A Touch of Luke

10

Luke's POV

Something was going. I didn't know what it was but something was definitely going on.

I didn't understand why Marie wouldn't just talk to me about whatever she's dealing with but it's pretty clear that both her and Mario have filled minds that are bothering them.

Mario hasn't talked to anyone all day long. he's too busy keeping his head in his school work or scrolling through his phone.

Marie's been acting oddly calm but it's anything but reassuring. She's being very nonchalant and blank in her responses but then will start rambling without making any sense. It's all just confusing.

I knew there was some sort of a deal with the boys from Heith-Stone but that seemed to be over with. When we got smoothies after the game, Mario seemed really good. He was happy and talkative and joking around like normal.

Despite what happened at the game that night, Marie seemed fine by the end of the night. She was talking to me and being her sweet self like normal.

But pass the weekend and come Monday, they're both being unusual and have an off-seeming atmosphere around them.

Remy's been acting a little too jumpy too. Stepping right in front of me, cutting people off, jumping in to speak very abruptly. Remy, as much as I have noticed, is usually calm and chill but today seems distracted, almost like she's worried herself about something.

All in all, I may be a new friend to them but over the past little while, I've gotten to know them well enough to notice that they're all just acting off.

"Do you know what's going with everyone?" I asked Jamie in the fourth period class we shared.

"What do you mean?" She turned to look at me, her eyebrows pulling together.

"I mean with the twins. Marie and Mario both seem off."

Jamie blinked, pausing for a moment. "I don't know what you mean, they seem fine to me."

"Are you sure?"

She glanced around the room, shifting on her seat a bit. "Yup. I'm sure if Marie needed to talk about something she'd come to you."

"Really?" I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck unsurely. "Because it seems like I'm the only one she avoids telling anything to. I mean, I don't blame her, you all have known each other your whole lives."

Jamie offered me a sheepish smile, "Look, Marie is not the best when it comes to spilling out all her feelings, she avoids them if anything. She naturally stresses about anything and everyone because she thinks she needs to look out for everyone else which leaves her no room to look out for herself. This is just how she is so I'm telling you so you don't overthink it."

I nodded my head slowly. Everything Jamie said makes sense but what I didn't understand was why.

The why of all of it was still unexplained.

"Okay. Thank you for... telling me all that, Jamie."

She smiled, "Don't worry about it. For what it's worth, nobody has ever made Marie feel relaxed the way you do."

My eyebrows pulled together. "What do you mean?"

Jamie chuckled softly, "They told me what happened in the parking lot the night of the game. Nobody can calm Marie down like that the way you did and just by holding her. She... loses any jitters and panic when you're around. I guess you make her feel... safe."

I nodded slowly, taking in all of her words.

I make her feel safe.

-

"Marie,"

Marie glanced up, her expression going soft. She was sitting at the back of class, doodling in her notebook.

"Luke," she greeted, a small smile playing on her lips. Her eyes were distant.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I sat down, pulling my chair closer to her desk.

She blew air out in her cheeks, leaning back in her seat. "You've asked me that so many times toady."

I nodded, "Yes, because I want to make sure you're okay."

"I am," she said firmly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

I gave her a dull look, "Well you should be the one telling me that."

She let out a small laugh, "I am fine, Luke. Don't worry about me."

"How can I not?" I looked at her tiredly, just wanting to know what was going on in her head. "You spend so much time constantly looking out for everyone else, for your siblings. Someone's got to worry about you."

Her lip turned upwards into a grin, "I appreciate your concern for me, Lukey, but I am okay. I am, though, flattered by how much space I occupy in your mind."

I leaned back in my seta, facing the front of the room. "Oh, you have no idea." Speaking to myself quietly so she wouldn't hear.

"What?"

"Nothing," I shot her a small smile.

I had never been in a spot before where I was thinking about someone as much as I was thinking about Marie.

I noticed everything about like I had never done with anyone before. It was unconscious. Everything about her was just mesmerizing to me.

I was turning into a wussy.

"So," I leaned towards her, beaming a grin. "What are you doing after school?"

She raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "Picking Mace up and then waiting for the boys to finish practice to pick them up."

Not the answer I was hoping for but expected. I laughed, "I meant after practice."

She feigned a thoughtful look before shrugging, "I might happen to have a clear calendar today but you never know what might come up."

I rolled my eyes. Of course that was her response.

"Why are you asking, pretty boy?"

I liked it when she called me pretty boy. I don't know why. Not because she was calling me pretty. Just because it was her making me important enough to call me some stupid nickname.

I smiled a toothy smile, "Let me buy you a smoothie since you missed them the other night."

Marie perked up, sitting straighter. "Huh. Here I was thinking you already bought me one."

I tried to hold back a grin. "Mario wasn't supposed to say it was from me. Don't want people out here thinking I actually pay attention." My tone was laced with sarcasm.

Marie rolled her eyes as she chuckled, "Of course not. But I'm d-"

"Mr.Carter and Ms.Celestino," the teacher cut through our conversation, standing up with her arms crossed over her chest. "Is there a reason you have spent my whole class so far talking instead of doing the assigned work?"

Marie's mouth went agape, stunned, which only made me want to laugh more at how adorable she looked.

"Sorry ma'am," I spoke for the both of us. "Won't happen again."

"That is what I heard last week, Mr.Carter."

I blinked, "Right. Well it won't happen again again." I mused, unsure of what else to say. A few laughs went around.

The teacher shook her head, exhaling a deep breath. "Detention for both of you after school. I'll let coach know you won't be making it to practice."

The teacher left no room for debate as she continued talking about whatever it was we were supposed to be paying attention to right now.

Marie and I looked at each other simultaneously. Marie tried to hold back a laugh, "I guess we're going to have to rain-check those smoothies."