"Where are you going?"
"I have to leave"
"Why?"
"I have work"
"Can't you be ill? I wanted to spend the day with you"
"Doing what?"
"I don't know. Just have a lazy day here or go out and get some food and walk around a bit"
"I only work till lunch today. Why don't you come to my work around one then we'll go get some lunch and explore LA?" He nodded.
"I'll be there at one" He smiled. I leaned down and kissed his cheek as I quickly pulled on an outfit and went to have a quick breakfast before leaving.
***
"Oh my god, you really are dating Luke Hemmings" Tia, my coworker said. The store was pretty empty right now since most people had just gone back to work and the lunch rush was over. We were stood chatting behind the counter in the middle of the store. We'd done all the tasks that needed to be done today. I turned to see that Luke had just come into the store.
"Hey, Mads" He said as he approached the till. I walked around the front and hugged him as he kissed my forehead.
"Wait, is this your half day?" Tia asked me. I nodded. "I thought that was next week. Now I have to put up with Michaela until 5"
"I'm sorry. She's not that bad though" She glared at me. "Fine, she's a gigantic bitch and I feel for you. I really do. Oh, Luke this is Tia by the way. Tia, Luke"
"Nice to meet you" Luke said and she just smiled, nodding as if to say you too.
"You in tomorrow?" She asked me.
"All day"
"I'll see you then, bitch" I rolled my eyes as she chucked me my bag that was behind the counter. I caught it and put it on my shoulder before turning to Luke.
"So what's for lunch?"
"I have a few ideas" He said before taking my hand in his and leading me out of the store.
***
"This is the cutest fucking restaurant ever"
"I thought you'd like it" It was borderline hipster and extremely millennial but it was quiet and relaxing and the food looked incredible.
"Hi, I'm Sydney. Can I start you guys off with some drinks?"
"I'll have a watermelon lemonade please" I told her.
"I'll just take a water" Luke told her. She nodded.
"Are you guys ready to order your food or not yet?"
"We're ready. I'll have the classic burger please"
"And a tomato and mozzarella calzone please" She took our orders and walked off.
"So, how are you?" Luke asked.
"I'm good?" I said, questioning why he was asking me such a formal question.
"Maddie, I've seen the hate you've been getting"
"Oh, that. I ignore it. It's fine. We discussed this before"
"That was before we posted everything from mine and Crystal's birthdays"
"I want to be open with your fans about us. They're more accepting then"
"I know and I'm doing the same. Trust me, they like you more than my last girlfriend. I think it's because I was more upfront about us. I never really admitted I had a girlfriend before"
"Honestly, it's difficult but I'm managing it"
"Do people say stuff to you in public?"
"Not really. I've only had a few girls ask for photos or ask if we're dating. Nothing horrible, only nice"
"That's sweet of them" I nodded. "I saw the comments on the photo from my birthday you put up"
"That's the worst so far"
"I know. Some of those comments were horrible. You're not a slut or a gold digger or any of what they said. You're definitely not fake either. Listen, I know it's hard but please just ignore it. I hate to say it but it'll only get worse and it'll be harder to ignore but not everyone is going to like you in this world and once you get past that, it becomes easier to accept"
"I know. I just hate how I even get hate for posting a photo with Bryana. Like what did I do wrong? Have friends? People are always like oh you only know her because of Luke. She probably doesn't even like you. This friendship is so forced. That's almost more frustrating than the hate I get about you because at least that's because they're either jealous or just being protective of their idol. With Bryana, it's kind of just nit picking at nothing to find a flaw. I'm not saying I'm flawless but I don't think the fans realise that I'm a normal person just like them that has a job and works her ass off to afford anything and get want she wants in life"
"I'm sorry you have to go through all this"
"It's fine. It's not your fault. I love you and nothing's going to change that. Your fans especially won't change that. Our relationship is exactly that. Ours. No one else's. So no one else has the right to weigh in on who we are as people and whether we should be together or not"
"I've never heard such truer words" I smiled. "I love you too by the way" I leaned over the small table and pecked his lips.
"So what's the plan for after this?"
"Walk around LA a little? Maybe go to Beverly Hills and do a little shopping. Kind of feel like spoiling my girl"
"Your girl? Bitch please I'm as independent as they come" He chuckled as our drinks were served.
***
"Do you like that?" Luke asked.
"I don't like the price tag" Luke had decided we should go shopping on Rodeo Drive but forgot that I had nowhere near enough money to afford anything along this road.
"Don't worry about the price. I'll buy it for you"
"I don't want you spending all your money on me and I'll never be able to pay you back"
"I don't want the money back. I rarely buy you things. I just want to spoil you because I love you"
"Luke" I whined.
"One thing. Just pick one thing to buy" I nodded. "In every shop" He mumbled quietly at the end. I hit his arm and he smiled innocently at me. I rolled my eyes and look around the store more but ended up back at the same pale pink bag I'd been looking at before. I turned to look for Luke and saw him over by the cash register, paying for whatever he'd picked up. He just smiled at me as the woman handed him two bags, one smaller and one slightly bigger. He finished paying before taking the bags in one hand and my hand in his other.
"Thank you for not pressuring me into buying anything" I said, noticing how he didn't mention anything else after our little chat. He just shrugged and we carried on walking along the pavement.
***
"When's your birthday?" Luke asked as we sat in the living room with Petunia between us.
"Next month"
"What date?"
"16th"
"We share the same date" He said. "We're definitely meant to be together"
"Yep, that's what makes us compatible" I remarked. He rolled his eyes and nudged me.
"What do you want to do for your birthday?"
"I don't know, I haven't really thought about it"
"Don't think about it. I'll plan something for you"
"You don't have to do that"
"Nothing's going to stop me from spoiling you on your birthday"
"You seriously don't have to"
"I'm your boyfriend. I'm going to plan something and you're going to have a great day" He said.
"I'll look forward to it" He smiled, knowing he'd won.
"It'll be the best birthday you've ever had"
"I know it will because you'll be there" I said before pecking his lips and smiling as did he.