October.

I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at Luke whose back was now facing me as he walked down the street, journal in hand, cookie in the other. I blinked a couple of times. After acting like a complete idiot, I finally got a name. Was it worth it? I don't know at this point.

Luke Hemmings. Definitely not a Hufflepuff, I thought to myself. It suited him. Michael was right, he did sound like bad news and he was, he was a jerk that blurted out facts for some unknown reason and he's so cute but so dumb for being so closed in but he's so perfect and I can't help but get frustrated at how odd he was. Now this one was quite difficult to find out about. And something could end up going wrong if I dug myself deeper into him. And although it may be a stupid thing to do, I was already too far in to stop now. Luke Hemmings had my attention, and I don't know if I had his, but I was surely going to find out more about him.

I crossed the street still a little fazed at how surprisingly easy (ish) that was, and entered the shop to be greeted by an eager looking Michael with a smug grin on his face. I groaned.

"What?" I shrugged, passing him to get back to my shift which Michael thankfully took over while I was having a swell conversation with Luke Hemmings. I still can't get over how lovely his name was.

"Oh, don't 'what?' me. What the hell happened back there? I demand to know!" Michael commanded, grabbing both of my shoulders so I could face him. I shrugged, not wanting to tell him about what a jerk Luke was, but I wanted to tell him everything at the same time. "I gave him the cookie, sat down, he asked for my name and I gave it. Then he gave me his and then left." I stated, as broad as possible.

"Andhemight'vebeenajerktomejustateenytinybit." I added, I didn't want to leave Michael in the dark, but I also didn't want him to rain on my parade. I couldn't help it. Luke was breathtaking, and was taking every last inch of my mind up.

"What was that?" Michael asked, leaning in to try and hear me a little better.

"When I asked for his name, he told me that he didn't want to make 'useless conversations' and kind of, um, dismissed me, I guess?" I tried to make him sound as normal as possible. It really wasn't that bad, anyways. "I stayed though, and I gave him a piece of my mind. So no need to worry." I added to try and ease him, smiling sweetly.

"Tobe," Michael groaned, rubbing a hand down his face and placing them both on his hips. "Two words: Bad. News. Stay away from him. I could tell that he's a bad guy, and he's only sitting across the street. Or was, anyway."

I pouted at him. Normally, if Michael didn't agree to any choice that was brought in front of him, I wouldn't either.

But something about this Luke Hemmings was so interesting, and I wanted to find out what it was. I wanted to find out what he eats for breakfast - or if he even chooses to. What kinds of books he's into. Does he watch TV often? What does he write in that little book of his? Why was he so secluded? What was behind that wall that he had put up to hide himself?

Screw Michael, I'm going in for it, whether he agrees or not.

"You said you'd be there for me, even if I did something stupid." I pouted at him, using my signature puppy dog eye look. "I promise I won't do anything dumb. Though I'm pretty sure I'll break that promise soon. I asked him about the weather, Mike. The fucking weather. I looked like such a loser." I rubbed my forehead, wanting to get rid of the embarrassing reminder that will probably haunt me for the rest of my life.

Michael sighed deeply. "Fine. But that just shows that you've got the hots for Mr. Too Cool To Care, over there." he finally gave in. I ignored the last comment and leaped at him, causing him to shriek and gave him kisses all over the face, only to have Bruce pop out again.

"Hey! Winters, Clifford, stop that. No PDA at work." He barked, fake gagging with a grimace. I pulled away from Mike, who was laughing and shaking his head, while I pinched my lips together to keep myself from bursting out into fits of laughter.

"Yes, Mr. Manager, sir."

~~~

After bidding goodbye's with my light haired best friend, I made my way down the side walk to my apartment building. My thoughts were soon filled with Luke.

I wonder if he prefers tea rather than coffee. I thought to myself. With the various drinks he'd order whenever he visited, I wouldn't know, and I had know idea why I wanted to.

The fact that he isolates himself from everyone around him just draws me closer. I didn't know if he found me annoying or not, but I couldn't help myself. I was, what you'd say, infatuated with him.

Did I, what Michael remarked, 'have the hots' for this guy? Maybe. Sort of? I didn't know him, yes, but that was exactly why. I want to find out every single thing about Luke, which will probably make me more drawn towards him than before.

And as I'm walking down the streets at 10 p.m. on a Wednesday night, I'm secretly looking for that signature blonde quiff in the black jacket and too-tight looking jeans to run into again.

~~~

I groan, opening my eyes and turning to my nightstand to look at my alarm clock. 3:27 a.m.

Groaning once again in frustration, I let my face fall onto my white pillow. It was 3:30 in the morning, and my veins filled with 10 p.m. coffee and my stomach with 11 p.m. strawberry Mentos.

My taste buds were too hard to please.

