes you something. Well guess what, they don’t,” he laughed. I couldn’t tell whether or not he was laughing at me, but I was getting frustrated.
“Calm down, Virgin Mary,” he mocked. “I don’t think anyone owes me anything,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You know you don’t belong here, right?” He changed the topic. “Just because Lea likes you for some reason doesn’t mean you belong at my parties, with my friends,” when I didn’t respond, he stepped closer to me. In a nervous action, I stepped backwards, hitting the wall. Our shoe tips connected again.

“Valerie, Valerie, Valerie.” He tsked, his breath was hot against my face and had a lingering scent of mint mixed with tobacco. “You don’t fit in. We don’t need some Jesus freak cramping our style,” his voice held a hint of threat. My breath was caught in my throat. I didn’t know what to say, but I certainly wasn’t a Jesus freak. The only reason I went to church and catholic schools was because my parents made me. It was never my decision.
“I’ll stop coming around when I stop getting invited,” I challenged in a bold move.
“Then I’ll make sure they stop pitying you,” his tongue flicked out to wet his lips. Did they really pity me? Was that why they invited me? Was that why they were being so nice? “Did you really think they wanted to be your friend?” He laughed as if he read my mind. “They want to dress you up like this, get you drunk, and humiliate you,” he threatened, his eyes scanning down my body. I felt so small compared to him.
“That’s not true,” I defended. “I know when people pity me, and this is not the case,” I refused to believe it. “The only one who is trying to humiliate me is you,” his eyes narrowed, a mocking smile formed on his face.
“You make it so easy,” he whispered, his breath hitting my face.

I didn’t know what to say. Or do, for that matter. I was angry beyond belief and if I stood here any longer, I felt I could do something stupid, like smack that dumb look off his face.
“I am going back inside,” I waited for him to step away and when he didn’t, I pushed past him. He was quick to grab my wrist and pull me back to face him.
“Don’t trip on the stick that fell out of your ass on the way,” I didn’t reply. Instead I pulled my arm from his grip and stormed inside. It took me a second to find Lea. She was sat at a table in the back with Ashton, Calum and Michael. Taking a deep breath, I walked towards them and slid into the booth next to Ashton. He immediately turned to me.
“You like the set?” He asked. He smelt of whisky.
“Yes. It was very good,” I lied.
“You only stayed for about ten seconds,” Calum laughed from the other side of Ashton, leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table. I smiled lightly, fighting off the urge to tell him that it wasn’t polite to put your elbows on a table. When I glanced at Lea and Michael on the other side of the table, I grimaced at the way they were so engrossed in each other. I could hear them kissing from here.

“Well, those ten seconds were lovely,” I turned my attention back to them.
“Where’d you go?” Ashton asked, his face falling as if he was hurt by the fact that I left.
“I felt crowded. I needed some air,” I left out the bit about Luke’s state being what dragged me to get air in the first place.
“You always seem to need air,” Ashton smiled, taking a sip of his drink.
“Well you need air to live,” I stated simply, and the two boys laughed.
“You’re a funny girl, Val,” Calum complimented. They couldn’t be pitying me, could they? They don’t have to talk to me, but they are. I hated Luke for putting the thought in my head.
“I don’t mean to be,”
“You should change to a comedy major,” Ashton slurred and I couldn’t help but giggle.
“Too bad there’s no such thing,”

I wanted the light conversation to continue, but as soon as I thought about it, Luke walked over to the table.
“Scoot over,” he demanded.
“Go sit on the other side,” I let out a dry laugh.
“I don’t want to sit next to the two sucking face,” his face was disgusted.
“I don’t care,” I crossed my arms. “I am not moving,” Luke’s eyes glared into me and he stood there for a second, as if contemplating what to do. His eyes shifted to Ashton and Calum before he sighed and slid next to Lea and Michael. He immediately pulled out his phone and slouched down. I ignored the fact that his long legs took up the entire space underneath the table.
“You don’t like Lukey Luke?” Calum asked, his voice low though I knew Luke could still hear. I shrugged, my eyes focusing on my white painted nails.
“I can’t get over how great you look,” Ashton breathed into my ear. My body stiffened as he placed his hand on my thigh. I wanted to push it away but I didn’t want to anger him.

“How about a round of shots on me?” Luke asked without looking up from his phone. The mention of shots had caused Lea and Michael to pull away from each other. With a sigh, Luke stood, his eyes beaming into me. “Help me grab them,” he ordered. I didn’t mind that he was pulling me away from the group, most likely to make more rude comments. I just wanted Ashton’s hands off of me. I clambered out of the booth and followed Luke, who was already heading to the bar. “You really should tell people when you don’t want them to touch you,” his voice was rough as he grabbed ahold of my arm. I stared at him. Was he concerned? Certainly not, minutes ago he was mocking me.
“Don’t touch me,” Luke laughed loudly, so loud I was startled.
“Six tequila shots,” he told the bartender. “Or would you prefer a Sex on the Beach?” His eyes were hooded. I didn’t reply, merely rolling my eyes. When we got back to the table with the shots, Michael and Lea were pulling on their coats.
“Michael and I are going back to the party,” she told me before picking up the shot and downing it. “I’ll see you later,” she smiled as Michael took his shot and gave Luke a pat on the back before the two left. I slid into the booth that they’d just been in, wondering how I’d possibly get home when I didn’t know which stop to get off at.

After we took the round of shots, Ashton tried to buy me another drink, but I refused. The alcohol was wearing me down and I felt so tired. I was leaning my head against the wall while the three boys chatted. Calum and Ashton repeatedly tried to bring me into the conversation, but I was too exhausted to participate so I just smiled and nodded. After what felt like an hour of sitting around, listening to their conversations, Ashton suggested we all go back to the frat house. As much as I wanted to go to bed, I couldn’t. As we left the bar, I tried to go my separate way, saying goodbye, but Calum and Ashton weren’t having it.
“You can’t go yet!” Ashton slurred. “It’s still early,”
“Yeah, Val, come on!” Calum agreed. I didn’t want to go, but seeing the look on Luke’s face when I agreed to come back was worth it. He was clearly angry, and that fueled me. We got into Calum’s car and I was forced into the back seat with Luke but strangely, I didn’t mind. It was better to be with him in the back than drunk Ashton, who couldn’t keep his hands to himself.

Notes