everybody talks | luke castellan

chill, loverboy

Luke felt a weight lift from his chest at Alessandra's reassuring words, her touch grounding him in the moment.

He had been carrying the burden of guilt ever since the incident, replaying the events over and over in his mind, wondering if there was something he could have done differently to prevent Alessandra's injury.

He turned to look at her, gratitude shining in his eyes as he squeezed her hand in return. "Thank you, Alessandra," he said, his voice tinged with vulnerability and adoration for the female. "I needed to hear that."

Alessandra offered him a warm smile, her gaze soft and understanding. "You don't have to carry that guilt alone, Luke," she said softly.

Luke felt a lump form in his throat at her words, touched by her willingness to stand by him even in his darkest moments. He had always admired Alessandra's character, but at that moment, he realized just how much he relied on her for support.

"Thank you for being there for me," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Alessandra's smile widened, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, you'll never have to find out," she said with a teasing grin. "I'm not going anywhere."

As they sat together by the edge of the lake, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves overhead, Luke couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over him. The sunlight danced on the surface of the water, casting a golden glow over their surroundings. It was beautiful. They were beautiful together.

For a moment, they simply sat in companionable silence, content to bask in each other's presence. But as the minutes stretched on, Luke felt a familiar knot of worry begin to form in the pit of his stomach. There was still so much he felt they needed to talk about.

Taking a deep breath, Luke turned to Alessandra, his gaze earnest as he searched for the right words. "Alessandra, I..." he began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to articulate the thoughts swirling in his mind.

"I like you," that was what he wanted to say.

Alessandra turned to him, her eyes soft with understanding as she waited patiently for him to continue. His unspoken words hung thick in the air between them, and she could feel the hesitation building within him.

"I just want you to know," Luke continued, his voice steady but still hesitancy was evident in his tone as he looked away from her and onto the body of water in front of them.

The words "I like you" came ringing in his head, each syllable echoing like a distant bell tolling in the quiet of his mind. Luke felt his heart skip a beat at the memory of her smile, the weight of those words heavy upon his chest as he struggled to keep it within him. But he couldn't bring himself to say them, couldn't risk jeopardizing their friendship with his own selfish desires. Luke shook his head, trying to dispel the intrusive thoughts that threatened to consume him.

He continued, "...that I never meant to cause you harm. I would never harm you, Alessandra. You mean everything to me, and the thought of you getting hurt..." His voice trailed off, unable to voice the entirety of his feelings.

Alessandra reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Luke, I know," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know that you would never intentionally hurt me. It was just an unfortunate accident, and I don't blame you for it."

As Alessandra's hand rested gently on his arm, Luke felt a surge of conflicting emotions course through him. Her touch was like a balm to his wounded soul, comforting and reassuring in ways he couldn't fully comprehend. But it also served as a painful reminder of what he could never have, a constant reminder of the barrier between them that he had erected with his own silence.

Alessandra's understanding and forgiveness only made his internal struggle all the more agonizing. She deserved to know how he felt, deserved to hear the truth from him.

For a moment, Luke considered telling her the truth, baring his soul to her in a desperate bid for absolution. But as he looked into her eyes, so full of kindness and compassion, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Instead, he plastered on a fake smile, hoping to hide the turmoil raging inside him. "Thank you, Alessandra," he said, his voice strained with the effort of maintaining his facade. "I appreciate your understanding."

"No problem, Luke. You are a great friend," Alessandra said with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness.

As Alessandra's smile graced her lips, Luke felt a flutter in his chest, a warmth spreading through him like wildfire. It was a smile that could light up the darkest of nights. And as Luke gazed upon her, he found himself unable to tear his eyes away, drawn in by the magnetic pull of her presence.

At that moment, Luke felt as if he were drowning in her smile. It was a bittersweet sensation, a mixture of longing and adoration that left him feeling simultaneously elated and achingly vulnerable.

Oh, that smile —that beautiful, intoxicating smile— that could bring a thousand men to their knees, including him. Where she would go, he would follow. Her commands are his orders. Her happiness is his.  He was hopelessly and irrevocably in love, even a fool could tell it. 

But for now, he would cherish her friendship, grateful for every moment spent in her presence, and content to bask in the light of her enchanting smile, even if it meant keeping his true feelings hidden away in the depths of his heart, never to be seen or heard by her. 

And as Luke basked in the glow of Alessandra's smile, he couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude wash over him. For in that moment, he knew that he was exactly where he was meant to be—by her side.

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I enjoyed writing this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it as well <3 

Thank you for almost 1.5k reads! 

I love Luke being a loverboy.