Dear Diary

Chapter 53

Sophia groaned softly as she slowly regained consciousness, burying her head into her pillow and inhaling deeply. She frowned a moment later. Her pillow didn't smell like apples. She slowly cranked open an eye, but it took a moment for her vision to clear and her eyes widened when she didn't recognise the room.

She shot up in an instant, but winced as she felt a sting to her head. She trailed her fingers over the rough feeling of a band-aid placed on the side of her forehead. With weary eyes, Sophia looked around the rather plain room. The walls were a light grey and the floor was covered in a white carpet. The furniture consisted of an oak desk, wardrobe and bedside table along with closed white curtains that shielded her from the sunlight.

Sophia's eyes narrowed when she saw a bowl with a rag hanging over the side placed near her on the bedside table. She  tentatively stroked the fabric which covered the bed. It was soft and white. 

Where was she? She couldn't remember a thing and it frustrated her. This was an unfamiliar room, the only signs of life being the few posters of top football players plastered above the desk and the mountain of textbooks that sat atop it.

Sophia frowned when she looked down to see that she was even wearing an unfamiliar hoodie. 

"What the-"

She cut herself off when she heard footsteps coming towards the room and Luke appeared in the open door, typing away on his phone. 

Just like that, the memories rushed back to Sophia and her eyes widened. The fire ... She had fainted and worst of all, the Woods had seen it.

Luke looked up from his phone momentarily and Sophia saw his tired eyes widen in surprise. He quickly tucked his phone away in his pocket before coming to her side. 

"Hey," he greeted softly and Sophia watched him sit down in the desk chair which had been rolled to the side of the bed. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm fine," she replied immediately. Considering the circumstances.

Luke stood and, before Sophia could react, he placed the back of his hand on her forehead. 

"Your fever's finally broke," he sounded relieved as he slowly sat down on the bed, the mattress sinking under the added weight.

Sophia slowly backed away from his hand and he returned it to his side. It was an awkward silence as they both just stared at their laps. 

"What time is it?" Sophia eventually asked, feeling rather disorientated.

"Nine o'clock," Luke responded as he checked the time on his phone.

"It's Monday? What about school?"

"Mom said it was best to let you rest and I ... didn't get much sleep last night so she let me stay to help you if you woke up."

"Oh," Sophia said lamely. 

That explained why he looked so tired. Her gaze flickered to the bowl of water. Did he stay up to look after her? Her heart fluttered unwillingly at the thought.

Luke cleared his throat after a moment's silence. "Would you like something to drink?"

His hesitant look tugged at Sophia's heart. "Thank you, but I can get it myself," she said and began to pull the covers away, but Luke's hand on top of hers halted her movements.

"No, it's okay. I can get it. You need to rest," Luke said as he stood.

"Luke, honestly it's fine. I'm used to worse." 

The words passed through her lips before she could think to stop them and Luke narrowed his eyes at her, his eyebrows pulling together in a frown.

"What do you mean?" he asked.