sunshine | l.r.h

sixteen

chapter sixteen:

give me a reason

"Talia?" Delilah calls, knocking on the door. A few moments pass and there's no answer. Delilah's brows furrow as she rereads the message from only moments ago. She knocks again but gets nothing. Willing to risk it, Delilah twists the doorknob. 

She sees the living space is empty when she enters the small apartment. The door closes behind her as she ventures through the hall. Soft voices come from the room down the hall. Delilah knocks lightly. The voices hush as a slight shit slips past the door. A few moments later. Natalia opens the door. Delilah takes in the messy hair and shirt that's not hers and nods.

"I didn't think you'd be here so fast," Natalia sighs, leaning her head against the doorframe. The gesture allows Delilah to see into the room. A head of red hair slips into the bathroom. Delilah's eyes find the brunette in front of her.

"I didn't know you had company," Delilah grins. Natalia's cheeks flush crimson. The girl steps out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Do you want some coffee?" Natalia asks, leading her friend away from the room. Delilah follows her into the kitchen, taking a seat at the counter.

"Sure," Delilah nods. Natalia pours each of them a cup before sliding Delilah hers. "So, do I get to know who else is here or is he gonna stay hidden?"

"Well, it's not like what you're thinking," Natalia begins. Delilah leans forward on her hands, drinking in her words. "We didn't do anything. Just watched movies and talked." Before Delilah can ask her next question, a door shuts. A grin breaks Delilah's lips as the man steps into the room.

"Ashton, right?" Delilah smiles at the redhead. Having only seen him once before, more of his features stick out. His eyes glow green in the afternoon light. His arms are covered in different kinds of tattoos. 

"Delilah, nice to finally meet you," Ashton greets. Her eyes find her friend again as Ashton opens the fridge. You didn't tell me, Delilah mouths playfully. Natalia's dark eyes hold a look that makes Delilah laugh lightly to herself.

"You two haven't met?" Natalia questions, taking a sip of her coffee. The two shake their heads.

"We had a brief encounter at a party but that's about it," Delilah shrugs.

"Wait what party?" Natalia's brows furrow at the new information. Delilah sends one look Natalia's way and the pieces connect.

"So, what did you all do last night?" Delilah smiles widely. Natalia's eyes widen as Ashton chuckles to himself. Another blush creeps up Natalia's golden skin.

"I'm going to go change," she excuses, setting her coffee down on the counter. Natalia slips out of the room. Silence falls around the two.

"What about you and Luke? What's happening there?" Ashton questions, trying to get the focus off of him. Delilah scoffs, taking another drink.

"Hell if I know," she sighs. Just over a week has passed since Luke brought Delilah the peace offering. Since they were supposed to start over. A week has passed since they'd last spoken. "Is he just like this?"

"Like what?" Ashton inquires. Delilah's mind searches for the words to describe Luke. Only one comes to mind.

"Confusing." 

Ashton sighs, having seen firsthand the back and forth Luke's gone through in the past weeks. "He can be."

"Why?" She asks more to herself than him. He shrugs gently.