Placid (Luke Hemmings)

Chapter Six

| emma's pov |

I sighed as I felt the ends of my brown hair; it was wet. I hated watering the plants on such a hot and lazy day. My eyes were in slits because of the light of the sun. I couldn't even see what I was sprinkling water on.

The snapback I wore wasn't covering anything; it was just there. It was only adding weight to my aching head. I should've taken my mother's sun hat. It was big enough to cover my whole face. Mothers do know best.

I cheered internally as someone blocked the heat and bright light from the sky. "Do you need any help?" A low but soft voice asked me. I instantly knew who it was.

"It's fine, Luke. I'm quite used to it," I lied, praying that he'd insist to help me. Instead, he nodded and trudged on to his own home. "Maybe I should've said yes."

Shrugging it off, I went on my 'merry' way with the hose, watering every green thing I see. It was better this way; I'd finish my work faster, though I was kind of flooding the garden.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me and saw a hand take the only water source I had. "That's not... uh, really good for the plants."

"They'll be just fine. It's just water," I reasoned, trying to get the hose back, but he was far too tall for me to be able to reach for it.

He decided to not argue any further, dismissing my opinion and aiding me in my gardening. It seemed like he knew what to do, which was amazing. He didn't look like the type to be into this kind of thing. I honestly thought differently of him.

"Thanks. I appreciate it." I placed the black snapback I was wearing on his head. It suits him, and it was better to have something than nothing, right?

Luke's cheeks were turning pink, which was painfully visible because of his light skin. "Th-thank you, Emma," he mumbled, turning the other way, to avoid my gaze.

"No problem, anything for a friend," I answered, raising my shoulders, not recognizing it as one of the most nonchalant things I've ever said to a guy, who wasn't my father.

He paused, looking at me, wide-eyed. "Friend?" He repeated, looking more surprised than I expected him to be.

"Friend, yes. You're my friend. We're friends? Or maybe acquaintance would be much better?" I shook my head, getting a little confused from what I just said. We were neighbors, that's what I was sure of.

"No, no. Friends. We're friends," he confirmed, giving me a bright smile; the very first I've seen from him.

I tried to hide my mild astonishment, returning him the beam. "That's great, then. Friends."