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Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
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Peter Solarz
Game of Thrones Daily
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@lowkeyamalia
"Good morning, and in case I don't see ya: Good afternoon, good evening, and good night!" - The Truman Show
Fanfiction masterlist:
PJO MASTERLIST
Ps. If you know me irl... No you don't.
What do you call someone you long for?
Chapter 9: What job offer? | Luke’s POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character.
Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers.
Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut.
Masterlist
Next Chapter: Chapter 10: In the making...
Previous Chapter: Chapter 8: Mr. Grim and coffee beans | Reader's POV
Summary: Luke had just stepped into the cafe, being met with a lying Chris and the girl of his dreams avoiding direct eye contact with him. His jealousy is flaring. Being unreasonable and impulsive is becoming a bad trait of his, wasn't it?
Apparently in this cafe, you had to sit down first before ordering. Or maybe Luke and Chris were under special watch. Either way, they weren't allowed to order at the counter. On top of that, Chris just had to choose the only cafe in this town where she worked in, didn't he? What where the chances even... Like one against thirty others? No, it wasn't like he didn't wanna see her, honestly the Tindr photos were getting a bit old to look at. But he wasn't ready yet, his life was still a mess. Not to mention his hair situation had gotten worse. Whatever... It didn't matter much now anyways, since he was already here.
Here.. Sitting across from Chris who just made up a blatant lie at the counter a few seconds ago. The same Chris who hadn't spoken since they sat down. The exact same guy who was now avoiding any form of eye contact, focusing fully on the menucard infront of both of them.
"It's funny." Luke started, pressing his knuckles against his lips. "I don't remember making a job application, let alone sending it to a company and getting a job."
Chris pulled the menucard over his face. How was this one of his most trusted soldiers back in the day? The guy who was by his side when he was a near death experience, the only man he trusted more than himself. He should at least know how to lie to save his ass.
When Chris refused to respond for an unknown reason, Luke pushed on. "You know, for the guy who invited me to go eat so we could catch up, you are extremely bad at it."
Chris squirmed in his seat like a cat seeing a pickle. No, more like a golden retriever seeing a squirrel. "Well, let me order first." He said.
Luke raised his hand automatically, who gives a damn if the girl he is kinda keen on was working here. Chris was hidding something from Luke. Luke only started to regret it, when he could smell her perfume. Your perfume. Oh gosh was it creepy to say he liked it? It was faint because of the distance between, yet it still went straight into his brain making it go haywire. His chest felt sweaty, his shirt too tight to his body. Was he... No, Luke Castellan doesn't blus-
"What can I get you two?"
Your voice snapped him out of his weird introspective fantasy. Right, first find out what was going on with Chris then, deal with whatever was going on between the two of you. That sounded reasonable. Please say that sounded reasonable-
Luke also just remembered he hadn't taken a single glance at the menucard. He looked down, took the easiest option, better known as the first option. Looked at the sizes, okay they followed Starbucks' weird sizes. And just within a few nanoseconds he made his decision.
"A grande macchiato, hot, thank you."
Okay, so there wasn't just anything wrong with Chris now. But also you. Why weren't you looking at him, actually, you hadn't glanced his way ever since the awkward encounter at the front now that he looked back on it. So what Luke could gather here was that one, Chris was hiding something that he obviously didn't wanna keep secret. And two, you where only staring at Chris which boiled that small jealous insecurity Luke had deep inside his heart. Did he piss off some sort of ancient deity, and if he did how does one fix that.
"A-argh, uhm just the usual." Chris smiled politely handing you the menucard. The usual? Did he come here often- was... No Chris wouldn't do that to Clarisse. Now Luke was thinking irrationally. Of course Chris would come here, him and Clarisse was still a part of your friendgroup. Still, Luke did not appreciate this feeling that was growing inside of him. Jealousy.
"And would that include any form of dessert?"
"Ahh yes the fanciest dessert you have, just as I said before!" Chris practically cheered.
You wrote down something on your paper notepad, eyes still not on his own. God just.. Just look at him.
His unsaid question was unanswered because not soon after you went back to the front desk.
Luke's eyebrow twitched, his fingernails burning the palm of his hands.
"Is she gone?" Chris asked.
"Does she looked like she's here?"
"Woah, where's this venom coming from?"
Luke didn't laugh, Chris sank deeper into the green cushions. "Sorry not funny, right. So I might've or might've not lost a bet."
"A bet that somehow involves me."
"That didn't sound like a question."
"Good, It wasn't."
Chris gulped and yeah maybe Luke was taking this a bit too far. Oh okay fine, he was taking this extremely far now. Luke took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "Sorry, this isn't like me."
"What, no. I should be the one apologizing!" Chris said quickly and when Luke tried to argue with his point, he got shot down. They really are brothers, even if they didn't look the part in their natural states. "Anyways, yeah so I lost a bet to the Stolls."
Who was the Stoll's again- Oh right those two that Luke also was kinda related too but never got that gotten close with. Travis and Connor, right. They used to be friends, sort of, during the beginning of high school. But Luke's relationship towards them was more like, them looking up to Luke and Luke just trying his best not to crumble under the pressure. They were the type to make bets in high school, guess they hadn't changed a lot.
Luke spoke up again. "And this bet was about?"
"So you sorta know how Ms. Spacecadet is still a part of my inner circle because of Clarisse right?" Luke gave a slow nod. "Well so are Travis and Connor and everyone in our friendgroup knows about you and Spacecadet's lovestory-"
Luke's eyebrows flew up, his mouth a little a gape. He could barely choke out the word lovestory.
"Oh shush, you two are like all lovey dovey. It's a lovestory." Luke shut his mouth, turning to look out of the window. You two weren't that, were you?
"Anyways, Travis and Connor were tired of hearing the girls gush over your unfolding lovestory, they aren't the biggest fans of slowburns. So they dared me to speed it up, I of course denied it at first! But then it turned into a bet and I gotta admit if I won that bet you would understand why I took my chances. One thing let to another and boom, I lost. And now here we are! Surprise..?"
Luke couldn't help but smile, sure it was hella messed up with them trying to manipulate what was going on with his life. But Luke's relief over Chris' secret not being something along the lines of; I have a crush on her too really overtook any form of resentment he might've had.
"That's so messed up, you know that?"
"I know, but hey at least you aren't mad!"
"Oh I'm mad alright, super mad. But mostly reliefed. I thought you were gonna tell me you wanted Ms. Spacecadet."
Both of the brothers laughed at the foolish scenario.
"Me? Leave Clarisse for her?! God heavens no, Clarisse is my endgame."
Luke stopped, that last part came out extremely soft. No, Chris wasn't.. Luke eyes narrowed on Chris and Chris' response was widing his eyes.
"W-what?"
"Oh.. Oh my god! You are gonna propose to He-ARGH-"
Luke hadn't meant to yell that out loud, thankfully nobody noticed cause Chris kicked his knee to shut him up. Chris was a flashing red. "Not so loud idiot! I haven't bought the ring yet."
Footsteps neared and both Chris and Luke froze. Their lips sealed shut. Soon enough the faint scient from a certain someone returned and Luke's body responded with a stuttering breath.
"Your a grande macchiato hot and frappechino." You placed the drinks down at their respectable places, still avoiding Luke's glance. Maybe Chris was right. Maybe this was going too slowly, cause Luke could barely hold it together. Was his hair that bad that you didn't dare look at him or were you also affected by the uncertain possiblities. Where was the man who could answer every single of Luke's questions, he really needed him currently.
He watched you place the lemon cake with extra cream onto the table. A small yellow napkin under the plate. Your arm retracted in slow motion. Oh fuck it!
Luke said your name in a soft whisper and you acted immediately. "Y-yes?"
So... Luke might've not thought this entire plan through, cause now he was speechless and looked like a proper idiot. Stuttering as if english wasn't his mother tongue. He thought harder than he had ever done, flashing through memories and possibilties, It cannot be this hard to ask a girl out.
Chris butted in when the awkward tension turned unbearable. "I think what my half brother is trying to stutter out is if you wanna be his date. Thalia is holding another party as you may have heard, and as you may have also heard since she is your best friend, she would like everyone to have a date. So since you two are obviously in some sort of romantic tension-"
"I do? W-we are?" Why would you stutter that out, now Luke was going to be haunted by the fact he didn't know if this was one sided.
"Yes, you are." Chris rolled his eyes. "It's tomorrow at the local river, a bbq party."
For the second time to day, you glanced his way. He could hear his pulse becoming ungodly fast, all the blood rushing to his cheeks. This was Luke's first time hearing about this grill party and last he checked, he wasn't on good terms with ms. Thalia Grace.
Your eyes are gonna be the death of him.
Luke inhaled. "Right, yeah sorry. I didn't get much sleep last night. That's totally what I meant, so what do you say?" He truly hoped that came out as cool and not completely douchy. You stood as still as a deer in headlights. He shouldn't have said that, you clearly didn't see him that way. Everything Chris and his mother had told him about your shared childhood moments were absolutely wrong. Luke didn't recall when he had gripped the cup infront of him, but he could feel the heat being squeezed between his palms.
"Sure, I'll love too."
Disbelief filled Luke's expression. "Really?"
"Mhm, will you pick me up?"
Somehow you acted so calmly about this while Luke was having a level fifteen nucluer bomb explosion inside his chest. Stupid Cupid with your playing baseball with his heartstrings.
"How does seven sound?"
"Perfect, actually. I'll see you then?"
"Totally."
He watched you leave to do your work again, all the while Luke just sat there. He sunk deeper into the green cushions, his coffee becoming cold with how long he sat there in shock. Chris choose not to speak, letting Luke reflect on what just happend. If Luke had taken another second to analyse the silence, he would've called it a comfortable sibling silence, of course he didn't do that. He was in the middle of a war with his heart and brain.
Finally Luke spoke.
"Did that actually just happen?"
"Hm? Yeah, it did." Chris took the plate of lemon cake, and took more than a few tea spoons out of it. By the time Luke noticed it was too late, there was no more cake. The whole time Chris was texting on his phone, probably texting his soon to be fiance.
"Finally!" Chris inhaled his coffee in one go as Luke waited for an answer to what that was about. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to convince Thalia to remake a party the day before? Not easy I tell ya."
".. Remake the party??"
Chris cackled. "Yep. It was supposed to be a houseparty, but I think this might be more romantic for the two of you."
Luke might strangle his baby half-brother soon.
"Also it's kinda funny, you call me baby brother, yet I just had to ask your crush out for you. Aren't you supposed to set a good example?"
That smug grin was making it REAAALL hard not to strangle him and that bastard knew it!
What do you call someone you long for?
Chapter 8: Mr. Grim and coffee beans | Reader's POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character.
Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers.
Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut.
Masterlist
Next Chapter: Chapter 9: What job offer?
Previous Chapter: Chapter 7: Curiousity killed Luke Castellan | Luke's POV
Summary: Who knew how much time has passed since middle school, let alone seeing Mr. D? Luke has been easy to text, if we ignore me overthinking every small aspect! And currently I’m going to be late for work because I’ve been waiting for his text!
It was about 08:30 AM on a Friday. Thalia had arranged yet another houseparty. When I first heard about it, I was debating whether on going or staying home. Two parties in the same month seemed a bit much, especially after how the last one ended. My brain is not prepared for another life plot-twist.
Currently, I was getting ready for work. Changing out of my pajamas and into the standard barista uniform. All the while I was standing in front of my mirror.
The mirror stood tall, starting from the floor and ending near the ceiling. It was installed before I moved into my apartment, and I guess every apartment on this floor probably had a matching set too.
My dwelling came to a halt, when my phone vibrated on my nightstand.
I’m ashamed to admit it, but silently, I hoped the vibration was because of Luke.
After that night with the voice message, we have texted every morning and every night about Yesterday, we were texting essentially nothing. Sometimes he asked if I had breakfast, other times I asked if he went on a walk.
Though yesterday our conversation abruptly ended, with him saying 'I gotta go, talk to you later.' It had come out of nowhere, and he hadn’t responded to my good morning message.
With a deep inhale, and a slow exhale I took one closer look at myself in the mirror. I shouldn’t worry so much, really. Luke was most likely fine, worrying would only cause myself more anxiety. I should give him space, let him respond when he has time. After all I don’t wanna come off as obsessive or worse.
“Just because he is your childhood crush, doesn’t mean he’s your entire life. Get a grip.” I told myself.
I put on my right sock, before reaching for my phone. My whole face lit up as I saw the Tinder notifaction, from no other than-
Oh!
O h.
O h....
It was a Luke, just not Luke Castellan. A random guy, who had matched with me. I don't remember having swiped right on this dude.
My eyebrows squinted, with the this rate I might start developing wrinkles.
Was it too dramatic to say, that maybe this was a sign?
Maybe Luke wasn't the one for me.
Okay, I seriously need to calm my ass down, now I’m just talking crazy talk.
I ignored the other Luke's advances, not really interested in the lame pickup he was trying out. Something about cherries and bananas- Yeah, it was uhm unmistakable a hookup text.
And as if the universe wanted to play a cruel joke on me, as soon as I put my phone down to fix my apron, my phone vibrated yet again. The vibration was followed with a own groan of annoyance, from well, me.
>: "Sorry for the wait up, how was your night, and more importantly, how is your morning going so far?"
A high pitched animal squeal came out of me, a sound I didn't know a human was even able to make.
It was Luke, Luke motherfucking Castellan.
Everything else just went out of the window.
<: "I went to bed early yesterday, and currently I'm getting ready for work."
>: "I'm guessing you are ready for another round of fake smiling at Mr. Grim?"
<: "Garh, don't remind me."
Mr. Grim was a nickname for one of the regular customers that Luke came up with. In fact, Mr. Grim wasn't just an old regular customer, nope. It was our middle school teacher, Mr. D.
The known alcoholic breath and loud singing celebrations of a teacher. He wasn't a baaad teacher, but he never really wanted to deal with any problems either. Mostly he was just there for the good stuff, or to complain.
When Mr. Grim first came into the cafe, my eyes widen. Cause within the time of my entire childhood to adulthood, he somehow still looked the same. SOMEHOW, he hadn't gained a single wringle that he didn't have before.
Even his curly hairstyle didn’t change that much.
And when Mr. Grim came into the cafe, all he did was complain about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. If the coffee was slightly off, he would complain, if the music was not to his taste he would complain and say you would greet him a good morning? Ohhh he would grumble a complaint under his breath. I learned pretty quickly to just hand him his order and ignore him for the rest of the time he was there.
Did I forget to mention the fact he didn’t remember who I was the first time he came in? Can you believe that!
After Mr. Grinch left I immediately texted Luke about it, since Thalia wasn’t responding to any of my texts.
And somehow our conversation went over the fact I had seen Mr. D, and straight to his comical Mr. Grinch shirt, I still can’t believe a full grown adult man, would go outside wearing such a ridiculous shirt. The face of the 2000's live action Grinch was plastered right smack center of the shirt, while the rest was filled in with the brightest neon blue you can imagine. To make it even worse, he on top of it, he wore an opened Hawaiian shirt. Oh, not to mention his cargo shorts. This description of his outfit couldn’t possibly even justify the absurdity of it all.
That’s basically how Mr. D got the new nickname Mr. Grinch.
I told Luke about the small things that happened in the DARLING cafe, but never mentioned where I worked. I convinced myself that it was for the better, we weren't that close yet…
<: "Are you on your way to your mother’s house?"
>: "Actually, I have other plans today. A job interview and then Chris insisted on dragging me around somewhere."
<: “Oh? Where too?”
>: “Who knows, Chris won’t tell me shit.”
A second later, another text flies in.
>: “Don’t forget the clock, space cadet.”
Shit- I was going to be late… Again! Screw to brushing my teeth and looking any sort of decent. I need to run!
Trust me when I say this, the most embarrassing thing you can ever do, while running down the stairs is trying to also put on shoes. And yes, this comes from experience, MY CURRENT experience.
The whole time I am silently begging not to fall down, while jumping on one leg..
˙✧˖°☕ ༘ ⋆。˚AT THE DARLING CAFE˙✧˖°☕ ༘ ⋆。˚
I arrived about 10 minutes late, thankfully my colleague Silena had covered for those extra minutes, yet again. Thankfully (yet again) her fiance was distracting her. Both of them flirting wildly over the counter. I waved both of them goodbye and got to work pretty quickly after that.
The work went smoothly despite the morning troubles. Mr. Grim came in as usual though unusually he brought in a guy around the same age as himself.
This middle aged man, was semi tall, definitely retired of some sort. He had the same kind of style as Mr. Grim, laid-back without a care in the world to who saw him.
“A large black coffee with extra cream. Don’t add any sugar, ya hear?” Mr. Grim ordered without hesitation. Not caring that the order made zero sense.
Then the stranger spoke. “Do you have any form of tea? I’m not really a coffee person myself.”
“Well we have five types of teas. Like our forest berry milk tea, that comes with some frozen chopped up strawberries. The standard chamomile tea and-“
“Don’t order that one, they may say standard but it’s totally a trick. There’s nothing standard about, let alone the insane price.”
I must have frowned at Mr. Grim’s fast interruption cause the stranger gained a very familiar smirk on his lips.
“Right, well then I’ll have the forest berry milk tea. Both for take out.”
“Right, coming right up..”
During my process of getting their order ready, I overheard their conversation. Sure it was rude to do so, but Mr. Grim wasn’t keeping anything secret with his loud voice.
“How’s the old delivering job treating you?”
“Splendid if I do say so myself. The whole ordering stuff online deal has really boosted the market. Not to mention I became the owner of the company.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“How’s your kindergarten class doing?”
“It isn’t kindergarten class.” Mr. Grim grunted. “I used to teach middle schoolers. But because of lower income in this state the schools, I-“
“Ahhh, I remember now. You’re a windows cleaner now, no?”
“God, can you let me finish a sentence for once? This is why we barely hang out anymore.”
The stranger chuckled.
“No, I’m not a cleaner of any sorts. I’m a principal now. But I guess that kind of responsibility is something you’ll always lack.”
“HA! Good one. That’s funny coming from you-“
Yep, now was definitely time to interrupt before things got too heated.
“Your orders are ready!” I slid the two drinks over the counter, shocking the two loud and elderly men.
I prepared myself for the classic I just received my order line: Finally, took you long enough, kid.
“Finally, took you long enough, kid.”
Right on the money.
Mr. Grim didn’t wait for his friend, he was already halfway outside by the time the friend came up to the counter.
The friend placed two twenty dollar bills on the counter. TWO. TWENTY DOLLAR BILLS. For two beverages. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He must have made a mistake.
“Keep the change, kid. Thank you for your service, it’s greatly appreciated.” He proudly took off after that, disappearing before I could muster out any words.
Standing there, looking out through the glass window I couldn’t help but wonder who the man was. He seemed so familiar, but I knew I had never seen that man in my life.
—
It was now 5 minutes past 3 PM. A few more normal customers had come by, ordering orders that made more sense than a black coffee with cream.
I was standing with my back towards the front door, cleaning off the coffee machine with a wet cloth. Silena might have been nice about me being late and all, but she that said- she could not clean the coffee machine for the life of her. Old crusty coffee bean powder was stuck to the handles and the steam that could come out of the machine smelled burnt.
When the wiping of the wet towel didn’t work, I turned to the last resort… Some would even call it extreme hardworking labor.
Scrubbing.
I scrubbed like my life depended on it, to the point the poor sponge I was using was falling apart in my hands.
Stupid cheap plastic sponge.
The doorbell rang, and I could hear two younger manly voices coming closer to the counter. One of the voices sounded a lot like Chris. But what are the chances? Chris was supposed to be with Luke currently, I think.
“One minute and I’ll be with you!”
