the sunlight was hurting luke.
the minute he blinked into consciousness, he closed his eyes tightly again, wincing at the sharp pain the light send through his head.
he rolled over until he felt the pain subside slightly, and allowed himself to open his eyes again.
a tiny stream of sunlight fell onto the floor where it had managed to creep in between the curtains - red curtains that tinted the whole room a slightly rosey colour.
and if that wasn't and indication enough that he wasn't in his own house, the small girl curled up in the armchair certainly was.
he was back in lola's house, and the warm feeling that overtook him when he realised that. the clock on the wall told him it was only quarter to seven; he had an hour and fifteen minutes until he had to be at the gym - he only hoped that would be enough time to shake the feeling of feeling absolutely dead.
luke shuffled into a more upright, seated position, and took in his surroundings, relishing the comfortability he always felt in her house.
he took in the books stacked on the coffee table; the plant she had hanging from the ceiling and it's tendrils dangling low enough for it to touch it head if he were on the opposite side of the sofa; he took in the picture frames on the cabinet beside the sofa and the vast array of painted mugs she had hanging in her kitchen. the magnets holding up polaroids on her fridge, the red rotary telephone on the cabinet with the photos.
everything in her flat felt so soothing and personal, he really just couldn't get enough of it.
something broke his trance; lola shuffled and grunted softly as she tried to find a more comfortable position while still asleep.
her neck was bent at an uncomfortable angle, her entire body folding almost in half to fit entirely in the seat of the armchair. her phone lay in her lap, making luke suspect she'd fallen asleep in the middle of doing something - she was tired at the end of the night, he remembered that much.
luke continued to push himself more upright, moving his legs out from under the blanket and sitting up properly on the sofa - accidentally kicking the bucket that he hadn't noticed standing by the sofa before.
he winced; the abrupt sound causing a slight furrow between lola's brows. he'd feel awful if he woke her, especially after how she'd taken care of him last night - despite it not being her responsibility at all.
there was a glass of water on a yellow coaster and two painkillers placed on the coffee table in front of him and his chest tightened for a moment at the thoughtfulness of the gesture.
the last time someone had done something so sweet for him was when lola had cleaned him up after a fight.
he put both pills in his mouth, swallowing down a mouthful of the still surprisingly cold water to wash them down, before considering what he should do next.
he wanted to shower and change before he went training, but he had no clothes with him and he didn't want to wake her to ask if he could shower.
really, luke knew his only option to go home. but he couldn't leave her cramped up in the armchair in good conscience.
luke lifted himself out of the sofa, giving his legs a moment to steady themselves before walking quietly over to the arm chair.
lola was still fast asleep, her lips slightly pouted as she emitted heavy breaths between them. her hair had fallen over her face, and still looked slightly curly from the night before.
luke leaned over and picked up her phone, all his movements slow so he could be sure he wouldn't disturb her. he placed her phone on the coffee table, a sense of relief washing over him when he saw she still hadn't moved a muscle.
he crouched slightly lower, edging his arms underneath her legs and back - pausing every other second because he was sure he was going to disturb her. he pulled her closer to him - she was warm and god if he didn't love the feeling - and stood back up straight, bringing her with him.
lola stayed fast asleep, not reacting at all as luke carried her out of the living room and through to her bedroom - which was right across the hall from her bathroom and thankfully easy to spot.
her walls were painted a summery shade of yellow, and covered in posters and paintings and photographs of her friends and family, hanging from red strings with tiny clips on them. fairy lights were draped from every corner, at least three separate sets of them, and luke wondered what colour they would be when they were on.
he placed her down gently on her floral bedspread, and couldn't keep the fond smile from his face as she rolled over to cuddle into her pillow. part of him really didn't want to leave - but a more rational part of him knew how creepy it would be if she woke up and he was just standing over her.
so he left her room, pulling the door shut softly behind him.
