Dallas

I glance at the watch once again, stretching my legs on the couch as Abby babbles about her first day out in LA. "And it's like sunny! Maybe always sunny! And I feel like a vampire because honestly I hate the amount of sunlight where you gotta apply sunscreen every single day. Except the beaches. Did I tell you how awesome the beaches are?"

"Yes Abigail. Like a hundred times actually." I chuckle. Mr Wesley decided to leave right away after graduation because he wanted Abby to settle in properly before starting school. This gave us absolutely no time to bond and so we've been spending time through phone calls and face chat.

"I know but everything's so great Dallas! Dad took me to this really nice restaurant in Santa Monica this afternoon. The food was so delicious. I had the Shrimp Po' boy and I swear Dalla, the waiter might've requested to add extra mayonnaise in it because he was making eye contact with me all afternoon." She speaks giddily.

"Was he cute?" I sit straight on the couch and grin. The mention of a man and I mean any man in Abby's life makes me all attentive and grinning.

"Oh Dallas!" Abby sighs dramatically. "Cute would be an understatement. Besides you know how much I love mayonnaise! He just won my heart with the extra topping. Also the sandwich tasted even better. Heavenly if I might say."

"Maybe he'll give you his topping next time you visit!" I grin and we burst into giggles.

"God Dallas!! You're so dirty!" Abby chuckles. "Though I might not have to go back again to try his topping."

"Oh my god don't tell me you have his number already!" I squeal.

"Maybe..." And then we both squeal. "After dad excused the table to attend an urgent call, he slipped a glass of diet soda and a tissue paper with his phone number on it."

"How romantic A!" I mumble dreamily. Abby's life is whole lot better than me and she only left like 3 days ago. I wish I could move in with her. Hot summer with hot guys and hot chicken wings in LA.  Seems like a 'far away in future' dream for now. "I'm so happy you're enjoying the summer Abby baby!" I sigh.

"But I miss you Dallas!" She mumbles sadly. "No amount of cute guys, nice food, and new friends can replace you baby girl! You know this is forever right? Us?" Aww! If there's one thing Abby can do, it's melt my heart. She basically crawled into my heart back in 2nd grade and I haven't and couldn't get rid of her since. Not that I want to. She's the best thing happened to me except my family.

"I miss you too Abby and I love you. Forever and ever." I smile, checking my messages once again to see if I left out on any.

"He hasn't texted you yet?" Abby's voice comes out as an accusation more than worry.

"No not yet and I know what are you going to say that this guy is a mistake, and you have had a bad feeling about him from the start and that it's all-"

"Calm down Taylor Swift!" Abby yells. "I didn't even think about saying that. I was trying to say that maybe you should call him. Take the first step." Should I? Maybe I can but doesn't it sound like so progressive? Aren't guys supposed to ask girls out and take all first steps? How anti-feminist do I sound right now?

"Girls ask out boys all the time these days, Dallas." Her cheery voice from other sides interrupts my thoughts. "And it's not technically first step.. He asked you first. You're just confirming it."

"So should I call?" I ask hesitantly.

"Of course you should. And while you're at it, I'm gonna call that busboy and ask him out too. That'll make us even. Evenly lucky or evenly embarrassed." Abby chuckles. It's right.

"Okay I'm gonna hang up now and call him and you are gonna call the cute busboy." I whisper as mom enters the room. "Okay bye, I love you." I blow kisses through the phone and hang up. Okay, time to make the next call. I tap on Luke's number and hit the call option. The phone rings for a while as I bite my lower lip nervously until it ends with a voicemail.

'Hey, you've reached Luke Winters! Leave your message after the beep.'

'Uhm.. Hi Luke, it's me Dallas Marshal. I was wondering if we are still up for hanging out at the park this evening... Call me when you get the message.'

Two minutes have passed since I left a message for Luke and I feel stupid. God this is embarrassing! I'm sure no guy would forget meeting a girl until he wants to willingly. I throw my phone on the couch with a huff and drag myself to the kitchen for a guilty snack. Actually, snacks! I'm sure my sack of Doritos would be lying her somewhere. As soon as I open the kitchen cabinet, I hear minion ringtone of my phone. I throw the Doritos on the dining table and make a run towards living room where I see mom getting up to grab the phone. Oh god no! I jump on the couch and snatch the phone from her and hide it behind my back.

