Hard To Love (Professor / Student)

Beach House

Finally, finals are done and it's time for summer vacation! Mark and his friends are staying at his Uncle's beach house for most of the summer which happens to be an hour from my house. I'm packing up my room when my phone rings. Mark's goofy face pops up and I accept the call.

"Hey. You're on speaker. What's up?" I ask as I finish packing up my closet. Meg has already moved out for the year, so it's just me here.

"Hey, I have one last meeting with the Department Chair tonight, but do you want to swing by afterwards?" He asks.

"Uh...yeah. That sounds good...." *Knock Knock Kock* "Hang on Mark, there's someone at the door." I cross the suite and open the main door. "Uh hey, what are you doing here?" I ask as my brother is standing in front of me.

"Surprise!" He says and walks into the main living area.

"Luke, what are you doing here?"
"What? You're not happy to see your big brother?" He asks and makes himself comfortable on the couch.

"Well of course I'm happy to see you, but why are you here?"
"Linds and I broke up. So I figured I'd come hang out with you for the weekend." I sit down in front of him on the coffee table.

"Luke, I'm sorry you broke up But I'm moving out tomorrow. It's summer break."

"Ugh, I don't want to go home. Lindsay got the apartment so I have nowhere to stay..."

"Hello? Ness? You still there?" I hear MArk call out over the phone.

"Shit!" I mutter and run to my room. "Mark, I'm sorry. Can I call you later?"

"Yeah... everything ok? Who was at the door?" He asks. I look at my brother moping on the couch int he other room.

"Uh it's Luke. I'll tell ya later. Love you" I say. I toss my phone on my bed and walk back out to the living room. "Hey! Why don't we go out for dinner? I know a great sports bar that's in town."

He sits up on the couch and nods his head. "Yeah, that sounds good. I'm starving!" He says and hops off the couch.

We drive down the road to the restaurant and quickly get a table for two.

"So what happened with Lindsay?" I ask as we finish off a plate of mozzarella sticks

"I guess we just grew apart. She likes life the way it is and I wanted to start a family." He says, shrugging his shoulders.

"Damn. I'm sorry Luke. That sucks."

"Yeah, she just wasn't the one. Now I have to find a new place before Mom finds out. You know how she can get." He says and we both laugh.

"Yeah, I went home for a long weekend a few weeks ago and she pulled out the baby books!"

"No!" He yells and we both laugh hysterically. My phone lights up and I have a few missed texts from Mark. "You can answer him, you know." Luke says

"Yeah, but we are hanging out."

"Well I'm going to use the bathroom so just call the guy before he sends out a search party." Luke heads to the restroom and I dial Mark's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Mark."

"Ness. Where are you? I've been trying to call for hours."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Luke showed up and him and Lindsay broke it off. So I took him to eat at Sammy's and we just got lost in conversation."

"It's fine. I'm glad you're okay."