A Touch of Luke

14

"Okay, the weather took a real turn," Luke mumbled, staring out the window as we pulled into Remy's driveway.

I chuckled softly, "I'm already soaked from when we left the store."

Luke looked at me, mischief in his eyes. "Race you into the house?"

"Oh, it is on, pretty boy."

"Sure you can keep up with a football player, love?" He quirked an eyebrow, turning his head to look back at me as he reached to the back seats to grab the bags of snacks.

"I'll have you know, I was on the track team for years."

"Really?" Luke murmured. "You learn something new eve-"

I cut him off by opening the door and rushing to the front steps.

Luke followed after me, running up to the house to avoid spending much time in the pouring rain. He heaved out a breath, "Jesus. That doesn't count, you caught me off guard."

I shook my head, laughing as I opened the front door. "Don't be a poor sport just because a girl beat you, Luke."

"s**t," Luke muttered when we stepped into the house, both of us soaked. The water was dripping off of us onto the floor.

"Someone got caught in the rain," Jamie laughed as she walked past us, holding hands with Todd.

Oh boy, Mario was not going to be happy that he was here.

"Uh, Rem," I mumbled, slipping my shoes off and attempting to get as little water in the house as possible. "I might need a change of clothes."

"Come on up," she nodded at both of us. "Luke, you can borrow some of my older brother's clothes, if you want."

"You have a brother?" He asked as we headed up the stairs after dropping the bags on the table.

Remy nodded, "Yeah, he moved out though, for university. He still has some clothes he left behind."

"I miss Reed," I mumbled, walking into his old room behind her. I hadn't been in this room in ages. Instantly, my eyes caught sight of a picture frame so I walked up to it.

It was a picture of Reed, Remy, Jamie, Mario, and I when we were little kids. We were all five and Reed was nine. I remembered the day crystal clear.

We went to a fair in the park with our parents and then went to a diner for dinner. My dad won me and all the girls matching giant stuffed animal panda bears. I didn't want my cotton candy so he ended up eating all of it which led to him feeling very sick afterwards.

I have a picture from this day back in my room where my mom was holding me up in the air, both of us laughing as I looked down at her.

I was too scared to go on the ferris wheel so my mom came with me. We got to the top and I was terrified, wouldn't open my eyes so she told me, "One way to open your eyes is to think, what if I had never seen this before, what if I couldn't see it again?"

It worked. I opened my eyes and was astonished by the lights and rides and people scattered all over the ground underneath us, everything seeming so small from how high up we were.

I was musing about all the colourful lights when she said to me, "Marie Ana, I want you to remember that anytime all you want to do is stay in the darkness, I will always hope that the light finds you."

Tears pooled in my eyes as I thought back to this day, the memories flooding my mind.

Who would have ever thought life would change so much and become what it is now?

I never understood what she meant when she said that until many years later and it was something I always reminded myself of. I still do.

I think that's one of the things that gave me so much strength after I lost her and my dad along the way. She wanted the light to always find me so, I became the light I needed to be in order for my siblings to not be left in the dark.

"How is it you're even cuter now than you were when you were a kid?"

A shiver went down my spine.

I don't know if it was because I was soaked in water and cold or because Luke had come up behind me, standing so close that his chest was touching my back as he spoke quietly into my ear.

I blinked my eyes furiously, pushing away the tears.

I let out a weak laugh, "Now, don't make me blush, pretty boy." I kept my tone in a joking manner to hide the way I was tensed up from how close he was standing to me.

"You're the one making me blush when you call me that, love." His voice was quiet, his face so close his breath was fanning the back of my ear.

"Here, you nauseating lovebirds," Remy mused as she handed us both clothes. "Just saying, if you want to have s*x, do it in my brother's room, not mine. You might even find condoms in here. Thanks." She sent me a wink before rushing out of the room, stifling her chuckles.

I cleared my throat, taking a step away from Luke and staring at the ground so he wouldn't see the bright red that took over my face from blushing.

I hate my friends sometimes.

Thank you for this, Remy.

"I'm just going to... head to Remy's room to change. I'll see you down there." I rushed out of the room before Luke could say anything.

