The Only Exception >> L.H.

14: "Fine?"

Luke's POV

Melvin takes the front seat when we reach the car. It's polished and waxed, the sunlight bouncing off the hood. I admire it as I walk around to get in the backseat. The inside is leather, and the vents blow out cold air that feels nice against my hot skin.

The musician's department is hot even with the air conditioner. There are so many people with built-in heaters that turn on blast when they practice.

"How are you, Luke?" Melvin asks as we wait for Ally. "We haven't talked in a while."

"I'm good, I guess," I answer.

"Come on, Hemmings. Can I have something a little more interesting?" He says. "How do you like staying with Allison?"

I realize now that I really am the only one who calls her Ally, besides her family and sometimes Melvin.

"It's different," I reply. "It's not what I expected."

"How so?"

"I don't know," I say. "It's just not what I thought it would be, you know. I didn't expect it to happen."

I repeat myself and hope that he doesn't notice. He probably does, but he doesn't say anything because Ally opens the door and sits beside me. She looks at me for a second before turning away, handing Melvin something. The driver pulls out onto the street once she's settled.

"I wasn't informed that you'd be joining us. What are you going to do there?" She asks me.

"Thea requested for me to come. I'm going to show her some of the songs I'll be playing."

I don't want to stop talking to her, but she decides the conversation is over by turning to face the window. There are so many things I have to say to her, but there are so many reasons why I can't say any of them.

I have no idea what's going through her mind. She doesn't seem like herself, and I wonder if she feels the same way I do. Maybe she has the same feeling in her chest that's been in mine for months.

I still love her. When I look at her, I don't feel lost. I don't think about all the pain I dealt with after we split. All I see is the girl I fell in love with, the girl who swore that love didn't exist. How can she still say that after what we shared this morning?

"Luke?"

I snap my head in her direction. She reaches her hand out to hold mine, and my eyes widen when I see how hard I'm gripping the seat. My knuckles are white against the black leather, turning red again as Ally laces her fingers through mine. She smiles and meets my gaze, rubbing her thumb against the skin below my thumb.

"Are you okay?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say. Melvin is watching us through the rearview mirror, but she doesn't seem to notice. I continue before she can look away again. "I went down to the designing department yesterday. I got some samples of colors to paint the guest room since it's pretty much mine now."

"What time did you go?"

"What?"

She removes her hand from mine, and a smile falls from my face.