With the lasting pieces of yellow soaked sponge I finally pulled apart the stubborn coffee crumbs, flinging them onto the sticky ground. I’ll clean that up later.
Take that machine!
“Hello, and welcome to Cafe Darling, what would you like to order?”
Worst possible scenario came true. It was (for my dismay) Chris standing there. There was only one guy I knew, who had a smile like that.
Chris’ arm was around the shoulder a taller guy tan, with brown black curls and piercing brown shocked eyes.
“Two of your fancies coffees and cakes you got! Cause this guy.” Chris then proceeded to shake the guy next to him aggressively, before continuing his sentence. “Because this guy just nailed a job interview!”
The other customers must’ve overheard Chris’ cause they started clapping. Though the clapping wasn’t loud enough for me to hear it. My heart was screaming out of my chest.
Hah…
Luke whispered a small hey, then proceeded to give an awkward wave.
So that’s where Chris was dragging Luke to today.
What Do You Call Someone You Long For?
Chapter 7: Curiousity killed Luke Castellan | Luke's POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character.
Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers.
Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut.
Masterlist
Next Chapter: Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Mr. Grim and coffee beans | Reader's POV
Previous Chapter: Chapter 6: Bidens ‘Pretty In Pink’ distant memories | Reader's POV
Summary: Was Luke Castellan cursed? He must be. Cause crying 15th times a day is not normal for him. (It was more like three times.) Not the mention that punch he got in the stomach, does the universe just hate him? What the hell did he ever do to deserve this?
"Oh really? Moved on? Like the way you 'moved' on from the military? Or better said, got kicked out." He never expected Thalia to know that detail of his life. Fury burned within her, clear as day. Hitting him at his weakspot was just so Thalia. Deep down, little Thalia that Luke once knew, still remained. Despite her fashion choices being more distinct and noticable. A weird senseable comfort spread inside Luke, seeing Thalia being so protective over... Wait, this is getting off track.
Luke didn't expect being stopped on the side of the road, while on his way to a job interview, by Thalia. Out of all things, this month wasn't like anything he expected. But how did he end up in this situation? It startet a little like this...
"Luke?"
Blood drained from his fingers, eyes seemingly not functioning like he wanted them too. One single shaky mention of his name made him realize that whatever he was doing right now was a bad idea. Not only was this a bad idea. But the worst one he could make. Seriously? Calling his mother for information on a girl he hadn't spoken too in what might as well be a decade? The same mother who HE ran away from? The one person he blamed everything on... And now was using to unlock some kept away memories in his mind.
"Hello, Luke? Is that you?"
Luke told himself to just hold on a little longer. It was just his mother. Solutions can be made. He just had to man up.
"Yeah, it's me. Sorry for not answering er..." He wanted to say so much more, but with every breath he felt his words disappear right in front of him.
His mother answered quickly, brushing him off. "Oh there's no need for apologies. I understand... God, how long has it been?"
"It's only been a few years mom."
"Ah... Yes. I remember now. Oh how I have missed you."
He was never a man of many words, sure words came easy to him. But he barely used them. Even so, in that moment, hearing The Crazy Lady Down The Street, whisper with such real affection. It took all the words that he could have ever said right out of his mouth. Why wasn't she furious at him? Angry, hell he would understand if she hated him.
He left her, when she had nothing. Without a trace. Not a single goodbye. He left as a teenager to join the military. To become a soldier. He left her the exact same way his father did. Luke wasn't any different from his father. He couldn't be. His father's DNA will always be a part of him, no matter how much he tries to run from it. Luke's DNA will always be 'The Crazy Lady' and MR. Horny Mailman. And there was nothing he could do about it. And for what? For what.. He didn't earn anything by it, if anything he lost his pride. And all he could muster out was a short sentence.
"Don't you hate me?"
Nothing was reciprocated, no sound, no noise. Nothing. The only sound Luke could hear, was his own mind.
"You're supposed to hate me." Luke repeated into his palm. Crying wouldn't help anything. He knew that. He knew that and yet he didn't know how to stop.
"Why would I hate you?"
Why? Did she really just ask that? There was a million reason that she should hate him, no, loath him. It came by quickly, everything Luke had been holding back for years, broke out like a destroyed metal dam.
"Cause I left you! I left you without a single word, no goodbye, no nothing! And to make that worst? I haven't contacted you ever since, I ignored your calls and letters you sent to me, I moved address so you wouldn't know where to find me. For godsake mom, I left the exact same way father did. To make things worst I only called you to get information on a girl, can you believe that? I only dialed you because I wanted to use you! If that is not enough reason to hate me, then... Argh, you must resent me! You have too..."
The more silent she was, the angrier he got. Automatically he clenched his phone, to the point of it cracking. A nasty crack right down from the top, to the bottom. "Say something damnit!"
"Luke, I will never hate you."
"Why not?!"
Her breath seemed simple, soft. How could she be so calm about all of this? He was yelling at her, and it was almost like she didn't care. Did she not care about him?
"When you left, I couldn't stop crying for weeks. Not only had I lost the man I loved the most, but also lost my son. I can't remember how many years it took me to realize that I had hurt you too. I wasn't in my right mind to raise a child alone, I should had gotten professional help. I had realized that too late for us. But not for myself. I started going to therapy, started working again. Just in case, if we ever met again. I could look you in the eyes and say... I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't be there as a mother when you needed me the most, but I'm here now. And if you'll let me, I'll love to be in your life again. As your mother."
That was enough crying. He told himself, ignoring how it got worse. His knees gave up and he collapsed down. He rested his head against the concrete wall. The cold bathroom tiles snearing their way up his legs.
"Luke you okay?! I heard a-"
"I'm okay mom, I.." A small voice inside his head screamed: Don't you dare admit it. "I just can't stop crying." He said it.
"It's okay, I'm crying too. We can be pathetic together." She laughed, his mother laughed. It was so unnerving, new, strange. Something he had never heard before. A small laugh came out of him too. Gently, he yanked off the towel that was hanging on the wall to wipe his tears with. "Hows the military treating you?" She asked.
Luke sighed, resting his head against the shower curtain. He wished he could say it's been splended. He wished he could say confidently that he had been on a rescue mission last week, without that being a lie. He wished a lot of things.
"Not.. The greatest. I was let go of my position, actually."
"That is not what I expected to hear, I'm sorry dear.. Why were you let go?"
"I had been too reckless. I went against orders. Did things my way. My old boss was not a fan of me, that much I can say."
She grunted over the phone. "How ridicules."
He had to keep in his laughter. Never in his life had he heard someone so offended before.
"I know right? To make things worse, now I'm getting secret sh money from them, to keep my 'early retirement' a secret."
There was sound of paper russling on the otherline, and Luke just waited.
"You must be bored out of your mind."
She didn't need to repeat that twice. He couldn't wrap his head around the fact some people would trade a limp for early retirement. Work was the one thing that made him want to wake up in the morning. Now, he doesn't know what to do with himself. His mother must have been thinking too, cause the next thing she said outloud would put Luke into a spiral, yet again.
"How about I tell you about that girl, and tomorrow you come over for tea. To pass time with."
That girl? Oh god- He had mentioned... His body sprang up, posture fixed and eyes open.
How on earth did he forget about the only reason this call happened? There was something seriously wrong with himself. He couldn't stop himself from seeing her. Her eyes, meeting his.
The way the world had been put on pause for a split second, when their gaze halted. Almost as if he was stuck in some stupid rom-com, like in Notting Hill when Anna Scott said: 'I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy..' Just without the talking part. He slowly picked at the loose skin near his fingernails. "What girl?"
"Oh no, you can't escape from this one, son. Now go on, I will love to help you with your small love quest."
Love? No, what he felt towards this total stranger wasn't love. More like morbid curioisty? No, that also sounded wrong- Whatever, the main point is, he didn't feel love towards her. That would be crazy, absolutely insanity. He just needed to know what she knew about him, who she was in his life. So they would be on the same playing field, you know?
A lot of things had happened between High School Luke, and well. The current Luke. He shouldn't feel bad for forgetting her. That was just life, you meet people and they leave. Well, they're supposed to leave and forget about you. Not..
Luke shook his head. "Okay, okay. Relax mom. I barely know her, this isn't a love quest, I just want some stuff about her, because I have forgotten."
The microphone barely picked up his mother's small cackle. It came in as robotic static. "Yet."
Slowly, information that Luke had gathered had about her came out. Her name, haircolor, her wonderful eyes. That she was apparently friends with him during childhood, that she was friends with Thalia, Annabeth and knew of Chris. The mention of Chris, still formed an awkward tension over the phone. But Luke kept going. He told her about the last party glance, what their last interactions online were about. Every small detail Luke could get out, he did. All the while his mother just listened in and gave a few yes, or awes here and there.
When Luke was done explaining, his mother immediately jumped in. "Yeah I remember her, heard she got a degree and an apartment. I can still remember how cute she was as a kid. Did you know that she would come onto our porch every day asking if you were home? She was such a sweetheart."
He wanted to hold back a breath of surprise, but failed, terribly. "She did that?"
"Of course, as a kid, she was so.. captivated by you. I'm surprised you don't remember her."
How on earth did Luke forget about a girl like that?! And she sould not been captivated by a guy like Luke. He was terrible. His mind didn't come up empty, no. A blurry picture came to mind. A playground...
⋆。 ゚☁︎。 ⋆。 ゚☀︎。 ⋆。 ゚⋆。 ゚☁︎。 ⋆。 ゚☀︎。 ⋆。 ゚⋆。 ゚☁︎。 ⋆。 ゚☀︎。 ⋆。 ゚⋆。 ゚☁︎。 ⋆。 ゚☀︎。 ⋆。 ゚
It was around nine o'clock on a Saturday in late Autumn. Luke was hanging around at his usual spot, the infamous Hart Boulevard's playground. It had enough distance from his school and home, so the chances of him meeting anyone was slim. But not impossible. It wasn't too far away too, cause last time Luke truly ran away from home, his mother called the police reporting him as a missing person case. Why couldn't she understand that he needed some space apart from her? May Castellan was clingy, too clingy. Other times she just weren't there fully, meaning he had to do all the chores. She was unstable, her emotions were like a lottery. Luke never knew what he would come home too. He hated it, every single part of it. Why couldn't she just be a normal mom?
An argument with his mother had happened again. At school Luke had gotten into a fight with an upperclassmate, resulting in a suspension. And of course, May Castellan did not like that. The argument was senseless, useless even. He knew at soon as he came home, his mother would scoop him up in her arms, and cry over and over again. Apologizing and saying it's her fault. Then probably start crying about his father. And one thing is for sure, Luke didn't wanna deal with that currently. He didn't wanna deal with a lady who couldn't even decide what she wanted.
Presently Luke was on the top of the playground towers, squad down on the damp tree flooring. Everything he had on was drenched by the rain. His blue cargo pants had now entered the category of blackish. The same goes with his socks and shoes. A makeshift wet tent hanged over his head, made by his favorite red winter coat. The small fluffy parts of it looked like wet fur. Running out of the house without an umbrella had been a stupid decision. Cause not only was he drenched, but also freezing cold.
"I'm moving out as soon as possible." He grumbled to himself.
The rain took a turn to the worst, so Luke started to crawl towards the opening of the slide. Hoping that would safe him from getting a cold tomorrow. His head could just look down enough, to see.. A girl sitting there. With tears in her eyes. Not just any girl. It was you, his friend. at first he didn't really know what to say or do. He rather be alone than deal with anyone else. But he couldn't just sit there on the top of the slide, looking down at you. That would probably haunt him in his dreams, knowing he didn't help when a friend needed him the most. You hadn't noticed him yet, not that you were very aware of your surrondings. He could still recall you jumping by surprise when he spooked you from behind during break today. Though it was weird, because the memory was so far back. He couldn't depick your face perfectly. Every detail was a blur. He could pinpoint a girl's face, that's it.
In the end, he decided to just slide down slowly. "Hey there, Space Cadet. What's wrong?"
It was comical, the way your eyes widen in surprise. It was even better when he heard his name come out of you as a whisper. He waited a full moment or two, listening in on what you could muster out.
"Seriously? They were after you again? What a bunch of jerks." You just nodded. And silence filled the small space.
He went for a full on stretch in the small space, making sure he was being the biggest nuisance possible. Why? Well, it made you laugh a bit. It always did.
"Stop it, you idiot!" You pushed him off her all the while a big grin was plastered on your face.
Luke laughed along with you, resting his head on yours. "If I'm THE idiot, then you're a goldfish." He rolled the e so he had a more british accent.
Luke couldn't remember the rest of what happened in that slide, just small laughter between you and him. Maybe he had said something about why he was there too, maybe he hadn't. But it was hazy. One thing is for sure though, those eyes of yours were still the same. From what nostilgic memories he could decipher, your eyes always had the effect of slowing time down. Even if it was just a moment.
How could he ever forget you?
⋆。 ゚☁︎。 ⋆。 ゚☀︎。 ⋆。 ゚⋆。 ゚☁︎。 ⋆。 ゚☀︎。 ⋆。 ゚⋆。 ゚☁︎。 ⋆。 ゚☀︎。 ⋆。 ゚⋆。 ゚☁︎。 ⋆。 ゚☀︎。 ⋆。 ゚
Luke returned to reality pretty quickly after his mother's cough. He felt sweaty. Was the bathroom always this warm? He stood up to turn down the temperture, just to see it was at a steady 68°F. Strange.
Luke shuffled, and then mumbled into his cracked phone. "Sorry, kinda zoned out there. But, she sounds familiar? If that makes sense." He moved the phone to his other ear, dusting off the glass shards from the crack. "But uhm, for the tea party? Yeah, I'll come by tomorrow. Want any specific kind of tea?"
"Oh you don't need to buy the tea, I can get some."
"I insist, mom. Let me do this for you."
The softest sound of a sigh came from the other end. "Fine, if you insist. Some Hibiscus tea would be great."
The call ended after a few more minutes of catching up with one another. Finally Luke could feel his shoulderst relaxed. And he turned his gaze up to the mirror... And was meet with the strangest image of himself, he had ever seen before. A smile right and center on his face. Holy shit, that looked foreign on him. His fingers came up to the ends of his lips. So that was why his muscles turned from aching to straight up hurting. Maybe a few hours of sleep would help him calm down. He laid down on his bed, gaze right up into the ceiling, then closed them.
The morning startet out fast, Luke walked out the door. He was halfway through the hallway, with a light beige golf sweater barely on. The sleeves waving above his shoulders. He wasn't in a hurry, but he acted like he was. The supermarket he went to a few days ago had opened an hour ago, it wouldn't close any time soon. Yet he decided, speed is better than taking your time to enjoy the beautiful nature. A shortcut to the supermarket would be the best decision of his life! And no, this is not Luke foreshadowing anything. Not at aaaaaallllllll.
He had an okay pace, turning a sharp left at Acton St. And then turning another left into an dim allyway filled with your usual allyway stuff. A few big trashcans, a thrown out mattress and an angry punk girl- Wait... What-
Next thing he knew, he was punched in the stomach.
"GArH, what the hell?!" He stumbled back a bit in surprise. Who the hell would punch a guy wearing a light biege golf shirt?! Luke came to the two conclusions that either. One, he was being robbed. Or two, someone had a problem with him. What kind of problem? That- that Luke hadn't found an answer too yet. Stay calm, he told himself. He couldn't start a fight on his way to his mother's house. Rational reactions Luke. Rational reactions.
The surprise attacker, pushed him against the wall. They weren't making this easy on him. And that awful smell of a nearby trashcan didn't help either. "What on earth do you think your doing?" Her voice surprised him, he had a hundred percent heard that kind of grouchy yell before.
"Excuse me, what am I doing? You're the one who hit me. I should be asking that question."
That response was anything but calm and rational. Great work Luke! The punk lady came right up into his face. Seeming to have no clue what personal space was. Why is it that he always got in trouble, at the worst times?
There was no way to avoid looking at her now. Not when she was pinning him against the brick wall of some apartment building. So he stared, his eyebrows knitted together. The more he looked, the more this stranger remembered him of something.
"Oh no, you are not gonna pull out the innocent card on me, Castellan." She took a hold of his shoulders AGAIN. Her grip surprisingly strong, maybe even stronger than some soldiers he had worked with. Then she bashed him against the wall again. She got right into business. "What the hell are you doing texting-"
The rest of her rant came to death ears. He focused more on the fact he was being slammed against a wall than her words. And all he could feel is confusion. Texting who? No clue. The most confusing thing about this situation was the fact that the attacker strangely had the same face structure as his childhood friend, Thalia Grace.
Yep, there was no denying it. This angry punky lady, was none other than Thalia Grace.
"Okay- okay. Stop! Slow down for a second, I really don't wanna be punched again, we can talk about this Thalia." Luke pushed her off him, then brushed the dust off his shoulders. That action might had pissed her more off though, cause she started to grind her teeth.
"You need to stop texting her."
"Her? Like-" The very moment your name left his lips, Thalia tried to punch him again. Had she always been so violent? Thankfully, Luke's training came in hand. Since he caught her hand mid motion, again thankfully. Though Luke's speed did not hold up with his loose grip. Thalia's hand came free with no struggle.
"Exactly like her." She huffed, still heated. But her ego had been hurt. He didn't know if that was a good thing or bad thing. He was leaning towards the bad thing.
He shook his head, why was it that Thalia Grace wanted Luke to stop texting you? He wasn't gonna do that, not now. Not after the fact he wants to reconnect. He wants... He stood up tall. "I'm not gonna stop texting her." He stated, and quickly took a step back from Thalia. "And before you start, no, I'm not gonna disappear out of your lives again."
"Your lives? And how am I supposed to believe you?" She sneered.
He held back the words that were burning on his tongue. Don't be aggressive Luke.
He just.. He didn't understand where this anger came from. This aggression. He knew he kinda did ghost everyone but Chris, but he had his reasons. Was that selfish of him? Was it selfish to want to reconnect with one person at a time?
"Why are you so protective of her?"
That hit a nerve, that Luke didn't know he could hit. Thalia didn't hold back a single word. "Cause I care about her, and I'm not- I'm not gonna see you fuck up what I have tried to fix." Fix? He didn't have that much of an impact, did he? They were just.. Childhood friends. That's what they always have been. "I was there when you decided that our little friend group meant nothing to you. I was there trying to pick up the pieces while you, god. While you were trying to be the next superman! I stayed with them, while you just left us behind. And you expect me to just be okay with you coming into our lives again?!"
He snapped. Why was he seen as the villain?! "I didn't leave you behind, I moved on!"
"Oh really? Moved on? Like the way you 'moved' on from the military? Or better said, got kicked out."
And that's exactly how Luke ended up in this situation. With a hurting stomach, a girl who wants to burn him on a stake. All the while he was just trying to get to the supermarket to buy some tea! Getting sucker punched in the stomach, on his way to get tea. Now that, is a title not even a newspaper could print out.
He should be concerned with the fact she knew that he was kicked out of the military. But something was stopping him to ask that question.
Luke squeezed his nose bridge. Why did his eyes feel so dry and scratchy? He was not about to cry over a simple argument. Yet, he couldn't stop, the tears slowly started building a dam that would burst any minute. And the only reason he was beginning to cry, was because he realized that Thalia was right. She had every right to be mad at him. He had one day without a word just left, sure he had his reasons. But what right did he have, to just force himself into their lives again. To pretend he never knew of them. He could never forget Thalia or Annabeth, they had always been there.
But somehow he had forgotton you. And now, he just wants to return into your life like everything is okay? What is wrong with him. He could have at least said goodbye before he left, but no, he felt entitled enough to leave without a word. He was a bad guy.
And crying would just put him in a position of victim role, right?
"Are.. Are you crying?" He had never heard Thalia sound so, guilty. She wasn't the one who was supposed to feel guilty. He was.
