listen to Anna as she sings some song that I've probably never heard of before, her smile lighting up her whole face. She looks like a child on Christmas day, so innocent, yet so excited. I'm guessing singing meant that much to her and I'm not surprised, with that voice, yeah no shit, it means so much.

I watch as her eyes dart to Alex, before they dart to me. Her dark eyes staring intently in mine. I let out a puff of smoke from between my lips after taking a drag from the cigarette between my fingers.

I send her a questioning look and she sends me one back. I feel a smirk tugging on my lips and she rolls her eyes with a small smile. She continues singing until she makes it to the last verse of the song.

"Find someone new

Somebody who will love me the way you loved you

Can't you tell I'll be okay?

This is how a heart unbreaks"

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"No, you idiot, that's ketchup," Zach argues.

"Ketchup isn't that red!" Alex exclaims.

I roll my eyes, "It's either you eat or shut up. Pick one."

"You're so mean, man," Alex mumbles.

I sigh and stand up, "I'm glad Jennie and her friends left. I'm not going to deal with you too."

"Don't compare me to that witch," he glares at me.

"You mispronounced bitch," Zach says.

I decide it's best to walk away now, because I'm not in the mood to get in the same childish argument with him right now. I head over to the bathroom and I'm about to walk inside in the men's room when someone bumps in my back.

"Ow, my forehead," I hear an all too familiar soft voice and I turn around.

"Cherries," I acknowledge her.

"Luke," she squeaks out, almost surprised. That is the first time she calls me by my name and I just can't help, but love how it rolls on her tongue.

"So, is that how you we're going to communicate from now on?" I joke, referring to her bumping into me.

"Nope, I'm just clumsy," she chuckles, awkwardly.

No lie there.

"That's obvious," I reply.

"I see Jennie isn't with you tonight," she says.

"Yeah. No, she was actually here, but she left."

"Yo, Luke," Zach yells and he approaches me, throwing an arm around my shoulder, then he notices Cherries. "Hey, Leni."

"Hey, Zach," she smiles.

How the hell does her smile manage to light up her whole face?

"Loved your performance," he grins.

"Thank you," she replies.

"Annalyn Adora Falls, where the bloody hell were you this entire time?" I hear a female voice with a Scottish accent shouting. Zach and I turn our heads to find Colette approaching us.

"Hi, there," she sends us a smile.

"I told you I was going to the bathroom," Cherries replies.

"Leni, will you introduce us to your friend?" Zach asks.

I snicker. "So damn smooth," I mutter, ironically and he kicks my leg. I roll my eyes and mumble the word "asshole" out, hoping it would reach him.

"Right. Colette, Zach. Zach, Colette," she points at her friend, then mine, before pointing at her friend once again. "And you already met idiot," she gestures to me and I grin at her.

"Nice to meet you," Zach nods at her.

"Right back at you," Colette replies, then she furrows her eyebrows. "You're not American," she says.

"Got that correct, lovely. I'm British," he says. "You're from Scotland, right?"

"Born and raised there, unfortunately," she mumbles the last part.

Cherries clears her throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but we really have to go," she says. "See you later, guys."

"Goodbye," Colette says, then the two of them walk away and I watch as Cherries and her friends gather their things and walk out of the diner.

"What was that all about?" Zach asks.

"Don't know, man," I reply. "Let's go have a drink," I pat his shoulder.

We walk back to our velvet booth and we take a seat on the cushioned couch. Alex looks up from his phone, "Hey, you're back. Where were you?"

"He was talking to Leni," he grins.

Alex puts his phone down and he grins too, "Oh really?"

"Yes?" I reply, signaling for Roxie to come.

"And what were you guys talking about?"

"Why don't you ask Zach since he was so interested in the conversation?" I throw Zach under the bus and Alex turns to Zach, raising his eyebrow just as Roxie walks over to our table.

"You bitch," Zach glares at me and I grin before I turn to Roxie.

"Hey, Rox. Can you get me a cherry smoothie?" I tell her.

"Yeah, sure," she scribbles down the order. "You guys want anything?" She turns to Zach and Alex.

"A strawberry milkshake, please." Zach gives her a flirty smile.

"Charmer," Roxie comments and Zach's smile drops as I let out a snort.

"I'll get a coke," Alex tells her.

"Alright." She jots down the last order, then she turns to me. "Tina said don't be late tomorrow or else."

I grin. My aunt loves me.

"Tell her that I'll be there at five sharp," I reply.

"You better be." She gives me a pointed look before she walks away to get our drinks.

"What was Luke talking about?" Alex turns to Zach and I lean back in my seat, biting my lip to hide the smirk that's forming on my lips.

This should be interesting.

"I don't know what he was talking about," Zach mumbles with a shrug.

"Cut the bullshit and tell him," I state.

"Dude, come on, I was just trying to get to know her. I mean, she's hot. Can you blame me?" Zach defends himself.

"Colette?" Alex guesses and Zach nods.

"Maybe you can start with not calling her hot," I offer.

"Oh, yeah," Alex nods. "Girls get annoyed by that sometimes."

"Okay, fine, she's beautiful. It's not like we'll actually ever date. She looks like someone who could easily step on me," Zach huffs. He has a point. Colette kind of looks really tough. Zach would look like a child beside her.

"Well, you know what they say, dude," Alex pauses and places his hand on Zach's shoulder. I raise my eyebrow in question. "Those are the best in bed."

"Oh, God," I comment drily as Zach chuckles.

"But for real, don't worry about it, if it's meant to be, it will work out. Take Luke and Anna for example, they were friends once and they're becoming close again. That gives you hope," Alex tells him.

"What does Cherries and I have anything to do with this?"

"Are you fucking kidding me? You guys have more chemistry than Lexi and his cat," Zach says in an exasperated tone.

"Yea–" Alex starts, but then he comes to a realization of what Zach just said and turns to him with an empty look on his face. "Leave me and Alexia out of this."

Zach ignores him. "Come on, try and convince me that something might not actually happen between the two of you."

"Yeah, something will happen and it's a friendship," I tell him.

Zach turns his head to face Alex. "He's a dumbass."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not dealing with this shit right now," I stand up and head to the exit of the diner.

I walk out of the doors, feeling the cold wind hit my skin, as the thin layer of snow crushes under my shoes. I pull the beanie on my head down

"Dad, I'm fine. I swear," I hear Cherries' voice and my head instantly darts to the direction on her voice.

Her short light/dark brown hair flutters in the air from the slightly windy weather and she sighs heavily, running her hand through it.

"Papá, estaré en la casa en unos minutos, ok? Nomad deme unos minutos," she says and I'm surprised by the fact that she's fluent in Spanish. "Okay, lo veo mad tarde. Adiós." She hangs up, sighing heavily and slips her phone in her back-pocket.

She notices me and waves, shooting me a smile before walking away.

Family issues.

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❀