I felt a tap on my shoulder, causing me to drop a book from my hands onto the floor. It was just after my last class of the day, and I was packing up to finally go home. I turned around, facing the person that had startled me.

"Hey." Luke said, smiling softly. I hadn't seen Luke for about 4 days, after he left my house Sunday morning he didn't come to school at all. I actually had been starting to get worried about him. He looked almost the same as the last time I saw him; his eyes still red and tired and his clothes and hair still messy, like he hadn't slept for days. I wished he would just tell me what's going on.

"Hi. Where have you been?" I asked. Luke bent down and picked up my book off the floor at the same time a me, our fingers brushing as we both touched it. Luke pulled back quickly and stood up straight again.

"Home." Luke shrugged. "I was home today, too. I just came here to...get you."

"Why? Is everything alright? Are you okay?" I bombarded him with questions as always. I'm surprised Luke hadn't expressed any annoyance towards my constant questions yet. He seemed not to be bothered.

"If I answer truthfully you'll just yell at me again." Luke looked down at the floor.

"Then lie to me." I said, shoving the last of my books into my backpack.

"I'm perfectly fine. Everything's alright. There's nothing you need to worry about." Luke looked up, a small smile playing across his lips.

"Luke." I sighed. Luke stepped forward and grabbed my hand in his, twisting and untwisting our fingers.

"What?" Luke muttered, suddenly staring back down at the floor.

"You need to stop this, you get yourself all worked up over nothing." I shook my head.

"I'm sorry." Luke's voice came out like more like a squeak than anything else.

"You don't have to apologize."

"I wanted to say sorry for causing a fight between you and Ashton. Are you guys okay now?" Luke asked. I leaned up against my locker, pulling Luke with me as he continued to play with my fingers.

"We're fine." I answered. "We just got in a small fight, it wasn't bad at all."

Luke nodded. "That's good." He said, barely audible.

"You came all the way here at the end of the day just to come get me? You could have just called me, I would have just come over." I changed the subject away from Ashton, knowing that Luke really didn't want to talk about that.

"I just really wanted to see you." Luke mumbled.

"Aw, you missed me?" I joked.

"Psh, no." Luke scoffed. "I wanted to see if you had any math homework for me to do. I haven't been to school for four days, I've been deprived."

"You're really offering to do my math homework?" I laughed. Whenever Luke helped me with math he insisted that I do it all on my own, because that was the only way I was going to actually learn the material.

"Or I could just help you with it." Luke said, smirking.

"That's more like it." I laughed.

"Do you want to go to the library or something then?" Luke whispered. He had leaned in even more, until his forehead was pressed against mine. His lips trailed down from my ear all the way down my neck, where he left a few small kisses.

I looked around at the kids in the hallway, trying to determine where Ashton was. He usually met me by my locker after school, and I knew that he wouldn't be very happy to see Luke and I like this. He was already mad about Luke and I falling asleep on the same couch, imagine how upset he would he to see this. But, I guess what he doesn't know can't hurt him.

"Sure. Or we could go to my house, if you want." I nodded. Luke quickly separated from me and let go of my hands, like he too was suddenly conscious of the fact we were in public.

"Let's go to your house." Luke smiled.

I let out a big sigh and picked up my bag off the floor, hoping that Ashton wouldn't pop up in time to catch me leaving with Luke.

I knew that I had to end things soon with Ashton, I just wasn't sure how. I loved hanging out with Ashton before we started dating but now everything just seemed so awkward between us. I needed to find a way to break up with him while still making sure that we stayed friends, I just couldn't find a way how to.

"It really sucks that you have a boyfriend." Luke said, glancing at me from behind him as he walked down the hall.

"Why is that?" I called up to him.

"Because I wanted to kiss you."

-

"Are you going to eat that?" I asked. Luke and I had cooked a box of mac n' cheese for dinner and he hadn't even touched his bowl yet.

"I'm not hungry." Luke said blankly as he stared off into space.

"You just wasted half a box of mac n' cheese." I rolled my eyes at him. "I thought you liked mac n' cheese."

"I do, I'm just not hungry." Luke shrugged. I picked up Luke's bowl and carried it into the kitchen with mine, hoping that someone would come home later and eat what Luke didn't.

Making sure that Luke didn't see me, I ran into the living room and grabbed a pillow off the couch. I silently slid across the floor until I was close behind Luke, then I threw the pillow at him. He turned around as it hit him, a huge grin spreading across his face.

Luke hopped off the chair and grabbing the pillow off the floor before turning around and whacking me with it.

"That's not fair, let me get another pillow!" I yelped, hurrying off into the living room to find something to protect myself with.

"No!" Luke ran up behind me and grabbed me by the waist, pulling me down onto the ground with him. He still had the pillow in his hand, so as soon as I stopped wiggling around in his grasp Luke hit me with it again.

"You have an advantage, Lucas Robert." I laughed, using the same words that Luke had the last time we were in a similar situation.