He choked out a cackle. "No, tearing up.. Maybe, just. Give me a second." He took a breath. "I'm sorry. For everything. I truly am. Your right, and I have absolutely no right to pretend I didn't hurt you. But I want to reconnect, with you, Annabeth.. Everyone."
This was the last time TODAY, that he would be crying. He promised himself that. Then he finished the rest of his sentence. "And you can't control who wants to text me. So I'm sorry, but I'm not gonna stop all contact with her." It was a half assed apology, but the best one he could come up with on the spot.
Thalia became real quiet after that, her jaw clenching. "I know that, asshole.. I, I just don't wanna see my friends hurt again. I don't wanna see her be hurt again. She's one of my closest friends Luke, I'm not gonna let you screw that up, again."
"I promise, I'll not screw it up again."
They both stared at one another, an awkward silence stretching out for what felt like an eternity.
"Fine, one chance. But I swear if you do anything stupid, I will punch your lights out."
Luke put his hands up in the air. "Understood ma'am." He then received another punch, this time in the shoulder. But to look at the btight side, it was a friendly punch? It's the thought that counts. Thalia and Luke slowly came in an awkward, but good catching up talk. Luke told her about how the military was, the call with his mother last night and what small parts he could remember of you. While Thalia went full on turbo mode, telling every single detail that Luke hadn't gotten from Chris over the years. Apparently after high school, Thalia started archery. Odd detail that Luke didn't know how to respond to, so he just gave a simple nod. Even though they were having an awkward catching up talk, he could still see that Thalia didn't really like him as she used too. Every time she had to mention him, she called him an asshole. You take what you can get.
Thalia followed Luke all the way to the supermarket, and Luke was almost about to invite her over to his mom's house. But Thalia excused herself, saying she had important matter to take care off. Whatever that meant.
"Then I'll see you later..?" Luke said, while holding a small plastic bag filled with different types tea. The kind his mother requested was sold out. So this was the ultimate outcome. Thalia turned to walk backwards. "See you at my next party, and you better not skip it." Then they went both their ways.
Meeting up with his mom was, nice. Nothing much happened other than them catching up again. Hugging and planning on what to do for next Christmas. Luke had expected the tea party to go horrible, that his mother had lied over the phone. But no, she did indeed seem to be in a much better place than before. No sudden mood switch or mentions of his father. It was like she was ready, finally ready to step up to the motherly role. Even if it was a couple years too late. He had stayed over and ate dinner too, before leaving around midnight.
He hit the hay, better known as his queensized bed, face first. Ready to fight the long battle of not being able to sleep yet again. When a text message came from his almost dead phone... From you. He almost fell out of bed reaching for his phone charger. That's when the text exchange between you and him happened. And, god... He had never been more excited to receive a Tindr message in his life. He might have sprinkled in some few lies here and there, but he didn't really wanna dig into the personal stuff yet. He wanted to get to know you again, who you were. And maybe, just maybe... Maybe he kinda like texting you.
After you said goodnight Luke, he changed your name on Tindr to Space Cadet. Next thing he knew, his insomnia had mysteriously melted away. Cause within the blink of an eye, he fell asleep.
What Do You Call Someone That You Long For?
Chapter 6: Bidens ‘Pretty In Pink’ distant memories | Reader's POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character.
Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers.
Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut.
Masterlist
Next Chapter: Chapter 7: Curiosity killed Luke Castellan
Previous Chapter: Chapter 6: Tell Me Is Our Story Through? | Luke's POV
Summary: Everything from last night must been a dream, right? There was no way Luke Castellan was on Tinder, texting ME! Doesn’t matter anyways… Thalia apparently has gotten me a job interview at some mysterious place. Maybe the rest of today will be chill?
A lucid dream, is rare occurrence of awareness during sleep. You know you aren't awake, you know you’re asleep, and you know that nothing is real. Yet everything feels real. In some extremely rare moments, some even call it a special case. You are so aware that you can control the dream. Be the director of your dreamworld.
And I swear, the whole night I must have been in a lucid dream. All the events that has happened today, was physically impossible. It was never meant to happen. It felt so real, that I almost thought I was texting Luke Castellan on Tinder. But the truth is, I didn't see him at Thalia's apartment, let alone inside the building. I didn't see a bright pair of brown eyes, staring into my own. Luke had blue eyes. That was the dead give away that it must had been a dream.
The only logical explanation, is that I had intaken so much liquor, to the point where I passed out on the balcony. My childhood friend, hero or whatever you would call him, he was never coming back. He was just somebody I used to know. My mind was just playing tricks on me, nothing more, nothing less. But, at least now I knew I was dreaming. Meaning I will take control. I wanted to play that last memory of him, one last time. Before I ultimately needed to talk to a therapist about my problems with clinging onto the past.
*ੈ✩‧⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ
Pink flowers were carrying me through a field. I laid there, my face up to the sky. The clouds looked like giant fluffy bunnies, drifting away with no care in the world. That very day, was the last day of middle school. School had already ended and the pink evening sun shattered the blues away. I can't remember how I got there, or how long I had laid there alone. Those facts were long burried with childhood memories. The warm summer air hit me, making my body shiver. I didn't wanna go home yet, I didn't want summer break to come. What if I had to start all over in high school? What if people make fun of me again, for being different... What if's are truly the most dangerous puzzle for the human mind. Especially a kid's mind, like mine back then.
I let my eyelids close when I wanted to blink, so my other senses could take over.
Never had I felt such softness, like the Bidens 'Pretty in Pink' I was lying on. It matched perfectly with the newly cut grass that was poking into my heels. I spread my arms and legs as much as I could. Not minding that I, with no doubt, looked like a child starfish.
All I could smell was the smell of 'screaming' grass. My biology teacher that year had gone on a long rant about grass. They said that the smell of grass is actually a distress call by the plant to warn nearby vegetation of damage. The rest of the rant I didn't really pick up. Strange how small none important facts like that can stick.
Anywho, I tried to focus on my last sense. Hearing. The small russle of wind blowing in the trees, the sounds of the far away road and... Was that a bike I was hearing? Specifically, a bell ringing.
"Should have expected you would laze around here." I used my arms to sit up, my eyes locking on that toothy grin. Not knowing that was the last time I was gonna see that smile, ever. "What are you now daydreaming about, Escapist?" Luke Castellan.
It was blurry again, I couldn't decide if his left front tooth was still missing back then or if it had grown out completely. But I do remember his newely bought red bike, he was so proud of that bike. He would drive around with it everywhere. He kicked down the kickstand with his angle. In the process, destroying the lawn a bit. Dirt coming above the grass and scattering around.
My heart jumped up to my lungs, squeezing them tightly. My childhood crush was at its peak that year, in that moment, here. Sure, I saw him truly a year or two before this moment, but I never really understood how deep I felt towards Luke, before the last year of middle school. I wonder, did he ever know about my crush?
I managed to stay calm, just explaining how I felt. "Just dreaming about how I don't want high school to start."
Luke flopped down onto my lap, his blond hair poking my thighs as he closed his eyes. I can still remember how real that moment felt.
"Ahh, classic anxious, dork. Do you ever, like, not feel anxious?" As he laughed, his head buzzing in my lap because of it. He truly was a fallen angel, a fallen angel I couldn't escape from.
"You have it so easy, it's unfair. I can barely talk to anyone who isn't Thalia or Annabeth." I took a breath in. "Meanwhile you had the biggest glow up. Every girl looks your way and every guy wants to be your friend now. And me? I'm still the weakling from middle school."
"That is so not true."
He snaked his way further, so his stomach was on my thighs, completely trapping me down, his body weight too heavy for me to stand up. He was fast to notice that I didn't believe him, he went on one of his long rants.
"Sure, I am handsome now." My eyes focused on the back of his head. And all I could think about was the fact, to me, he had always been handsome. "But it wasn't always like that, and you know it. And you have changed over the years. You're just to worried in doubt to realize that, Dummy. Which is infurating, really. I don't understand how you can't see the you I see. That Thalia and Annabeth sees."
He turned his head backwards, our eyes meeting. He wasn't pulling my leg, or smiling. His face was neutral, hand over his cheek as he stared at her, the her he saw. His own version of me. Even in this lucid dream, it felt so real. A connection that only we had. He picked up a flower, and put it behind my ear. "One day, you'll see what I see." He whispered.
But Luke was still a middle schooler, so he broke off the romantic moment just as fast. Jumping to tickle me until I cried happy tears, begging him to stop. He would then say... "Wake up you idiot!"
Now that... That is not what he said. That wouldn't even make sense in this context.
"I said, WAKE UP!"
*ੈ✩‧⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ
My eyes forced open and everything around me was buzzing. My vision? Blurry. My sense of smell? Mixed between Thalia's strong perfume and burnt coffee beans. Only after a minute of being shaken, do I truly wake up. I'm at Thalia's apartment. No one else stayed but me and everything from last night came in as small blurs. I remember clearly losing a dare but after that? Nope. Only flashes of drunk memories.
"What now?" I mumbled.
Thalia finally stopped forcefully shaking me around, thankfully. But her body moved in a bizarre way. Almost as if she had chugged an energy drink in under 30 seconds.
"Get dressed. I may or may not have gotten you a job."
"Wait what?"
"I said-"
"I know what you said, but I don't even have my clothes with me- What even is the clock?!"
"Past twelve. And just wear this." She threw one of her leather jackets at me, then a pair of pants and a t-shirt. Thalia's clothes, somehow, smelled more of a coffee than her breath. She must have seen my expression, because she then spat out: "Suck it up, it is not that bad."
I shook my head slowly, holding the band t-shirt in the air. "Thalia, slow down- You don't even know if I want the job."
My protest fell short. The ball I tried to dunk, fell across the basketball field and into the other basket. "It's a cozy cafe owned by an old lady, you want it."
Touché Thalia. Touché. Next time, I shouldn't question the lady who has known me, my entire life. But there was still a question lingering in my mind. "So what, I go there for a job interview?"
"Bingo right on the money."
She clapped dramatically with her hairbrush in hand. "How did you-" And I of course, didn't get to respond.
"Great so we are not going past this, are we?" Thalia groaned, throwing a folded pair of socks at me. I hadn't even gotten the shirt on yet.
"I was talking to a girl I know last night, whose grandma owns a cafe. And funny enough her grandma's latest worker just quit, so she needs a new employee. And who do I know who is currently searching for a job?"
I opened my mouth to answer but she interrupted again. "Actually, don't answer that. Anyways. I started talking about you, being jobless and all. And now we are running five minutes late for your job interview. Are we completely clear or do we have more questions?" Thalia's arms spread out like an eagel. And in the middle of her rant, her hairbrush had been thrown to the corner of a chair.
Then she started clapping, trying to make me hurry. That also worked, which it shouldn't have. But it did. I jumped on one leg, trying to put Thalia's sock, that was a few sizes too wrong. I ended up with a jumbled mess. The right sock ended on the left and vice versa. Not a blink went by, before I was yanked out of her apartment. Her hand was on my shoulder, almost pushing me down the stairs and then out of the front door.
The streets were cold. Much colder than last night. My arms automatically locked around me as Thalia was pushing her way through a young couple, who were blocking up the streets. She kept on muttering that we were late and that I had to hurry up. A autumn leaf passed me by, barely missing my face. We turned a right, then another right until we were standing infront of a small cafe. I hadn't asked for the name of the cafe, and now didn't need to. The sign above the small building shinned with rustic lights. And the font had that old classic elagancy, that you would expect from a local cafe. if I had to guess what exact font was being used, I would pick a frankenstien mix between Carrington and Arizonia.
The name of the cafe in question?
DARLING.
In bold letters, and it included the small detail of a heart over the I. Cute, but extremely hard to search for on google.
My hands landed into my pockets as my shoulders raised, trying to keep my body warmth from escaping Thalia's jacket. I must have been pouting a tad bit too much, since Thalia gave me the elbow. "Just go in, dork." Thalia was eyeing me, then the cafe, then back at me. Not making a single movement towards the cafe. That's when I realized-
"Huh? Wait, aren't you coming with me?"
"Coming with you into your job interview? Who does that?! Of course not. I got a job too, remember?" I do remember. I remember that so clearly in fact that I remember her schedule. Because we applied for the same exact job. And I knew for a fact, she didn't have a single workhour today.
"But your shift doesn't start until monday-"
Her finger landed on my lips, ultimately shutting me up. "Shhh, no need for the small details. Just go in, you'll do great."
I wanted to argue more, to say that this is the most stupidest idea she had ever come up with. Yet again, I took a heavy sigh, smiled. And made my way through the front door. Maybe I haven't changed since being a kid, I was still a giant pushover. A bell rang after I stepped inside. And a few customers stared my way, their gazes burning into me. I looked back at Thalia, but she was already gone. Knowing her, she was off looking for a new punk album in the recordstore a couple blocks down. The display at the counter filled with small cupcakes and muffins, all decorated with sugarpaper figueres. The glass didn't have a single smear of fingerprints and the wood freshly polished. Or well it looked freshly polished. An old song played throughout the room, the guitar solo so familiar that I my feet automatically started to tap along. The whole cafe was straight out of a book or a fanfiction au. Oldfashion, sweet and mostly had the charm. The small doubts I had before, melted away by the aroma of a well made coffee. Not the starbucks ones that Thalia prefered to chug down every morning.
"Ah, you must be the girl my grandchild talked about." I lifted my head up, and got eye contact with the sweetest old lady. Her white hair tied up into a messy bun, round glasses barely sitting on her nose and a dark brown cardigan sliding off her shoulders. She wasn't tall by any means, and just by looking at her, you could tell she was too old to work. "Come in, come in."
I learned quickly what the name of the old lady was. Hestia. And my speculations of her being a little too weak to be working from before were shattered ten minutes into the interview. I had spilled a cup of freshly warmed milk, and she was immediately at the scene, smiling at me and telling me that it is okay, that we all make mistakes. She seriously lived up to her name that she shared with the Greek Goddess. And at the end of the day I had gotten the job..? It wasn't like any other job interview I had been too. Hestia said that she didn't approve of the 'new' hiring method. If she wanted an employee, she wanted to meet them at first and help them learn how to work her machines. The Hestia way. I hated to admit it, but Thalia was right, this job was made for me. No rude customers, yet. I hopefully hadn't just jinxed that. Most of the customers were just regulars that loved talking about everything. The machines weren't too fancy, really simple to learn and clean. And most importantly, the pay I was gonna get at the end of the month, was over my basic needs. Not a huge paycheck, but just above the average supermarket pay.
And when I left the cafe, Thalia was outside. But I couldn't read her expression. She seemed, pissed? She didn't have a disk in hand either. She came empty handed. Strange.
"Got the job?" She asked, and I nodded happily. Her shoulders seemed to relax after that, the tension was still present, but fading. "Well at least that's good."
"What happened?"
"Nothing... Just got into a catfight of some sorts." Her eyes lingered on the empty street. And I didn't wanna press on what she meant by catfight. "You downloaded Tinder last night?"
I had forgotten about that, completely. Hell, I forgot I got hammered last night. I had been too busy enjoying my coffee paradise. I took out my phone that was pressed against my thigh, and unlocked it. And sure enough, there the app was on my homescreen. Taunting me. "Yeah, apparently."
We began to walk side by side. My eyes glued to the screen. God I hope I didn't match up with someone and said something embarrasing. "So?"
"So what?"
"Are you gonna check the damage?" She questioned.
"Do I have too?"
"Better than never knowing."
Thalia was right, I might as well get the shame over with. I opened the app, and noticed I only had one notifaction. And when I swiped to my DM'S I had only matched with one guy. Luke Castellan. Everything stopped, I stood still. HOLY SHIT. Last night wasn't a dream?! Luke appearance was real?? Wait, no. He wasn't at the apartment, there was no way. I read through the past messages, ignoring his recent message. And god, I was cringing. HARD.
"I matched with-"
"Luke, I know." Thalia whispered. Standing infront of me, with that disgusted frown. She really didn't like the dude.
"Wait, wait... How do you know that?" I was a deer in headlights.
"I really don't wanna get into that mess right now..." Her hand pinched her eyebrows together, her eyebrow piercing poking a bit further out. "But you should answer his message." Her words felt bitter, yet still held an amount of truth in them.
Why must I feel bewilderement all the time? Can't I have one day of no large shocks? "Why do you want me to answer him, you hate the dude. You have told me multiple times to move on from my stupid childhood crush."
"Yes.. I have said that. But I also know that you're still head over heels for him. And as your best friend. I have to accept the fact you like that asshole. So answer him." She was really holding back now, she looked like she wanted to explode into an insult marathon.
Luke might have a permanent place in my brain, but Thalia will always come first. I put my phone away for now, pressing my entire left side into hers. "Hey what are you doing, dork!" I kept mumbling in a deep voice, mocking a guy from the party last night. That almost cracked her, I had to cackle. Her hand came to push my face away, but I presisted. And after a while we were laughing down the streets like two maniacs. Luke still lingering at the back of my mind.
I spent a couple extra hours at Thalia's apartment that day. Just helping her clean up the last signs of the party, old plastic cups that were hidden out of view and stuff like that. And handing back Thalia's clothing that I had worn. It was a good distraction for the both of us, she really calmed down after we rocked it out to a couple lost in time rockbands. Her snarky additude crawling right back up. She did offer me to stay for another night, that it wasn't a problem. But I was getting homesick, I needed some real alone time. Me and my couch or bed kind of alone time. Thankfully, she understood that too.
I said my goodbyes and then left, walking home to my apartment. The whole time, my mind was stuck on one thing. Luke. I still hadn't checked what the latest message was, actually I was dreading it. I had left him on delivered for over a day. Thalia was right, this was a stupid childhood crush. The perfect amount of stupid to make me become even more stupid!
I kicked my shoes to the side when I arrived home. Locking the door behind me and collapsing on my own sofa. My phone in hand. Only one last thing to do for tonight. And I felt my entire nervous system booting up again. What if he hated me now? I could not live with that type of guilt, even if he ghosted me, Annabeth and Thalia without a word. Or even worse, what if he truly doesn't remember who I am. That would crush me. Drunk me would be heartbroken, but sober me? Current status me? Oh I think I would die. I clicked on the DM's again, and scrolled down the chat. The most recent message was sent at 2 AM.
>: "You there?"
Well that made me feel shitty, really fucking shitty. He had been waiting for me to answer. What do I so now? 'Hey sorry I didn't answer, I had more important things to do!' Gah no, that is even WORSE! Despite all of my doubt, I began to type.
<: "Yeah still here, haha! Sorry for not answering."
I didn't think he would text back, he shouldn't be awake at this hour. It was past midnight. And yet, only a minute after I texted him. The small text below my mesage changed. Delivered into read. I froze up, my whole body jerked, geez.
>: "It's okay, I've been asleep since like 4 AM."
<: "You just woke up?"
>: "Got a fucked up sleep schedule. Insomnia and all that."
<: "Sounds rough."
>: "It's been alright. How's your hangover?"
My head fell back against the cushions. The day had just passed me by and because of how busy I had been. I didn't even register the small hangover. I didn't want to admit it, but when Luke asked me that simple question. I felt my body shiver, in a good way.
<: "I barely noticed it."
>: "Lucky."
If it was any other guy texting me like this, they would be put into the dry category. And I would stop trying to text them at the end of the week. Tinder guys usually fit into small boxes, just by their text pattern. And the dry category box, was the worst kind of guy. Always boring and never really trying to start a conversation. But it was Luke I was talking to. My childhood friend and crush. All my warning signs were thrown out of the window. He was the only exeption to this rule of mine. That is probably not a good thing.
>: "You never finished your drunk pickup line."