"Woah woah! What was that? Who's calling?" Mom asks me suspiciously.

"No one." I stutter. "I mean it's Abby I guess. She said she was gonna call later."

"So why are you hiding it?" She mumbles, eyeing me.

"I'm not hiding." I mumble nervously. "I was just too excited. Excuse me, I gotta call her back." I mumble and rush out in the garden. Sighing deeply, I call Luke back and he receives the call immediately after the first ring.

"Hey Dallas, its me Luke. Are you busy?"

"No absolutely not." I chuckle nervously.

"Well, I guessed it since you didn't pick my call earlier." Uhm excuse me but you were the one who didn't get my call first.

"Actually, my mom was with me. She doesn't really like this kinda stuff." I mumble.

"Oh okay.. I am just calling to tell you that I'm leaving my house right now coz it takes like 15 minutes from here to reach the park."

"Okay great. I'll get dressed and leave too."

"Okay.. Looking forward to see you. Bye." And the call disconnects. I rush upstairs, change into decent set of clothes. brush my hair, grab a jacket and climb downstairs.

"Where are you going?" Mom asks as she sips her tea on the couch reading a magazine.

"I'm–––uhm––going for a walk." I stutter. God!

"A walk? Suddenly?"

"Well ya.. My new school friend, Sarah lives around the block. She needs help with some basics before starting high school. So I'm just helping her." I mumble.

"And you're going to discuss the concepts walking?" Damn me to hell! It'd be better than answering these awful questions.

"Mom, what's the problem? Can't I just meet up with a friend?! You don't ask Liam these kind of questions.." I answer irritably.

"Liam is a boy and I'm just trying to look out for you." Mom scoffs. Yeah right! She'd rather prefer an alcoholic nobody because he's a man over a successful, disciplined woman.

"I'm old enough to look out for myself mom. I'm leaving." I mumble sadly, closing the door behind me. I hear mom yell 'Be home before dinner' from the living room as I step out of the compound. As I start walking towards the park, hundreds of thoughts start running through my mind. Its the first time I've lied to my mother. Especially about a strange guy. I mean he could be anyone, an axe murderer, a drug dealer or worst... A young prostitute! What if he kidnapped me, and sold my vitals in the black market? Should I turn back and grab pepper spray can dad gifted me last year? Oh cmon Dallas, calm down! Its a 15 year old boy you're thinking about. Well if something among the above happens, Abby will know who did it and she'd get him arrested. As I turn around the building, I spot a figure standing outside the park. I focus my eyes at the dark figure, as I walk closer to it. And he waves at me. Wow! Someone's punctual.

"Hey." I mumble as I wave towards Luke. "Why are you standing outside?"

"The gates are locked and I was waiting for you. He who doesn't wait up for a lady is not quite a real gentleman." He mumbles, bowing down dramatically. Its totally absurd but my cheeks are heating up right now. I chuckle lightly and pull my hoodie over my face to hide the flushed cheeks.

"So we go back now?" I ask him. Please say no! Uhm excuse me subconscious!? Are you being mellow over a guy? Wow that's new....

"No!" He shrieks. "Not at all. We still go into the park."

"How? You said yourself that its locked? Do you have keys to the gate?" I ask.

"No... But I have two hands, two legs and I know how to climb over the gates." Luke smirks. No no no! I'm not acting like a monkey in front of a guy!

"Oh okay... You go ahead and say hello to the swings for me." I tell him. As I turn around to walk away, Luke's hand on my wrist sparks a weird excitement in my stomach, making my heart beat faster.

"Cmon Dalla! Don't go.." He whispers, making my heart explode. He called me Dalla and not Dallas! Omg! "Just come with me. I promise you won't get hurt."

"And what if I do?" I pout. He loosens the grip on my wrist and I instantly regret the whining. The warmth was–– comforting I guess...?

