him;

                          "Am I more than you
                             bargained for yet."

                   - Fall Out Boy, Sugar We're Going Down

        "Tomorrows the last day of school until Spring Break. I heard Fredrick is holding the biggest party of the year!" Jacob cheered before taking a sip of the beer in his hand.

         "Biggest party of the year my ass." I muttered, putting my head into my hands. My head hurt for some odd reason. I told Jacob about it and he just joked around about it, thought it was funny. I laughed along with him; for now I'm shaking off the problems with me. I'm just coughing up with the flu.

        "Have more enthusiasm, Luke. Jeez." his voice echoed through the sunset. Cars zoomed underneath the bridge we stood on. And kids of multiple ages walked by. "What've you been up to lately?"

         "I don't even know anymore, Jaz. I mean there is this one girl, but-- I don't know."

       "Ooh, a girl. Who?" Jacob elbowed me in the rib cage. I flinched as a shock of pain flashed inside. "Sorry."

          "No one."

          "Is it Hannah?"

           "No. Why would I go back to that trash?" I asked taking a sip of the beer once again. The liquid rushed through my body; the cold rush making my head feel better, even if it was for a few seconds.

          "I was just wondering."

           "Well stop." I came out harsher then planned. Jacob twitched back, his face not amused by my actions.

          "What the hell is up with you? You've been off lately."

       "Nothing, Jacob. I'm fine." I groaned placing the beer next to my foot. The pain in my ribs shocked through to my toes again, this time feeling a hundred times worst.

        "You're not fine, Lucas. Look at yourself." Jacob continued, cutting off my next 'I'm seriously okay'. "You have bags underneath your eyes. You don't know what you're doing with life. You're hooked on cigarettes and everything else worse for yourself. No wonder why your mother --"

        "Woah Buddy, don't even start with my mother!" I growled, ignoring the pain. I stood up and grabbed my board from underneath my feet. "When you're done being a total dickhead, that's when you can come talk to me."

           "I'm just looking out for my best friend."

         "No, you're making matters worst. I do what I do for a reason and if you can't accept that then get out of my life."

        "Do you not see what you're doing to yourself Lucas! You're dying and you can see it on the outside and inside. How is that a helpful to you in anyway?"

           "Because I've been waiting years to be where I am today."

           "Killing yourself."

            "You've finally noticed, Jacob. Congratulations on actually using your head for once."

              "Lu--"

             "Don't ever talk to me again or I'll make sure that I'm not the only one dying." Pushing my foot to the ground, I pushed off the bridge. My skateboard followed my actions and rolled it's way down the walkway. People moved away as they must've overheard the yelling that happened moments ago.

          And it took me approximately an half hour to chase the pavement somewhere I would've never gone before.

✗✗✗

        The small, white gate locked away the tall hill and fragile family that was settled in the house. Or whatever you'd like to call the gigantic building with a light that is supposed to warn sailors that isn't even built near a beach of any sorts.

        I propped my board against the fence and hoped over it. Climbing the hill took longer then I thought and had me out of breath by the time I reached the front door. I let out a cough before going to knock on the door. The small cough that escaped my throat erupted what felt like twenty more.

         Finally the coughs died down and my hand turned into a fist. My fist rose and as it went to knock, the door swung open. Anna stood there, her smile vanishing as she realized it was the giant freak from around the block.

         "So you think rolling your eyes at me and then showing up at my doorstep at nine is okay?" she rose her eyebrow in an inviting way.

        "You should feel special. I don't do that for everyone." I went to smile before she tossed a undecided glare.

           "Listen, I understand you hate me and everything, but you need to stop with all this." she went to shut the door, but I swung my hand to catch it and opened it more.

            "All this what?" I asked, frowning as she sighed.

           "Acting like you like me and then you're pissed at me." she looked down at her feet. Her eyes stayed glued there during the seconds of silence. I bit at my lip ring, trying to think of something to say. But of course, I was clueless. Especially around her.

             "Can I just come in?" I asked finally breaking the silence between us.

             "But my mother is--"

             "Please." I looked up at her hoping she would just let me in.

             Because if she hated me, then what's the point of anything anymore.

             "Fine, but I swear if my mo--"

          "She won't." I smiled a reassuring , a tiny one lurked upon her lips before she spun herself around. I entered the house, closing the door behind me, and followed her the three flights of stairs. As we walked into her room, or the attic, it was more tidy and clean then when I was last there.

            "So, you cleaned." I cheered, a giggle leaving her throat.

          "More like shoved things away." she smiled back at me before sitting next to the window. I sat in the chair next to the mirror, not far from her, but enough space between us. "So, what you want?"

         I looked down to my hands, confused. "That's a really good question." I muttered, clicking my tongue. What was I here for? To see her, talk to her; about what though?

       "You forced me to say you could come in and now you have no idea why you're here." she laughed. "You're such a dork."

            "You're an idiot."

             "No, no Lucas. You can't do that."

             "Who says?"

             "Me."

            "You can't do that."

            "I just did." she smirked, a giggle caught in her throat. I glared my way towards her. "Don't look at me like that."

           "I'll do what I want."

          "Okay, Mr. Rebel." Anna spun herself towards the window. "Tell me why you came here again?"

         "Why do you think?" I asked, staring away towards her. She spun herself back towards me, her eyes squinted towards the ceiling and she looked hard into thought.

         "Because you're obsessed with me." she smiled, making me smile a little.

         "I have a question, Ms. Anna."

          "And what would that be, Mr. Hemmo?" she asked, her eyebrows raised.

         "You like me, don't you?" she laid her head down into her arms and stared back at me. Silence captivated the air for what lasted three minutes. three whole minutes her emotionless face stared at me and I stared right back. I waited, patiently, for her to answer. I didn't do that for anyone. Ever.

          "I don't want to." she started looking back out towards the window. "I really don't want to, but it just happens that my heart picks and my head couldn't win this battle."

          "Is that your way of saying maybe?" I asked, a small laugh leaving both of our lips.

          "I guess." she snuck her way a glare at me before she went to open her mouth. A loud cough cut her off and her finger pressed up against her lips.

           "Sorry to warn you Princess, but I can't control when I need to cough."

           "Well stop smoking."

             "Don't tell me what to do. You're not my mother."

           "You probably don't even listen to her." she rolled her eyes placing her back up against the window. At this point, I would blow up. Like earlier with Jacob. But I didn't, I couldn't stay mad at her. Even if she did say something about my life, she was right.

           "If I stopped smoking, would you do something for me?" I asked, a confident look followed her eyes.

               "Depends."

              And this was it, this was the night that would change everything.

               "Would you go somewhere with me?"

               "Like an adventure?" she asked, a smile slowly appearing on her face.

                "Like an adventure."

====

a/n that gif rolls with the whole front door stuff that happened.

but aye.

lucas and anna!

- A