vapor // lrh

Chapter 1.

B E A

It was a normal Tuesday night, I was in the park by my house, it was going on midnight, I had been here for nearly an hour. This is how every night of my life had went for the past year. I sat by this tree in this park and listened to the guy across the lawn play guitar. It was more peaceful than being at home. Since I moved to Sydney, the only people I had spoken to were my coworkers and the food delivery guys.

So here I was again, halfway through a pack of cigarettes, my headphones playing All Time Low's new album at full volume. Normally I would be listening to the blonde guy from across the park but he was being unusually quiet tonight. We were always the only two people here, considering it was dark outside and we didn't exactly live in the nicest neighborhood, well I assumed he lived around here. So, I sat in my spot by my tree and smoked for the few hours I was here. Once the sun started to rise, I decided to start to leave.

I was leaving the park with my head down, trying not to get noticed by the few people that were awake at this ungodly hour, when it happened. All I felt was the impact of his body against mine and the feeling of my ass hitting the ground "Fucking hell would you watch where you're going?" I spat, ignoring his hand reaching for mine as I got up and dusted myself off

"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention, are you okay, Love?" He smushed his words together, his cheeks turning bright red

"Yeah, I'm great. Thanks. Have a good day" I said quickly, my voice clearly annoyed. I put my headphones in and started to walk off before I heard his faint voice telling me to wait up. I stopped in my tracks and took out one of my earbuds, turning around "Can I help you?"
He fidgeted with his fingers as he talked to me and nodded "Yes. No. Maybe? I'm Luke"

"Bea." She replied quickly, starting to tap her foot impatiently. The conversation was starting to make her uncomfortable and all she really wanted was to get home.

"Sorry for holding you up. I just- Do you maybe want to hang out sometime?" He asked shyly and glanced back over at her

"I don't date." She said clearly irritated "No if that's all you wanted, I'm gonna leave."

His face quickly flushed and he shook his head rapidly "No, no, no. I didn't mean like a date. I just kind of hoped we could be friends?"

Bea sighed heavily and shrugged "If I say yes and give you my number will that shut you up?"

"It most definitely will" Luke said with a cheeky grin

Bea took out her phone and opened it to a blank contact, handing it over to him silently. She took out her pack of cigarettes and lit one as she waited for him. When he looked up, and handed her phone back she put it in her pocket and looked down at her pack of cigarettes "Want one?"

"Uh, no thanks. I don't smoke" He said shyly and bit his lip

Bea shrugged and nodded, stuffing her pack in her back pocket before taking another drag from her cigarette, blowing the smoke in the opposite direction of him "I'll text you sometime"

"Okay. Good. See you around." Luke said smiling and then turned around starting to walk off

Bea took a deep breath and started her music again, putting out her cigarette once she was done with it. By the time she got home, the sun was already all the way up and everybody was out on the streets which meant Bea was inside for the day.