^I hate myself why did I think this was a good idea I'm borderline s o b b i n g (he looks fucking daddy af tho so yum)
❥
"I never knew you and Calum even spoke to each other," I say carefully, eyeing Chloe as she takes a sip from her drink.
She shrugs. "It was just some lousy hook-up."
"That turned into something more?"
"I guess."
"So, you guys are official now?"
"What's with all the questions?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing, I just... I never expected it to be you and Calum, that's all." I respond, crinkling my nose.
Chloe laughs dryly. "No one really expected you and Luke to actually get together, either," she says, making me smile weakly. "Guess people can surprise you, huh?"
I nod, my eyes wandering to the other side of the patio where Luke and Calum are talking things out, just like Chloe and I are supposed to be.
Luke is staring at the other boy with bored eyes, sipping from a black mug that is probably filled with nothing but water to make him look the slightest bit more intimidating.
The corners of my lips turn up at the sight of him, and I think Chloe notices, because she clears her throat.
"So," she says awkwardly. "How have you and Ash been?"
"Same old, same old, I guess." I shrug. "Ashley's still Ashley and I'm still me."
"Have her and Michael finally gotten together?" she teases, and I giggle.
"Not yet. But they're close."
"Seems like you and Luke got closer."
I bite my lip. "Y-yeah."
"I won't tell, Sophie," I hear her say, genuinely surprising me.
"You won't?"
"No," she shakes her head from side to side. "That's your guys' business. Not mine."
"I don't mean to offend you, Chlo," I say quietly. "But why the sudden change of heart? No offense, but..."
"But you'd expect me, of all people, to go ape shit and broadcast your relationship through a fucking megaphone in the middle of a crowded building," she finishes off for me, and it's all I can do not to question the specifics.
So I nod my head carefully, eyeing her in stunned silence.
"Uhm, yeah. Kinda."
"Well, I'm not," she diverts her eyes away from me.
"You already hate me enough, Sophie. I don't want to add to that." she says.
"What?" I narrow my eyes at her. "Hate you?"
"Yeah-"
"I don't hate you, Chloe," I tell her incredulously. "I've never hated-"
"Anyone, I know, I know," she grimaces. "You gave the same pep-talk to Calum."
"He told you that?"
"Yeah," Chloe nods. "He also said you'd accept my apology, and I argued that you wouldn't."
I stay quiet, for whatever apology she was thinking of giving me hadn't quite come out yet.
"I know I don't deserve it. At all," she carries on, looking sullenly at the floor. "Y'know, your forgiveness and that. I was a bitch to you. I treated you like dirt and I resented you so much-"
"Chloe, it's fine." I tell her sternly, but she doesn't listen.
"I made you promise not to like Luke, even when I knew something was going on. What kind of a friend does that?"
"The kind who makes mistakes," I say firmly, placing my hand on hers. It's not much, but it's the only thing I can do that isn't too straightforward.
She swallows. "Sophie, it shouldn't be that easy to forgive someone. Especially someone like me."
"I don't care-"
"But I do," she sighs. "If only you knew the sort of stuff I did just to spite you, you'd hate me forever."
"No, I wouldn't." I say quickly. "Hating you has been the last thing on my min-"
"I sent Luke that text," Chloe blurts, her cheeks taking on a light pink blush as I focus on her. "I sent Luke that picture, too. And every single text since then."
"What?"
"Yeah," she breathes. "I'm the one who threatened him, Soph, but she sent the pictures and the videos, and I can't possibly explain just how sorry I am. W-we used my uncle's burner phone to do it, so that Luke couldn't track the numb-"
"Chloe," I stop her, placing my hands on her shoulders and giving them a slight squeeze. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about," she exhales, almost desperately. "Sophie, I'm sorry, I didn't know what I was thinking, please don't-"
"I promise you now, I have no idea," I say to her, more confused than ever.
"What texts? What pictures?"
"Luke didn't tell you?" she gulps, and I can see just how fast her face drains in colour.
I shake my head no. "Didn't tell me what?"
Her eyes rake my face, as if hoping for me to come out and say that I know exactly what's going on.
But I don't, and she displays a look of absolute panic because of it.
Suddenly, Chloe stands up from her seat, her palm pressed tightly against her forehead. "F-forget I said anything."