Winkles formed around my forehead, as I desperately tried to recall whatever drunk me has said before. And when it finally hit me, I SCREAMED. Throwing my phone down to the couch, all in the effort to hide my face from the shame. 'You can't be real' GOD WHO SAYS THAT?!
My living room lit up, and I moved my eyes from my face, just so I can scan the text from the screen.
>: "Did you disappear again?"
I hesitated, then picked up the phone.
<: "Nope! Still here."
Gah why did I say it like that?
<: "And that drunk pickup line shall never be finished."
>: "Whaaa? Really? Well that's upsetting. Been waiting aaaallll day to hear it."
The texting bubble kept on typing, then disappearing, just to return again. The amount of waiting made the end decision of shifting from the living room and into the bedroom. My head resting against the pillows as my phone finally recieved the next message.
>: "What are you doing right now?"
<: "Lying in bed. What about you?"
>: "Getting ready to take a shower."
<: "At this hour?"
>: "i just told you. I just woke up, I stink of unwashed man.”
That made me laugh, it was hard not too. It felt so easy talking to Luke again, it was almost as if we never went our different ways.
>: "You should sleep, it's late."
<: "And you shouldn't?"
>: "My bad habits shouldn’t infect you. Besides, I like your face when you have a full night sleep."
He... He likes MY face? <: “You haven’t even seen my face recently, how could you know if you prefer my refreshed and full night sleep face.”
<: "ANND I personally think I look like a hot exhausted babe, when I haven't slept."
Did I just type babe? Oh god I did… What have I become? Calling myself a hot exhausted babe just for a guy’s attention? Maybe deep inside a truth lingered. A truth about the fact I wanted him to keep texting me. I wanted to learn who he had become.
And just as suspected, he was taking his sweet time typing. Stopping, then starting again.
For me, it felt as if he was unsure of what to type next, which is crazy because the Luke I knew would never be associated with a word like unsure.
I glanced up into my ceiling, my phone next to me, lying there on the pillow.
Luke Castellan, who are you?
My head fell down onto my side when my phone vibrated. Instead of a text bubble, I saw… A voice message?
- "Go to sleep, you dork.”
Oh… Oh my god. The deep raspy voice? The cut off chuckle at the end? My stomach was hurting from the huge summersaults that were happening inside of me. That was CRIMINAL! So criminal in fact, that I couldn’t stop smiling.
<: “Goodnight, Castellan.”
Only a half minute later, came his last message for the night.
>: “Call me Luke.”
Whaaa? This new poster makes me want to write about Luke? Whaaa? Crazy. Your crazy…
What Do You Call Someone That You Long For?
Chapter 5: Tell Me Is Our Story Through? | Luke's POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character. Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers. Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut. Masterlist Next Chapter: Chapter 6: Bidens 'Pretty In Pink' distant memories | Reader's POV Previous Chapter: Chapter 4: A Tinder Luke Panic | Reader's POV Summary: For all the years Luke had lived on planet earth, he never suspected that less than 24 hours he would be sitting in a deeper rabbit hole that he long burried. One message asking to be picked up and his whole night scattered into chaos. For all it's worth... At least Luke was with Chris again for the night? + His sleeping girlfriend but that's besides the point.
It was about 2:25 in the morning when Luke got a message from Chris. Luke's hands were covered in dark brown dye when his phone lit up. His reaction was brisk, immediate and really hastily. His hands still stained as he reached for his phone. Staining the back of his phone... Great work Castellan.
The light flickered above Luke as his heart slowed down, the disappointment he felt was... He wasn't able to put it into words. It wasn't mysterious Tindr girl, but just Chris asking for Luke for a pick up. Chris earlier had asked if Luke wanted to go to Thalia's party, that his childhood friends have been missing him. But Luke wasn't ready for that, he wasn't ready for reconneting with people he had left behind a long time ago.
He declined the offer and blamed it on his headache from earlier, which wasn't a complete lie, that headache was killing him. Keyword here, was. After he downed some pills it shimmered down into a small stinging sensation. He doubted that Chris believed that kind of excuse, but at least he got the message. Luke didn't wanna be there.
One day, maybe, he would man up and look Annabeth and Thalia in the eyes again. Today was just not that day.
The message countained Thalia's address, with a follow up text that could match a child pleading for a brand new ipad. Luke reaaallllyyy shouldn't have told Chris about his insomnia.. Maybe then he wouldn't be a personal taxi. But who was he kidding? He would do almost anything for his younger step-brother. Luke began searching his apartment, his carkeys had to be there somewhere. As he opened up a random drawer, he could hear it. The sounds of rain hitting the apartment's windows. One by one, moving down in a slow dance. It didn't take a genius to put the puzzle pieces together. Luke would guess that Chris probably hadn't thought about the risk of rain when he came over to the party. Knowing Chris he definitely gotten a few drinks too much to drive, the same logic goes with his girlfriend, Clarisse. In all likelilhood, they had wanted to take the bus home. And now their plan was crumbling and wanted Luke to pick them up.
Chris lived on the outskirts of Connecticut, at least three hours from here. The chances that Chris wanted to crash at Luke's for the night with Clarisse, was huge. Then they could leave the next day, so the both of them could get ready for work on Thursday.
That reminded Luke that he should start looking for a new job, he couldn't live with being a veteran and the small amount of shush money that his old boss was giving him. Another thing to add to his endless to-do list. How awesome.
His carkeys weren't in that shelf, actually, the wholetime they laid under Luke's pillow. His socks, pants and undergarments scattered everywhere, for absolutely no reason at all. All he had to do was search his bed, which he did. But only after making his apartment look like a warzone. Luke gtritted his teeth and afterwards he spurred out of the front door and to the underground car park.
Luke's bmw E46 stood there in all it's glory, a perfect blue paint shine and new wheels that he got installed a few weeks ago. Sure the car wasn't exactly new, but it was his. And it worked. What more can a man ask for? Well, a man could ask his neighbor to stop parking so close. There was no way Luke would be able to get into the driverseat. The car besides it was so close that a metal rod could scratch both cars. One day, just one day where Luke isn't targetted with nuances would be great!
Luke walked over to the right side of his car. Frustations bubbling up in his mind as he unlocked his car. He barely fit in a crawling position, since the passanger seat had been pushed up from the last time Chris was there. Luke's thigh pushed the gear stick to the side, causing a loud crack sound. He would deal with that LATER. Luke was already late to pick up Chris and Clarisse. And if there was one thing Luke hated most in the world? It was being late.
Halfway during the carride Luke's mind drifted back, not far back into his past. But the sounds of the newest popstar blasting through the first radio station really put him back on the whole Tindr girl situation. A song about longing, a song by a guy named Sombr? God, what had music come too? And why was Luke's fingers tapping the wheel with every beat. Seriously what has made Luke so... Weird lately. A lyric really struck out to him, as the pop music blasted. 'Tell me is our story through? Or do our hearts still beat in tune.'
Longing for someone unavalible, someone so far was not a common emotion. At least not for this veteran. He couldn’t wrap his head around the idea of needing someone that bad, in the romantic sense at least. A predicament indeed… So why couldn’t his mind let her go? He didn’t even know her. After at least ten minutes of her leaving him on delivered he started stalking her Tindr profile, which was creepy sure. But justified by the fact he didn’t check her profile before- right?.. Anyways, this wasn’t the time to second guess his morality. Every photo of her on that profile was ingrained into his mind, his eyes. He knew exactly what kind of color her eyes were, to the angle of her photo smile. Don’t even get Luke started on her bio. He could already rephrase it, backwards. There was just this thing about her, this thing he couldn’t put his finger on. An irritating itch that just wouldn’t go away.
He changed the radio station to some slow jazz instead, not wanting to be stuck in another loophole that would never get resolved. Especially not about a girl.
As Luke parked on the side of the street, the rain poured down further. Every drop heavier than the last. The wind had also caught up, blowing drunk adults to the side of the road. Had Thalia always been that popular to attract this many people? He swore she was still that little rock weirdo he remembered. Admired.
Lights were still on the fourth floor, party lights to be exact. From what he could scan from his car, the balcony door was wide open. Cushions drenched and wind abusing the small potted plants hanging from the railings. The rock music from her apartment was so loud that he could barely hear music from his radio anymore. How on earth hasn’t she gotten a complaint yet. Luke shook his head, smiling a bit to himself. Classic Thalia Grace. Never taking any shits from anyone.
Luke’s ringtone rang once, a message from Chris.
> Sorry boss but uhh you gotta help me carry Clarisse she’s like totally passed out.
Luke had texted Chris, saying he was outside and waiting, he wanted to avoid any kind of interaction with well anyone that wasn’t Chris. Though he had forgotten how big a drinker Clarisse was when a party was around. Luke didn’t think this through at all.
With a reluctant sigh, Luke put on his green big coat, pulling the fluffy hood over his head before stepping out of his car.
The stairs up to Thalia’s apartment were scattered with people talking, either holding a cup of alcohol or taking a smoke. Luke predicted that all of them were waiting for a ride home, preferably from a taxi and not a close family. Unlike Chris. With every single step Luke took up those stairs, the louder the rock music became. The flight of stairs would have taken a normal person out of breath. But not for Luke. These were hardly a challenge compared to what his job used to be.
Chris wasn’t outside the hallway, still inside Thalia’s apartment. So Luke turned to text him.
< I’m here, outside in the hall. Can you carry her out of there?
Five minutes past.
Then two extra minutes.
And when the eight minute past with absolutely absence, Luke pushed the door open. The smell of vomit and alcohol reached his nostrils, as another guitar solo performed on full volume. It was crowded still, but not with people partying. Most were cleaning up, not taking a glance at who just bursted in. The chances they heard the door being opened was slim. Yet Luke still suspected one weird look his way. And none came.
His eyes scanned his surroundings, checking every single black haired male looking dude.
Was that Chris? Nope, just another frat dude. Luke moved further inside.
Him? Nope too skinny to be even remotely close. Chris was about 180 pounds, sure skinny but this dude was about 160? No way.
”Chris?” Luke called out, hoping no one would actually hear him.
Luke accidentally bumped into a woman with a cleaning rack in hand, and whispered a low apology before dashing out of the way. Why wasn’t Luke breathing? Everything felt blurry, he couldn’t see five feet in front of him. His mind only repeating ‘find Chris and get the fuck out of here’. His heart beating faster and faster. He wasn’t no wimp, get your act together soldier! Wait, Soldier?
”Oh thank god you’re here dude, I don’t think I can handle her leaning on me much longer.” It was Chris, Chris holding onto his girlfriend with both arms with a sluggish smile.
Luke didn’t even realize his ears had been ringing until he saw Chris. Everything after Luke spotted Chris slowed back into reality.
”You didn’t answer my question, was starting to worry that you might have passed out too.” Luke played out with a smile, coming up to the side of Clarisse. Putting her arm around his shoulder and taking most of the weight off Chris’ shoulder.
”Shit, you texted me?” Chris asked, walking with Luke in motion. Hurrying over to the front door.
”Yeah, but that doesn’t matter. Have you said goodbye yet?”
Luke should have heard what Chris said, he knew how much Chris valued small social interaction like that. Therefore he should have listened.
Everything stopped, for just a single moment. Not a second more. Those eyes, over the crowd Luke saw those eyes. Staring at him with shock. Deep inside him something was screaming. Those eyes, who did they belonged to? They looked familiar, so familiar. Like his Tindr girl. A distance memory hit him. A memory so far away he didn't know what it was about. His whole chest felt like it was exploding into fireworks, coloring the sky with shimmers. And at the same time felt so tight like he was at the bottom of the ocean. He felt all of this and the weirdest part? He didn't know why.
Just as fast as the glance happened between the two it ended. Luke, Chris and Clarisse were out of the door, already moving towards the stairs. Luke felt weird again, weak. Weak in the knees after seeing her at that party. Was that why she wasn’t answering him? Because she was at Thalia’s fucking party? He can feel that headache coming back from hell.
Luke ignored it, all of it. Shaking his head and trying to ignore Chris’ worried eyes.
It wasn’t long before they were outside in the pouring rain. Luke unlocked his car, and put Clarisse safely in the backseat, while Chris stood beside him. Not really saying anything.
When Luke and Chris finally got seated it was quiet. Luke’s green coat so drenched that it looked black instead of green. His fingers shaking a bit from the cold.
Chris began to speak again after getting into the passenger seat. ”Is it okay we crash the night at your place?”
Luke was switching gears, looking backwards to make sure he didn’t hit any zombie drunks.
”You’re so predictable, you know that Chris?” Luke cackled. “Of course. Though fair warning, my place is a fucking mess.”
”Let me guess, you couldn’t find your carkeys.” Luke squeezed the wheel, focusing on the road. “I knew it, I guess it is in our DNA to be predictable Mr. Castellan.” Chris, oh Chris. So proud of the simplest of things. How envious Luke was of that.
Luke looked in the rear mirror, right at Clarisse. That woman was a fiesty beast, but currently looked like a tamed kitten, leaning against her seatbelt fast asleep.
During the ride, Chris switched the radio channel from jazz back to pop. And of course the radio station from before was replayed that Sombr song again. Or was this an other song? They all sounded the same, kinda. He wasn't in denial. Luke didn't like this music.
“So, how did your Tindr adventures go?”
Luke almost choked on his own spit. ”Are you seriously asking about that, now?”
His eyes widened, and Chris turned so much in his seat that the seatbelt locked and clicked. “Oh my gods, you totally found someone. Spill the beans!”
The words of be careful now and variously other concerned words were stuck in Luke's throat. But he held them back. How the hell did Chris find out so fast?! God he loved his half-brother, but that was some creepy shit.
Luke put up his defensive walls, lying came so naturally. "I haven't and even if I had, how would you know?"
"Oh you so have, and how do I know? Well you, yes you. Bobbled your Adam's apple after my question, like you were lost for words." Oh for fuke sake! Stupid body, revealing all of Luke's secrets.
Luke stopped at the empty red light, watching the windshield wiper do their job. Left then right, left and right yet again. His whole mindset focused on the empty road. Yet all he saw was those eyes. The closest thing he had ever come to a real life angel.
"Sooo, who are they? Spill."
The traffic light turned yellow, then green. But the car didn't move. Luke didn't move. He closed his eyes, removing those small noises. The noises that sounded a lot like the incoming headache from earlier.
"Just a girl." He answered.
"Ahh a girl, is she cute?"
Luke let out a breath, letting it fly out of his nose. He was smiling again. Then he proceeded to drive. There might not have been any cars waiting for him to drive, but he couldn't just wait there forever. Life goes on. "Yeah, you could say that. But before you go all screetchy with me, I have only had one conversation with her, that's it."
"That's great dude! Even if it was just one conversation." Chris was under the infulence of alcohol. Shifting every few seconds on the passanger seat. Yet he acted as sober as ever. "What's her name then?"
Luke uttered her name in the meantime he drove his BMW into the carparking lot.
However, Chris was acting odd, right after Luke had said her name, the vibe in the car just felt off. Chris' smile faltered, just a bit. And his eyebrows crunched together, forming a temporary unibrow. Did Luke pronounce her name wrong?
"Really?" Did he not believe him?
"Yeah.. I think I saw her at the party too." Luke parked the car, trying to make a little space between his neighbor’s car. At least then he and Clarisse could get out without scratching either of the cars. Clarisse was still asleep in the back, but neither of the guys moved from their seats. Luke too busy wondering if he had said too much about this girl. Or if the girl was a serial killer in disguise. Chris knew everyone, so he wouldn't be shocked if Chris knew her.
"You... You seriously don't remember her?" The question hung in the air, and Luke unbuckled his seatbelt. His hand steady in the air, frozen. Remember her? Was he supposed too? What was Chris on about. Chris spoke again, as if that would ring any bells. "Your childhood friend? You, her, Annabeth and Thalia. The crew." Chris stated. "She talks about you all the time."
Luke only remembered him hanging out with Thalia and Annabeth, there was never a fourth person. It was him, the father of the group. Thalia the rock weirdo and the small Annabeth. What Crew? Had the Tindr girl talked about him like some creepy stalker? Did... Did Luke have a stalker?
"Are you fucking with me?"
"What?"
"Are you fucking with me, Chris."
Luke didn't like getting this frustated at someone who shared the same blood as him, but this was absurd. If, and that's a hard if, this mystery girl was actually from his past, he surely would have remembered. "I'm not fucking with you, Luke. The bullied girl from down the street, the girl you swore to protect?" Chris gave up after Luke gave him another frustrated and rather confused stare. He swore to protect someone? As a kid? Who was this Tindr girl. This wasn't making any sort of common sense. Why wasn't it making sense?!
Luke did most of the carrying Clarisse up to his apartment. All the while Chris started cleaning up Luke's place. In silence. There was no doubt that Chris could see Luke's disoriented state with this sudden reveal. Chris shouldn't be protecting Luke god damnit, but he didn't argue. Luke placed Clarisse down on his bed, pulling a blanket over her sleeping body. Before walking towards the shelves that he earlier had scattered through.
"Don't beat yourself up over this Luke." Chris muttered, in his hands were a bottle of Luke's headache pills and a glass of water. "You need rest, I'll take the floor."
"Like hell you are, I'm not sleeping next to your crazy girlfriend." It was meant to come out as light, but sounded more unnerved than anything. Luke took the pills and glass, getting it all down at once. The whole time thinking it was a competition, the fastest one to get the pill down wins kind.
"Fine, but seriously." Chris hand lingered on Luke still drenched's coat. "Get some rest."
He sighed. He couldn't be bothered to argue with Chris, so instead. Luke came over and gave him a big bear hug. Making sure his clothes were drenched in by his coat. A soldier never admits to defeat, but a veteran. Now that's a different situation. "Good night." Chris whispered, clapping Luke's back. And with every clap, Luke felt closer to earth, to reality, to this life. He almost started to tear up, but clenched his lower jaw to make sure no tears fell out. Squeezing Chris one last time before pulling away. "Good night Chris." He watched his little brother move over to his bed, collapsing right next to his girlfriend. He was out faster than a nightlight. An adorable sight if you looked past the whole a grown man part.
Luke turned his attention to his bathroom again, the brown hair dye still on the sink. Luke closed the door behind him. He just needed a few moments before sleeping again. Just for a quick break from all the noise. In the mirror stood a man, a changed man that not even Luke knew. So much had happened in the last twenty four hours, so much that his mind couldn't wrap around it. Luke took out his phone, reading the time. It was almost dawn, the sun ready to wake up. And here was Luke again, ready to fall asleep. But at least he wasn't alone tonight. He should call around, he really needed answers. Who was this girl? Why was this so important to Luke to find out? He got his facts straight, he knew he liked this girl. From her terrible start of a pickup line, to the way her shocked eyes met his at the party. He just needed a few more pieces, then maybe he could figure out who she was.
He couldn't call Thalia or Annabeth, that would not just be dick move. But full on a creep thing to do. 'Oh hello old friend I haven't called in years, do you know of this girl who I'm totally head over heels with? Aparrently she was our childhood friend who I have completely forgotten, crazy am I right?'
Yeah, that option was not an option. Chris wasn't gonna spill anymore news either. He would try to protect Luke and maybe even her from heartbreak? Would it be heartbreak if they barely knew one another? Anywho, Chris would not be any help either. And no, asking Clarisse was not an option. Unless Luke wanted a huge fight to break out. Clarisse and Luke never truly got along.
Guess he didn't have any other choice.
Luke took out his brown stained phone, scrolling past his past team's contacts, past his bosses and close family's contacts. His thumb stopping on the absolutely last contact he had.
He really hoped this girl is worth the trouble he was putting himself through. Last time he spoke to this woman was... Too long ago. Scared is the only right word to describe Luke currently. His eyes lingering over the call button. He couldn't do this right? It was just a girl from Tindr. Just a girl that he apparently had history with. Just a girl...