***
luke sat on the sofa, lacing his shoes up lazily, not a single part of him wanting to go to train. he knew he would - what else did he have to do?
he sighed, feeling all the more exhausting at the prospect of hours of heavy training - and probably a match within the next few days.
everything about being in her home, being around her made luke never want to leave - but of course, he had to.
he felt rude, leaving without saying goodbye, especially after how difficult of must've been for her last night - luke was well aware he'd been absolutely fucked last night, and he didn't remember the journey back to hers at all, which wasn't a good thing.
the little notepad beside her phone caught his attention - the pale pink pages setting his mind in motion.
he could leave her a note.
he'd be able to say goodbye and thank you and leave without feeling like he'd run out on her.
of course, she had a pen beside the notepad - a very fancy looking glossy black pen. luke scribbled down a short, but hopefully sweet, note, and folded the paper in half so it would stand better, before venturing back into lola's bedroom with his blanket from the sofa.
he stood the paper like a birthday card on her bedside table, and draped the blanket carefully over her, not even attempting to refrain from smiling at how cute she looked with her face smushed slightly into the pillow.
luke really didn't want to leave, but he had to, so he closed the door quietly behind him and began the walk home.
hi lola,
i'm sorry i left before you woke up. i have training. thank you for letting me stay at yours - i'm sorry i got so drunk.
luke x
***
waking up underneath a soft blanket, with only a mild ache from falling asleep in her chair, was not what lola had expected that morning.
she sat up, her eyebrows furrowed together in confusion - she remembered giving luke the blanket that was currently laying over her. she remembered sitting down to tell bella she'd got home safe and -
it wasn't making sense to her at all. no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember getting to bed, and yet somehow she had.
she was still wearing the same dress she'd worn to the boys yesterday, and out of the corner of the eye, she caught sight of a small pink card standing on her bedside table.
lola squinted in confusion, leaning over to pick the card up and recognizing the paper from the pad by her phone.
there was a short message scrawled inside.
hi lola,
i'm sorry i left before you woke up. i have training. thank you for letting me stay at yours - i'm sorry i got so drunk.
luke x
her heart leapt and a bright smile stretched across her face.
he'd left her a note. a note with a kiss.
she bit her lower lip, placing the note carefully in the drawer of her bedside table.
lola lay back on her bed, stretching until she felt the aching in her back ease and swung her legs over the side, going in search of her phone.
***
the bucket was still sitting beside the sofa, but the pills and glass of water were gone, which made lola smile. luke was definitely hungover, and at least now she knew he was at least going to be alright.
she picked up her phone, texting bella back and assuring her that she would tell her everything about last night, and threw herself down on the sofa, sliding her thumb across the screen to return her mum's missed call.
"hi lo! are you still coming up tomorrow?"
lola smiled at the sound of her mother's voice - it felt like years since she'd last seen them.
"of course mum, i'll drive up tomorrow after class, so i should be there around nine or so?"
"of course sweetheart of course! how was your showcase?"
"it was actually really great mum - we did the duet i was telling you about, and the directors recorded the performances like usual, so i can bring the dvd of it?"
"oh yes definitely! i'm so sorry we missed this one lo, but your dad was just so unwell."
"is he feeling better now?" lola's throat pinched up slightly at the thought of her dad not being well.
"he's fine now darling, he just wants to see you! it's all he's been talking about."
"well, i'll see you both tomorrow night and i'll text you throughout the day to let you know when i'm leaving and whereabouts i am. i love you mum."
"i love you too darling! see you tomorrow."
lola stayed on the sofa for a moment after the phone call ended, before rolling off and pulling herself to her feet.
she needed a shower.
***
lola had managed, after two hours of doing less than nothing after shower, to get dressed and go out.
she went to the supermarket to pick up some essentials for when she got home, which took significantly longer than it should have, as she also spent it texting bella about the previous night. bella wasn't satisfied with just texting, and borderline demanded to see lola when she got back from her parents to get the full story.
lola was happy to comply though. she probably wouldn't stop talking about luke if she started.
packing for her parents was relatively easy; all she really needed were clothes and her toothbrush.
and a book. lola always brought a book.
it was so much easier to read in her childhood home than it was in her apartment. being at her parents was almost like a holiday to lola - no work, no training. reading just came so much more naturally there.
but her current copy of her favourite book, the great gatsby, was on the brink of falling apart. she'd re-read it so many times the pages were already detaching, and ready to fall out of the covers.
the likelihood of it surviving another trip to her parents was slim.
she sighed, accepting it was time to invest in another copy, and began to re-lace her docs, preparing to once again, venture outside.
***
to lola, the bookshop was a sanctuary that was almost on the same level as the studio.
she loved it with all her heart. she could go in for one book and leave with at least seventeen and a severe backache from carrying them all.
it had been at least an hour that she'd been browsing, having picked up the great gatsby long ago.
resistance had become futile; lola picked up a copy of i know why the caged bird sings and took it to the cashiers point to pay.
she left the bookshop happily, opening her phone to call bella and update her on the events of the previous night while she walked home - until a force slammed into her and almost knocked her phone out of her hands.