"Chloe," I say, rising up from the seat myself to go follow her, before she rushes into the house with her head down. "Chloe!"
"Baby?"
I spin around after losing the girl, only to be met with a broad figure looming over my own.
I look up, having to squint against the sunlight.
It's Luke, Calum right next to him as they both stare at me in uncertainty. "Princess, what's wrong?"
"Did you and Chloe make up?" Calum asks innocently, and I fight the urge not to scowl at him in disgust.
Because no matter how many times I'll have to be reminded of him and Chloe getting together, it'll never really sit well with me.
Especially after witnessing her act so weird just now.
So I ignore him, turning around to go back into the house, when I feel myself getting pulled back.
"Babygirl, wait," is what I hear Luke say, before chuckling and pulling me to his chest.
"I have something to tell you."
"Tell me later." I mumble, about to detatch myself from his grip.
"Actually, I think he should tell you now," Calum says, grinning wildly. He then winks at Luke. "See you inside, mate?"
"That you will." Luke smiles back, as I stare on in complete bewilderment.
Once Calum's gone and it's just the two of us alone, Luke hurriedly leads me to one of the garden chairs before pulling me eagerly onto his lap.
"Babe," he says, his excited tone similar to a little kid's. "I have to tell you something."
"I have to tell you something, too-"
"Me and Calum were talking, right? And I was so fucking pissed at him, you don't understand. Well, anyway, he started to apologize and-"
"And now you two are best buds again, I get it, I saw it. Can we please move on?" I say out of nowhere, somewhat bitterly.
Luke pauses, frowning.
"I'm sorry," I sigh. "That was rude. I just- I really don't want to talk about Calum right now."
"Baby-"
"Can we please just talk about something else?" I ask stubbornly, crossing my arms.
I hear him sigh, making me feel bad for putting such an abrupt pause to his good mood.
Finally, he nods, biting his lip. "Okay, little girl."
"Thank you." I mumble, settling into his chest.
He leans back so that we're both comfortable, as well as placing his hands on either sides of my waist.
I stare at the backdoor of Michael's house, wanting nothing more than to rush in and ask Chloe what the hell she was on about.
Luke never told me about any texts. Let alone any pictures being sent to him from an unknown number.
Why would he keep something like that from me? What did he have to hide?
My mind is overworking itself again, and I find myself nervously chewing on my bottom lip as Chloe's confession and very haste exit come back to mind.
I don't notice that someone's saying my name until Luke ends up having to shout it, and I jump up in surprise, accidentally hitting my hip hard against the armrest of the chair.
"Woah, Soph," he says, steadying me with his hands as I wince in pain. "Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine." I murmur, going to soothe the part of skin that's throbbing, but Luke's already one step ahead.
I feel him gently lift my shirt up, his warm fingers pressing tenderly against the sore spot. I exhale a sigh of relief as he massages his fingertips against it and places a kiss on my shoulder.
I relax my body into Luke's as he sucks in a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, little one." is what he says, making me tilt my head up to give him a perplexed look.
"W-why?" I ask quietly.
He sighs. "I know you're not too thrilled about me making up with Calum, baby."
I bite back a small scoff, instead resulting to nodding my head lightly.
He takes his lip ring between his teeth, leaning his head against the back of the chair.
"I'm a bad boyfriend, aren't I, little girl?"
"What?" I say, squinting my eyes at him. "No!"
"Yes," he argues. "I'm a terrible boyfriend. I shouldn't have even listened to Calum. Fuck, I shouldn't have-"
"Stop talking," I order him meekly, placing a finger on his lips. "You're putting yourself down again."
"But I deserve it."
"No, you don't!"
"I should have just punched him in the face when he asked to talk," Luke says, his voice muffled as he blinks at me.
I purse my lips, my finger still in place. "Then I would have been even more angry at you."
His face falls. "You're angry at me?" he asks, hi: voice soft and tentative.
My eyes widening, I quickly take my finger away, feeling myself slip off of his lap.
"N-no." I murmur in delay, standing up.
"Yes, you are," Luke sighs yet again, groaning as he stands up from his seat. "Little girl-"
"I'm not angry at you." I tell him, walking towards the back door. "I'm just confused."
"Then talk to me, Soph," he says calmly, having no problem keeping up with my quick strides.
"Baby, don't ignore me."
"I'm not ignoring you."