He dialed the number, putting the screen up to his ear.
"Hello? Who is this?" A light feminine voice rang through his ears.
"Hey mom, It's Luke..."
Humans are the bane of my existence.
Luke Castellan Vampire x Fem!Reader AU
Halloween fluff oneshot!
Warnings: BAD GRAMMAR AND SPELLING, really out of character, cringe and so on.
Summary:
Being the literally undead isn’t fun during halloween, like come on- do I look to live in a castle with pale as skin? Fucking stereotypes… So when this chick with a vampire costume comes up to my house, asking if this was where the university party was being held? I couldn’t help myself, pay back time.
My ancient wall clock from Ikea ticked to eight PM. My bowl of candy already half empty. This had to be the worst time of the year. The overpriced treats, the overly decorated neighborhood, the boring slasher films that the local TV station keeps on repeating and the stereotypes… Seriously, that was the one thing that pissed me off the most. Stereotypes of us, the undead. Zombies weren’t highly intelligent but they sure as hell wasn’t dumb either. Surprisingly those creatures could do mundane tasks that even my neighbors couldn’t handle. Like remembering putting a leash on their darn dog. How stupid can you be to let your terrifying werewolf wanna be stray? Humans are seriously the bane of my existence…
Speaking of werewolves, their stereotypes were even worse than zombies. Like come on, a man turning into a big dog? Nope, those things are literally dog men whole year around. The closest thing a human has seen to a real werewolf was bigfoot.
But the worst stereotype that this dreaded holiday and history has made? Well that had to go to vampires, aka me. Hurray..?
Look at count chocolate and Dracula. They have made people think that all vampires live in big gothic castles and speak as if they haven’t grown with society. Ridiculous! I’m at least 2019 years old and I know all the latest slang! For the most part. And I live in the most rustic cabin in Connecticut. Not exactly royal like.
Pale skin, cold body temperature and the instinct to drink human blood. I still can’t believe that people truly believe that’s what we vampires are. I can’t BELIEVE I am reduced to a mere batified mosquito. If I wasn’t such a peaceful guy, this world would be crushed.
They make us monsters into jokes, because human brains can’t physically wrap around the thought that they’re living within a ‘magical’ world. So clueless… So careless. The only positive with humans believing I’m make believe is that they won’t hunt me down like they did in the 1800’s. Not a great time to be a vampire kid, I’ll tell you that.
Tonight there has been at least 10 children with those horrible costumes of my species, not even knowing they were receiving candy from the real thing.
Thankfully, it should be all over now. No more trick or treating. Just me, my sofa with a cup of red wine and trash TV. What more can an immortal ask for? Maybe a world that wouldn’t screw me over for legally being dead for centuries.
I was half way through an episode of trash TV when knocking blew my blanket off me. Knocking? At this ungodly hour? Children should not be awake past eight, it was unhealthy as hell. Which says a lot when it is coming from the guy who sleeps upside down, in a coffin.
KNOCK KNOCK!
Like I stated before, humans are the vain of my existence.
Turning towards the door wasn’t hard, but I made sure to take my time. Making it more of a job than a task, so it would be more difficult to complete.
But as I looked down, expecting children. I get met with a chest, embarrassed as hell I looked straight up. Why was there a full grown woman at my door?!
“Hello! Is this where the university party is being held?” I could tell exactly when her breath paused in her sentence, exactly how her lips parted and revealed those god forsaken plastic teeth- Oh come on! This hot chick was a walking vampire stereotype too?
Wait- University party? Was she stupid or a moron. My cabin, as I called it, couldn’t even contain 10 people inside, let alone a whole university party. From the street you could see how small it was too.
“What..?” I stated.
“The party? I got an invite saying it’s on-“ as she opened her phone to look at some message containing the address, I realized. She was a freaking moron. The address she was talking about was at least ten streets down, in the more middle class neighborhoods.
“No, it’s-“
I got interrupted by a sudden face right in my face, stars glimmering in her eyes as she admired my mouth a bit too closely for my liking. “Woah, I just noticed your costume. Holy you did amazing, even better than my fake teeth.”
“Right.. Fake teeth.” I gritted my teeth together, putting my hands down my coat. Costume my ass, she would never know what I have to go through everyday.
She pushed me to the side, ignoring my past no to her question. As if it didn’t register in her mind that she had taken a serious wrong turn. “Where are the rest of the party?”
I should have said something along the lines of: “Like I was trying to say, before you rudely interrupted me. The party isn’t being held here.”
But instead I got a wicked plan, so this human girl wouldn’t listen to my words? Might as well mess with her for a bit.
“They already left, an hour ago.”
He had to pretend to cough, keep every single laugh in. The sight of her pale face might have been the most hilarious thing, like ever.
“What? Already?! But- god, you must hold terrible parties then, Percy.”
Percy..? PERCY? AS IN PERCY JACKSON? The same Percy Jackson who instead of lawing my lawn, turned it into a drenched mudfest?! THAT GUY?! I do not even remotely look like that humanized freak, let alone do I suffer from the condition of being a male blond. Just hearing his name made me shiver.
“Luke.”
“Huh?” She paused.
“Luke Castellan. That’s my name.”
There she stood. In my living room, pouring a glass of wine into my mug. My favorite mug at that. This was not going to plan…
“I swore the guy holding the party was named Percy.”
Under my breath I whispered. “Well, you’re wrong. Which isn’t surprising given your… Lack of intelligence.”
“What was that?” She asked.
I gave my flashiest, fake smile. “Nothing!”
I give up, I can’t make fun of this black and red dress chick. For some reason every single one of my defensives were backfiring.
This girl, why wasn’t she leaving yet? I was still holding the door wide open. She must at least have one brain cell in that nutshell of hers. No people was here and I was surely not named after a knockoff Aquaman prankster. She just stood there, all happy and clueless drinking out of my #numberonevamps mug. Her plastic vampire teeth getting an ugly red stain.
Maybe she was drunk, apparently pregaming a party had become popular again with adults. That would explain her moron behavior.
“This red wine is amazing! Come, taste.” Again she was intruding on my personal space, pushing the mug against my lips with a line of giggles following.
“Don’t you think you should be headed home? You seem just a tad bit drunk.. And also highly likely to be a murder putting my expectations so low of your intelligence that I undermine you, so you can stab me when I least expect it.”
“You sure whisper a lot.” Thankfully, she put my mug safely down onto my dining table. But I didn’t expect her to boop my nose right after. “Luuuuke.”
My sight was on her fake stained teeth yet again, the small sharp plastic bits peaking out under her overlip. Holy Christ, why did a drunk hot chick have to pick my cabin tonight?
“Ahem, ma’am?”
She slurred her name out after I called her ma’am, with a pout.
To which I responded with: “I- yeah whatever, do you have anyone I can call to pick you up?”
“Pick me up? Now why would you want me to leave already? The party hasn’t even starrrtedd.”
I must have scrunched my eyebrows too close together, since a heavy migraine was forming in my head. God, humans are the vain of my existence.
“I already said the party was over, and also you’re extremely drunk. Not to mention the fact you’re a complete stranger to me. I wouldn’t feel comfortable keeping you here but I sure as hell wouldn’t be comfortable with you out on the streets.” I picked up my phone. “So who should I call.”
Just as I thought I would get a response, she just yanked my mug off the table and sat down on my couch. Drinking the rest of the redwine, costume and all. This is my personal hell, not immortality. But this.
I closed my front door rubbing my eyebrows together.
“You could try Travis, but he’s probably dead drunk at Percy’s.” She shrugged.
“Your parents?”
“In another state.”
I held in my breath, shaking out any frustration out of my system. Once in a while, a vampire needs a glass of holy water. Just to feel something. This- this was one of those times.
It wasn’t long before the duckling followed me into the kitchen, inviting herself to unravel my cabins for ingredients. Maybe she was a robber, stealing things from me. No, that was impossible too. She reeked of spiritus and alcoholism. Parties have never been something I would indulge myself in. Mainly because of that awful smell and unpredictable humans. Humans were nuances when sober, but drunk? The turn into the real monsters.
“You don’t have any type of garlic?” Her laughter vibrated throughout the kitchen. “You really take this holiday seriously, really into the vampire aesthetic.”
My life wasn’t an aesthetic, it was miserable. Imagine being sunburned by the slightest touch of sunlight, or being compared to a yeti when someone touches your skin. But the worst part was watching all my family members die from old age, while I am stuck being in my young adult body until the sun eats up the entire planet. I didn’t answer her teasing. Instead I focused on making some tea for her, so she could sober up and leave as fast as possible. All the while I tugged a few drops of Holy Water. The liquid burning the back of my throat like Vodka would.
My tea box set contained a few different flavors, ranging from strawberry raspberry to ginger lemon. Something in me, something sick and malicious wanted to pick the ginger lemon. Just to spite her.
“What kind of tea do you prefer?” I grumbled as a question, boiling the water in a pot. She was still trying to intrude on my personal space, her hands resting on my shoulders.
“Blueberry Bea.”
I glanced to my tea box set, knowing I had never heard of that flavor. “From the box.”
A small train of Ooooooohhhhh’s followed, as she ravaged through the small paper box, tearing the sides. I had to close my eyes, or else I might have unplugged her eyes out of her skull.
“This one.” She held out the ginger lemon, and I stared at her in bewilderment. Next time, I am not asking a drunk lady what her favorite anything is.
“Know what? I’ll pick it.”
After a brief moment, I picked up a normal caramel apple pocket. Pouring the hot water into the same mug she had used before, and then dipping the tea pocket into the water repeatedly.
But she just stood there, and stared at me. Like fully stared. Was I sweating?
“Where do you get your eye contacts from?” She blabbered.
“… Online.” That was probably the safest response. Human eye colors couldn’t be golden like my natural eyes.
“What shop online?”
“Gosh, I don’t know. It’s been a long time since I ordered them.” I handed her the warm mug of tea, not bothering to put any form of sweeteners in it.
Her face lit up immediately. She gracefully took a hold of the drink, not caring if it was burning hot.
My Ikea clock in the living room ticked, the weather outside starting to pour down.
The mug covered over half of her lower face. “You’re cute.” She whispered.
“And you’re drunk.” I replied.
“Are you always this kind to drunk strangers?”
Was I? No, usually I would have called their nearest family member or friend to pick them up. Yet I’m somehow stuck in this strange situation, a predictable really.
Her eyes battered in my direction. But I kept my attention towards my window. Watching the droplets fall. “That wasn’t a rhetorical question.”
God she was persistent. “Are you always breaking into people’s homes while drunk?”
“No, not always. But I didn’t break in, the party was held here after all.” If I could feel pain, it would have hurt my eyes from all that turning I was doing. Not long after she answered my question, I had left my own kitchen. Sitting down on my couch, so I could focus on my TV again.
And like the duckling she was, she followed. Sitting way too close for my liking. I could clearly smell the reek of alcohol from her. “You never really answered my question.”
I bit the inner side of my cheek. “I don’t answer stupid questions.”
That made her quiet. Finally… I can enjoy my halloween night-
“What major do you have?”
At the corner of my eye I looked at her, truly this time. I noticed how the neon blue lights from the TV highlighted her full face of makeup, the small drop of fake blood from her lip and her fake fangs sticking out from her lip. My fingers twitched. This lady, even if she was a walking stereotype, was truly magnificent. No one must know that I think a human is anything other than completely useless nonsense.
Her question hanged in the air, and I really didn’t know what to answer. I needed a major that she didn’t have, but she looked like the type that could fit any university studies… Anything but-
“Classical Languages.”
Again, she had that look on her face that was almost irresistible to laugh at. But I kept it in, trying to focus on anything else but her.
“I didn’t know our university had that.”
Well.. Shit.
“I’m from another university than yours. I’m surprised you even got invited to the party.” I lied.
“Oh.” She made that annoying, slurping sound when you barely have any more liquid left in a cup for a while. Completely ruining my emerging experience with the drunk lad on TV trying to get laid- or something. “Guess that makes sense… I would remember a cute face like yours.”
Was she- no, there’s absolutely no way she was becoming sober and still flirting with me, right? I shook my head, not letting those silly thoughts take over.
“Whatever.”
She shifted on my couch, rolling my favorite blanket around herself. She was literally hogging my entire living space. A drunk lady takes over vampire’s house. What a great title.
She broke the silence. “You don’t talk much.”
“Not much to talk about.” I immediately replied, again ignoring some inner devil trying to make me feel bad for stating the truth. I do not care about her feelings.
“Are you even gonna ask what my major is?” Selfcentered much?
This plan of mine, watching trash TV? Well that was obviously not gonna work with her here.
“Fine.” I took MY mug out of her hands, putting it down on my coffee table before turning the TV’s volume down. “What is your major that you sooo desperately want me to ask for.”
Her answer surprised me, because well- it wasn’t something completely stupid. Actually I thought she was a bimbo or something. But no, her major was actually something interesting.
She laughed. “Try not to act interested challenge.”
“What?” I asked- confused.
“That’s what you’re constantly doing Mr. Castellan. You’re trying to push me away but a little something in you is interested. I can tell because your eyes twitch every time.” She pointed to her own left eye, smiling as she got me all figured out. Mostly. Somehow she still hadn’t busted I was an actual vampire.
“You talk too much.”
“You think too much.” She directly stated back which left me speechless. You can’t really argue with facts. Even I know that.
For the rest of my Halloween night I just sat there, on the end of my couch with a muted TV and a sleeping stranger by my side. In the morning she would probably be sober enough to leave, and I wouldn’t have to be bothered anymore. So much for Trash TV Halloween night.
She only started to do some sort of movement at twelve thirty PM, her hands coming over her eyes to shield herself from the sun. I in the meantime had put on a black hoodie, pulling it over my head so I wouldn’t get sunburned.
In her half awaken state she took out her plastic fake teeth, putting them on my coffee table. Where were her manners? Who raised this- this lady?! Now her spit was making a mess on my wooden table, that I would have to clean up later. I grumbled under my breath.
My whole body jumped, when she suddenly yelled out loud. “God I have the worst hangover!”
That’s usually what happens when you drink a lot. Is what I wanted to say. Instead I just went with. “Want some water then?”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at my face under the hood. Her mind doing some sort of puzzle that I couldn’t quite figure out. But she could, unfortunately. She cracked the freaking code.
“Why haven’t you taken your eye contacts out-“
She started.
“Wait.. There’s no way. That’s your real eye color..? And those fangs look too real too- not to mention… HOLY SHIT-“
Her eyes widened, and for the first time in about 1000 years. A human found out my secret, my immortality. And she reacted exactly how I expected. By throwing MY OWN pillow onto my face, while screaming on the top of her lungs. I now prefer the drunk girl from last night, than this screaming somber woman.
“HELP! HELP! I’M GONNA DIE BY A REAL LIFE FUCKING VAMPIRE.” She stood up from my couch, running into my furniture almost destroying it all. Pushing them around as she couldn’t remember where the front door was.
“Can we use logic here for once?” I grumbled, standing up slowly. “If I wanted to kill you, I would have already done so. You’re pretentious really.”
“Y-you’re luring me into a false sense of security on purpose! Waiting until I am ripe enough to drink from.” From her costume, she pulled up a cross made out of cheap materials. Hoping that would safe her from my wrath.
“Blood tastes like pennies. And has the texture of a protein milkshake, a milkshake without the protein. Even an idiot wouldn’t be stupid enough to drink that.” My explanation seemed to take a little off her edge, but only a little. Since she persisted on using that cross between us as protection.
“T-then why keep me here? Huh? For all I know, there was no party here!” She could barely get that sentence out, what happened to that confident duckling from before? But also, I was surprised she could remember so much from last night. When I had a hangover I would remember little to nothing, but that was when I was alive. So maybe I remember the details a little wrong.
I put my hands up, her lips a thin line. “You got me, no party was held here. But, I kept you here because… I was worried a weirdo would take advantage of you on the streets.”
“What was that last part?”
I coughed, a curl coming in front of my slightly heated face. “I was worried a weirdo would take advantage of you on the streets.” How embarrassing.
Her eyebrow raised, but her arms lowered the useless cross. Finally. “Promise you won’t hurt me?”
“Why would I promise something that is normally known as human decency?”
“Fair point..”
Now we both stood there, awkwardly. What had I expected?
“Sorry, I- I kinda freaked out there.” I couldn’t care less about her apology, it didn’t matter to me. “But if it helps anything, I still find you cute?”
My eyes narrowed. “You’re ridiculous, absolutely absurd.”
She nonchalantly shrugged, and that god forsaken smile cracked back in her face. She moved past me, sitting back down on my couch like she belonged there. “Maybe. Though I have soooo many questions.”
“No, I don’t do ridiculous questions.”
“I don’t think you have a choice, Mr. Castellan. After all, I know where you live.”
Then I asked. “Is that a threat? Are you threatening me?”
“Depends, how would you define threatening.”
“I’m not falling for that.”
“For what?” She questioned.
“For answering a stupid question you-“
“You just did.” Did I? I was left stunned, my mouth hanging open. The hell was this? Punishment from above because I gave that one kid a snickers bar instead of a kitkat? Really?
“How old are you?”
I sighed and sat down on my side of the couch, my hand on my forehead. “2019. 2019 years old.”
And the rest of my morning went like that, answering stupid vampire questions. Her inspiration for the question was coming from the media too, mainly Twilight. That did not help my mood, when she asked me if I was team Jacob or Team Edward.
“I don’t think I care about such… Nonesense.”
“Okay so totally team Edward.” As she kept on asking me questions about my living situation, she had dragged out a post-it notes from somewhere deep inside her costume. With a pen too. I was being documented, every answer I gave gotten written down. And no one would believe her if she told them. That’s why I didn’t freak out when she wrote more down.
“Ever made-out with a human?”
“When I was alive yes, but as an immortal? No. Humans are impossible to be around.”
She wrote something down again, and I turned to look at her again, again.. I just couldn’t help myself. Maybe it was her eyes, or the small movements her face did. I was mesmerized completely.
“Ever wanted to?”
I blinked slowly, my head tilting ever so slightly. “Maybe.”
She chuckled at my response, but didn’t move. Instead wrote something down again.
“Are you gonna keep interrogating me? Or get ready to leave.”
She was warm, bringing a certain amount of warmth into my cold living room. I wanted her out, dismissed. So I can continue my life without problems.
“I’m done interviewing you now. But one more question, off the record.”
“There was a record?”
“There’s always a record, Vamps.” I would prefer if she didn’t call me that. But I didn’t comment on it. “Buut, you think I’m cute, right?”
Her somber self was just as selfcentered and confident as she was drunk. How do you react to a lady, sitting there with such a beautiful face, asking you that kind of question? I hate humans, I hate the fact that they put me into the same box as Mr. Dracula. And I find her so annoying. But cute was not the way I would ever describe her. That word was too little.
“Cute cannot be used to express your beauty.Your physical appearance is nothing more than magnificent not cute.”
My couch sank, as she crawled closer. There she goes, invading my personal space again. Disgusting. She had that smile on her face again, as her fingers came to cup my face. Push her off! My brain tried telling me, but I didn’t listen. I didn’t wanna listen.
My eyes closed automatically, as her breath spread across my face. My heart undead, folded over itself. I counted the seconds of every moment that we were apart, right until she kissed me. I let a human kiss me. A woman I didn’t know existed a night ago.
Her lips were indescribable, not soft nor rough. Not close to anything sweet but nowhere near a sour experience. She was delicate with me, pressing her own lips against mine in a slow dance. Her hands shifting over my ears. The feeling the kiss was bringing was unsettling, sometimes it felt impossible to feel the way I felt in that moment.
We were probably kissing for a solid seven minutes on my couch, my hands completely ruining her costume, tangling it around as I wanted to become closer. Every breath she let out, was a new addiction hell for me.
