Chapter 2: Best Friend


After I successfully drench Luke's shirt, I try to compose myself. I avoid Luke's gaze…again. Though I am not crying anymore, Luke's hand remains on my shoulder, which is nice right about now. I feel safe in his arms. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it. I mean, it's Luke, as in Luke Danes: diner owner and my chief supplier of coffee.


"Thanks a lot, Luke." I find myself saying, still battling myself inside. "You are so good to me. I mean, I babble on and blubber and soak you through…" Oh God, I'm babbling again


"Shhh…I know how you feel." Luke says. I look at him. I just look at him. I am completely lost. How can he know how I feel? He is married. I'm not. All of a sudden, I have that thought again. 'I wish I was married'. Oops, Luke is looking a little hurt. It takes me a minute to realize that I actually said that OUT LOUD!!!


"Oh my god, Luke, I am so sorry." I truly am. I never want to hurt Luke. I mean, he is my best friend. "God, I can be such a jerk. I need to learn to keep my mouth shut…which could prove difficult, but…" there I go again! I'm babbling. Why do I babble when I am nervous? I mean, I always babble, but I seem to babble even more when I am nervous. Look at me. I'm babbling inside, too! So, so, so pathetic.


While I am talking, I fail to realize that Luke is moving. "I mean, I-" I shut up when Luke's fingers are now on my lips, stopping the flow of words. He slowly moves his hand from my lips to my chin, gently turning my head to face him. I look into his beautiful eyes. There is something in them that I can't put my finger on. It seems so familiar, like it's always been there, but I don't recognize the look he is giving me. Then I see his face moving toward mine. 'This can't be happening. I mean, he is actually going to-'


Luke's lips are against mine. Getting over the initial surprise, I close my eyes and drape my arms around his neck. I get another surprise, feeling his tongue running along my bottom lip, awaiting my lips to part. I immediately comply, opening my mouth, and deepen the kiss. The fact that we are sitting on a bench for the entire town to see became completely irrelevant.


"Luke," I say in between kisses. He only answers with a soft, "hmm?" and continues kissing me. "Luke," I pull away, reluctantly, I might add. As I speak, I still feel the weight of his lips on mine and a tingle down my back where his hands slid across. "We are in the middle of the town square, making out."


Luke just looks at me for a moment with an incredulous look on his face, like he couldn't believe we just kissed. He's not alone. I'm having a hard time grasping that concept myself. Abruptly, he says, "Come with me." He takes my hand and pulls me up. He drags me swiftly across the square to the door of his diner. He unlocks the door and pulls me in. I find myself being guided up the stairs and into his apartment.


To be continued...