I sat in the chair at Best Buy as Luke talked to the guy. He had set me up on his account and purchased the newest iPhone for me, which I thought was too much, but Luke insisted. I was twirling the computer chair around, ready to get out of here. I was a little annoyed that the first girl my age that I meet doesn't like me just because I'm a girl and living in the same house as her boyfriend. Like, really? I'm not the type of person to go after someone else's boyfriend. That's wrong on so many levels. And I was annoyed at Luke saying someone should fake date me to make Hayley feel better about me being there. I'm not there to please her.

"Do you want anything else before we leave?" Luke asked me as he turned to look at me.

I shook my head, "You just bought an expensive phone that I told you I didn't need, so I think I'm more than good."

Luke smiled as he stood up, "Well, I was wanting to get a new game for my Switch. Do you want a computer? I can get you a laptop, an iPod, a gaming system, anything."

"I don't want you to spend any more money on me. Thanks, though." I said as I stood up and followed him to the Switch section of the store. He gave a little chuckle, "If money was an issue, I wouldn't be trying to spoil you. If you don't pick out a computer, I'll choose one for you."

I rolled my eyes, "I don't need a computer."

Luke grabbed a game before going towards the laptops and computers. I sighed and followed him. I could care less if I had a computer of my own. I'm fine with the cell phone. By the time I found Luke, he already had a laptop box in his hand. I raised my eyebrows at him, "Really? Even after I said I didn't need one?"

He smiled at me, "Yeah. You haven't been here for me to spoil you for the past twelve years so I'm spoiling you now, no matter what you say. I live with a teenager so I know what teenagers want."

I rolled my eyes. There's no use in fighting him. "Kellin is a boy, though. What if we like different stuff?"

"We'll go to Target in a moment to get you other stuff. I noticed you don't have any makeup. And you can get things for your room." Luke said as he walked past me, ignoring what I said.

"I'm terrible at makeup so I don't wear it." I replied.

"I can get Madison to teach you how to wear makeup." Luke said as he headed towards the front of the store. I felt my eyes roll, "Yes, ask some girl I don't know to teach me makeup. Who is she anyways?"

Luke turned to look at me and make sure I was close to him, "She's Alex's current girlfriend. She's really into makeup and fashion. I'm sure she'd love to do it."

I didn't know Alex had a girlfriend. Then again I didn't know Kellin had one, either. And lucky for me, Kellin's girlfriend hates me because she thinks I'm going to try to take him away from her. I stood in line with Luke, thinking about my dad being a normal teenager. Did I ruin Dad's teen-hood when I was born? I pulled myself out of my head when the cashier said 'Hey Luke'. It caught me off guard a bit since I wasn't expecting Luke to actually know anyone outside of the house. I mean, I never did.

"Hey, Ryan. I haven't seen you around lately." Luke said.

"Yeah. I've been here, mostly." Ryan said as he moved his brown eyes on me before giving a smile, brushing his short brown hair off of his forehead.

Luke nodded, "At least you get paid here. With Kellin and Cody you mostly get in trouble."

So he's friends with Kellin? I should introduce myself since we're the same age, but I don't want Kellin's friends to feel obligated to befriend me or be nice to me. Maybe I should just go to the car. Ryan gave a chuckle as he shook his head, "It's all Cody. I've even been grounded by his mom because of him."

Ryan looked at me again and I turned my head to look away. I didn't want to really look at him because he was pretty attractive. What if I fell for him? I won't allow myself to fall for anyone. Not again, anyways. Especially not after the thing with Dylan.

Dylan had used me. He played me. He didn't even think I was attractive. I had just come back to school after the wreck and he asked me out. I said yes because Dylan was attractive. And he was popular. He only dated me because he and Olivia, his girlfriend, had broken up. He also wanted to make a point to Seth. Dylan thought it was funny.

"Oh yeah. Avery, this is Ryan. Ryan, I'm sure you remember Avery." Luke said as he pointed between us.

Ryan smiled again, "I could never forget my lunch buddy. It's really great to see you, Avery. How have you been?"

I returned his smile even though I don't remember him. I'm not rude. "I've been great. What about you?"

"I can't complain." Ryan replied as Luke swiped his card. The beep on the machine announced the payment went through, printing the receipt. Ryan took the receipt and handed it to Luke.

Luke grabbed the bag before motioning towards the door, "Thanks. Feel free to come over later if you want, Ryan."

Ryan nodded, "Thanks, Mr. Luke. If I don't see you later, Avery, then I'll see you at school?"

I nervously nodded. Was he being sincere or obligatory? I walked out with Luke and quickly went to his car. Luke chuckled as he unlocked the car and stuck the bags and box in the backseat, "You don't have to be so shy with everyone. You and Ryan were best friends. The two of you shared your lunches almost daily at daycare."

"I went to daycare?" I asked as I climbed into the car.

"Of course you did. You hated it because you were away from us for too long, but at least you had Kellin to help you feel more comfortable." Luke said as he pulled away from the parking spot and headed further down the strip mall to the Target at the end of the mall. I groaned as he parked the car and killed the engine. He was serious about going to Target, wasn't he? He just bought me a cell phone and a laptop, so I wasn't going to go in the store.

Luke chuckled, "Are you okay?"

I shook my head, "No. I think I'll stay in the car."

Luke raised his eyebrow, "You want me to pick your makeup and your bed spread?"

"Don't buy me anything else." I said almost in a whining tone. It made me feel bad. He was blowing money on me like it was nothing and I couldn't do anything for him in return. He did kind of hint that money wasn't an issue for him earlier. I've been used to it being an issue and I don't want to be the reason it becomes an issue. Luke chuckled again, "I asked Madison to meet us over here to help you pick out makeup. If I can't get away from this, neither can you."