“You’re a good kisser Luke.” She whispered breathlessly against my lips. She probably expected the whole thing to end in a couple seconds, but if I’m honest with myself. I hadn’t even begun kissing her yet. This, this was child’s play.
She grew the distance between us, her eyes on mine. Fucking hell… I let a human kiss me. A let a thing that stereotypes my whole existence kiss me. And I liked it.
It was hard not to pull her back into another kiss as she was above me. She was still watching my lips, watching them as I would slowly part them. The skin of my lips would unstick from one another, a silent beg for just one more round.
“Thanks..” I whispered. “But I really wasn’t done.” My hand landed on the back of her head, pulling her right back into another kiss. A kiss that I controlled. I almost forced her to open her mouth. I needed her to part those lips of hers so our teeth would fight. My tongue getting to taste those lingering tea bits from last night. I didn’t care if she reeked of alcohol anymore. I just wanted all of her.
Humans are the bane of existence. But she… She’s the only person I want to tolerate in this damned world.
How many times can they fool me before i stop falling for it…
What Do You Call Someone That You Long For?
Chapter 4: A Tinder Luke Panic. | Reader's POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character. Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers.
Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut.
Masterlist
Next Chapter: Chapter 5: Is Our Story Through? | Luke’s POV Previous Chapter: Chapter 3: Headache anger and Tindr Profiles. | Luke's POV
Summary: Thalia's party had been... Loud, to say the least. But thankfully I got to see some old faces again, it was nice to catch up with Annabeth and the rest.. I just didn't think I would get drunk and text him again. A transformed Luke Castellan. All over a drinking bet!
Flashing colors and screaming men hit me like a trainwreck. All it took was one step into Thalia's apartment and I was thrown back into my teen years. Drunk dudes in the corner trying out their most flashy, charming smirks. Girls waving their arms around like inflated tube man outside a cardealer, trying to match the rhythm of the music. It was extremely overwhelming.
My eyes scanned the room, trying to catch any glimps of Thalia, but the neon colors was making it hard to find a punk rocker. Screaming wouldn't work either, there was simply too much noise. I pushed my way through the crowd, through the obstacles and into a quiet corner. I loved Thalia, I truly do. But she was absolutely terrible at remembering that I wasn't really social. After she joined that huntress group in high school, she had become an icon. A punk rocker, that was the title that most people aligne with Thalia. Her real black leather jacket, normal black jeans and band t-shirt. Compared to me, she owned the fashion world. I looked down at my clothes, it was the first thing in my closest. Jeans and a white t-shirt. The outfit was like any other girl in here, yet somehow my consciousness kept telling me that I was a sore thumb.
A hand landed on my shoulder. "Took you long enough Spunk." The voice wasn't Thalia's, but definitely belonged to a stern woman. "Thalia, Annabeth and all of those idiots are in the kitchen. Come on, and don't slow me down." Disco lights had made it difficult too see who it was. I had to squint at the person's outline, just to have a somewhat guess.
"Clarisse?" I muttered.
"The one and only."
Classic Clarisse didn't let me get another word in, she simply just took a hold of my wrist and dragged me through the crowd and into a dimly lit kitchen. Me and Clarisse only really became friends in High School, again because of Thalia's insane way of becoming friends with everyone with her insults. But Clarisse and me were more friends because we have a mutual friend kind of thing. Nothing else, which I was fine about. And do not get me started on Chris. Chris was Clarisse's long time boyfriend, and I only knew him as Chris or Clarisse's man. Not a word had been said between us unless someone else was there to start a conversation.
My eyes meeting many familiar faces, mainly Thalia who was sipping on a red plastic cup. Not a word was said for a while, just a silent between the six of us. Thalia, Annabeth and her boyfriend Percy, Clarrise and Chris, the perfect two peas in a pod. And well... Me. His arm wrapped around her shoulder, like it was the most natural thing in the world. No, It was the most natural thing in the world. I had gotten so used to seeing them together all the time that I can't remember a time they weren't together. At least not without pulling an expression.
A sudden smell of old books and finely ground graphite and clay hit me and I turned yet again. So much turning for one night was making my headspin. "Hey, how did the job interview go?" She came over and gave me a welcome hug, that I happily gave back. The job interview she was referring to. was one I took this evening. A plain office job that mainly rerolled about writing down numbers for the higher ups. Maybe some graph of the savings for that month, that was about it. And I couldn't help but feel a bit in disbelief over my expectations for a job. Man had they dropped. If you had asked me a year ago if I wanted to work in an office, I would have laughed in your face.
"Good, they said I might be on the list."
Lately she had tried this thing, that I didn't know whether I appreciated or hated. She would always try to stay extra optomistic around me, trying to cheer me up from my failurs as an adult. "Might? That is amazing, I'm sure you'll get it." Even so, I proceeded to give her a smile.
"How's your exam session going?" She almost grunted by my attempt of starting a new conversation.
"I have gotten so much homework lately that I dream of numbers and building structures, I feel like I'm drowing."
That was basically how the rest of the night go, or at least, how I wanted it to go. How it was supposed to go. Just a bunch of small talk, teasing and catching up with old friends. But somewhere between the blurry lines, alcohol was introduced and next thing I knew, I was batshit drunk on Thalia's balcony. All I wanted was to sober up and forget his face, seriously. My thought was only stuck on a guy who probably hated my existence. But seeing Clarisse and Chris there at the party today? Hugging, kissing and angrily arguing like a married couple? Yeah that reminded me of Luke. Fuck I was hopeless!
I still remember the last day I saw him, truly saw him.
A hot summer day in mid august, school had just ended. My hair was flying down past my shoulders as we laughed about a stupid comment Thalia had made earlier. It was just the two of us then, a blue slushie in his hands and a red one in mine. Both paid by me, I told him it was a treat and he responded with calling me a pushover. Back then slushies only costed 2 dollars each, sure it was all the money I had in my kid pockets, but just seeing his smile made it worth it, at least in my childhood brain. His blue sky eyes never fully disappearing behind his eyelids when he rolled his eyes. His heavy lashes battering.
"You seriously dream about becoming a nurse? Come on... You gotta dream bigger than that." His pre-puberty voice cracked again, which he tried to cover up with a cough. Acting all cool and that. Had his voice changed over the years..?
"What's wrong with me wanting to be a nurse? It's a good carrier choice."
The beer was twisting the memories I had of Luke now, usually I would remember clearly what happened. But in this moment it was a blur, a mix between 'was he smiling after that' or was he staring me down like I was a clown for even suggesting that. My phone was still in my hand, my finger lingering over the Tinder app. Why did I even have this app if I still longed for a dude who didn't even know I existed anymore? Sure... A few moments ago, when I just got drunk, I lost the bet with Percy and Chris. Somehow I ended up drinking with them while their girlfriends were taking a round in the restroom. The bet was just your normal party bet. 'First one to finish this wins.' And as the usual none drinker I am, I lost. Didn't expect my punishment to be online dating though. My mind driftet back to Luke. I should have never let him convince me on getting a different carrier than nurse. I went for happiness and instead I got the title of the unemployed.
He waved his slushie around, silently turning us away from the street he lived on. "It's just such a boring dream. Especially for you." Luke was always like that, trying to make me seem like the most amazing being in the universe. According to him, he wanted to make sure I never had a bad day when he was around. "I know you, and I know you can do so much bigger than that." He took a sip of his blue ice flakes shake, that was turning the corner of his lips a blueish purple shade.
"Like what? A guitarist?" I responded.
Which in turn, he shook his head. "Garh no, you would make a terrible guitarist. That's more of Thalia's dream."
We sat down on the swingset, my legs dangling in the air. I hadn't completely grown to my full size yet, unlike Luke. Because he was always the first in everything. It wasn't rare for us to hang out one on one, we were close like that. But it felt strange in that moment. There was no sight of Thalia nor Annabeth as we sat on an empty playground. Annabeth was the smart one, Thalia was the cool one, Luke was the guy and also my hero. Meanwhile I was the loser. That was how I saw our squad, how I still see it. The alcohol is making my selfloathing even worse.
"You would make a nice actress or model. Hell a nice director would fit the best, since you don't like the spotlight."
I forced my heart to stop, squeezing the cold plastic between her fingers. Did he have to notice the small things about me?
"Why do you say that?"
"Say what?"
"That I could be a nice actress or model."
"Well..." He reached over the metal chains that held up his swing, his fingers gently took the plastic cup out of my hands. He had been eyeing my drink the whole time, so I let him take it. To taste test my strawberry drink. "You're pretty, anyone with eyes can see that." Then he handed me my drink back, with an affirming nod. The redness of the drink had smitten his face as he laughed. My hole body was screaming, he hadn't just said that... Had he?
"Okay wide eyes, enough with the staring." Luke Castellan was at it again, pouring half of his drink down his throat. His poor teeth chewing on the ice crystals. "I want to be a soldier when I grow up, one of those cool ones. The ones that safe people's lifes." He didn't even apologize for having a mouth full of sugar water while talking. He just swung a little higher, like he wanted to reach the sky with his legs.
My mind wouldn't let me think past that, as if a wall was put up between me and my happy place. And worst of all? That wall had a huge sign saying 'Hangover/headache incoming!'
The party was still roaring inside, flashing lights right out onto the balcony. All the while I stood here, unable to open that app. But Chris and Percy was right, I needed a distraction. A distraction from my social problems, my unemployment and most of all... From Luke. Him and I ended in High School. When he decided that ghosting everyone was better than saying goodbye. I clicked on the app, and started making my profile. The photos of me was lacking, I wasn't a person who was great at taking selfies. So to lure in potential distraction, I tried to sound as interesting as possible. Well, as interesting as you can be on a dating app. My first couple of matches were doing nothing to me, even as I drank another two beers. Nothing, and sure you probably have to wait a few days, but I didn't have time for that. I wanted a distraction now, a distraction so I wouldn't havr to go inside and see Chris and Clarisse or Annabeth and Percy being all perfect together. Nor did I need a drunk Thalia trying to set me up with her friends. Anything but that.
Then, there he was.
Brown curls covering half of his right eye, a brooding face expression. Tall, olive yet meaty buff skin. Deep brown eye contacts that stared into the camera. Jesus fucking christ, that is Luke. No, Luke was blond, right? But there was no way that wasn't Luke. He looked rougher in the photo, serious. Like a movie poster for John Wick. Just barely looking to the side while crossing his arms. I hadn't checked the name, I didn't need too. That was my childhood buddy, just right there. Why did the universe hate me? Why couldn't I just move on from this bastard. It has been years, he ghosted you! No, stop moving your fingers towards the right, body do not betray me right now-
I swiped right. Oh god, I swiped right towards a transformed Luke Castellan. What is wrong with me?!
<: There's no way you're real.
Did I just type that? No, fuck how drunk am I? Was he typing back?!
>: That's certainly a way to start a conversation.
Fuuuuck, what do I do?! Freaking out on my best friend's balcony was not an option. Thalia would know what to do, yeah. I turned around to stare inside, hoping to spot Thalia in the crowd of people. I did, but not in good way. She wasn't passed out, yet. No it was the opposite, she was having the time of her life. Laughing and drinking, 100% yelling out the lyrics to Creep. I'm an adult, I can handle this situation myself. I had to. She deserved not to be disrupted over my useless drama. Afterall she was the host of this party, if we ignore that orignally this party was for me.
Had I just left Luke on read for five minutes? Shit, I had.
<: Yeah sorry, I'm just a tiny bit drunk.
No use lying to him now.
In silence, I had a starring contest with his chat bubble, the dots dancing, taunting me. Twisting my patience dry, to the point I ended up in a half wet fold up chair. Ruining the lower part of my outfit.
>: Ahhh, drunk on a tuesday night huh? That's a mood.
<: I'm at a friend's party that's why.
>: And are you suuuuure that you're legally allowed to be on this app? And not still in your number-teen?
Was Luke Castellan teasing me? If so, then he must remember me right? Then why is he acting like this, like we are stangers just getting to know one another?
<: Oh 101% Sir, are you sure you're okay though? Those photos on your profile are making you look like James Bond or something.
>: If we don't count my aching headache, then yeah. I'm fine.
My teeth grinded, my mind rereading his message. This Luke I was looking at had completely changed, literally. He had a scar, new hair color new eyes. Everything. Yet still my eyes regonized him, still I hoped he wasn't sick. Still, I longed for him. Luke Castellan... You're gonna be my death sentence. Sent by the universe with a big middle finger.
>: Are you ever gonna finish that pick up line of yours?
Pick up line..? What pick up line, I didn't use pick up lines. I wanted to respond as quickly as possible, I really did. But the gagging and throwing up sounds from inside the apartment pushed me away. Thalia had drinken a tad bit too much and needed my help. Reluctantly I put my phone in my pocket, standing up from the chair and went inside the heavy crowd to drag Thalia towards her bathroom. All the while buming out the people, saying the party was over.
PJO MASTERLIST
Luke Castellan:
I'll be your fool. (Oneshot)
Humans are the bane of my existence. (Halloween Oneshot)
What do you call someone you long for? (Series)
Ethan Nakamura:
Little Sparrow That's Tower Bridge not London Brigde. (Oneshot)
Connor Stoll:
The Sprite Thief Nr. Uno. (Oneshot)
Travis Stoll:
Lotuses remind me of you. (Oneshot)
What Do You Call Someone That You Long For?
Chapter 3: Headache anger and Tindr Profiles. | Luke's POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character.
Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers. Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut. Masterlist Next Chapter: Chapter 4: A Tinder Luke Panic. | Reader's POV
Previous Chapter: Chapter 2: Prolog: Another Day Another Rejection | Reader's POV Summary: Luke hadn't suspected he would wake up with a huge headache. His tindr adventure had to be sat on pause for now, kinda. He just needed this headache to be gone.
It had to be at least five in the afternoon when Luke woke up. And because he had slept through the whole day, he felt like absolute trash. How was it possible to sleep so much but wake up exhausted? The universe really loved to play with Luke's patience. He didn't even have the energy to check his phone, yet alone make his Tindr profile. All he needed right now was some ibuprofen, any form of headache pills would actually do. As he stood up from his bed, his hand landed to his forehead. The throbbing of his head felt insufferable, he could barely even think. He shifted on his feet as he walked towards his bathroom, opening the mirror cabinet and searched for any form of pills. He pushed the yellow bottles that were filled with different forms of sleeping pills to the side. His doctor had told him to try the sleeping pills, they heavily recommended them actually. Apparently it had helped thousands of the doctor's patience. Therefore it should had helped Luke. In spite of that blatan lie, the bottles of sleeping pills got used a maximum of 6 times. The doctor had either lied to Luke or he was an extremely unlucky man. Usually he would put the bottle of ibuprofen at the back but as he picked up the bottle it felt... Too light. One weak shake of the bottle and the worst possible outcome came true. Well shit, now he needed to go to the supermarket. Weakly he closed the mirror cabin, meeting his disgusting apperance. The first thing he laid his vision on was the big scar, then his weirdly shaped nose. his dark smile lines and frown. God he was a mess. Flickering came from above, the lightning bult already needed fixing. Hadn't he just changed it a week ago? This was too much, too fast. One last glance towards the mirror, he couldn't resist. "God, what is wrong with me?"
It didn't take long, he had left his apartment in just black sweatpants and a long furcoat. He could give a ratshit about the summer sun today, he just needed to get his medicine and hair dye. That's it. Pray to the poor soul who might look at Luke the wrong way. Because of the burning sting inside his forehead, they would recieve a dead soldier stare. The streets were fairly empty, nothing like his childhood. No kids were running around screaming or playing. No adults drinking beer on their porch. Nothing. It wasn't far from a ghost town. Somehow, while Luke was away, civilisation had turned into zombies. But instead of brains, they were addicted to phones. It was uncanny. But he couldn't complain, he was under the same virus. He pulled the furcoat over his head when he saw another citizen walking towards him. Ignoring them was the fastest way to get to the supermarket. He didn't wanna use anymore energy on useless greetings. Yet this doofus didn't catch the social cue, instead waving at Luke. He gave back an annoyed smile, turning a sharp right into the automatical supermarket doors.
The supermarket was decent, been there since he was a child, and hadn't changed a bit. The aisle were the same, with the same products. He followed the line of cereal boxes, checking the prices before shaking his head. He was not paying that for a bag of crunch that tasted like paper. When Luke arrived at the pure white medicin shelf, he had to stand beside a couple. The female taking different boxes of pills, then placing them back. Meanwhile the guy behind her was angrily eating her neck. Any signs of care was gone, it was like watching a lion chew on a stick. The vision just made Luke's mood worse, yanking the first box of headache pills off the shelf and left. His grip had been so strong that the box cracked, so no matter the price, he had to pay. When it came to Luke being this angry, Chris would pop into his mind. Luke knew exactly what he would say. Don't be so negative. He took a deep breath, calming his nerves. Don't stress over useless stuff Castellan.
The next thing on Luke's imaginary list was the brown darkish hairdye. Those blond roots had to go. And this was the cheapest way to do so, even if it was box dye. But as he stood in front of the shelves of box dye, he was deafened. The pop music in the background faded into nothingness. Why was there so many options? There was too many options. Standing there, silently, had caught the attention of a worker. Whether that was lucky or not wasn't something Luke wanted to dvell on too long. They quickly picked up a box, the most expensive one and gave it to him. Saying that the cover of the dye was worth the price. It was hard to believe, therefore when the worker left, Luke took the cheapest one. Intentionally putting the expensive one on the wrong side. Just out of spite.
The line for checkup was longer than expected. His headache only getting worse as he stood there. He was only holding two things, two things that would normally be scanned quickly so he could leave quickly. But in front of him was that couple again, and they had a cart full of items. The same worker as before was sitting at the counter. Chewing their teeth together while taking their sweet time scanning each item. This was Luke last straw, he was ready to just leave and deal with the headache himself. But the ding of his phone interrupted his anger. It was from Chris.
> Have you set up your Tindr profile yet?
During his walk towards the store, he had completely forgotten about that. Might as well set it up while being in line. Better than getting into a heated up argument. The app opened fast, the sign up button haunting his screen. Geez, he felt so weird about this. Setting up a profile on Tindr wasn't on his life plan, but getting an early retirement wasn't either. He pressed the button. Setting up the profile was easy enough, just write the basics about who you are, your hobbies, some photos and name. As for the gender preference, he just put both. He wanted to meet people and frankly didn't care if they were male, female or inbetween. His profile wasn't perfect, a lot of self loathing in his bio and photos of Luke in his old uniform. He set his hobbies as going to the gym, long walks on the beach and swordfighting. The swordfighting was just added to make him sound a bit more interesting. Last time he was swordfighting was back in highschool. Well before he dropped out to join the military at least. He glanced up from his phone, the line hadn't moved a bit. The couple still placing food onto the converebelt.
< Yeah, just did.
Chris only sent back was a thumbs up. He was probably busy with Clarisse, they were always busy with something. Therefore Luke returned to Tindr, mindlessly just swiping right to every person who popped up. The more faces he saw, the less interested he became. How was going on a date change a broken man? It wasn't. It wasn't a complete fix.
"Next in line!" That yell caught Luke's attention, the couple nowhere to be seen. And Luke standing in the middle of the aisle, phone in hand, like an idiot. He stepped forward fast, ignoring the confused glare of the worker that had 'helped' him earlier. They didn't seem quite pleased that their overpriced hairdye tac tic didn't work. He quickly paid for his stuff and left, opening the headache pills as soon as he was outside. Popping pills outside a supermarket made him get weird looks from people around, of course. He hurried away from there.
