#GRAHHHHHHHH it seems i love ending chapters with a goodnight

[jealousraisin]

Ch 8 - This Weekend

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“Come on we’re going to be late” You pester Vanessa who currently has all her makeup and hair supplies sprawled on your bathroom sink.

“Girl’s gotta take her time to look pretty” She idly replies, applying her lipstick with calm precision. “Okay, there. Done. How do I look?” Turning to face you, she strikes a pose.

“Hot, now can we go?” The ride-share you ordered is rounding the corner as you check the map.

She doesn’t reply to you, instead heads towards the door with an exaggerated swing of her hips, just to piss you off even more.

“You’re annoying you know that?” You say as you bite back a smile.

“Annoying, gorgeous and someone you can’t get rid of. You know you love me”

“Whatever” The smile breaks through as you speak.

The short ride to Luke’s place was spent with Vanessa fixing up the small little details you missed while getting ready, for whatever reason she’s quite insistent on it tonight. The car finally rounds the corner to Luke and Charlie’s place.

“This is where he lives? Are you kidding me” Vanessa is practically pressed up to the glass. The poor driver is going to have to clean that…

“It’s nice, isn’t it?”

“NICE? Are you kidding? Ocean-front, Modern? In California? This is more than nice” her architecture nerd slips out, that’s the Vanessa you know from college.

You thank the driver as the two of you get out. You hear the muffled sound of music inside, there are some people on the front lawn having drinks and conversation. Vanessa takes lead, not even bothering to ring the doorbell; like anyone would hear or answer it anyway. Inside, the familiar home is now filled with people, the smell of alcohol and weed. Vanessa takes your hand, not wanting to lose you to the crowd. She easily weaves through the crowd as she looks for the source of drinks or a familiar face; whichever comes first.

“Over here!” You hear off to the side. You scan the crowd and spot Nicole waving you over. You attempt to weave through the crowd just as ‘Ness did earlier but it was obvious she was more skilled at it than you. Squeezing past the last line of people, you are met with some familiar faces, and some new.

“Hey! Glad you could make it!” Nicole greets the two of you with a drink in each hand, she lifts them up in offering. Your eyes quickly glaze over the group of people Nicole is with, Cassie and Mel are both there; Luke isn’t. Vanessa quickly introduces herself and starts making the rounds with everyone. Nicole slides over to your side and quietly remarks “If you’re looking, he’s near the pool with the others”

“Wha-Who said I was looking? For who?”

“Oh come on don’t be coy here, you know who” She’s playfully nudging you with her elbow. She points in the general direction. “Go on!” Nicole cheers you on, you decide to take her word for it and head that way.

Dodging another group of people, you spot him before he spots you. He’s with some people you don’t know; six others. He seems to be in familiar conversation with a redhead guy. You’re debating whether or not to get in there, hesitation creeping up on you. As you’re mentally debating, Luke looks up and notices you, he waves you over; now you have to go over there. You wave back and enter the circle of people.

“You came!”

“What like I wasn’t supposed to? You made sure I would just this morning” You joke.

“Yeah, fair enough” He laughs.

“You gonna introduce us?” The redhead interrupts, smiling at you as he gives you a once-over.

“Oh right! Let me make the rounds” Luke introduces them one by one. You learn the mint haired girl is Sierra, the one with micro bangs and curls is Frenchy, the two quiet ones chatting amongst themselves are Honey and Kim, the guy in the beanie is Quint and the redhead Luke was just chatting with is Jay. You honestly don’t know if you’ll be able remember them all but still nod along. Jay stands next to you; he leans on your shoulder.

“Luke and I go way back, he stayed at my place when he did his exchange year in Australia back in what you guys call middle school, year 8 for us.”

You raise your eyebrows at that, he never mentioned living in Australia for a year.

“Yeah, we used to get up to some shit, I taught him everything I know.” Jay smiles fondly.

“Ha! If making bongs with a Gatorade bottle and hose was ever considered a sparkling education” Luke jokes back. “I recall teaching you some things as well, it wasn’t all take!”

“Ah but we can’t talk about that now can we!” That comment left you curious, but it seems neither of them wanted to divulge any details on that.

The rest of the group joined into the conversation bit by bit. You found yourself striking up easy conversation with Sierra, who was telling you all about how she manages the groups stream schedule and special events. She seems to like what she does. As the sun sets, Luke’s American friend group and Vanessa meld into conversation with the Australian Squadron. Quite a crowd.

