Expect the unexpected

Chapter 6

I wake up to the sound of cartoons and a lighter flicking—it's Luke, smoking his morning bowl. I rub my eyes and see a bit of the sunrise coming through the hotel curtains. Luke turns to me once he feels movement in the bed.

"Good morning, baby! How'd you sleep, pretty thing?" he says, choking slightly on the inhale of pure smoke in his lungs. He blows the smoke up, so it doesn't hit me in the face.

"Good, especially after last night," I blush as I pull the blankets off me to get up. I head to the bathroom to pee, but mostly to look at myself in the mirror. I want to know if sex really changes you. I feel different. I feel like a woman. He might have taken my virginity, but I definitely took something from him too—maybe his vitality? Or maybe his confidence?

"I already went to the bank, and all I need is to buy the tickets," Luke says, his eyes still glued to the TV.

"We aren't really going to Beijing, are we?" I ask, turning to look at him.

"Second thoughts already, honey?" Luke smiles and giggles.

"No, I just—"

"Kylie, just pick, baby, anywhere." Luke stands up from the bed and walks over to me. I look down, and he grabs both my hands in his.

"I'm just not sure where we can go and be safe," I say, looking at my feet. I want to start our new life together, but I can't ignore the fact that we're wanted criminals.

"I told you, once those black bags were out of our lives, we were free," Luke says, trying to comfort me.

"Yeah, those bags... what was in them?" I ask slowly, looking up to meet his gaze. His eyes harden, and he lets go of my hands.

"It's better if you don't know..." Luke says, walking over to the bong and packing himself another bowl.

"Yeah, you said that, and I get it, but I just want to know so I'm not in the dark," I argue, trying to point out that I'm in this too, and he can't keep me clueless. Luke snaps the bowl in one hit and blows it out all in one motion, almost like a dance he performs so effortlessly.

"Look, Kylie, I need you to let it go. You want us to be free? I made us free. Can't that just be enough?" Luke sighs, looking at me with his soft baby blue eyes. I can't stay mad at him, even when I try.

"Okay, I'm sorry..." I give in and sit next to him on the bed.

"I know where I want to go," I smile.

"Where?" Luke's shoulders relax, and he tilts his head slightly.

"I want to go to California—more specifically, Los Angeles," I say with stars in my eyes. Luke laughs and smiles at me.

"Well, then I guess we need to start looking at tickets, huh?" Luke grabs his phone and starts searching for flights.

(Hi guys long time no see, just wanted to say I'm gonna be updating these stories I've made and thank you for waiting so long 💗)