"Oh please, Stella Anne, you always have an advantage." Luke rolled his eyes. He shifted so he was now straddling me as I laid with my back on the floor.

"And what's that?" I asked, trying to grab the pillow out of Luke's hands.

"Being so pretty is definitely an advantage." Luke said. He held the pillow up even higher so I wasn't able to reach it.

"You're so lame." I chuckled, hiding the fact that I was blushing from his comment. I grabbed onto Luke's shoulders and was somehow able to flip him over, so it was now me sitting on him. But he still had the pillow.

"You're lame." Luke countered, hitting me right in the face with the pillow.

"You're...lamer." I laughed at my choice of words.

"That's not even a word!" Luke yelled. He lifted up the pillow to hit me again but I stopped him this time.

"Says who?" I asked.

"Says the AP English student!" Luke giggled.

"You just giggled!" I shouted, making me laugh even more.

I couldn't even describe how much I enjoyed moments like this. When Luke and I were both able to forget everything going on and just laugh with each other. I really loved Luke when he laughed. I loved the way his mouth opened so wide and showed all of his perfect teeth, the way his big dimples would sometimes come out of hiding and make an appearance on his cheeks. I loved the sound of his laugh, it was enough to put a smile on my face no matter what. Lately it had been harder and harder to get stuff like this out of Luke, it seemed like he tried to act miserable. I was just the only one that was able to crack open his hard shell.

"Do you have a problem?" Luke raised at eyebrow at me.

I wasn't able to answer, because then a loud banging came from the door and I knew that this perfect moment was ruined. And I knew exactly who ruined it.

"I think I may buy you guys a doorbell, because I'm getting real tired of hearing knocks on that door." Luke glared in the direction of the door. I climbed off of him and he stayed on the floor, crossing his legs and leaning up on his elbows.

I ignored Luke and opened the door, revealing Ashton and Michael, who I hadn't seen in a while.

"Oh, Luke's here." Ashton spat, pushing past me and entering the apartment. Michael walked in quietly behind him, giving me a small wave as he stood behind Ashton.

"Well it's a party now! Make yourselves comfortable, guys! There's mac n' cheese in the kitchen!" Luke yelled from the living room. He threw his hands in the air and flopped over, laying face first on the floor.

"What's he doing on the floor? Is he drunk?" Michael asked, obviously confused.

"He's not drunk." I shook my head, laughing a little at how oblivious Michael always was. "We were just sitting on the floor."

"Doing homework?" Ashton asked suspiciously, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah." I nodded. I didn't like lying to Ashton, but ever since that night Luke slept over while he was here he had been so on edge about everything, even just mentioning Luke set him off.

"Oh." Ashton's looked up and smiled, his mood suddenly changing. He pulled me forward and kissed me quickly before saying, "Hi. Sorry I barged in here, I was just worried."

"Worried?" I questioned.

"I don't know, I couldn't find you after school and I didn't know what was going on." Ashton shrugged. "But it's all okay!"

"I just came by to say hi." Michael chuckled.

"Michael, your hair." I laughed. I knew that I was switching subjects but I just couldn't get over how faded Michael's pink hair was, it may as well be white again. I was used to him dying it every couple weeks, he had kept this color for almost four months.

"I'm dying it next weekend, if you want to come over and help-" Ashton hit Michael in the stomach, stopping him from saying any more.

"Stella's busy next weekend." Ashton said to Michael.

"Is she?" I asked, not recalling that I had any plans.

"My parents are going to be out if town again, remember? I told you earlier today." Ashton said. This was the first time I had heard about Ashton's parents going away again, I didn't even remember talking to Ashton much today. He wasn't even at lunch.

"You didn't tell me anything." I shook my head.

"Really?" Ashton laughed, "Maybe I was telling someone else."

"Oh! You were telling that gi-" Michael started to speak, but Ashton slapped him again.

"That guy in my psychics class, I remember now!" Ashton shouted.

"Okay. Anyway, what are you guys doing here?" I asked, feeling a bit odd about this whole encounter. I didn't want to kick them out, but Ashton was acting so weird that if he didn't leave soon I might just have to.

"I was actually just about to go home, I just wanted to come say hi." Ashton smiled at me. He pulled me in again for a hug and kissed me on the cheek.

"So, I'll see you later then?" I asked both Michael and Ashton.

"Yep, bye Stella!" Michael waved to me again, before running out the door and down the hallway.

"I'll see you tomorrow. And you should do check on Luke, I don't think he's moved for a while." Ashton laughed, pointing to Luke who was still laying face down on the carpet.

"You talk about him like he's my pet hamster." I rolled my eyes.

"He might as well be." Ashton chuckled. I walked him to the front door, where he kissed me one more time before practically running away.

"That was weird." I muttered to myself, closing the door behind me.