“I’m going to go get another drink” you say to no one in particular.

“Oh! I’ll come with!” It’s Jay, he seems to be sticking around you. You don’t reply, instead start heading off in the direction of the coolers

“So…” He’s leaning against the wall as you rummage through the selection of drinks, trying to find something you like. “Did you come here with someone?”

“Hm? Oh yeah, my friend Vanessa over there.” you jerk your head in the direction of where you last saw her.

“Ah so not with someone?” He asks, noticing you’re still rummaging for a drink. “Here, let me mix you something instead. It going to be a million times better than whatever you’re going to find in there”

Giving up on your quest for anything you like in the cooler you get up and let him make you something. He walks over to the table with drinks and cups set up and gets to work expertly mixing various spirits together. The result is a gradient drink with a slice of fruit floating on the top.

“A pretty drink for a pretty person such as yourself” he says with a smile. You shy away at the comment, not expecting it in the slightest.

“Heh, Thanks?” You take a tentative sip, it’s good. “Mm! This is better than what I was going to choose.”

“You’re talking to the drink expert after all” Jay puffs up at the complement. “So…no partner here with you tonight or no partner at all?” He tries asking in a more direct manner, leaning an arm against the table. Feeling a little bit under the microscope you answer him nonetheless.

“No partner.” You keep your response short.

“I find that hard to believe! So, you’re saying I have a shot?”

“Haha uh...” You’re really shying away from the attention he’s giving you right now. “That’s-Umm” Struggling to find what to say next, gee the ground looks awfully interesting right now.

“Don’t get shy on me now” Jay teases as he swings an arm around your shoulder. “I’d be an idiot to not shoot my shot with someone like you, I mean look at you!”

Your introverted side is not used to this kind of attention, you’re trying your best to come up with a way to let him down gently “I mean, I’m flattered and all but- “

“They’re not interested Jay, back off.” You hear Lukes’s voice.

“Yeesh, Y’know you could have let them say it themselves” Jay says dejectedly, removing his arm from around your shoulders in faux surrender. He heads back in the direction of the group, shaking his head; you miss the teasing smile he shoots Luke as he passes by.

“Sorry about him, he’s a bit relentless sometimes”

“Haha it’s fine, just not used to that kind of attention -or rather- wasn’t expecting it!” You take another sip of the drink Jay made you to break up the feeling in your chest, you laugh awkwardly.

“Come on” Luke gently takes your hand, “We should head back there, you’ve been gone for a hot minute; Nicole was asking about you.”

“Oh, right…”

He notices your hesitation. “It’s fine. If it’ll make you feel better, I won’t leave your side for tonight. Jay’s harmless, but he can be a bit much.” You nod in agreement, letting him lead you back to where everyone was.

And he didn’t lie, Luke was stuck by your side like glue for the night. Where you went, he went. Vanessa and Nicole noticed, oh they absolutely noticed and were whispering to each other like there was no tomorrow. You were too busy letting out your social side, the drinks you had were loosening you up as you hoped they would. A while passes like this, you talked with Cassie about his tattoo work and everyone was very enthusiastically showing you the work he did on them, Luke seemed to be a frequent customer of his. As you were talking about your college days with a couple of people, a particular song started playing that had you widening your eyes in excitement ‘Man! Did this bring you back!’ You drum your fingers against your thigh to the beat.

“You look like you wanna dance” Luke teases.

“Pshh-what? No…”

Before this little back and forth can continue though, Vanessa is taking you towards the crowd of dancing people; moving you and her about just like she did in your college days. “COME ON! You know you wanted to!!” She was right, you did. The two of you jumped about and did the “routine” you worked out over the years to the song, which was really just some uncoordinated dance moves mushed together. But hey, who was keeping track of that? As the song ends you take a second to catch your breath, you really don’t move like that often and adulthood really takes a toll on your physical capability. As you’re about to tap out though, another song starts up that really brings you back.

“Man, this playlist is good!” You offhandedly remark. Vanessa was still up and at it, her energy knows no bounds and you see her being swept away by another dance partner for this song.

“Thanks, I made it.”

You think you just about gave yourself a heart attack. You turn around to find Luke right behind you.

“Care to have this dance, your majesty?” He extends his hand to you, as if he were addressing someone of the royal court. You snort at the bit.

