Close As Strangers // LH

Nice Eye

My alarm wakes me up all the earlier in the morning. I slowly slink out of bed and into the bathroom.

"Oh no," I groan seeing a black and blue bruised eye.

I wince touching the area around my eye. Just great. I decide against showering, throw my hair on top of my head, get semi dressed, grab my books and head out for the library. I get a few stares along the way but nothing I can't handle. I sign in and gather a few more books I need and grab a table in the corner. My hand cramps repeatedly from note taking and googling so I take a moment to stretch out my back before diving into my studying again. But just before I do, I notice someone sit down at the table I'm at. Glancing up, I see Luke looking at me. I quickly divert my eyes to my notebook before looking back up at him. He smiles at me. What a creep. My anxiety shots through the roof. I immediately start to gather my things.

"Hey, hey. I just came here to study. That's all," he speaks.

"And I'm letting you do that in peace."

"Wait."

I glance at him. He shakes his head, frowning.

"Your poor eye."

"Yeah, I'll be fine. See you around."

"Please, Nikki."

I stop. How does he know my name? I huff turning around.

"You're needy."

He laughs, "I want to apologize for being a dick a while ago. I deserved the nickname too."

"It's okay. Wait, how did you know about the nickname?"

"Beck. He's a friend of mine."

"Oh god," I groan, "so I'm assuming that's how you know my name?"

"That and we have a class together."

"We do?"

"Yeah. I'm always sitting behind you."

"Oh."

"Yes," he nods.

"Your accent is..."

"I don't have an accent."

I squint my eyes at him, "Yes, you do."

"Nope. You're the one with the accent."

"Australian?"

"Good guess."

"I'm a good guesser."

He laughs, pulling his lip ring into mouth. God. Don't do that.

"So I'm assuming you dorm at Spring Valley."

"I wonder how you know that," I laugh.

"Yeaah, Kelsey is on the third floor."

"I know. It always sounds like a good time."

His eye widen.

"Just kidding. I'm on the second floor. I see you coming in and out."

He rubs his face, hiding his apparent embarrassment.

"Oh come on. If you weren't banging chicks, people would think there was something wrong with you."

His brows furrow, "You think?"

"No. I have no clue. Don't listen to me."

He laughs again and it an adorable laugh. Like genuine.

"I think we should be study partners."

I slightly jam up thinking about what his girlfriend did to my eye.

"I can only afford one black eye."

He chokes back a laugh, "I'm sorry. It wasn't funny but just the way you handled it."

"What? It's ridiculous that Kelsey would think I'd move in on a guy who was a dick head to me," I smile.

"Man, you are feisty."

"Sorry, I'm still a little peeved over being punched in the face which landed me in a pool."

"Again, I apologize that happened."

"It whatever. I just have to keep my distance."

"Um, Nic, just a warn-"

"Luke!" I hear Kelsey huff, "what the hell?" she points at me.

"Babe," he starts.

"Look Kelsey, I don't want to be here anymore that you don't me being here but unfortunately we have an assignment we most both put effort into. I was just exchanging information. So relax, girlfriend."

She glares at me before smiling, "Nice eye."

Her mocking tone grinds my gears but I swallow the hate.

"Yeah, thanks. I thought the black and blue bruise brought out the blue in my eyes more."

Kelsey now has a confused yet disgusted look on her face.

"But yeah, Luke, just give me those other notes in class Monday. Thanks. You two have a grand day."

I grab my books and walk out to the main campus. I feel like I may have one upped Kelsey. Then again, she has Luke so she'll always have the upper hand. Wait, why do I care? Oh lord.
The rest of the afternoon, I finish up the fake notes Luke is suppose to be giving me before heading over to Beck's for pizza with the gang.

"Holy shit, Nikki," Garrett says walking in.

"I know, I know," I wave.

"Nikki is a damn bruiser," Scarlett laughs.

"I have a bruise," I smirk.

"Oh whatever. It's a battle scar. Don't let that bitch Kelsey get to you."

"I'm surely not."

"Girls with battle scars turn me on," Beck wiggles his eyebrows sliding down next to Bridgette.

"Christ, Beck!" Garrett laughs.

I just roll my eyes grabbing another slice of pizza.

"Oh and Beck. Thank you."

"For?"

"Telling Luke my name."

Bridgette quickly turns to Beck.

"What?" he shrugs, "he asked me!"

"It's okay, I just didn't know you two were friends."

"Yeah, we roomed together till junior year then his "mates" transferred and he roomed with them."

"Oh."

The night end with more pizza and Guardians of the Galaxy.

"Alright my friends, I'm going to go back and pass out. Bridgette, are you walking with me?"

"I'm actually staying with Beck ."

"Ohhhh," I tease her.

"Okay, see you guys tomorrow or Monday!"

"Careful waking back!"

I skip down the steps and out onto the sidewalk headed back to the hall. A yawn overtakes me as I walk through the double doors.

"Hey!" I hear an Australian accent basically sing.

I look up, "Hey...umm., Ashton, right?"

"Yes," he nods, "your eye looks pretty good."

"Thanks," I laugh, "also thank you for not letting me drown."

"Not that I thought you were going to, but you're welcome."

"What brings you to Spring Valley?"