I re-entered the living room and sat down next to Luke, who I assumed was sleeping. I ran my fingers though his hair, attempting to smooth it all down. I knew that he usually would have gotten mad at me for touching his hair, but it was so messy right now that I didn't think he would even mind.

"Stop that." Luke's muffled voice came from the carpet.

"Oh look, my pet hamster is awake." I snickered as Luke looked up at me.

"Your what?" Luke asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Never mind." I laughed, continuing to run my fingers through his hair.

"What kind of boyfriend comes over to have a five minute conversation with his girlfriend and then leave?" Luke wondered out loud, just as confused as I was.

"I know, that was weird." I sighed. Luke slapped my hand away from his head, but grabbed it and pulled me down on the floor with him. We laid on our backs and stared up at the ceiling in silence, neither one of us having anything interesting to say.

"So, I guess you have plans for next weekend then?" Luke finally spoke.

"I guess I do." I laughed softy.

"Please don't have sex with Ashton." Luke whispered. "I know that's what he wants."

"What?" I asked, sitting up slightly. Luke only pulled me back down again.

"I can see right through him. His parents are out of town and he wants you to come over. Just don't do it, Stel." Luke sighed.

I stared up at the ceiling for a long time before saying anything more. "You're not exactly the boss of me, Luke."

I wasn't trying to say that I wanted to have sex with Ashton, but I was trying to prove to Luke that just because he had been able to convince me of things in the past doesn't mean that he'll always have full control over me. I trusted Luke a lot, but I couldn't let him go around thinking that he was able to influence everything that I did.

"Please, not with Ashton." Luke groaned.

"Why not? He's my boyfriend." I sat up, and this time Luke didn't try to pull me back down. He sat up with me and gripped my shoulders, making me face him.

"Yes, I know he's your boyfriend, but Stel, he's-" Luke shut his mouth quickly, then opened it, then shut it again. "Just wait, okay?"

"You're so lame." I said to Luke again, rolling my eyes at the same time.

"You're lamer." Luke shot back.

"That's not even a word." I laughed. Luke shook his head at me and wrapped his arms around me, bringing me back down on top of him.

We sat there for a while, curled up together on the floor of my living room, not even speaking. Silence had become so common between us it never even bothered me. Sometimes I preferred the silence more than when Luke and I were laughing together. After a while I felt Luke's lips come in contact with my neck again, sending chills all through my body.

"Luke," I warned, but he continued to kiss down my neck.

"Hmm?" Luke's lips vibrated against my skin.

"You can't." I said, trying to move away from him just a bit. "We can't."

"Sorry." Luke muttered, but kept his lips on my neck.

"How do you do this?" I asked, not even bothering to try and fight off Luke anymore.

"Do what?" Luke hummed into my neck.

I would never understand how Luke was able to switch moods so quickly. He went from being angry to sad to giggling like a little kid to kissing me on the living room carpet, all in such a short time. I didn't get how he could be so upset about something and then crack a joke the next second. I kind of admired it, the way that he was able to change whenever he wanted to. Even I wasn't able to do that.

"You seem to change moods like it's no big deal." I sighed, turning over to face Luke.

"Well, I think that's because whenever I'm upset around you, I'm able to find something to be happy about again." Luke said quietly.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"Let's just say you have a very strong affect on me." Luke bit back a smile.

I sighed, "Do I have to say it again?"

"Say what?" Luke said, giving me a puzzled look.

"You're really, really, lame, Lucas." I laughed.

"Is that your new favorite word or something?" Luke huffed. "Stel?"

"You know, you need to find a new annoying nickname for me because Stel doesn't even phase me anymore. I like it." I said, knowing that it would get on Luke's nerves.

"I'm the only one who gets to call you that, though." Luke pouted.

"You don't know that." I laughed. "Maybe I told everyone at school to start calling me Stel, maybe that's my new name. You know I may just go and get it legally changed."

"You can't do that until you're 18." Luke countered.

"I'll just wait then. It's only a few more months." I laughed.

"You're even more lame than I am." Luke said. He untangled himself from me and sat up, crossing his legs. He shook out his hair, messing it up again after I tried so hard to fix it.

"You like it, though." I said sarcastically. I sat up as well, turning to face Luke and mimicking his position.

We stared at each other without blinking, an unannounced staring contest. I was really good at these, and Luke knew that too. He had tried to best me at a staring contest more than once, but always failed. After a few seconds Luke blinked.

"I won." I announced, victoriously throwing my hands in the air.

"Yes, I do." Luke said, laughing at the way I was cheering for myself after winning something as dumb as a staring contest.

"What?" I questioned. I couldn't really make sense of what he was saying.

"I do like you."

SORRY THIS WAS REALLY BORING THIS IS KIND OF A FILLER JUST BEFORE THE NEXT CHAPTER ((WHICH WILL BE SUPER COOL)) BUT YEAH I JUST MADE IT REALLY FLUFFY BECAUSE IM IN THAT MOOD OKAY I HOPE Y'ALL LIKE IT.