As we walk up, Michael stops walking. I stand next to him, staring at him. His eyes won't meet mine as he stares down. Sighing small I look down too, staring at my dad's gravestone.
"Kevin Mills, loving husband and father. 1983 to 2019"
Michael and I stand there. Side by side just staring down at his gravestone. Both not saying a word. After about thirty minutes of us both being lost in our own thoughts Michael finally looks up at me.
"I'm going to head back to the car" he mumbles "Take as much time as you need" he spoke softly, I just nod and hand him the keys to my car. As he walks away I can't help but sigh. Once he's completely gone I crash down onto my knees. He's back at the car and can't see me, thank God.
"I'm sorry" I whisper staring at his gravestone. "I can't keep my promsie to you. I tried, but I" a small coughing coming from my throat makes me stop talking, instead I just sob. I just sit on my knees sobbing. Before my dad died I promised to protect my mother and brother. But I can't protect them from John.
"Luke?" I hear Ashley call from behind me, quickly I wipe my tears before looking at her.
"What do you want Ashley" I mumble staring at her.
"Well I come here to visit a family member who has passed. And then I heard crying" she says taking a step closer.
"Oh" I mumble looking back at you dad's gravestone.
"To only find your happy ass" she laughs.
I just ignore her.
"Did you did know that his oldest boy is gay?" She snickers.
I start to stand, however, she pushes me down.
"Stop Ashley" I mutter getting up and glaring at her.
"Why?" She asks staring at me "Because of you, Matteo broke up with me" she hisses crossing her arms over her chest.
"I didn't have anything to do with that" I groan.
"Well if you weren't his mate I would have been!" She hisses.
"What? What's a mate?" I asks frowning "Is that like some slang term or something?"
"It doesn't matter" she huffs looking away "What matters is, I have a way to get you out of this mess"
"Yeah? How?" I question.
"I'll be your girlfriend, Luke" she says grinning "We will be the perfect couple. Nothing like the head cheerleader and the nerd" she laughs.
"What?" I question. "Us? A couple?" I ask.
"Yes Luke, us, a couple" she sighs.
"Why?" I asks suspiciously.
"Several reasons, but, if you do this, you won't be picked on at school, because you'll have a girlfriend" She smiles innocently.
"Why are you willing to do this?" I frown.
"Let's just say no one breaks up with me and gets away with it. Matteo's reputation will be ruined" She giggles, "Its perfect!"
"What does this all entail?" I asks staring at her.
"We will go on dates, hold hands, spend all our time at school together, go to parties together. Maybe kiss a little, we are a couple" Ashley smirks.
"Okay" I mumble, cringing at the thought of kissing her, but what other choice do I have?
"Good, I'll see you tonight at Dave's for our first date around six" she winks before walking away. At least I won't get kicked out. Glancing back at my dad's gravestone I sigh before walking back to my car. I get in and glance at Michael.
"Ready?" I hum looking at him. Making him nod. Slowly I pull out of the parking area and start to head home. Im nervous though. Once we get home and inside Michael goes straight to his room, looking at the time it's four-thirty.
"Luke?" My mother question walking by me "You okay?"
"Yeah, uh, can you stay home with Michael tonight? Ashley and I-" before I could finish she interupts.
"Ashley?" She asks frowning.
"Yeah, she's from school" I mumble awkwardly.
"Who is she?" She hums.
"My girlfriend" I shrug staring away.
"Oh" she says sounding pleasantly surprised, "You go have fun with her"
"Thanks ma" I mumble turning to leave, to only see John standing a few feet behind me.
"So you finally got a girl?" He asks staring at me suspiciously.
"Yeah, I'm not gay, it wasn't hard" I shrug staring at him with bored eyes.
"You had me worried there for a moment" he laughs small, "Next Friday she should come by for dinner"
"Yeah sure, I'll ask her to come over, I'm sure she won't mind" I shrug walking past John. Once upstairs and in the safety of my room I sigh small, sitting on my bed. I sit here for a good thirty to forty minutes.
Slowly I stand grabbing some clothes and going to shower. After my shower I dry off and then get dressed, applying deodorant and some cologne. I brush my hair and then slip into my shoes. Frowning I head downstairs. Once downstairs I grab my keys, hoping no one notices me.
"Luke" she mother calls "Are you leaving?"
"Yeah" I call back walking towards the door.
"Have fun!" She chirps from the kitchen. Sighing I just leave. I get into my car and head to Dave's. Its a cute little diner on the edge of town. Once there I get out and head inside. I have three minutes to spare. Once inside I see Ashley.
"Luke!" She calls making me walk over.
"Hey Ashley" I mumble awkwardly as I sit across from her in the booth.
"Nervous?" She asks laughing small "Don't worry Luke, I know you're inexperienced, I gotcha"
"Ha, thanks" I awkwardly laughly. She takes my hand and smiles.
"I didn't know what you wanted to drink, I just got you Mountain Dew" she smiles.
"Oh, thanks Ashley" I mumble smiling small "Thats perfect"
"Okay good!" She cheers letting go of my hands. I suddenly feel a little more relaxed. She isnt being mean, which is good. As we talk, we eventually order food and then continue talking. She's actually a nice person.
However, as we are talking my eyes landed on Matteo, who just walked inside. His eyes landing on my and Ashley, I glance back at Ashley. She raises a brow.
"What?" She questions looking back to see Matteo, she looks back at me and grins "Kiss me"
"Wha-" before I could finish her lips crash down onto mine, my eyes going wide.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Uh-oh