He decided to pass his childhood home on his way home. His mother lived there still, and he still hadn't visited her. Like at all. He had avoided her. The grey wood, the broken porch and overgrown weeds was too much for him. Just by standing on the sidewalk, he could feel the memories flooding back. The weird looks people cast over his mother, the halloweens were Luke had to clean the windows from eggs and the nights where he could hear his own mother cry for his father. He wasn't crying, Luke didn't cry. But standing there, seeing the state of the house, was enough to make a grown man turn his head away. One day, he will return to his mother. One day, he will go up to that very door, knock and see his mom. But that day wasn't today. The lights inside the house were still on, moving their crusty yellow shine through the windows and onto the summer casted grass. His hands were in the pockets of his furcoat, clenching. When that day came, he silently promised he would fix those lights of hers, fix her lawn and so much more. Then he turned away, not even looking back. The sun was still glaring down on Luke, making small droplets fall from his forehead. Note to next time, don't wear a furcoat during a summer afternoon. It won't avoid social interactions and will just make you sweaty. Another ding came from his phone, and he knew it was from Chris. It was always Chris.
☆You got a match!☆
Oh how wrong he was, he watched the tacky notifaction sitting in his inbox for at least the whole way home. Even up the stairs and into his apartment. He had gotten a match, a girl about his age. That wasn't too shocking, he had gotten a few other matches too. But this one, the very notifaction girl he got, sparked his interest. Her message just stuck out to him, in the right way and wrong way.
>: There's no way you're real.
This had to be the strangest pickup line he had gotten yet. She didn't even write anything after it, just leaving the mysterious message alone. There had to be a secondliner for that, right? Something not orignal, something cheesy. Something like, because you're out of this world. He placed the box of dye on his bedside table, his attention only on the small screen in his hands. The profile of the girl was average, nothing too special. Just your usual Tindr girl profile. But her weird first liner sat stuck in his brainwaves, like a soft piece of caramel between your teeth. Because of that, he noticed that his headache had gone away. That was not her working though, the pills he bought worked like a charm after an hour. And that extra route he took home, was about an hour. Still, she had overtaken his line of thought. He typed out a response, just to delete it again. Just type something, damnit!
<: That's certainly a way to start a conversation.
What Do You Call Someone That You Long For?
Chapter 2: Prolog: Another Day Another Rejection | Reader's POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character.
Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers.
Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut.
Masterlist
Next Chapter: Chapter 3: Headache anger and Tindr Profiles. | Luke's POV
Previous Chapter: Prolog: The Life Of A Veteran | Luke's POV
Summary: There was a time where I was a weak and bullied little girl, but now I'm just a jobless lady. Pick your poison.
I can still remember his blond silky hair. The small kid hand that was offered to me as I sat on the ground, my face filled with tears. He was my childhood best friend, a guy you really just don't forget, Luke Castellan. I had no clue to where he was now, if he even... Was alive. We grew up at the same street, his mother's house at the end of the road. The first few years of my life I barely knew he existed, the house at the end of the road was known to be owned by The 'Crazy' Lady. I had only heard a few rumors about The Crazy Lady from fellow children. Some said she killed her husband, others said her husband left her which made her hate all men. I foolishly believed the rumors, I had no reason not too. It wasn't like I had many friends. Half of my childhood life before teenagehood was messy. Being pushed down or pranked on by others, I was seen as weak. I didn't do much to help myself from the bullying.
The first time I saw Luke I was around 6. I was at the playground, doing what children usually do. Swinging on the swings and sliding down the slide. All the while Luke was on the other side of the playground, his blond hair and unknown face made me curious. Yet nothing came out of it, it had only been a glance. I still remember who he was playing with on the other side of the playground. A younger Thalia and Annabeth, who are now in my current friend group. Back then we barely talked, there wasn't much to talk about. I was an outcast that wanted to play safe while the trio seemed to play some fighting game with sticks.
The second time I saw him was also the first time we spoke together. I had taken my teddy bear with me, nothing real special from a glance. It had been worn down, missing buttons and loose fabric. But to me it was everything. It had this special smell that reminded me of home, a safe space. Hints to why my bullies found it entertaining to steal it from me, holding it captive at the top of the slide. I must've been crying, everything before Luke came was a blurry mess. The way my small kid hands were raised in the air as I begged them to hand it back, made them only laugh more. I had felt so helpless. I knew that my teachers would have blamed me from bringing it instead of punishing my bullies. Last time I had asked for help it had only gotten worse.
The leader of my childhood bullies was a guy, a guy who I somehow have forgotten the name off after all these years. Some black haired pale child with a demonic grin, so let's call him D. D had been holding my teddy over the edge of the slide, threatening me with letting go of it. The slide wasn't that high up, that wasn't the main problem. The main problem with him dropping it was that he would drop it into a puddle. It's kinda funny to look back on, me crying over my teddy being wet. It could easily be washed, but I was dramatic like that. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I was a child.
Anyways back on track with the memory. There I was, at the side of the slide, begging for D to give me Teddy back. Meanwhile his little children gang held me back. My words were filled with slurred stutters and sniffles. And everything seemed to slow down as their laughter became louder. My eyes only focused on the stuffed bear as it was thrown down, my throat so wet from snot that I almost choked. My whole world had crumbled in less than a few seconds.
That's when he appeared. His blond hair striking out of nowhere, he ran over, ignoring how muddy and wet he got just to protect my teddy. I'll never forget those ocean blue eyes as they stared at my teddy, then back up at D. The way his eyes turned from kid like wonder to stone death glare. It should have scared me, how someone else than me was holding my teddy, but that right sided grin he had on calmed me down. The memory is a bit jumbled from what he said, but it was probably around the lines of: "Wanna try that again?" The bullies quickly scattered, running away from The 'Crazy' Lady's child. The kids who had held me down couldn't just run away, they made sure I was pushed down to the gravel before dissappering. Leaving a scratch on my knee.
"What a bunch of jerks." I was still a bit dazed after the fall, not to mention the running tears that still lingered on my cheeks. But when I looked up, I didn't see a disgusted face or something bad, it was just a hand and a smile. "Names Luke."
From that day onward, it was ingrained into my mind that Luke was a hero, a knight, a protector. I looked up to him, always following him around at the playground. He didn't seem to mind much, he would always bring me that happy smile before dragging me into one of his big adventures for the day. That's also how I met Thalia and Annabeth. Without Luke I wouldn't have ever talked to them. And because I thought so highly of Luke, I also started developing a childhood crush on him.
There was one day where Thalia and Annabeth weren't in school, leaving me alone with Luke during recess. He decided, as the leader, that we should play with swords. In reality the swords had been dried up sticks that the both of us had searched for half of recess. He wanted to teach me how to defend myself, so I wouldn't be picked on when I would be sick. His swordmanship with the stick was incredible, always managing to surprise me.
"You gotta hold it like this!" He waved his hands around his stick, holding it firmly. I tried to copy him but my stick was a bit more wonky than his. Leaving me to sigh. "Sorry."
That made him grin again, shaking his blond locks to the side so he could see me clearer. "You always have to apologize, don't you? Here let me help."
My breath stopped as he walked over, putting his hands on mine and adjusting my grip. Then we began to swing together at the air, one swipe after another. It was easier to get the hang off when someone else was helping, but he wouldn't let me get off that easy. Soon enough I could swing the stick by myself, making the air around me woosh. I could hear his applause and clapping as I kept going. That moment when he would yell my name in cheer always brings a smile to my face. It shouldn't, I'm 27 now. But it did.
When the bell rang, I got ready to go inside but little Luke had stopped me. Putting his hands on my shoulder and whispered into my right ear. "Let's skip class I wanna play some more." I knew it was wrong to skip class, our english teacher would be furious. She wasn't the type to just let it slide, she was the type to put you in time out and call your parents. I knew it was wrong, but followed Luke anyway to hide in the slide together. We barely fit, the side of our arms rubbing one another. We must've been there for 10 minutes in silence as teachers began to search for us. Having no clue where we were.
Many questions ran around in circles in my child mind. I didn't wanna sit in silence for much longer. "Why do you let me hang out with you?"
"What?" He seemed a bit confused by my whisper and I was about to repeat myself again until he responded with a smirk. "Because I like you, dummy."
As a Child, I didn't understand why I felt so warm by that sentence, how I wanted to reach out and be closer to him. Honestly I thought I was feeling shame from skipping class, he could probably feel the way I twitched around in the slide. Keeping my legs close to my chest.
I let out another whisper of doubt. "But I'm a crybaby." He was looking at me fully now, not even checking if the coast was clear. He seemed rather confused by my statement, his blue eyes staring at my face. And as he stared at me, I noticed that the recess teacher that had been calling our names were gone, no yelling or steps around the playground.
"That's why I train swordfighting with you, so you won't be a crybaby anymore." He countered.
"But I'm a girl."
Luke shrugged "I don't see that as a problem."
"You don't see anything as a problem." I think he had noticed that I was feeling a bit more down than usual. Since he took a bit to answer. From what I could remember, he might have placed his hand on top of mine, caressing my knuckles as he thought on how to respond next. He knew that I was uneasy from skipping. He also knew that if he acted in a specific way, he could make that uneasiness go away.
"Pfft that's a lie, I don't like bullying, that's a big" He moved his hands to mimic an invisible scale as he had repeated big five times. "Big problem!" The way he had to act was silly, and of course it worked. Every time he would something silly or stupid, I would laugh. Though we were still hidding so I had to cover my mouth with my hands. He seemed happy by my reaction, he wouldn't stop staring at me with his pearly whites.
"You wanna know something? When I grow up I wanna save people, just like how I saved you."
"You wanna be superman?"
"Pfft no, batman is obviously the better choice." He leaned back at the curvy metal slide, his arms behind his head as he relaxed. "No. I wanna be a soldier! Or, or maybe a secret agent."
My childhood home wasn't far away from a military base. The sounds of their gunshots always scared me so bad, and when things scared me I would call them.... "Isn't that dangerous..?" Dangerous.
"Maybe, but it is all worth it. If I get to see a smile on people's faces." His finger lifted in the air, just to bop my nose. "Just like your smile."
I was quiet after that, hell that quote still makes me a bit quiet. The moment didn't last long, I didn't even get to respond because we started screaming. Why? Because a police man's face appeared from the open hole of the slide, flashing our faces with a flashlight brighter than the sun. God, I can still remember how much trouble we had made by skipping class. The school had called the police and a search had been put on us. My parents were furious but Luke didn't seem to care much. He took the blame when the principal talked to us personally. I tried to counter back but he kept insisting that he forced me into skipping. The rest of that is fuzzy for me. Thalia has told me that we both got detention while my parents said only Luke got it. It didn't matter that much anyways. We were just stupid children.
It's hard to believe that a guy that flipped my entire world was just gone now. I moved during my high school years to another state, leaving all the people I once knew behind. Thalia was presistent on holding contact, she's a hard to get rid of when get accepted by her. And the same as Annabeth. But one day Luke had just disappeared. He deleted all his social media and according to late teen Thalia, he got accepted into the military.
***
Ring Ding Ring! Thalia Grace is calling... Ring Ding Ring!
***
My head twisted towards my open laptop, how long have I been zoning out? Thalia had a thing with calling early in the morning, but it was barely 9 last I checked. There's no way I had zoned out for hours again thinking about a childhood friend right? Right?! My bed rustled as I launched myself over it, rushing towards my desk. I didn't answer Thalia at first, just watched the discord notifaction ring as I sat in silence. I have been awake all night... By my closet. And that's not even the worst part. I had been holding out a pillow pretending it was my childhood friend, acting out these weird scenarios in my head! I should really get a therapist soon.
Thalia kept spamming me, giving me thousands upon thousands of PICK UP messages. Meanwhile I sat stunned by my lack of craziness? Was that a way to describe it?
"Look who finally decided to show up."
"Sorry, I have been busy with-" I couldn't exactly tell her what I had been busy with, she'd roast the living crap out of me. "Something."
"Wow. Riveting. You should write novels with that amount of detail." I could tell she was holding back an insult, she might have been my best friend but she never held back. "Anyways, guess what happend."
"What? What just happened."
"No, like guess, you idiot."
She seemed to grunt in annoyance by my response. "I literally can't, just tell me already."
I could barely tell what she yelled next, because of discord's automatical echo cancellation and noise suppression. But with her enthusiasm I guessed it was something along the lines of "I GOT THE JOB!" She had for ages, like me, been searching for a job. We both had degrees but somehow the job search for both of us had been filled with rejection emails. I had probably gotten over 50 rejection emails by now, maybe two call back interviews that came back with nothing. I was happy for Thalia, she had deserved the job. It's literally the only thing she had been talking about all week.
"Oh my god! Congrats Thalia."
"Yeah yeah, just shine in my greatnesss." Even though the call wasn't on facetime, I could clearly see Thalia lying on her bed with the biggest smirk. "But enough with me, did you get the job?" She continued. Her response left me oblivious, what was she talking about? "The job?"
"Seriously? We signed up to the same company, remember?"
". . ." No I didn't remember that small detail. The amount of jobs I had tried to get this past week had barried me.
I switched over to google, and opened my email. Not even responding to Thalia at this point who was ranting about how forgetful I was and blah blah blah. The page seemed to almost load in by every five minutes, internet this was not the time for you to screw me over! But there it was, the email from the job. I had completely forgotten that I even signed up for the job, yet alone with Thalia. Was it a week ago since I last signed up? But as I stared at the email, the bold letters only sent my mood down. REJECTED. Right, who would even hire a girl who doesn't even remember she signed up for the job?
It was no use to lie to Thalia, she had been reading me since high school. I might as well be one of her favorite punk bands. "I didn't get it."
"What?!" Not only did she sound furious but flabbergasted. "Is there any explaintion to why? If not then I'll personally beat that manager to a pulp and then-"
"Thalia stop, you are not doing that."
"I so am!"
"No, you got the job. You shouldn’t give that up just because I didn’t."
She sighed at my response. Thalia wasn't the type to give up so fast, but over the years she knew it was better to just side with me than argue. "What a bunch of shitheads." I glanced over towards my now crooked bed, right at my old teddy. "It'll be fine." I said. "I'll always find a way."
"You did not just quote that old dickhead."
"He was just one year older than us."
"And completely ghosted the both of us, he's an old dick."
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying more. "I'm sure he has his reason."
"It's been a decade since we last even saw Luke. You gotta get over him."
She was right, I knew she was right. My mind at least knew it, though my heart wouldn't stop racing every time I heard his name. It's like it didn't understand the difference between a childhood memory and crush. God I hated my conflicting body. "Don't say it like that, you make it sound like I was dating him."
"You might as well have." She couldn't see me, but I still had to cover my face. She did not just say that. Even with my face covered, I could see the light coming in from my two windows, they were beaming, almost taunting me. Saying things like haha you forgot to sleep!
"Can we just switch topics?" That made her laugh again, she was laughing at my embarrased misery. My smile was impossible to stop as I heard the noises from my laptop. Discord was trying sooo hard to silence Thalia's laugh, but to no avail. After Thalia had calmed down, she demanded something from me. "Well I was planning on holding a party tomorrow and you are invited, no buts."
"Again? Didn't you just hold one, like yesterday?"
"Yesterday? Idiot that was a month ago, get with the times." My sense of time wasn't that jumbled, right? I stared up at my wall at my degree. I'll get a job one day, maybe.. But just for tomorrow, I'll focus on the small things. Like Thalia's party. "I'll come, why not?" I'm sure the job searching can wait for later.
What Do You Call Someone That You Long For? MASTERLIST.
Summary: After years of Luke working in the US Special Forces, he gets hit with a early retirement at the age of 28. Luke after lot of arguing finally agrees even though he highly disagrees with the higher ups. Which leads him to live in a small apartment near his mother's house. Westport, Connecticut. How great it is to be back.... How many jobs has said no to you? How many more can you force down while thinking of your childhood crush? Who knows, but a party that your best friend Thalia is holding only leads you to download Tinder... Not exactly what you had planned but whatever! Basic tags: Childhood friends to lovers, modern au, slowburn kinda, kinda hurt comfort, bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character. Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3. Chapter list: Chapter one Prolog: The Life Of A Veteran | Luke's POV Chapter two Prolog: Another Day Another Rejection | Reader's POV Chapter three: Headache anger and Tindr Profiles. | Luke's POV Chapter four: A Tinder Luke Panic. | Reader's POV Chapter five: Is Our Story Through? | Luke’s POV
Chapter six: Bidens 'Pretty In Pink' distant memories | Reader's POV
Chapter Seven: Curiousity killed Luke Castellan | Luke's POV
Chapter eight:
Mr. Grim and coffee beans | Reader's POV
Chapter nine:
What job offer? | Luke's POV Chapter ten: In the making...
What Do You Call Someone That You Long For?
Chapter 1: Prolog: The Life Of A Veteran | Luke's POV
WARNINGS: Bad grammar and spelling, no proofread, kinda out of character. Genre: Luke Castellan x Fem!Reader | Childhood friends to strangers to lovers.
Extra info: Orignally posted on AO3, slowburn and no smut. Masterlist
Next chapter: Chapter 2: Another Day Another Rejection | Reader's POV Summary: A quiet morning call between half-brothers sets the tone for Luke’s struggle to reconnect with his life, and maybe even love. Who is he? How did he end up such a mess? And more importantly, where is he going now. after he lost everything?
There had only been a few times where Luke had felt this low.
Once on the battlefield where his team was sat out to disassemble a bomb that would've caused collateral damage. Not only for the buildings around the ticking waiting explosive, but also the civilians who were held hostage. The mission was a success, so it shouldn't have felt like a lost for Luke. But it did. While Luke was escourting the hostages out of the building, he heard some shuffling from behind him. Turned out that Luke's usual knock out stragety hadn't completely worked, so the bomber, turned attacker, launched at Luke. Giving him his permanent right face scar. From that moment on, Luke always dobble decked anyone, to make sure they were completely gone. His team quickly also noticed the way he would tense up when someone walked right behind him.
The whole situation was a hard blow to his ego, it wasn't like he wanted to be attacked. Other guys on his team would use their battlescars as victories, but for Luke it was all just failures. In his world, one mistake could be lethal. They would call him scare face, and he would laugh and brush it off like it didn't matter.
The second time Luke had fell down to the bottom was a week ago, the blow had hit him so hard that he hadn't moved from his bed the whole day. He stared at the clock besides his bedstand, 5:32 AM. Only a couple groans came out of Luke as he accidentally banged his head against the headrest of the queen sized bed. He hadn't even got a blink of sleep after the incident. So what happened that had Luke so awake at night? He had gotten laid off the US Special Forces. They had called it early retirement. Like it was something Luke had personally asked for. Like it was some reward for his 'best' service. It had all been damage control, only a blind man would be fooled by 'early retirement.' The memory of the man looking him right into the eyes, saying that Luke had been rewarded with early retirement made Luke clench his blanket. Squeezing the fabric until his knuckles turned a yellowish pale. What a pathetic joke. He could already guess what they talked about behind his back, how he was only one guy. They just had to remove him and their problems would be over.
The reason to why he was laid off was even worse. Everytime he would just THINK of the reason, his face would turn a dark red. The kind of dark red that had the after effects of the following: an unbearable almost exploding headache, holes in the walls of his small apartment in Westport, Connecticut. And lastly a bitter taste in his mouth.
All Luke had done was try to save his team and civilians. But apparently being a scapegoat so his teammates could get away, had been too big of a liability, too reckless. Something the higher ups saw as dangerous, so dangerous that they had to get rid of Luke. One of their most loyal soldiers. His team held a celebration party for Luke. All his men so joyful and unaware of the clear PR stunt. Back then he couldn't bring himself to yell or make their smiles disappear. He could clearly still remember the yellow and green ballons around the room. The heavy oder of beer and weirdly a smell of burnt toast. He would watch his people go around in circles, dancing or yelling for another round. All the while he stood in the corner, clapping at the right moments. Handing out smiles like it was nothing. Their laughter ringing through his mind every so often. Not single one of them noticed the crushed can in his hand. Brushing the blood of his palms and onto his pants.