"Yes you are, you're looking away from me and you won't tell me what's wrong," he grabs me by the wrist, spinning me around.
My body collides against his chest and I lay my palms flat against it, not wanting to fall over.
"Is it because of Calum?" he asks coolly. I don't hesitate to shake my head no. "Then what is it, sweetheart?"
"It's nothing." I say through grit teeth, and he chuckles humourlessly.
"It's definitely something," he says, narrowing his eyes. "Baby, you can't keep things from me. You know that I love you, right? I'd do anything for y-"
"I know," I say hoarsely. "But Chloe told me something-"
"That bitch," Luke clenches his jaw. "If she said anything mean to you, princess, I swear I'll-"
"She told me about the texts," I say bluntly, staring up at him in all seriousness.
"The texts?" he cocks his head to the side.
"And the pictures. And the threats," I respond, stepping back to run a hand through my hair.
"What are you-" he begins, but he doesn't get to finish, before the realization slowly comes to him.
I frown, noticing his sudden change in mood. "What was she talking about, Luke?"
I see his Adam's apple bob up and down as he gulps, his pupils dilating.
"What was she talking about?" I repeat, but all he does is shake his head.
"It's nothing you should be worried about, baby."
"Yes, it is. There's something you're not telling me." I fold my arms.
"It doesn't matter, Soph, that's why."
"You told me not to keep things from you! And now you're keeping things from me?" I say, almost childishly.
"I wouldn't have kept it from you if I thought you'd be okay with it," he says, his tongue dipping into the hollow of his cheek. "But I knew it'd freak you out-"
"I don't understand, Luke. Please just tell me," I plead, my shoulders slumping.
His eyes scan my expression for a while, as if not knowing what to do. And for some reason, I find myself begging him with my own to tell me what's going on.
"Luke-"
"I'll show you, babygirl," he says, sighing in defeat. "But only if you promise me you'll be okay, and that you won't freak out."
"Of course I'll be okay," I sigh, watching him reluctantly take his phone out. "Why wouldn't I-"
"Here," he says, holding the iPhone out to me with a troubled look on his face. "I'm sorry, princess. This is... this is why I kept it from you."
I take the phone from his hand, seeing several iMessage's displayed on the screen, all from the same unknown sender.
My breath hitches in my throat as I scroll through every single text, down to the last one, my heart beating and my hands balling up in fists as I do so.
16th July
Unknown Number
You might be the birthday boy, but I think your little slut gave her gift to someone else.
*Image Attatchment*
Unknown Number
Sucks to be the stepbrother, huh? ;)
17th July
Unknown Number
Heya, Lukas.
Unknown Number
Wanna play a game? ;)
Unknown Number
Let's see. Do you wanna play Monopoly, rock paper scissors, or (your personal favourite), tongue-twister-with-your-sister?
18th July
Unknown Number
Evening, Lukas!
Unknown Number
Sophie's your little angel, huh? ;)
Unknown Number
It sounds so much better on recording. AND on video.
Unknown Number
Will mommy and daddy be pleased? Or will they kick you out, babyboy?
Unknown Number
There's only one way to find out ;)
19th July
Unknown Number
You're lucky she didn't spike your "little girl"'s drink all that much.
Unknown Number
It'll happen one day, though. I'm just waiting on you, Lukey.
20th July
Unknown Number
Incest is banned in Australia, am I right?
21st July
Unknown Number
How cute. You two might as well "paint your future" the same colour as the bars you'll be put in once Mommy and Daddy get ahold of those pictures. Doesn't that sound nice? ;)
22nd July
Unknown Number
You can't fucking push me away forever. Or the fact that you're having dirty little dreams about your small, innocent, baby sister.
Unknown Number
Now, I'd hate to be the tell-tale of your little fairytale, Lukas, but sometimes, we all have to break barriers.
Unknown Number
Remember, babyboy; you kiss, I tell.
❥
Sophie's pissed, I don't think we've ever had angry!Sophie before so lets roll with it.
I feel like this story is slowly getting boring, and I apologize for that. I have a really limited vocab (yikes) because I literally spend most of my time going through Instagram when really I should be reading more fanfics oops
But yeah, thank you so much for 33k reads!! Do ya'll remember when it was like Chapter 12 and we hit 1k because I do and it was glorious :')
Thank you so much for reading! Ily, take care!!
-m xx