"I won't let you." He smiles. Sweet lord, I'd climb mountains if you're gonna smile like that. "But I've never done it before! Why can't you go inside and open the door to let me in...Like a person?"

"What's the fun in that?!" He whines. He grabs my arm pulling me towards the gate, making my body tingle once again. I gotta admit.. The tingling is so satisfying. In an oddly different sense. "Cmon now just keep your leg over that–" he points at the rod, "and I'll push you up gently. Then you swing your other leg to the opposite side and jump. On your fours preferably."

I nod nervously. He holds my palm as I grip the rod with one of my hand and climb over the other with one of my leg. Luke holds my waist with his free hand, making the T-shirt fabric slide upwards, his hand touching my bare skin. I feel a knot in my stomach as he pushes me upwards. The good kind. I hide my blush and swing my leg on the other side and jump down. With a thud, I land on my fours safely as Luke jumps right after me. I dust my palms on my jeans while he does the same.

"Safe landing?" He asks me chuckling.

"Safe landing." I confirm, grinning. We then walk over to the swings and sit on them. Luke starts talking about random stuff about his family, school, his friends and other things. Until now I know that he has a younger brother whose name is Vin, his best friend is Easton who goes to Riverside. Easton and Luke met 2 years ago but according to Luke, they hit it off immediately and are practically brothers right now. Luke's father is an engineer while his mother is a house wife. From the description, Mrs Winters sounds like a lovely woman and that their parents are totally in love with each other.

"I never heard about your brother though... What's his name again––? Paul?" He mumbles.

"Its Liam. He was captain of the soccer team for 3 years." I answer irritatingly. Everybody knows Liam! Everybody should! Despite his foul reputation among woman, he's an excellent soccer player and I highly respect him for that. He even got a scholarship at NYU because of it.

"Oh okay, I'm sorry. Must've missed that." He says. "So he's leaving for NYU this fall?"

"Well sooner I guess. He really wants to settle in or may I say party pre-college." I chuckle. "Good riddance I guess."

"You don't like him much, do you?" Luke asks.

"No I love him! Its just... He can be a little mean. Overall he has a great heart." I tell him proudly. Liam might not treat me the way I deserve, but he's the best brother I could ever ask for. Suddenly the phone buzzing in my pocket interrupts our conversation. I take out the phone and pick the call,

"Baby, when are you getting home?" Mom asks me.

"I'm leaving in 10 minutes. The dinner is ready already?" I ask confused. Mom doesn't cook until 30 minutes from now.

"No you're leaving right now." She orders.

"What!? Mom just 10 more minutes please!" I plead.

"No arguments or I'm calling Liam." She whisper yells through the phone. Ya right! This is what she does all the time! Apparently mom knows that I'm terrified of my dear brother and she finds it really comfortable to use it against me.

"Fine!" I scoff angrily. "I'm leaving." I disconnect the phone and turn to face Luke.

"Do you need to leave?" He asks me as I nod. "Do you want me to walk you home? Your mom sounded mad."

"She sounds like that all the time." I mumble. "But no thanks. I'm supposed to be with some girl named Sarah right now and if mom or Liam saw us together, she'll ground me. And the drama that Liam will create is another facade." He nods sympathetically and we walk towards the gate. We both jump out of the park safely as I stare at him while he dusts his palms.

"It was great seeing you Dallas." He whispers, holding my hand.

"It was great seeing you too." I mumble, blushing harder than before. All of a sudden he leans forward, slowly, his eyes staring into mine, his breath fanning over my lips, as he pecks my cheek softly, letting them linger there for a few seconds.

"I'll see you tomorrow. 7 pm." He whispers, moving himself farther from me because I probably look like an extra red tomato. I mumble 'okay', turn around and start walking towards home. On the way back, my lips curl into a smile as the thought of seeing Luke tomorrow creeps into my head.
I've got a good feeling about this...

Hey guys! Long chapter... This is the last chapter for a while now and I'm putting LONG WAY DOWN on hold for few weeks. Uni load.. I hope u guys understand.

Thoughts? If you like the chapter; vote, comment and recommend! I love y'all xoxo <3