Where Dreams Come True (On Hold)

Chapter 14: Pool Day?

5.15.16

This is my contribution to Update Day, but I did not make it to the 10k goal, unfortunately. It is almost 7000, though.

I would like to add a small warning though because there's a scene that while I don't believe it's explicit, it's a little more than what I usually write.

Last note: Not edited, like, at all. Will work on that later (who knows, maybe that'll bring my word count up! *insert Shirley Temple gif here*)

~*~

I don't really understand what I am seeing, but Luke stands in the middle of the living room with blankets and cushions surrounding him. North stood to the side with a scowl on his face, staring down his brother. I assume trying to set him on fire with one look. Owen stood slightly behind him, hands behind his back, looking on impassively. The small tick at the corner of his mouth reveals his amusement to me. Amused but trying not to encourage.

"Cupcake!" Luke exclaims happily from his place in the mountain. "Come join me!"

I just gape at him. When did he have long enough to take apart the furniture? I swear Victor and I were only two minutes behind them! He must have used his super ninja skills. That is obviously the only explanation. Of course, Victor and I couldn't have possibly been farther behind than I estimated.

"Luke, what are you doing?!" I try again. "You have to put that away," I demand.

"Come play! I'm making a fort!" He ignores me, trying to jump out of the pile, but only succeeds in tangling his feet in the cushions and blankets and falling. Unfazed, he gets up and makes his way toward me. He grabs my wrist and drags me back to his treasure. "North won't let me build a treehouse at home, so I'm going to build a fort here," he rambles.

"Luke, I'm soaking," I tell him, attempting to tug him to a stop. "I need to shower and change."

He turns and looks at me, his eyes roaming my body, taking in my wet form. I'm sure I look like a wet dog. At least, that's how I feel. I feel like Max looked the night Kota found me. Yes, that's it.

"Did you go for a swim? Or did Victor throw you in?" Luke inquires, looking to the man in question in accusation. I don't know why, he's done it plenty himself. Thrown me in the pool, I mean.

I close my eyes, trying to gather patience. A couple deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth, and repeat.

"I did not throw her in!" Victor defends. "It's a downpour out there!" he states forcefully, thrusting a hand towards the giant window. Luke turns just as a bolt of lightning flashes across the sky.

"Oh. When did that happen?" he wonders out loud. Luke then looks at me. "You should probably go fix that," he nods to himself as if this is the right thing to do, referring to me getting a shower. And of course it is—I just told him I'd do it. Stinker.

I pat his cheek and say, "I will. And while I do that, will you clean this up?" I hate the disappointment that flashes through his eyes.

"But I wanted to build a fort," he says sadly, and my heart squeezes in guilt. I give him a small smile and squeeze his bicep in understanding.

"I know, Sug," I start, "but we need most of that to sleep tonight, and I am exhausted." Luke lets out a heavy sigh, and I can tell when he's resigned himself to rationality. Sometimes he needs that little push. He's such a big dreamer, and I love that about him.

I pat his cheek again and say, "Good boy." And walk to my room my shoes sloshing a little. Man, I hope they aren't ruined.

I hear a "Yeah, yeah" behind me, then a objected, "Hey! I'm not a dog!"