☆⋆｡mintaholic°‧★

At 26, life is mundane. But there was once a time that you were young, wild, and very free. Before you moved to San Francisco, got a job in photography, bought your own house, or met your fiancé Tom; you were a crazy girl living in LA.

Back then you were very familiar with a band called 5 second or summer. Most of all, familiar with Luke Robert Hemmings. It all seems very distant now, but it was once your reality. Taking pictures of them at their concerts, being incorporated into lyrics, sneaking around with Luke. But that all ended when the two of you broke up. It was very messy, and you’d be lying if you said you didn’t think about it sometimes. You’ll never forget the day, January 1st of 2018 at 2:00 am. After all, it wasn’t really that long ago.

The two of you had had gone to a new year’s party the night before, one of those parties that’s crawling with industry plants. The band was trying to lay groundwork for their new album after a break, so you thought it was a great idea to do some networking. You didn’t think it was a great idea anymore, however, when Luke got blackout drunk and punched a guy square in the face for talking to you. Usually that would end in an argument and eventually kissing and making up, but his alcohol consumption had been a constant topic recently, and that was your last straw. Your new year started with no midnight kiss and no boyfriend. Sometimes you wish you had stuck it out long and been there for him, but you couldn’t take it. You had problems of your own and didn’t have time to parent your partner.

But that didn’t matter now, because this was a new day that you would never forget. June 15th of 2022, your wedding day. It started in an hour, and your anxiety caused you to be ready entirely too early, so you decided to take this time to pace around the venue. But as you walk around, your mind wonders. Of course you questioned whether you made the right decision saying yes, it’s a bit hard to settle down after dating a pop star for 3 years. But Tom was a good guy, an amazing guy. He made you happy, and things were much calmer than they were with Luke. But that was the problem. Was it too Calm? You had contemplated breaking up with him a while ago, but then impulsively said yes when he surprised you with a proposal. Amazing timing.

You take a deep breath, trying to get your shit together and suck it up before it was time to get married. The air gets stuck in your throat when you see the root of your problems in front of you. Like a savior, a very bad a wrong savior, none other but Luke is standing infront of you in a suite and tie. “I-“ Before you can process anything happening, he says the words. The three little words you couldn’t help but hope you’d hear in his stupid Australian accent. “Don’t marry him.”

You’re frozen in place, shocked as he tells you you look more beautiful than he could’ve ever imagined. You never thought you’d see him again outside of magazines and twitter posts, but here he is. Crashing your wedding, of all things. “How did you even know?” You finally get out, eyes wide. But there’s a twinkle inside them. “Your instagram’s public. And I’m crazy, remember?” He jokes. You look at him in awe for a few more moments, admiring the way he’s aged like wine, before shaking yourself out of the trance. “You had years, 4 years. And you show up on my wedding day? This is crazy Luke! The last time we talked you punched a guy in the face.”

He knows it’s crazy, you can see it on his face. But you can also see the hope in his eyes. Like he knows you’ll come with him no matter. And that bothers you, because it’s true. “I was jealous.” He jokes pathetically. But after a few moments he gets serious, like he suddenly realizes the weight of the situation. “I know, I know it’s crazy! But so is this!” He speaks with urgency, pulling at the wedding dress on your body. “I’ve changed, I’m sober now. I can treat you right. You’re 25 Y/N! And you’re getting married to…some guy? If you must get married, let it be me.”

You swear you’re about to faint as you watch him kneel in front of you, looking up at you like a puppy. “Please get up.” You beg, sighing as he shakes his head no and grabs onto the sides of your dress. “I love you. I never stopped loving you. Run away with me. Please.” He pleads, the end coming out so quietly you think it was an inside thought. And then he pulls it out of his pocket, a beautiful ring. It is indeed bigger than the one currently on your finger, by quite a bit.

You slap your hands over your mouth, in utter disbelief. “Oh my god. Oh my god this is so bad.” Your words come out in a panicked whisper as you freak out. Running away from your wedding is unforgivable, but it feels so right. “You mean it?” You ask slowly, your face painted with nerves. He nods at the speed of light, holding up the ring with a smile. You take a deep breath, looking down at the one already on your finger. You slide it off, tossing it into the distance. “Okay.” One hand holds your thumbnail between your teeth and the other drops to Luke. He slides the ring onto your finger before standing to his feet and picking you up, spinning you around. His embrace is enough to make you cry, something you’d forgotten how much you loved.

He grabs hold of your hand and the two of you run away, holding your heels for you as you jog through a field. In this moment, adrenaline pumping through your veins and love pumping through your heart, you’ve never felt happier. You’re young again, and wild and free. And you’re with Luke. Deep down, you’d always known this is how it was meant to be. Your future seemed bland without him in it, because he was the light of your life. And you were his. “This is literally crazy!” You shout with a laugh, running so fast your feet can’t keep up. “Slow down, we’re far enough now! Are you that excited to get away?” He teases from behind you. You slow to a stop, turning around with a smile.

The two of you catch your breath for a moment before erupting into laughter. “Where will I stay!” “In my bed, of course.” He answers in a heartbeat. “What about my things?!” There’s no room for any real worry through all the giggles. “I’ll buy you new things.” He whispers, stepping closer. The distance between you closes as he tosses your shoes away and wraps his arms around your waist. You grab his face and kiss him, the feeling making your whole body erupt into flames. “Let’s elope.” You whisper against his lips, matching his crazy. “We can go to city hall. Are you free tomorrow?” You can feel his smile. “Of course. You cant crash a wedding if you have work in the morning.”

