Fighter | l.h.

9

When three rolled around, Luke had walked me to the coffee shop. "So, here you are. At work."

"Yeah, I'm here at work." I looked down at the ground and began rocking back and forth on my heels. "I had fun today."

"You did?" He said, his face lighting up. "Do...do you maybe want to do this again sometime?"

"Like an actual date?" I really hadn't been on a date since Teddy, and I was nervous on if he really meant like a date.

"Yes, like an actual date. Like, I dunno. I can take you to my house or something and we can watch a movie and make dinner I don't know." I could see the blush creeping into his cheeks as he leaned up against the building where I worked. "Friday, does that work?"

"I don't know, are you gonna get beat up again and end up in the hospital?" I poked his stomach and he shook his head at me. "I'm only joking. Friday at seven works."

"That's, that's great Christine. I'll text you later tonight, alright?" I nodded at him and he gave me a hug, his arms wrapping around my body and pulling me securely into him. He smelled like lavender and a slight hint of musk, but it suited him: a guy with a soft side and a bit of a dark side. "Okay, I have to go to work now. Bye," he said as he walked down the street.

"Bye!" I called as I walked inside. I sauntered over to the counter where Ashton was already making drinks. "Life is good right now," I said jumping over the marble countertop and sliding down to the floor.

"Okay, did you get laid?" He asked as he handed a customer a drink.

"No, I got asked out on a date, that guy from last week," I said getting up and putting on my apron. "I haven't been asked out since...since Teddy." The sudden realization hit me that I hadn't been asked out since Teddy. I had never been on a date with Teddy, it was more or less hanging out and being comfortable around each other. What do you even do on dates? The cliché dinner and a movie thing? Wait, that's what Luke and I were gonna do, except make dinner and watch a movie.

"Christine, are you alright? Or are you just thinking to much about your date?" He hit me with a towel before getting something out of the fridge.

"It's just that Teddy and I hadn't ever had a proper date. The one we were supposed to go on got ruined." I put my hair up in a pony tail and looked out the window. "But the past is past, and I'm gonna go to his house and we're gonna cook and watch a movie."

"That sounds fun. Kirsten and I are probably just gonna go out bowling or something." I nodded before I went to help customers.

Luke POV

"Hey man, how's the ribs holding up?" Calum asked me as he walked into the gym where we both worked.

"It's fine. Why are you asking, you never care about my health unless I get drunk." I picked up some boxes and moved them before getting into the ring.

"I was just wondering, I know that Betting is wanting to see you." I groaned, because not only did I work for Betting in the drug business, I worked for his gym and I worked for him in the ring. It was like I sold my soul and he was the devil bastard that bought it.

"Betting will see me when he sees me alright? I'll go see him tomorrow night or something, I'm busy the rest of the week." I moved a couple of free standing punching bags into the corners before getting out and going to the locker rooms.

"Whatcha doin the rest of the week?" He leaned his head in his hand and gave me a puppy dog look.

"None of your business Hood," I said as I slipped in my lip piercing, the black metal resting between my two lips.

"You have a date, you only wear the ring when you have a date. Who's it with, is she hot?" He asked, practically pushing me into the metal container.

"I don't have a date! Not today anyways," I said getting him off of me. "I have one Friday, that's why I'll see Betting tomorrow."

"Who's the girl?" He said, his arms still creating a barrier between me and the door.

"The girl from the hospital. Now get the fuck off me!" I said shoving him and going out the door.

"You mean the nurse? Dude, that's not legal."

"Her daughter, the one that brought me food and not you prick." I took out my phone and pulled up Christines contact while I was still thinking about her, which was now all the time (or it had been for the past three days).

"Is this the chick from that stupid school you go to?" He had followed me around front and just wanted to get me to talk because, I mean he was one for gossip.

"I promised my parents that I'd get a high school diploma, alright? I'm not gonna do the whole college thing, I'm just gonna get my GED and be fucking done. One more year right?" I looked at the screen, viewing the conversations with Christine I had with her in just a week.

To Christine Douglas:

Hey :-) just wondering what do you want to make on Friday?

"You haven't liked a girl this much since you were fourteen," he said popping his knuckles underneath his tan skin.

"Yeah, and how did every other relationship turn out after that? It was shit. I've been single for the past year, I think I can start over."

"Does she know about the drugs Luke?" His question hit me hard. The only reason my past realtionships hadn't worked was because they all found out about how I worked for a drug dealer, and I really liked Christine and I couldn't fuck this one up.

"What she doesn't know won't kill her Cal," I said going outside and walking down the street.

"And when she does find out you'll end up like you did before," he said following me. "I don't want to see you heartbroken over another girl you fall head over heals for dude."

"Thanks for caring Cal, but there's something about this girl. She's different then the other ones."

"What makes her different other than the fact you two haven't had sex yet?"

"That, and she's better, morally that is. She is one of the finest girls I've ever met, and she's so pure and wholesome it's insane."

"What if she turns out to be hiding something from you like you're hiding something from her?" Damn, he's never this good with questions.

"Then you know what, we'll be even." Just as the words slipped past my lips, I got a new text from Christine.

From Christine Douglas:

I don't know. I can make a mean pan fried fish. British night?

To Christine Douglas:

Sounds good :-) I'll bring the fish, you bring the Austin Powers?

"And you're texting her those retarded happy faces! No one likes those but you, dumbass." He said as he walked with me to his car.

"I like them jerk," I mumbled as she texted me back.

From Christine Douglas:

Anything you say! Does this mean you'll take me on a ride on your motorcycle ;)?

To Christine Douglas:

I'll pick you up from work at 7 ;)

"You sicken me so much Lucas," he said as he started the car.

"Just because I have a date and you don't doesn't mean anything. How come you never have a girlfriend? All I ever hear from you is one night stands and the clinking of shot glasses."

"Don't turn this around on me you dick. Just...can you not?" I started laughing as he glared at me before I got back on my game.

"I will not talk about my date buddy until after the date. Deal?"

"As long as you never say fucking date buddy again."