My eyes flutter open, more wide and alert this time, telling me that I'm not going to fall asleep anytime soon. So, throwing my white quilt to the side and stepping into my crocodile slippers, I make my way out my bedroom to the front door - grabbing my keys on the way - putting my Toms on and head outside to my car.

I parked my car in the partially empty parking lot, making my way into the 24-hour convenience store. I didn't have anything in particular to buy, but I knew I had to be quick if I wanted to go to work early tomorrow. Or not. I'll just call in sick. Sorry, Michael.

I grabbed a bag of Lays potato chips along with an Arizona Iced Tea and head to the cashier to pay.

"That'll be three dollars and eighty cents." he stated, looking like this was the last place he wanted to be in right now. Shit, I was thirty cents short. Just my luck.

"I, uhm, only have $3.50. Is that okay?" I mumbled, sort of embarrassed that I couldn't even bring a decent amount of cash. But hey, it was 3:30 in the morning. Can you blame me?

"Sorry, ma'am, but I can't. It's store policy." Store policy my ass. It's not like anyone else decided to come here at 3 in the morning 'cause they had nothing better to do.

But I was wrong.

Just as I was about to go put back the items, a deep voice that I was all too familiar with spoke up behind me, along with a hand out which held 30 cents. "Here." Luke placed the money on the counter and the store clerk lazily took it, not caring about who payed or not.

"T-thank you. You didn't have t-"

"Don't mention it." Luke responded, not even looking at me as he pushed passed me to pay for his item next: a cigarette box. I stood there taken aback by his dull response, and grabbed my items and went out the store. I decided to wait for him until he was done.

Luke walked out shortly after, putting a cigarette to his lips, patting his pockets to find a lighter - which he unfortunately couldn't find. He still didn't know I was there, leaning against the brick wall and didn't acknowledge my presence until I spoke up. "Need a lighter?"

He looked surprised, almost as if he was saying, You? A lighter? But he nodded anyway and I motioned him to follow me to my car. I used to smoke, stopped two years ago after I decided it was wrong. It was hard, but the right thing to do. I opened the passenger's seat to retrieve a small lighter in the glove compartment and tossed it to him. "Keep it."

"You smoke?"

"I did, stopped two years ago."

"Why? Did you smoke, I mean."

"I had problems I needed to forget," I shrugged, slightly shaking my head at the thought of my parents, "But then decided that putting a bunch of harmful chemicals in my body won't stop them. Why do you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he said bitterly, smiling sarcastically.

"Well I do, sorry for trying to get to know you, because I actually care about people." I retorted slightly impatient. What was his deal?

"Please," he sneered. "You just need some excuse to get into my pants."

"You're so full of yourself. I never said anything about sex."

"You a virgin?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I taunted, copying his reply and leaning against the door of my car. He chuckled, looking down and we didn't say anything for a while.

So much for "intriguing" and "different". This boy was a total jerk.

"No," I finally responded. "I'm not."

His head shot up, a surprised and impressed look on his face. "Well that's the first I've heard a girl say that."

"I was young, young and stupid." I replied and he just nodded. "So since I answered that, why do you smoke?" I pushed forward, demanding an answer from this alluring boy in front of me.

He didn't say anything for a while, shuffling his feet around and looking at the ground. Then he spoke, "Just like you, Winters. I've got problems of my own. And unlike you, I need those chemicals in my body to stop them."

"And besides," he continued, "You smoke for problems, I smoke for the fun of it."

I stared at him. Wow, almost everything about that sentence was perfect, just like you. I sound like such a nutcase, honestly. "Oh," was all I managed to pull out.

He then looked at me, his light blue eyes twinkling under the street lamp not far from us. He looked at me, captivating eyes looking into my tedious brown ones. A flash of something I couldn't make out flew though my mind, and I couldn't stop the request that flew out of my mouth.

"Please don't smoke," I requested, continuing before he could interrupt. "Stop, I mean. It's dangerous and I know it makes you feel all relaxed and makes you forget your worries for a while, but they're still there. Please find something else that helps with those problems. Just - not smoking?" I ended, having it more like a question rather than I suggestion, scared of what he'll say.

He was slightly stunned by my sudden outburst, and I prayed that he wouldn't yell at me. I wasn't a person who took yelling easily. I'd break down and cry.

I averted my gaze from him to the ground, kicking at the gravel and taking in what lovely Toms I had on. After a while I heard him move, and saw him in front of me from my eyelashes. Deciding to be brave I looked up to find him inches from me, and if we both moved in a little closer, our lips would've been touching. He was looking at me, eyes fluttering to my lips for a short moment then up to my eyes.

"Okay." he stated, dropping the box of cigarettes right next to him and kicked it to the side, as he started to back up, walking backwards and turning around, walking away, as I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. What just happened?

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