“Holy shit.” Luke’s face burns red, faltering in the doorway before spinning around and facing his back to us. “I didn’t know she was still here.” I stretch my foot to the end of the bed, hooking my shirt between my toes and pulling it closer. I put it on as fast as possible, almost hitting Calum in the face with my elbow. “You can turn around now, Jesus." Calum mumbles, pulling a pillow into his lap. Luke turns around slowly, like he’s scared we got completely naked while he was looking the other way. His eyes avoid mine and linger in the space around me before locking onto the foot of the bed. The three of us sit in silence for a moment, flustered for our own reasons. “Nevermind.” Luke blurts out, turning around and leaving. Before he shuts the door he looks at me, face red. “Sorry.”

When the door closes I lay back, huffing as my back hits the bed. We sit in silence for a moment before the room erupts into giggles. “Did that ruin the mood?” Calum jokes, pulling my back to his lap by my waist. “Only a little.”

When I get home I open the door slowly, relieved to see my mom asleep on the couch once again. I go straight to my room and throw off my shoes, calling up Kylee. I tell her about Calum bringing me to meet his bandmates, about the cute one, Luke, and about him walking in on us. “You’re actually kidding me!” I giggle through the phone, rolling onto my stomach. I’m engrossed in our gossip, like always. “Nope. Practically naked and I know he saw it all. I could tell by how he was blushing.” There’s a brief silence on the other side of the phone. “…So did he join you guys or what?” “Kylee!” I shout at her. The rest of the night is spent on the phone with her, chatting about this and that.

For the next three months, things go similarly to that night. Calum brings me around his house more and more and I get closer to the guys. Next to Kylee, Ashton is practically my best friend now. Some days I come over to play video games with him and Michael, Calum complaining that their hogging his girlfriend. Me and Luke get past the awkward stage, actually becoming quite close. But there’s still an undertone to our friendship, and it’s hard to ignore.

Today the guys were all out doing who knows what, so Calum invited me over. A booty call, if you will. After we had sex he said he needed to go pick up something from the store, said it was a suprise, and left.

I walk down the stairs in one of his shirts and my underwear, not caring to put on any pants. My heart is set on the kitchen, absolutely starving from all the cardio. As my feet touch the cold tiles I hear the door openinging. “Well that was quick.” I don’t look up, waiting for Calum to come inside. But instead I’m met with silence. “Hello?” I call out, looking over my shoulder while I open the fridge.

Instead of seeing Calum like I expected, I see Luke standing in the doorway. His eyes linger on the shirt draping over my body, looking at it like it hurt his dog or something. “Oh, Luke.” He walks in and closes the door, looking away from me. “Why are you not wearing pants?” I look down, realizing that I indeed don’t have on pants. “Oh sorry, nobody was home.” I turn back around, reaching for a container of raspberries in the fridge. “Nothing you haven’t seen before.” I turn back around, seeing pink creep up his face.

“I’m still sorry about that night.” He laughs, walking over to the kitchen. He comes over to the fridge, stealing a raspberry. “Hey my raspberry, apology not accepted.” He scoffs at that, looking down at me. “Who bought the raspberries? Who’s house is this?” I roll my eyes, knowing he’s right. “Well I picked them out from the fridge.” His smile softens, looking all soft and sweet. It’s moments like this that make me feel like the first night we met.

“Don’t look at me like that.” I shake my head, wiping the smile off my face and clearing my throat. I shouldn’t have said that. His smile gets bigger, but it stays soft. “Like what?” My eyes drift back up to his. Like all cute. Like I’m not dating one of your best friends. Like you’re in love with me. I know you are. “I don’t know.” I mumble, chewing my bottom lip. My heart beats out of my chest, faster than it should without my boyfriend present. My boyfriend. “Luke.” I sigh, coming back to my senses. “What? I didn’t do anything!” I groan, turning away and rolling my eyesz. “Yes you did.”

I feel his mood shift behind me as I put the fruit up. “What did I do?” He asks softly, stepping closer. I shut the fridge and turn to face him, looking up into his blue eyes. “You…” I can’t find the words, faltering under his gaze. We just stare at each other for a moment, and his hand comes up to my shirt sleeve, tugging on it. “I hate this, on you.” I pause and narrow my eyebrows. “The shirt?” I ask, taken aback by his sudden insult. What the hell was that for? He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “Calum’s shirt.” He clarifies.

“I-“ My cheeks heat up at his words. That was really, forward.

Before I can ask him what that’s supposed to mean, the front door opens. Luke jumps away and I clear my throat. “Hey babe.” Calum walks in bearing a smile, making my heart twist with guilt. We did nothing wrong in particular, but the feeling in my stomach is enough proof that we were doing anything right either. “Suprise!” He beams, holding up a bag with a tub of cookies and cream ice cream inside. My favorite. “Thank you baby.” My smile is genuine, and I forget about the boy standing next to me.

I walk over to Calum and just like that Luke is gone. “Luke do you want-“

I turn around and see his absence. It’s a shame, cookies and cream is his favorite too.

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