Lie To Me • lrh

Progress - Luke

I set my alarm at 5am last night. I knew she'd try to wake up to start work, and breakfast. My mind was swirling with the words Valentine had spoken last night. I didn't know her mother had passed before her career took off. I had come to the realization that I didn't know her at all. I felt Valentine trying to crawl out of bed, I quickly grabbed her wrist lightly. I wanted her to sleep, we had a big day ahead of us. I had to start writing.

"Hey, sorry to wake you, I have to start my day." She never stops does she? Does she ever rest?

"No, you don't. You can't have a successful day if you're tired all day. And I want to write with you today, so we have to bring our A game." I pulled her back into the bed but she seemed hesitant to lay back down.

"I'll be fine, let me get ready, and I'll cook you breakfast." She tried to get up again but this time I wasn't so gentle. How could I find a way to make her stay when she was always trying to leave?

"No. You need to be well rested because I can't write with a tired girl who doesn't even know the first thing about being an actual artist." She paused as the last sentence slipped out of my mouth. I didn't necessarily regret it but I did feel a little bit guilty.

She slowly layed down into the bed facing away from me. "Sorry." She said, shit. How could she apologize for the insult that I made? The only reason I was nice to her before is because I was tired. I didn't like seeing her like this though, I mean I didn't like seeing her weak, I wanted her to be strong, to fight back. Was she always like this?

We slept for a bit longer, till 12 in the afternoon. I had been watching her all morning, I watched her pick out her clothes, an oversized pink sweater with pink sweatpants. I walked over to the door and picked up the converse I had bought for her yesterday. "Here, wear these." I said as I handed her the shoes. She didn't say anything back, she just looked down and left the room, without any shoes.

I walked outside to the kitchen and sat at the counter, watching her make breakfast. I couldn't wait to see what food she made me today. I should cook her dinner one night. She made pancakes...I love pancakes. She finished putting them on a plate for her and I and then set one of the plates in front of me, then she left. She didn't speak to me, she just went and ate her breakfast on the couch. I was getting fed up with her. Why was she acting this way? I put my plate in the sink and sat next to her on the couch. I placed my arm around her shoulder like I did last night so she couldn't leave again. Then finally she spoke...

"Can you please not touch me." Wait...what?

"I touched you yesterday." I defended myself but still removed my arm.

"Well we had to act as a couple out there, we don't have to in here." She motioned to the penthouse. Was...was I making her uncomfortable? I get that I'm mean to her but I'd never want a lady to feel uncomfortable in my presence. I had to fix this.

"Look, I'm sorry, I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I want you to relax around me. Just think of me as an old friend." I slightly bumped my shoulder into hers as I smiled. She laughed, I made her laugh.

"Do you want to start writing?" She looked up at me with those eyes, her eyes could kill. I took her hand and brought her to the piano. I'm not going to lie, I was kind of excited. I got my notebook out.

"What songs do you mostly write? What is your writing process anyways? Do you even have a process or do you just write your emotions?" I couldn't help it, I wanted to get to know her. I'll take anything I could get from her. Wait! That's it!

"How about something like I'll take what I can get from you." I sang out the lyrics. I liked it.

"Yeah, that sounds good." She always talked fast when she was nervous...

"Talk fast, romance." I sang out.

"Won't last, I'm ok with that." Her voice was smooth and clear, the lyrics were sad though, but I wasn't complaining.

"Burn, crash, romance." I sang out. It looks like our chorus is pretty good so far, after that the lyrics started pouring out.

"I don't wanna think about a moment with you I'm kinda hoping for forever" I sang.

"Why so complicated won't you throw me a bone." She sang beautifully. I was still going to pretend like she couldn't sing though.

"I want your love in every flavor." I sang out.

Once we were finished with the song she asked what I wanted to call it, but she wasn't getting information that easily.

"Wear the new shoes then, and I'll tell you." She looked a little annoyed, which is what I was hoping for.

"But..." we need to make progress.

"Tell me what you want." I said in a demanding but gentle tone.

"I don't want to wear them, they don't go with my outfit." She crossed her arms and sat up straight.

"Good, now go get them." I said with a sinister grin as I watched her get up and get the shoes.

"Talk Fast!" I yelled as she walked away.

"I already talk pretty fast though? Should I try to talk faster?" She asked as she walked back and sat down, putting the shoes on.

"No, the song is called Talk Fast." I rolled my eyes.

"I know, I was kidding." She gave me a sarcastic smile.

Okay...maybe she's not so bad.