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"But you don’t want to be with me," he whispered A pained expression crossed his face; it was like devastation, like I’d just taken everything important away from him I kneas probably the only person that knew Luke properly He had no one else really, his faot to see the showy side of him I was probably the only one he had ever opened up to I was probably the only one that knew the real Luke Hannigan The thought of hi alone if I cut hiht of hiood

"Maybe we could be friends? See what happens?" I suggested, wanting to take the hopeless and hurt look off of his face Didn’t everyone deserve a second chance? If I hadhiht now

His head snapped up, his eyes wide and hopeful "Really? I’d love that, baby" He put his hands on htly as he pushed hiulped at his words, the fa out of his mouth It shouldn’t make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, it shouldn’t make my heart race in my chest, and it shouldn’t make my stomach flutter But it did "I’d love the chance to win you back As much as you don’t want to admit it, you and I are perfect for each other You need me just as much as I need you," he whispered

My arms acted withouthim closer toin his smell that made my skin prickle and my stomach flutter I knew I couldn’t just cut it off with him because ht, I did need him

"Let’s just take it slow and be friends," I repeated, putting e his face into ainst his chest I have no idea how long we stayed like that, unh

He pulled back and so; your brother and dad are probably waiting to ju I can’t deny theain Your dad hasn’t even taken a swing yet, so I guess I need to allow that toquietly

I sht there "Okay, well I’ll see you tomorrow at school"

A small frown crossed his face "Think I could pick you up in the ? Drive you to school?" he asked hopefully "As friends of course," he added the last part quickly

I gulped; I wasn’t ready for that kind of thing yet It was hard enough being at school with everyone knowing and gossiping about me and him; I couldn’t shoith him and sparkwhy it was that ere being friends; I couldn’t shoith him too

"I think I should ride with Alex"

He sighed and nodded "Okay I’ll see you at school then" Before I could protest, he leant in and pressed his lips against mine The fah my body because of how perfectly his lips fitted mine Then it was over He pulled back and smiled at me sadly before he stood up and stroked his hand down the side ofas you need I love you"

I didn’t knohat to say to that, so I said nothing He took that as his cue to leave and walked off; leavingthe place that I last saw his body I touched host of his kiss there Running ue over o downstairs to spend some time with my faer than I thought to assureLuke too fast, and that eren’t back together It took even longer to get hiree not to shove his fist down Luke’s throat

Ischedule Finally, after faking that I was okay for another half an hour, I excused myself to bed As I curled in the sheets I could feel the sadness trying to creep over ain As soon as I was in the darkness ain I willed myself to fall asleep quickly, but that didn’t happen Instead, I cried for another half an hour before drifting into a shallow and uneasy slu finally ca I was on auto-pilot as I dressed and trudged to Alex’s car As we pulled into the parking lot of the school I spotted Luke sitting on the hood of his car, three spaces down His friends were all hanging around hi, but he seemed a little distracted When we pulled into the space he sprung away fro across his face I watched the way his unbuttoned black shirt blew in the light wind, the white T-shirt stuck to his body showing off how sculpted he was from all the football he played I watched the way the shed sadly He still had an effect on my body; I was still incredibly attracted to hiirls looked at him too They had always looked, but before I’d been confident in his affections so theet jealous because I trusted hih I felt a little sick with jealousy

Alex said his goodbyes as he eyed up a group of girls ere standing off to one side He was obviously choosing his weekly target What with all the exciteet to irls

Luke reached the car just as I closed reeted His hand htly whichhis hand drop to his side as he kicked his shoes on the ground

"Morning," I replied, trying to ignore the way he looked so sad

"Morning"