"oh fuck!" almost instantly, lola recognised the low, slightly husky voice.
of course it was luke.
his face flushed red the moment he realised exactly who it was he'd sent flying, and he made a fumbled attempt to prevent lola from falling over - which would definitely be a nail in the coffin.
luke reached out quickly and wrapped his arm around her waist and - wow it fit perfectly in the curve that must be a sign - pulled lola upright; which coincidentally, brought her closer, until she was virtually pressed up against him.
their cheeks wore matching shades of pink; lola felt her grip on her bag loosen slightly, because being that close to luke was sending her into a slight hormonal overdrive.
there was a short pause, with neither of them willing to break the silence that was ultimately what kept them so close together. they knew the moment someone spoke, they'd take a step back and apologise awkwardly and laugh it off like it wasn't setting their insides on fire.
but once again, luke found himself a victim of word vomit, choking out a barely comprehensible "oh fuck, i'm sorry," and inadvertently allowing his arm to draw back from her waist, leaving his hand awkwardly ghosting the small of her back.
"no, it's my fault, i'm awful at looking where i'm going." lola's laugh was slightly breathless and she was sure her knees were shaking.
"no i - it's on me, really." luke insisted, his hand still hovering over the small of her back. he wracked his mind for something else to say to her, some type of normal conversation.
"were you going in?" she beat him to it, indicating at the bookshop sign behind them.
"oh - no i was just going home, i parked here and jogged to the gym-"
"training, right?" god her smile made luke melt a little - he really wasn't used to feeling this vulnerable. but she'd read his note and remembered it and he had never been more glad to have had an idea in his whole life.
"yeah." the usual, blunt edge was taken off by his smile - a smile that made the butterflies in lola's stomach flutter at double speed.
"what did you uh - get?" he gestured towards her bag.
"oh! i just got a couple of books for going up to my parents tomorrow. their house is perfect for reading."
"how long are you going for?" luke was sure he sounded perfectly casual, but in fact, his stomach was twisting slightly at the thought of her going away.
you absolute fucking idiot she's going to her parents house, she's not becoming a nun or disappearing into the bermuda triangle.
"only three days." lola kept smiling up at him, making the knot in his stomach ease slightly. "i go up for longer on holidays, but i have work and stuff, so i like to fit little visits in when i can."
the conversation of parents made luke feel a tiny bit ill, but she looked so happy he tried hard to mask it.
"that sounds really nice." he said, a growing nervousness beginning to make itself known through his voice. "so - are you working a lot when you get back?"
"not that much, just a few classes every week alongside my usual training." they were still much closer than they were used to, and lola's words came out slowly, carefully. she could tell all of this was leading somewhere but she just wasn't sure where yet.
"that's cool." luke was silently cursing himself for taking so long to get where he was headed. "maybe when you get back we could do something?"
"do something?" lola's heart was practically beating out of her chest and she desperately hoped he meant what she was thinking he did.
"yeah like - i'll take you out? if you want to?" luke couldn't remember ever feeling this terrified when asking a girl out - frankly he couldn't ever remember really asking a girl out.
"i'd really like that." she was trying hard not to smile too widely and scare him off, but he had also just asked her on a date and she was bursting with happiness.
luke swore he was struck by a tidal wave of relaxation.
she said yes.
"if you wanted to put your number in here i can text you when you're back?" luke handed lola his phone, absentmindedly pulling his lower lip between his teeth; not missing her glance up at him through her eyelashes and blush slightly.
that definitely helped with the nerves.
luke knew that look, and now he knew for a fact she found him attractive. now he was getting back in his comfort zone. he just wished she didn't make him feel so fucking nervous.
"there." she'd saved herself as lola :). how fucking cute could one person get?
luke was sure he was standing in front of the answer to that.
"do you want a lift home? my car's just over there." luke offered, putting his phone back in his pocket.
lola had intended to call bella, but was she really going to turn down a car ride with luke?
absolutely not.
"that would be really great, thank you." she smiled, the two of them finally moving apart to get into luke's car.
"so, your music or mine?"
i feel like i'm playing cliche romantic trope bingo when i write this but i LOVE it
this is also half the length of my last chapter so i don't know what took me so long lmao i'm sorry
thank you sm to everyone reading, voting and commenting, it's so so lovely being able to read them all and seeing you guys enjoy luke and lola! xxxxx