Delilah's POV

"Guys, what movie should we watch?" Ashton asks, sitting on the couch and going through Netflix.

"We always watch movies," Ally says. Michael nods in agreement and pulls Ally closer to him.

"Then what do you suggest?" Ashton asks, putting the remote down.

Ally shrugs.

"Delilah, anything you wanna do?" Ashton asks.

I shrug. "I don't care."

"Emma, what about you?" Ashton says, turning to his girlfriend, or almost girlfriend. I'm not really sure what they are yet. She just started to hangout with us a few weeks ago.

"I'm fine with a movie," she says.

"Movie it is then, since no one has any better ideas," Ashton says. 

Ally laughs as Ashton presses play on one of the movies.

Ashton reaches for Emma's hand and she smiles. Michael puts his arm around Ally.

I'm sitting in a bean bag chair. Alone.

I thought things wouldn't be too different without Luke. But the longer he's not here, the more things seem to change. I'm the only one in our friend group that doesn't have someone with me whenever we hangout. I'm like the fifth wheel every where we go. Michael has Ally, Ashton has Emma. I have Luke, but he's halfway across the world.

A few minutes into the movie, no one is even paying any attention. I can hear Ashton whispering to Emma and Michael making Ally laugh. I'm just sitting on my phone.

This is how it's going to continue to be, and I can't do anything about it. In two months, I'll be with Luke and all this will be worth it. I just hope he's doing okay. I haven't heard from him in awhile. Every time I've called, he hasn't picked up, and whenever he's called me, I haven't picked up. We just keep returning each others calls, but we're getting nowhere.

The movie mentions prom and Ashton pauses the movie.

"Guys, we're all going to prom, right?" Ashton asks.

Michael and Ally nod. I shrug.

Michael notices me shrug. "D-Delilah, do y-you have a d-date?" Michael asks quietly.

"The only date I'd want isn't here," I tell him. "But it's okay, I'll still go."

Luke and I never really talked about prom, since we didn't start dating until a few months ago. It would've been nice to go to prom with him, but that can't happen now. At least I went to the snow ball with him, and that went well. Besides his anxiety for some of it, it ended up being a good night. Prom would have been even better. 

Ashton frowns. "Del, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine. I'm okay with it."

"Oh, yeah, Ashton told me your boyfriend lives in Australia," Emma says.

I nod. 

"How'd you guys meet? Over the internet?" Emma asks.

I laugh. "No, his dad lives down the street. Well, he's in Australia right now too. But Luke lived here for a few months."

"Oh, that's nice! Does he spend a few months with each parent? Are they divorced?"

"Something like that," I tell her, not wanting to explain everything.

Ashton clears his throat. "Have you heard from him lately?"

"It's been over a week."

"H-How's his m-mom?" Michael asks.

"She starts treatment in a few days," I tell him.

"Treatment for what?" Emma asks, looking at Ashton.

"I'll explain later, okay?" he tells her. "So, uh, lets get back to the movie," Ashton says.

Ashton starts the movie again. No one asks anymore questions about Luke.

A few minutes later, my phone starts ringing. I see that it's Luke calling, and this time I'm actually here to pick up my phone.

"Hey, Luke! I was just talking about you," I tell him. I leave Ashton's basement and walk up to his room so I can have some privacy. I see Ashton smile as I walk up the stairs.

"I hope it was all good things!"

"Totally bad things."

He laughs. "So how is everything?" he asks. He sounds happy. Just the sound of his voice is making me happy too.

"Pretty good. I'm with Ashton and Michael right now."

"Let me guess, you're watching a movie?" he asks.

"Yeah. They both have their girlfriends with them, it's kind of awkward being the only person alone."

"I'm here now! Well, over the phone. It's not really the same, but it's better than nothing. Did I interrupt the movie?"

I laugh. "No, I went upstairs. So how's everything with you? Is your mom doing okay?"

"She starts treatment in two days. I'm kind of nervous, but the doctors say she should be okay. I think she's nervous too, but doesn't want to show it. I just hope this all works like the doctors say it should."

"I'm sure she will be fine. Are you sure you're handling everything alright?"

I can not imagine what Luke and his parents are going through. He's already had to deal with so much and now there's this. I'm not there to see if he's doing okay and check in on him, so I have to take his word for it. I trust him, I just worry. 

"I'm truly fine. I promise. I'd be better if you were here though."

"Two more months!"

"I'll take you to the beach and show you all my favorite places. I'll make you try vegemite and Tim Tams!"

"I can't wait!"

We talk for almost an hour. He tells me about Calum and some girl Amber he saw the other day. I tell him about Ashton and Michael. He asks about Lucy, as usual. Sometimes I think I should take her to Australia too because Luke misses her so much. I don't think I'd be able to deal with her on such a long flight though.

"Do you think everyone is wondering where you went?" Luke asks. "It's been, like, an hour." He laughs.

"They know I'm talking to you. Wanna FaceTime and then you can see everyone? If you're not doing anything and have more time."

"Yeah! I'll hang up and FaceTime you."

"Okay!"

He hangs up and within a few seconds, he's already FaceTiming me.

He waves excitedly when the video connects. 

"Hi!" he says. "Man, I miss your pretty face." He pouts, which causes me to laugh.

"I miss you too!"

It's nice to actually see him, even if it's a blurry image on my phone. He looks a little tanner and his hair is a little lighter. It also looks like he hasn't gotten a haircut in awhile because he has curly ends sticking out from his hat.

"I'm going downstairs," I tell him "Let's hope we don't lose the connection."

"We can't lose our connection," he says, laughing.

I roll my eyes and laugh.

"Are you at Ashton's?" Luke asks. "That looks like his house."

"Yep."

"I'm so excited!" Luke says, smiling widely. "I haven't talked to them in awhile!"

I smile and walk into the basement. The movie has ended, and they're just talking.

"Y-you're back!" Michael says.

"I have someone here with me," I tell everyone. I turn my phone around and show Luke to them.

"Hey!" everyone says in unison.

"Hi, guys!" Luke says.

"What's up, Luke?" Ashton says, asking for my phone. I pass it over to him and sit beside him.

"Nothing much at the moment," Luke tells him. "How's everything?"

"Good! Everyone misses you. How's your dad?"

Luke laughs. "He's good."

"A-ask about L-Liz!" Michael says.

"She's doing okay," Luke says, laughing. "Pass the phone over to Michael."

Ashton hands my phone over to Michael, who is smiling widely. He waves happily.

"How's it going, Michael?" Luke asks. 

"Good!"

"Is speech therapy helping?"

Michael nods. "Really w-well. I think."

"It sounds like it is!"

Michael smiles widely. "Thanks!"

Luke is always so kind to Michael. He's able to understand him more than most people, which is good for both of them. They each understand what each other is going through.

Michael passes the phone back to me after a few minutes of the phone going between everyone. 

"I gotta go. It's time for my mom to go to an appointment."

"I'll talk to you later, okay?" I tell him.

He nods. "It was nice seeing you and everyone. Talk to you soon. Love you!"

"Love you too!"

I put my phone down and smile.

"You guys make me so happy. I can already tell you're happier after talking to him," Ashton says.

I nod. "You're right. He makes me very happy."

it's been like a month since I updated. I am so sorry. I had the American Library Association and then midterms, so I had no time to update. :(

RTF comes out really soon! I posted an update in RTF if you haven't read it yet that just updates everything that's been going on. It'll be out April 5th!

love you!

-ashley