My mind was spinning. All I could think about was Luke and stupid Luke and Luke and... hell. My mind was filled with little moments we shared and things he had said to me and it was all making me feel like I was going insane.

I rang my wet hair out in her sink.

I'd like to charm you, love. I still haven't gotten a name, by the way.

I found some makeup wipes in the drawer and started to wipe off my smudged mascara.

There you are, love. I missed you.

I changed out of my wet clothes and slipped into Remy's dry clothes she had lent me.

He's always all over you in class and when you didn't give into his teasing, he literally stopped coming around because he thought you really didn't like him.

I took in my appearance in the mirror. I looked like a mess so I attempted to brush out my wet and tangled hair to look a bit more presentable.

I'm right here. Just focus on me, me holding you, my heart beating, pay attention to that.

After deciding this was the best I would look right now, not that it mattered because these were all my closest friends, I headed back into Remy's room and grabbed my phone off the bed.

I was sending a quick text to Monty and Jamie's mom to make sure the kids were okay when there was a knock on the door. The door slowly opened and Luke poked his head in.

"Found you."

I smiled softly, pushing away all other thoughts of him that were preoccupying him.

"You look... cute." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"I look cute now?" I looked down at my outfit and scoffed. I was wearing Remy's worn out sweatshirt that she'd had for years. She got it in a huge size and never got rid of it because it's literally still too big on her. My hair was tangled and damp. My makeup had come off so I just looked worn out and almost like a raccoon.

Luke shrugged. "I think you always look cute."

I bit down on my lip, ignoring the way his words made my heart jump a little.

"Come on, they're probably waiting." I headed back downstairs with Luke following behind me.

"Great, all you kids are here." Rafael, Remy's mom smiled when she saw me, pulling me in for a quick hug. "The roads are terrible, a bad storm has already started so I would really suggest you all stay here for the night if your folks at home are okay with it." She made sure to send me a warm look when she said that.

"Uh..."

"I'm game," Jamie spoke first. "Todd..."

"Huh?" He was busy playing a game on his phone. "Oh. I just live down the street so I'm good. Speaking of, I got to get going because the boys want to come over for some beers. Is that cool with you babe?"

Jamie gaped at him in disbelief, the slightest hint of hurt passing through her eyes. She played it off though. "We just got here." She spoke in a quiet voice, trying to not make a scene.

Mario was softly shaking his head as he was overhearing their conversation.

"I know, babe, but if I'm going to head out I should probably go before the weather gets worse."

Jamie looked at Todd with narrowed eyes, seeming like she was at a complete loss. "I'm going to go get water," she grumbled as she stood up. "Help yourself out, Todd."

"Thanks, babe!" He grinned. "You're the best."

Wow, this kid really doesn't know how to pick up on tones because Jamie was clearly annoyed which Todd didn't seem to notice whatsoever.

"Mar, Mario? Will the kids-"

"I'm just going to check in with Monty and see what his plan is for tonight." I cut Remy off, who didn't pay attention to what she was about to say. She sent me an apologetic look when she realized.

"My mom already texted me saying Mace is staying at my place tonight," Jamie told me, walking back from the kitchen. She looked over to Mario who was avoiding her gaze.

"What's up with him?" She whispered in my ear.

I shrugged, playing dumb because I couldn't break the twin-code and expose Mario's undying love for her.

"And he's gone," she rolled her eyes, irritated when she scanned the room and noticed Todd was indeed already gone.

I frowned, "Jackass."

"Touché," she mumbled under her breath as she headed back to the recliner she was sitting on.

I sent Monty a quick text and he let me know he was going to stay at his friend's tonight.

"And then we were left with one. You in, Luke?"

Luke blinked, standing there seeming a little confused. "I wouldn't want to i-"

"Intrude?" Remy finished for him. "Friends are never intruding. You staying or what - but I will give you a fair warning that momma Blake is not going to allow you to drive home in this weather. It just took her an extra hour to get home from work because that's how crazy it is outside."

Luke blinked, taken aback. "Well, sure then."

This was going to be an interesting night.