Chapter 6

MCKINLEY P.O.V

My office was still closed after the holidays so I took those days off to spend with Audrey. First we started with getting our nails done and then heading to lunch. It was nice to spend time with her but our main goal of today was to go and check out UCLA. Audrey still had another few years of high school but she was thinking of going there and since she was here, we might as well go.

It was scary touring a college. There's people everywhere pretty much at all hours of the day. It's scary to know that somewhere in the future you could be moving out of your parents house to further your education and even though you're an adult who is suppose to do those things, its hard to go off on your own.

She stood close to me as I answered emails while the tour guide was talking. We weren't the only ones here today, about ten other kids with their parents were also here. But just because my office was closed, didn't mean work stopped. I had to answer these emails.

Some of the kids on campus I've seen before. I had gone to a lecture at UCLA and spoke to some of the students about a writing job once they left college. Of course I worked for a publishing company so we had lots of different jobs in my building.

Audrey wasn't sure what she wanted to do yet. She was only a sophomore in high school so its normal but it is something you have to start thinking about. I tried to convince her to wait to do anything until she knew exactly what she wanted to do but she refused. I wasn't going to argue with her.

I was a smart women, I have no idea why no one ever listened to my advice.

I did however live close enough to UCLA that Audrey could live with me during the school year and drive to classes. I already told her and her parents that I would do everything I could to help support her if she did decide to come here for school.

I had already decided that no matter what, I wouldn't be moving for work again. I had already made two bigs moved in my lifetime and I wasn't even 24 yet. I was happy where I was and I was staying.

We toured the school before we headed back home. She put on a movie in the living room while I did some work in the office. At dinner time I went to the kitchen to cook and apparently Ashton knew what time it was because he came into the kitchen right as I was finished.

"Hello Mr. Irwin." I smiled handing him a bowl with the stir fry in it. "How was your day?" I asked as he sat the island and waited for Audrey to join him with her bowl.

"Good. How was yours?" He asked as he dug in.

"Good. But should I start buying more food for you and friends?" I asked laughing a little.

"If you want. None of those fools know how to cook."

"Luke knows how to cook." I commented sitting beside him.

"Well he never does." He answered. It was weird to me that Luke didn't cook for them. He cooked for me all the time, and he was good. So there was no reason for him not to do it now. We all ate in silence before Calum and Luke came through the door with their own dinners and sat with us.

"I brought over some movies." Calum commented showing them to Audrey. We let her pick the movie before Ashton helped me clean up while Luke, Audrey and Calum set up the movie and blankets.

"Has he talked about getting back together yet?" Ashton asked and I shook my head. At this point I wasn't sure if he was ever going to ask me. "We're having a New Years Eve party, you should come and kiss him at midnight." He commented making me shake my head and laugh.

"I will come but I'm not making the first move."

"I will convince him to kiss you." Ashton commented before going to the living room and getting comfortable on the couch with the others. I walked in and laid down with my feet in Calum's lap and my head near Luke. I grabbed the blanket on the back of the couch to wrap around myself.

We watched a few movies before Ashton and Calum left.

"Can I stay?" Luke asked after Audrey went to bed.

"Sure. Is everything okay?" I questioned. He had only stayed once but he didn't ask, he just sorta fell asleep there and I felt bad asking to him to leave. It was different this time.

"Haven't been able to sleep recently." He shrugged. I sat up to look at him. I wasn't sure what to say to him but I knew exactly how he was feeling. I couldn't remember the last time that I had actually slept through the night.

"Have you talked to your doctor?" I questioned. The first thing I did when I moved out here was a doctor that would be able to refill my medication.

"I don't have one." He commented making me sigh.

"Why not?"

"I don't have time for that." I rolled my eyes at him. "How did you get your cast off then?" I asked.

"I just went to the hospital and they cut it off for me." He shrugged.

"Do you want the couch?" I questioned standing up and grabbing blankets and a few pillows.

"Sure. Thanks." He half smiled at me. I smiled a little at him before running my fingers through his hair.

"Good night." I whispered heading down the hall to my room. I changed and got into bed but I couldn't sleep. Knowing that he was out there, probably also not sleeping. He was right there. He was here and I could easily invite him to sleep in my bed.

The door swung open.

*LUKE P.O.V*

It took all of my courage to swing that door open. The room was dark but I saw her sit up.

"What's wrong?" She whispered flicking on the bed side table lamp. I stood in the doorway looking at her. "Luke." She said.

"Can I sleep in here?" I asked.

"Um, sure." She answered watching as I walked around the other side of the bed and got in with her. She laid down next to me looking at me. "You left the door open." She giggled a little.

"You left the light on." I commented. She reached over to shut it off before falling back next to me.

"Couldn't sleep?" She asked.

"Yeah." I mumbled. "Haven't been able to sleep in a while." I breathed in her scent from the pillows. She ran her hand down my back. I closed my eyes as she did.

"Are you happy?" She asked. I knew I shouldn't answer because the answer was no. She said that if I ever found myself unhappy, that I should go back to her. I couldn't tell her. I loved my job, I did. But I wasn't sure if this was a life that I should be living.

All I did was work. Work is an important part of life but I shouldn't be working this much. I was exhausted and unable to sleep. She filled my every thought.

"I'm not living the life I thought I was going to be when I moved out here. I'll say that." I commented keeping my eyes closed so that I couldn't see her reaction. She stayed quiet but her hand kept moving.

I don't know when I fell asleep but I woke up the next morning to her pressed to my side and Audrey on the other side of her. I smiled down at her before grabbing my phone. For the first time in a long time, I felt rested.

Within the hour both McKinley and Audrey woke up and we all made our way to the kitchen to cook breakfast. Audrey went to shower while I cooked and McKinley sat at the island. It was like old times and I enjoyed it.

"Did Ashton invite you and Audrey to the party?" He asked.

"Yeah." I smiled. "We will be there." She commented as she scrolled through her phone. I grabbed plated and started loading the pancakes onto them.

"Ashton's little brother and sister will also be there so she'll have someone to talk to. Or kiss."

"No!" Kinley shouted right away. "There will be no kissing."

Too bad cause I was planning to kiss McKinley.