“Why yes, I do” Putting your hand in his, you start to dance with him. The moonlight and scattered fairy lights illuminate the two of you, Luke’s face is wearing an unabashed smile and you can’t help but smile just as big as the two of you move however you feel. The song feels like it goes on forever and it’s just him and you in this moment, you wish it could have lasted longer. But as the song fades out, so do your dance moves. He’s looking straight at you, neither of you making a move to get off the dancefloor just yet. He looks like he has something to say but as quickly he opens his mouth to say anything he’s closing it just as fast.

“What?” you smile, a little out of breath.

“Nothing” He grins right back at you, leading you away from the dancing crowd.

“Hey! If it isn’t the dancer duo!” Nicole welcomes the two of you back to the group, “You made it back just in time, we were about to light the bonfire on the beach!”

“Sweet! Would have sucked if we missed out on that” Luke strikes you as the kind of guy to keep a fire going at a party, so it’s no surprise he’s excited about this. Nicole takes your hand as she leads you through the back fence gate to the beach of the property. Sitting down on one of the available seats you watch as Luke, Jay and Quint get busy lighting the fire. Nicole and her girlfriend sit down next to you, the three of you watch as the guys work at the flames.

“What do you think of him?” Nicole points to Luke with a nod of her head.

“Think of him? He’s a good friend? What, am I not meant to?” Frankly, you’re a little confused about her question.

“Oh my god, Vanessa was right…” Nicole put her head in her hands, her girlfriend Teresa was patting her back in sympathy.

“Luke’s a good guy. He’s helped us through some tough times.” Teresa is looking towards Luke as she speaks, “Give him a chance, he may not be the most direct guy, but he means well.”

Yeah, that really clears it up. Aren’t you already giving him a chance? You guys are already friends?

“What Teresa means is- “

“Okay you two. Move over, I wanna sit here.” Luke cuts Nicole off before she can finish. She gives him a look that says she really wants to ignore his interruption and finish her sentence but she relents. You look at Luke in your peripheral vision as he sits down, he almost looks embarrassed. Huh.

“My friends mean well; They also love to stick their noses in my business” He’s sending a ‘not quite mad’ glare their way as Nicole and Teresa sit a couple of seats down from the two of you. Teresa sticks her tongue out at him in childish retaliation.

“I know what that’s like, I have one of those of my own.” You relate.

You spend the rest of the night in front of the bonfire, talking with everyone about a variety of topics. The ocean air bites at you, the outfit you chose being on the fresher side since it’s summer, the bonfire does little to shield you from the cold gusts that come. You feel something wrap themselves around your shoulders, you notice Luke has given you his jacket.

“S’cold, don’t get sick…”

You feel the leather as you pull it closer to your body, feeling relief from the wind. You lean on his shoulder.

“Thanks”

You hear him mutter something, but with the conversation flittering about and the sound of the waves crashing down you don’t quite hear him. You tune into other’s conversations, only really half listening as all the drinks you had settle into you manifesting as exhaustion. You fight the feeling, knowing that you’re still very much in a social situation, but the warmth of the jacket and the fire along with the sounds of the ocean are a recipe for sleep. Luke notices this and nudges you.

“Hey, come on let’s not fall asleep here.”

“Hm?”

Luke gets up and offers his hand to you. You gladly take it as he pulls you up onto your feet. He doesn’t say a word as he leads you away from the bonfire, through his backyard and back inside the house, where he guides you up the stairs to his bedroom. There aren’t too many people left at this time of the night, which you’re grateful for since you doubt you could navigate a crowd in this state. Luke leads you into his room, shutting the door behind him.

“Here” He’s throwing something your way, with your drunk reflexes you manage to half-catch it last second, with your face. Pulling the object off of your face you realise it’s a shirt. You stare at it, a little confused.

“I doubt you’d want to fall asleep in that outfit, use my bathroom. Get changed.” You heed his instruction and hobble over into the room. Getting out of your current outfit was a bit of a challenge but you seem to manage it efficiently enough. Stepping out donning a much more comfortable outfit you find that Luke has also changed into sleepwear. Noticing you’ve made it out, he’s lifting the blanket on his bed and slipping in, you follow his actions.

“G’night” You mumble out, rest coming easily in this very moment. You feel arms around you just as you slip into sleep.

“Goodnight”