now or never (LUKE PATTERSON)

12

As Lydia walked to her locker she noticed Justin and Riley standing next to it.

Just great.

She thought to herself with a sigh. She wanted to be alone today. She couldn't believe everything that happened yesterday, but at the same time she knew that she needed her best friends for moral support right now, so she couldn't push them away.

"You look like shit." Riley said and Justin nudged his girlfriend, he could clearly see that she was upset. "What's wrong?" Justin asked and Lydia opened her locker. "My dad came over yesterday. Turns out him and his new family are moving into town, his step kids are our around our age and they're coming to this school." Lydia admitted and slammed her locker closed after getting the things she needed. Both Justin and Riley's face softened.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think-" Lydia cut Riley off. "It's fine Riles. I'll just stay away from them, it's that simple, I just don't want things to be awkward or I don't want to get jealous..." Lydia said, not really knowing how she'd actually feel once it actually happens.

Justin pulled her into a hug, his arms tightly wrapping around her waist as he rested his chin on top of her head. She was confused to why her heart didn't flutter like it usually would have done.

But she gladly accepted his hug, but they soon pulled away to see Riley holding both her arms out and Lydia smiled lightly falling into the girls arms. "I hope you know that we love you." Riley reminded the girl and Lydia smiled. "I do, and I love you guys too." Lydia said. She wanted to cry at how sweet they were being, she was happy that they were supporting her. But the bell rang and the girls pulled away from their hug.

Riley and Justin walked Lydia to class like they normally did. But she knew they were only doing this because they felt bad for her. If she would have never told them that her dad came with his new family they probably would have walked away from her. Lydia didn't mind though, but that was only because she missed her best friends. And she had them back just for that small moment.

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It was now lunch and Lydia was slowly starting to panic. She didn't know who she was going to sit with. She hadn't spoken to the boys all day and she wanted to at least say hi, but she also wanted to eat lunch with her best friends. But it wasn't like the boys weren't her best friends. They honestly were. But her panicked questioned had been answered when she looked over to the old table she used to sit with Riley and Justin, but to her surprise they weren't there. She sighed knew that the morning comfort was going to be only a morning thing. But she had a little hope thinking about how they would probably try to comfort her during lunch.

They aren't there. I should've seen that coming.

She thought as she approached the better table.

"Hey." Lydia spoke softly. "Hey." Alex said and she looked over to the other boys to see them glaring at her. "What?" She asked, now becoming worried. "Out of all of us, Alex is your favorite!?" Luke asked and Lydia gasped glaring over at Alex and he simply shrugged with a smirk. "And I was the first to meet you!" Reggie said and she laughed. "Alex isn't my favorite anymore." She quickly spoke and Alex jaw dropped. "What why!?" He asked in a high pitched voice. "Because you told them!" Lydia exclaimed. "So who's your favorite now?" Bobby asked.

"None." Lydia said, crossing her arms. "What!" All the boys yelled in disbelief. "Okay, Reggie." She answered. "That's not fair!" Luke and Bobby exclaimed in unison. "I met Reggie first!" Lydia stated. "So?" Alex, Luke, and Bobby all said in unison making her laugh.

"Guys I'm kidding, you're all my favorite." She said and Luke smiled. "If you had to pick at least one-" Lydia cut Luke off. "No one, thanks for cheering me up though." she said and Luke face softened.

"We cheered you up? Why, what happened?" Reggie asked, taking the words right out of Luke's mouth. Lydia knew it was a mistake saying that. She didn't want to lie because they would eventually find out when they'd have to surprise Macey.

"Well my mom and dad got divorced six months ago and after six months my dad decided to pop back into my life with his new family." Lydia said plainly. Luke scooted closer to the girl wrapping his arm around her shoulder pulling her closer. Her stomach fluttered as she laid her head on his shoulder, holding back her tears.

"Well good thing you have us, we'll always be here for you. And we're always down to talk." Alex said and Lydia smiled. "Thank you guys, my other friends totally blew me off and I really needed some support." Lydia said and Bobby's face softened. They all smiled at each other as they continued lunch.

Alex couldn't help but notice how Luke still had his arm around Lydia as her head was still on his shoulder throughout their conversation.

As the boys laughed at the jokes Reggie made Lydia couldn't help but scoot closer to Luke and he couldn't help but pull her closer.

Bobby saw this action smirking slightly as she continued to talk and laugh with everyone else. Reggie was still completely oblivious of the two. But he enjoyed having a good time with them.

Riley on the other hand nudged her boyfriend and he looked over to her. She pointed over to Lydia cuddled up under Luke's arm as Luke laughed with the boys. Luke then looked down at Lydia cuddled up to him. Lydia smiled up to him and at the other boys.

Justin felt this weird feeling in his stomach, he felt like he was being replaced by Luke. He didn't want to admit it, but he was jealous. And he had no idea why.

edited