"But you're spending too much money on me. You're going to become broke." I said as I looked down at the floorboard of the car. Luke sighed, "I promise I am not going to become broke. Do you want to see my bank account?"

I rolled my eyes, "No. I just feel bad because you're spending money on me."

Luke got out of the car and was at my side opening my door before I knew it. He was giving me a small smile, which made warmth spread throughout my body. "Don't worry about it. We need to find Madison before she comes out here to put our heads on stakes for making her wait."

I climbed out of the car and slid my new phone into my back pocket. Luke closed the passenger door before walking beside me into Target. I shook my head, not believing I was allowing him to treat me like I was royalty. I sent him a sideways glance before looking ahead of me again, "So what are my rules?"

"Rules? You don't have many. I want you to always tell me things. Don't feel like you can't talk to me. If you're going out to a party to get drunk, tell me so in case you need me. I only ask that you take it easy on dating." Luke said as he gave a shrug. I looked over at him as we headed into the makeup department, "There's no 'make good grades', 'go to sleep by ten', 'no TV after nine'?"

Luke gave another chuckle, "No. You're free to do whatever you want."

A girly shriek pulled me away from our little bubble. I looked over at the girl who was coming to us, a smile on her face. She was beautiful with tan skin, long sandy brown hair that was tousled about, plump lips, a slim nose, and olive colored eyes. She looked like she stepped out of a film. She came to a stop in front of Luke and pinched his cheek like an adoring aunt.

"I was so excited when you asked me to meet you over here to help with makeup. I didn't know you were into makeup, but I'll teach you everything." She said all in a rush.

Luke shook his head as he swatted her hand away, "It's not for me, Madison. I want you to help Avery."

She turned her attention to me, her smile getting bigger, which made me want to cringe, "I can't believe I'm finally meeting the Avery. You're even cuter in person! Alex and Luke have barely talked about anything else other than you the past month."

I nodded, not knowing what to say. Why have Alex and Luke talked about me so much? Was it some kind of adult stuff I wouldn't understand? Madison pulled me into a tight hug, her sweet scented perfume embracing me, "Forgive me! I'm Madison!"

"Avery." I replied.

She giggled, "I know that, silly. Now, you look like you're porcelain. And your skin is so smooth!"

Madison grabbed my arm and pulled me into the bright aisle of makeup. I felt completely lost. I turned to look at Luke, hoping he could save me, but he was nowhere in sight. He left me. I can't believe it. I knew it was too good to be true. A guy taking me out of the agency, telling me all these things about my past and having pictures of me when I was little couldn't have possibly wanted me. He's abandoned me on this girl. I felt my chest close up, making it hard to breathe. I put my hand on my throat as if it would make the heaviness in my chest go away and open my passageway. I closed my eyes to try to control my breathing, which had become short, heavy breaths.

"Hey, hey, Avery. Take slow, deep, breaths." I heard Luke whisper in my ear.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. Luke wasn't abandoning me. He was still here. I felt his hand on my arm. His touch was gentle and caring. I took in a slow breath and held it for a few seconds before slowly letting all the air inside me out. I did that a couple more times and had my breathing back to normal. There was still tightness in my chest, but it wasn't as bad as it was before. I opened my eyes to meet the dark green ones belonging to Luke. He pulled his hand off of my arm before leaning on the bar of a red buggy. He wasn't abandoning me, he went to get a buggy. I suddenly felt very dumb and over-dramatic.

"Are you okay?" He asked me softly.

I nodded my head as Madison was lifting foundation bottles up to my cheek. She was setting makeup down in the buggy left and right, going on about how this would suit me nicely or this shade would look so pretty with my eyes. I didn't know half of what she was talking about. Luke held his hand out in front of me, "Your phone."

Was he punishing me for having the weird chest tightness and not being able to breathe? I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and handed it to him. He unlocked it using my code before going to Contacts and the Add New Contact feature. I agreed with whatever Madison had asked me as I watched Luke put his number, Alex's number, Kellin's number, and Cody's number into the phone. He locked it and handed it back to me, "I'd only add Hayley if she says it's okay. I don't know Ryan's number off the top of my head or I would put him in there as well."

I honestly didn't want Hayley's number and I didn't know Ryan well enough to have his. I didn't even want Cody's number. I unlocked the phone before going to Contacts and selecting Add New Contact. I knew he wouldn't care or even want to talk to me, but I added Seth's number to the list. It gave me a little bit of comfort to see his name. I locked the phone and slid it back into my back pocket. Madison didn't seem to have noticed Luke and I weren't paying any attention to her as she kept pulling makeup off the shelves and sticking them into the buggy, "Honestly, Luke, you should have brought her over to Sephora."

"She told me she doesn't wear makeup often, so she wouldn't have been comfortable there." Luke replied as he pulled his phone out and started to text. I was bored with the makeup talk so I moved my vision to Luke's phone. He was texting Alex but I couldn't read what they were saying.

Madison pulled me into her side as she pulled me down the next aisle, "That's going to change, girl! When you see how you can look with makeup you will never want to take it off."

I turned around to look at Luke and mouthed 'Help me' to him, which just made him chuckle as he shook his head. He gave a shrug before looking back down to his phone.

"Why don't we go out to dinner tonight to celebrate Avery coming back?" Madison said in excitement. I shook my head. I didn't want to go out to dinner in my honor. I would rather prefer a home cooked meal at home.

"Sounds good to me." Luke said, making me groan which earned another chuckle from him.