"What are you doing here?" Luke questioned, and Lucy just went to him and hugged him, which looked difficult because he was stiff, or awkward.

"Actually, I was just planning on following Jo, but then I realized that you were in the band, I wanted to come and see my little brother play," she said. Oh.

Luke raised a brow and looked between Lucy and Jo back and forth. I guess he also doesn't know. She looked at Luke and let out a small noise of realization. "Luke, this is Jo," she said, gesturing to Jo, who waved at Luke. "We met in uni, and we've been together for a few months."

He looked at Jo as if he's scanning him before giving him a nod. "You've already probably know my brother," Jo said, motioning at Nate. "You attend Midlands, right?"

"Yeah," he replied, nodding his head without saying anything else afterwards.

"Wow, it's a small world, isn't it?" Nate said, awkwardly chuckling as he's trying to break the ice.

I chuckled along with him. Jo and Lucy were both back on their seats, silently talking to each other, while Michelle sat behind me. Nate and I just stood there as Luke left.

"C'mon Anna, let's help them," I heard Ashton's voice spoke, shocking me. Turned out he was still here, whoops.

I nod my head at him. "Let's go."

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"—crazy, crazy, crazy 'till we see the sun!" Lucy screamed the lyrics out in the passanger seat as Jo was driving.

I'm stuck on the backseat with Luke. We were both forced to come along with them. They wanted to go to New York City, which was not too far from where we live by car.

They invited Nate, Michelle, and even Ashton, but Nate and Michelle were in Michelle's car, while Ashton was with Carson, finishing stuff in the café, and he'll catch up with us.

Carson was invited too, but he said he had plans for today.

Luke seemed to be very annoyed. Lucy has decided to put on One Direction's songs and blast them through the speakers on the car. I, being a directioner as well, silently sang along to, making faces at Luke once in a while.

He's rarely smirked at me now. Now, he'll just have blank expression plastered on his face.

"Please throw me out of the car," I heard him mutter, putting on his earphones to his ears.

"Oh, please, if I could, I would," I replied a bit louder this time. "I just don't want to face the charges, police, your family and etc."

He turned to me and just smirked. Back to the smirk that I haven't seen in a while. "Isn't that too bad?"

I rolled my eyes at him. Few moments later, Jo called me. "Anna! Help me change the song please. Anything other than One Direction. I'm sick of listening to them. I've listened to all of their albums thanks to Luce," he pleaded as Lucy would keep on belting out the lyrics on top of her lungs.

She's fighting with Jo's arm as he tried to change the songs. I looked at Jo helplessly before looking at Luke, who flashed a glare before going back to his poker face.

"I like One Direction, but I feel bad for you, Jo," I told him. "But I can't, her arms are guarding it."

I heard him sighing, and suddenly, the songs actually changed. I recognized the song, but I can't point my finger to it. This song gave me a sense of familiarity.

"Thanks Anna! You're the best," Jo exclamined gladly. "I thought you didn't really like these kinds of songs?"

I took a glance at Luke, who was now no longer on his earphones, staring out at the window.

"It's not me," I said, my words slowly fading out. As we reached the traffic stop, Jo turned to me and took a short glance at Luke.

"Thanks, Luke," Jo said, giving Luke a small smile, which he just shrugged in return.

"She deserves it. I've been with her for around sixteen years, and that's what I have to put up with everyday," he replied before looking back at the window.

"But you love me!" Lucy exclaimed in return, and Luke didn't bother to reply her.

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"So, here we are," exclaimed Jo as we stepped out of the car. "Hello, New York City, it's been a while!"

I sighed as I stepped out of the car. To be honest, I haven't been here for quite a while. I still remembered the times I came here with my friends and family.

The sense of familiarity made my heart leap, but sad at the same time. I remembered during one memorable winter break, my parents took my siblings, friends and I here. It was the best day ever.

"It's been a while for us, huh?" Jo asked, looking at me, his eyes staring right into mine before giving me a small smile.

I casted a sad smile to him, and he shook his head at me. "Yeah, it has."

He looked around and slung his arm around Lucy's shoulders. "So, we're going to have a date today, and we'll meet you in Central Park by five thirty. I've told Ashton, Nate and Michelle, too."

As he said that, a familiar car parked beside us, and Nate and Michelle got out of it. "We're here!" exclaimed Michelle as she held onto Nate's hand.

Great, I'm surrounded by loving couples. Luke, Ashton and I will be their fifth, sixth and seventh wheelers.

Jo looked around for a few seconds, maybe looking for Ashton. "Let's all go to Central Park and wait for Ashton there," he said. We all just followed him to the park.

It was nearing spring time, but most of the trees were still naked and only a few had started growing leaves. Since it was on Saturday, there were many people in this park. From little kids playing out in here to elderly couples taking a walk.

I smiled at the little kids as they walked passed me.

"Don't be a creep, you're scaring them away with your smile," I heard a voice beside me, making me internally shocked.

I looked to my side to see Luke smirking at me. I didn't even realize he's been walking beside me. I casted a glare upon him. "Smiling is a blessing, while your glare is the one scaring them away."

He muttered some almost inaudible obscenities as we continued walking, following Jo, who was our leader for the moment.

Suddenly, I felt a vibration in my pocket, and soon I heard Jo's phone went off as well. I took my phone out from my pocket and there was a text from Ashton.

Bro Ashton: Sorry, I won't be going! Kate came home early, and I'll be picking her up from the airport..

I sighed as I read his text. Half of me was happy for him, while the half of me was annoyed that he bailed out.

Me: yeah, it's alright. have fun on your date! ;)

I put on a smirk emoji and a lenny face before replying him. I looked at Jo, and he looked at me. "Well, I guess Ashton won't be coming, and well, that means there'll be the six of us. Luce and I will be going for a while, and we'll meet you guys back here by five-thirty. Don't do anything illegal while us, adults, are gone, understood?"

I nodded my head as Nate gave him a salute as he chuckled. "Yes, daddy."

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So, hey! How are you doing? :)
What do you think of this chapter, let me know!

update: im not sure :C

OH i published a short story recently, and it'll be very much appreciated if you could check it out. so far, there are eight chapters up. it's titled he never did, and you could check it out from my profile page. :) i'm entering it for the wattys, so fingers crossed! im also entering this book to the wattys!! xx

thank you soo much for 17.3k reads <3