"Hanging out with the mates."

"At Kelsey's?"

"Yeah."

"Sounds fun," I nod, "well have a nice night. Oh and keep it down up there. I'll be trying to sleep."

Ashton laughs and give me a wave. I reach my room and crash down on to my bed. I close my eyes and sleep soon wins the battle.


*** Luke's POV.

"Ashton Irwin has arrived!"

I greet Ashton with a hand shake and pass him a beer.

"Hey mate," he nudges me opening the can, "I just saw That chick Kelsey punched last night."

"Nikki?"

"What?!" Kelsey nearly curses.

"Yeah, she lives in the second floor. Told us not to make too much noise," Ashton laughs, chugging his beer.

"Fuck that bitch," Kelsey spits, "who is she to tell us what to do?"

"Christ, Kelsey, she was kidding around," I shake my head.

"Take a Xanax," Mikey chimes in from the couch.

She rolls her eyes and joins Bryana in the kitchen area again. Ashton jumps over the back of the couch, sliding down next to Calum. I take the arm chair just to the left of him.

"What was she doing?" I ask him quietly.

He looks at me, "Going to bed. Why?"

I shrug. Ashton gives me an unconvinced look before tend this attention to the FIFA game being played.

"Suck. It. Calum. Hood." Mikey jumps up, dancing.

"Oh whatever. You fucker."

"I get next!" I raise my hand.

"Here," Calum tosses me the control.

"Prepare to lose, Michael Clifford."

"Fuck no, Hem Hem."

I glare at him as he grins at me. A half hour later and I'm victorious. I flip Mikey the finger and give him the same grin he gave me prior.

"Luke," Kelsey slurs, "come to bed with me, huh?"

I smile at her and grab her hand, "Help me up."

She tries to help me up, but I pull her on my lap instead.

"Luke Hemmings," she laughs.

"Yes?"

"Get a damn room," Calum hisses.

"I plan on it."

I cradle Kelsey against my chest and lift her, walking her to her room.

"Night, babe," I whisper setting her down.

I watch her curl up into a ball, passed out. Quietly, I close her door and rejoin the mates and Bryana.

"I think I'm going to head back to bed," Michael yawns.

"Awe, man. Already?"

"You're barley awake, Hemmo."

"Yeah, you're right."

"And I will be heading over to Bry's dorm."

"Awwwe," I whine

Ashton just shakes his head, "Catch you tomorrow, mate."

I say goodnight and channel surf with Calum to find something to watch. Nothing. At all. Freaking American TV. I shut off the tube and lay down on the couch, calling it a night with Cal.

*** Nikki's POV.

Monday rolls around and I'm dragging myself out of bed for class. I barely make it, receiving glares from my professor and other students.

"Hey," I hear Lindsey whisper.

"Hi," I smile.

Ever since the innocent with Kelsey, Lindsey has been super nice to me. Almost too nice. I painfully sit through the extra long lecture and quickly dash down the hall to my next class. The class Luke is in. I brush past a few group of students before stealth-fully entering the lecture hall. Slinking past a few people, I settle in my seat.

"Why are you late?" I hear from behind me.

I turn around and see Luke staring down at me, "I'm sorry, I actually have 5 minutes to spare."

"You're usually here like 15 minute prior."

"What? Are you the gatekeeper?"

He laughs scratching his chin, "I am."

"Right," I playfully roll my eyes before turning back around in my seat.

The professor starts his boring ass lecture which has me nearly falling asleep. That is until then I feel someone kicking the back of my chair. I let it go for a few minutes and the yank out my phone. Opening up the camera app, I flip it forward. Slowly, I put it over my shoulder until he's in view. After about a couple minutes he finally notices me creeping. A huge smile stretches across his face then almost immediately he covers his face with his hat. I try my best to hold back a laugh, snapping a photo of him.

"Hey," he whispers loudly.

A few students turn to look at us. I quietly calm myself, keeping my attention ahead to the professor who's had his back to us the entire lecture so far. Our fun ends and I'm back to writing notes. Another hour and class is finally dismissed. I go to turn around to snark Luke but he's no where to be seen. A slight sadness grips at my chest. Picking up my notebooks, I hold them against my chest as I file behind other students out of the hall. About two hours separate me and my next two classes so I wander over to the dining hall.

"There she is," I hear a girl snicker as I walk past their little group.

I didn't even realize Kelsey was in the middle. I take a deep breath and keep walking.
"Hey Nikki," Kelsey speaks my name.

But I keep walking, keeping my eyes low.

"Excuse me, but Kelsey was talking to you," a faked tan skin says stepping in front of me.

I sigh and turn around, "Yes?"

"I was thinking over the past couple days. I'm wrong about you. You could be a great asset to Alpha Gamma Delta. Meet us on the south lawn ."

"Okay?"

"I expect you to be there."

She smiles and walks away with her groupie following behind her. Of course they all float to the table where I first saw them. Ashton and his two friends are there including some other guys but no Luke. I shrug grabbing a turkey wrap and a yogurt before grabbing a spot outside under a tree.

Notes
Hope you all are enjoying the story! I'll try my best to keep the updates coming! <3
Again, sorry for any grammar errors!
- Nat xx