Not even a day after the parting party, he moved back to his hometown. The same town where his crazy mother lived and the only town that his father never returned too. A small one man's apartment, too small to put a washing machine and drier so he had to use the public laundry room. Somehow this is how a veteran life looks like... His queen sized bed was mostly empty, the empty space only reminding him how lonely he was.
Luke slowly raised from his bed, eyes following the static mirror in front of him. Even in the darkness he could see the scar. As he kept staring into the mirror, he noticed his hair. It had grown longer than he would have liked, his blond rootes coming in again. The same shade of blond that his mother used to brush behind his ears when he was seven. Taunting him.
Before Luke had joined the military, he had tried to hide everything from his past. Dying his blond hair a brownish dark. Getting a perm and brown eye contacts. It wasn't much, but it had been enough for Luke. Had he seriously forgotten to take care of himself over the last few weeks? How much of a mess could a single job do to him?
Again, he looked to his bedstand. His phone rested on the dark wood, untouched for at least 5 hours. Would Chris even be awake at this hour? He hesitatet, his hand stop mid motion. Hanging in the air almost waiting for permission. The breath of air crawled up from his gut and escaped out of his mouth, sounding more like a grunt than a sigh. It didn't hurt to try.
The text was simple, all lower case.
< are you awake?
He hadn't noticed how long he had stared at the message before the texting back bubble appeared. He counted every bounce of the texting icon. Ignoring the glaring sun emerging from his blinds.
> Now I am, what's up?
Luke hadn't thought that far, what was it that he even wanted from Chris at this hour? He kept on typing something, just to delete the whole text again. He ended up sending a simple, straight to the point text. Not wanting to make any room for questions.
< can i call?
He stared through the stream of text, the first, the second and third. The question marks were kinda like a virus, following both of their messages. He had to put his hand up to his mouth, making sure he wasn't grinning over something as simple. It was stupid. Small, and stupid. Knowing his younger half-brother Chris, he wouldn't press call, but face-time. He had to pack that smile away. And Luke's guess was right on the money. Chris called before he could even double text him a regret message. Luke felt stuck in time again, watching his phone vibrate in his hand. Bothering his younger half-brother was not something a veteran did. Those actions are closer to a person who has problems, that wasn't Luke. Another lack of will crossed Luke's finger as it pressed accept.
Luke was greeted with a smiling Chris who was kissing his girlfriend on the forehead, before leaving to the restroom. The light from the screen almost flashed Luke, making him squint his eyes. From the blurry vision, Luke figured that Chris was wearing a greyish blue t-shirt, and boxers. His bedhair even worse than his bright smile. But that quickly changed, somehow.
"Who's the girl?"
"What?"
"Who's the girl?" Chris repeated, taking his phone from the bathroom sink closer to his face.
Luke's voice was grouchy, almost annoyed by Chris accusation. "What on earth are you talking about, Chris."
"You have a grin on your face, either something amazing happend" He raised an eyebrow, at least that's what it looked like. "Oooor you got a girl." Luke had to laugh at that, not fully believing what he was hearing. It was hard to contain the stone face, with Mr. Bright around. Note to himself, Chris becomes very shallow when waken up early. Luke pushed his weird situation of his back, placing his phone down at the windowsil. Slowly opening the blinds so he could see the sunrise. He sarcastically replied with: "You seriously think so low of me?"
"Maybe, but seriously, you got someone?"
Luke was quiet again, he hadn't even thought about dating. The last time he did think of a romantic date was in his early twenties. "No.. Why would you even assume that?"
"You got a queen sized bed last time I helped with shopping for your new home. Not exactly what a single person would do." Chris was a huge help when Luke got kicked out of the military, really the only guy who understood him. They went to every single funiture store in the state, trying to find the best quality for a cheap price. Luke didn't know what he would do without Chris.
"What if I like extra space?" His answer was thought out after he tried to recollect himself from past memories. Chris as the laywer he was, responded back quicker and with something Luke didn't have an answer for. That guy was always five steps ahead. "Well do you?"
"I plead the fifth." The blashful Luke mustered out in a small sigh. "Aha!" Chris stretched his arms in victory. The sun was still rising, painting Luke's face and scar in different shades of orange. The warmth still seeking inwards, through the barricade. The barricade also known as a window. "Whatever."
The silence between the two half-brothers never felt awkward. Sometimes it felt scripted into the law. Luke Castellan and Chris Rodiguez will never have awkward silences, signed by Miss Universe. "... You know what would help with your extra space?" But with pros, there's also cons. And Luke knew exactly where the conversation would lead. "Don't even start there Chris-"
Chris interrupted quickly, shutting Luke up over the facetime call. "Tindr! Seriously, you should just give it a try. That's how I met Clarrise..." Luke glanced at the tiny screen again, Chris was getting ready for his day, putting on shaving cream. "And a lot of erm, experiences. But still!"
"I'm not gonna drag someone down with me." Chris eyebrows shoot up, as the razor on his face moved even faster. He was rushing himself again.
"What are you on about? No one's being dragged down with you, just because they're dating you."
Luke didn't believe that for a second. At the age of 28, women would expect a man who's well put and ready to settle down. Not something that Luke had ever planned to in his life. It had always been about fighting for the greater good or the people. Not... Not making a family. "Right... Cause all the ladies want a man with problems like mine."
The sounds of the shaving cream can that Chris was using was loud, raw and empty. And barely any cream left the can when Chris tried to apply it to his chin. He looked like he had a white goate as he smeared another layer of cream on his face. "You know issues are a huge turn on nowadays. Daddy issues, mommy issues, job issues, there's a whole romance section for handsome men with issues."
"You are insane, did you forget that I'm not exactly 'Handsome' anymore? Besi-"
"Luke Castellan not being handsome?! Pfft, you aren't fooling anyone Luke. I remember back in high school. I remember how all the ladies wanted a piece of a certain blondie." Chris pointed his blue razor towards the screen, pointing directly at Luke. "A certain ladies man." That made Luke roll his eyes so hard that he ended up staring at the opposite wall.
"First of all, that was high school. Over a decade ago, and I have changed a ton since then, so have you. Secondly, I'm not even blond anymore."
"But your blondie is coming back, I see those roots."
Luke tried, heavily tried, to give a grunt of dissaproval but it came out as a cackle instead. His hand travelling up to his hair again. Moving it out of the way. He really needed to buy hair dye again and get a perm again. His straight hair was coming back. Didn't Luke also break his brown contacts last time he was with Chris? His poor wallet was gonna go through it these next few days.
"Luke, I know dating won't solve... Anything. But meeting the right person can lead you down a brighter future. Just, give it a try for me. Will you? And if it doesn't help, then put it on pause again. No pressure."
Chris was too caring and protective for a normal person. That's the only thought Luke could gather as his vision stared at the pixels on his screen. There he was. getting ready for his day, getting ready to work and live normally. And on top of that, he was trying to take care of Luke's problems too. Shame crawled up Luke's body, but he masked it. Just another smile. "Fine, but stop acting like the older brother, fetus."
"Hey! I'm only two years younger than you." He sulked, not even noticing that Luke had agreed to the Tindr situation. Luke gave a nod, his masked smile being flooded by a real smug grin. "Okay, okay. But that still makes you a baby in my eyes." Another grunt came from Chris. "I shall not be a burden any longer baby brother. I have an empty bed waiting for me."
"You aren't a burden. And yeah, get some sleep. You have dark circles grandpa."
Chris received another eyeroll before Luke's thumb pressed the red circle. Ending up with Luke's face, plopped right into his pillow. Letting the sun move in from the open blinds. Another day begins, which leads to another bad sleeping schedule in Luke's life. And in the background, the dating app was being downloaded.
I’ll be your fool.
Hopeless Luke x Fem!Reader
Song inspired Fanfic:
Warnings: BAD GRAMMAR AND SPELLING, out of character Luke, a bit of pathetic luke, bad comedy.
Genre: Fluff, Wholesome and Friends to Lovers.
Summary: You had a thing for denying your feelings towards your close friend Luke and that denial still kept going even after he starts teasing you about it.
Ahhh who doesn’t love a relaxing summer? Being back at camp was the one thing that relaxed you nowadays, just sitting and living your demigod life.
Currently you were sitting at your fellow half siblings table, eating pancakes while actively trying to ignore the heavy stares you were getting from a very overcrowded Hermes table.
The question lingered of course. What question you may be asking? Well some kid that Luke was showing around camp earlier passed you and asked if you were dating Luke.
Okay, not exactly like that. It was more of Luke walking around with the newest kid in camp, probably about fifteen feet away from you. But somehow the guy (Luke) sees you and starts to wave at you from afar.
You had just walked out of your cabin as you noticed the wave from the other side of the planet. He was wearing that stupidly goofy smile again as he kept waving, the kid beside him just narrowing his eyes at you, creeepppyy.
You didn’t wanna seem rude, Luke was your friend afterall. A good friend at that. So you were just about to wave back - Suddenly as your hand was midway - the little rascal yelled out to the entire camp: “ARE YOU LUKE’S GIRLFRIEND?!”
You had stopped in your tracks, your hand matching your stiffen state. Throat status? Dry and no audible noise could come out from it. It didn’t help at all that from the long distance between the you and the group of unclaimed/Hermes kids, new kid + Luke stared at you. Even from that far away it was clear, the tips of Luke’s elf like ears were a hue of pastel pink. The pastel pinks blending into the tan? Or was it more olive? Maybe a mix of both? Either way, the pinkish hues were blending with the tanish olive skin tone.
Luke was a fast guy, so he pushed the kid forward, mouthing an apology. At least you had to guess it was an apology, it was hard to read lips from that far away.
Which leads you back here, in this very moment. Pushing your pancakes around your plate, trying extremely hard not to look up at get eye contact with Luke again. It was just too awkward to look into those puppy eyes, it was almost unfair - no unsettling - that a guy who was amazing at swordsmanship and terrifying would be able to give those type of eyes. Screw those deep brown pupils of his.
The matter of fact was that Luke was a friend of yours, nothing more. You just had to ignore the many accounts of him giving you extra attention or flirting with you. He was just a flirty guy!
. . .
Who are you kidding? The guy was head over heels for you. He would smirk just at hearing you laugh at his jokes or blush so much to the point he was more red than human, only because you had whispered into his ear. You just hope he wouldn’t do something stupid to prove his love for you.
Had you always looked so… Mesmerizing? No seriously, that flustered pouty expression you were making was just everything to him. He didn’t know what was better, you unable to look at him or the fact he didn’t even have to confess to see you break. He would have preferred to make a show about his confession rather than the new guy yelling it, but this was just as fun.
How much longer was it until you would just give in? Just give him a quick snap of eye contact? He was a patient man for sure, these feelings he had kept in had to be at least a decade old. Though more likely only a few years younger than a decade.
His elbow was resting on the cold grey table as his chin rested on his palm. Tap, tap and tap. That was the form of movement his lips were feeling, waiting to finally be connected with yours. Slooow down buckaroo, he meant the movement of his fingers against his lips. Stupid brain going crazy over scenarios that haven’t happened… Yet.
Talking about stupid brains, he just got the most brilliant idea. He just had to execute it perfectly, he was gonna tease the shit out of you. Pretend he hasn’t seen you panicking over simple yearning eye contact. That plan was after breakfast though. Right now he just wanted to slurp up you, and how much you were stabbing those stacks of pancakes.
He felt slick but definitely, deep down, knew that he was a hopeless mess of a man. Who wouldn’t be?! Everybody needs a fool. And he was that kind of fool, the perfect, buff kind of fool.
There you go again, that quick flicker of eye contact that had him have hearts coming out of his ears to float around his head. He could see the way your eyes would just linger on his smile, just for an extra second before going back down onto your plate. Eros had hit him hard and he was loving it.
The ten minutes went past and people were starting to leave the area, but you hadn’t moved yet. There was a few of your half-siblings still around you but none sitting right beside you, perfecto.
He moved out of his spot, putting his tray to the side before walking over towards your very table. His hands in his pockets as his smile fell looped. He sat right beside you, not caring what your godly parent or siblings would think. He needed to get your full attention, not his fault that you almost jumped out of your seat in surprise. You could have noticed him but you didn’t wanna look up from your plate, that’s alll on you.
“So, are you gonna keep stabbing that cold weatcake oooor?”
You refused to meet his eyes, basically telling him; 'Not again. Nope sir.' Could you be any cuter? Though because you were too busy trying not to make eye contact with him again, it also meant you forgot to answer him, leaving an awkward silence between the table. That didn't worry Luke - and you knew it wouldn't worry him. He would just sit there with his puppy eyes and wait for you to answer him again.
He had complete eye contact with your lips as they started to form a sentence. "Wheatcake...?" Your fork deeply stabbed the fluffy pancake once again, just for good measure. "It's a pancake, you idiot."
He nodded solemnly, almost grinning. Idiot? He could be that. "Ah." He slowly let his hand move towards your side, tabbing your tray with his index finger. "Got it, pancake not wheatcake. Totally not the same thing."
He had to be inhaling those sarcastic boy smokes, cause there was no way a normal guy would be that sarcastic. "You know," he stopped his finger from tapping, leaving it hanging in the air mid motion. "You never answered the question."
He absolutely loved that small groan of annoyance you let out, following the eyeroll you gave him. You lifted your fork at him, almost accusing him of a crime. "No, I'm not just gonna keep stabbing the 'wheatcake'."
He laughed, there was no way around it. "Not that question, the other one. The one by the new kid yelled." That made you glance up at him. Not glance, that's not the right word. More like death stare. You gave him a death stare as he sat there, he was almost a lost of words. Almost. Was he red? Nervous? All of the above?
Instead of answering the question he laid on you, you squeezed your fork so hard that it fell out of your sweaty hand. Landing down on the ground behind the both of you. One of your unfortunate half-siblings chuckled by the moment just to be met with hawk vision, telling them to shut up. Absolutely adorable.
“Not denying it. Interesting move.” He moved to the side, taking the fork off the ground.
“I am denying it!” you said, he could probably guess that you were fuming. “Loudly. Publicly. Right now.”
He came back up from the ground, sitting up right to leave your, now dirty, fork on your tray. He was 100% playing this with the right cards, he was not blushing or smiling. Just full on smug. He was indeed not that, he was looking at you with nothing but adoration.
"You say that." He started, tilting his shoulders just enough to rub against yours. "But I don't hear the magic words." His face didn't come face to face with your lips as he had planned, instead he got shoved away by your hand. The sticky syrup, always clinging to everything it touched, had left a smear on his cheek.
"You're a fool. An absolute fool." You practically yelled to his face.
His hand came up to wipe the sirup off his face, pretending to consider your words. But in reality he was just trying to look a bit more cooler. “Strong feelings. Not quite love, but we’re getting there.”
You stared at him, deadpan. “Get. Lost.”
He had to grin at that, he was getting under your skin again. No awkward moments, just playfully teasing. You were way too easy to get under and he was way too easy to fall over. Perfect love birds. He then coughed out a sentence again. "Oh I would, but you kinda make it like impossible. Cause I can't tell if a earthquake just hit or if you just rocked my world."
He could barely get that pick up line out of his mouth without laughing. Didn't help that your response was priceless. Squinted, dumfounded eyes. That had to be his new favorite expression on you. "Did you seriously just say that?”
“I might’ve,” he said, leaning forward again with that familiar boyish smirk. “Depends. Did the pick up line work?”
“No.”
“…What if I said it with finger guns?” His fingers already moving to form them.
“Luke.”
Your stare was a heavy warning on his soul, if you saw one more finger gun, he would be dead. Cause of death? Being strangled by his crush/friend by their camp necklace. That does sound epic though... So he gave you the finger guns anyway. Both of them actually with the sounds effects. "Pew pew."
Had he messed up? Yes, because instead of answering him. You just stared in disbelief. You shoved your tray away infront of you with an exasperated sigh and stood up. Ignoring your half-siblings who almost booed that the show was over. “I’m going to training,” you muttered.
Luke was quick to follow, standing up immediately and trailing after you. “Great, me too. Let’s walk together. You can yell at me more on the way.”
“I’m not yelling.” You clarified as he motioned over to your side. His hands back into their rightfully place, drapped over your shoulder. Just friends totally had this much contact. “You're right, you're totally calm. Which explains why you gave me that death stare."
Just as he said that, he could see it. At the corner of his eye, your lips twitching. He knew you were trying so hard not to make it form into what he was hoping for, but... At last. He won. He won, he made you do it and saw it in action.
“Was that a smile?”
“No.”
“Definitely was.”
“It wasn’t.”
Quick to deny, put not as quick as Luke was to pull you closer. His lips hovering above your ear. “You liiike me.” Every syllable that fell out of his mouth, out of his lips made you more stiff. More into how he was felling, gushy.
"Oh my gods, Luke-!" You complained, punching him right off you. But buff guy was as sticky as that sirup from your cold pancake, right back onto your camp-half-blood sleeve with his arm. He just blurred out a defense, that even he knew.. Wouldn't work.
“Admit it and I’ll stop teasing.”
“You’ll never stop teasing.” You countered. It was really like watching two laywers trying to win a case.
He paused, just for a moment. Your comment had really gotten to him, as much as a comment could get to Luke. “Okay, yeah, fair. But still. You liiiike me.”
You had stopped right between the path towards the Arena and some confused Nymph and Satyrs. Who now had the unpleasant show of two teenagers playing batminton with their: Will they won't they situation. Luke stood now in front of you, he hadn't stopped when you had. His perfect teeth showing right in your face. "Luke-"
"Yes, dear?" He interrupted, making you clench your jaws and fingers. Your fingers had been so clenched against your soft palm that it almost started to bleed, thankfully it didn't. Who did he think he was? Calling you, dear. But your gaze was nothing for him, just meer childs play. He had faced monsters more scary than you. But then again, he could never be scared of you.
“Just admit it already,” He walked in a perfect circle around you, your head following his movements as he arrived behind you. “You like me. You like me back.”
He always had that switch to him, didn't he? That one switch that would make him go from goofy friend to someone who knew what card to play next. Something you couldn't attack back at. “And if I don’t?”
He rested his hands on your shoulders from behind, yanking you backwards into his chest as he trapped you in a hug. Your back rubbing against his chest, stomach and less importantly, his abs. “Then I’ll wait. Like I’ve always been. Patient. Loyal. Kind of annoying, yeah. But still me.” He responded, not with a goofy undertone. He was honest for what felt like forever. His breath soft against your shoulder.
You pushed him off you, once again. Putting the final distance between you. Turning around to actually stare at his face for the first time today after the incident. "You make it sound like it is a thing between us." He could see it, the way you didn't wanna be seen as a bad guy. He had to smile at that.
“Well, it is a thing,” he motioned between you two. “This confusing, possibly romantic, definitely emotionally damaging thing. I flirt with you and you insult me.” Before you could frown, he hushed you. "Now before you go all angry with me, it isn't a bad thing. It's... Nice?"
Your lips twitched again. But this time, the smile broke through.
“You’re such a fool.”
His grin turned softer, hopeful. “Yeah. But I’m your fool, right?”
You stared at him for a long second, heart thudding inside your chest. It just couldn't control itself when it was around him. Then you rolled your eyes, turned on your heel, and walked toward the training arena.
“Keep up, idiot.”
He was already at your side again in two strides, bumping your shoulder with his. “So that’s a yes?”
You ignored him. But this time he didn't push futher, your smile already confirmed his suspisions. Leaving him to take your hand in his.
"I'll take that as a yes."
I'm sorry for not being talkative