Looking For Now↣l.h

13. Calm His Soul

Luke's POV

"So, what do you think?" I ask after minutes of silence. Her icy blue eyes tilt up to meet my expectant gaze. I make sure not to seem to eager, since that won't help my case, and I try to seem utterly uninterested with her response. This is purely business and I have to make it seem as such.

"You do realize what you're asking me to do, Hemmings?" Leigh Anne peers at me over her wire rimmed glasses with a weary sigh.

"I'm simply asking for your assistance in helping my patient. No, it is not an ordinary way to go about it, but I believe it is the best option for her." I state giving myself props for how business-like it sounded.

"Do you even consider how many rules I will have to bend to make this happen?" She sighs heavily finally leaning back in her chair and loosening her grip on the clipboard in her painted fingers; a good sign that Leigh Anne is giving in.

"So, you'll try?" I smile to myself and she rolls her eyes but nods her head. "When will you know for sure? With Elias still out there, the sooner the better. I also wanted to get as much court stuff done as possible while we are gone, and-"

"Luke." She interrupts my rant.

"Yes?"

"Slow down, okay? We still need the approval before you get to ahead of yourself."

"When will we have an answer?"

"Either by the end of today or tomorrow morning."

"Great. Thanks so much, Leigh Anne, I promise you won't regret it." I can't help the stupid grin that takes over my face as I stand up from the chair to leave her office.

"One more thing Luke."

"Yes?"

"She's crazy, okay? Please don't go falling in love with someone who ended up within the confines of a mental institution. I understand you are here a lot, but your mum would want you to get out there and find a nice young girl with your interests and a good future. Cora is here for a good reason Luke, she isn't mentally stable, she tried to kill herself. Do yourself a favor, and cut off any emotional ties as soon as possible, okay?"

As soon as the words leave her lips anger boils in my chest and my throat tightens. Leigh Anne doesn't know anything about Cora and has no right to speak about her like that. I give her a small nod before slipping through her door and heading straight through the double doors that lead out of the institution.

Yes, I am on duty, but I need to get some fresh air and let the steam cool off. I'll go on a walk into town, that's what I always do when I need a break from the institution. It's been a slow day anyway and the roads are usually pretty empty this time of day; no one will even notice I left.

Cora's POV

"Hey, Ashton?" Calum waves his hands in front of Ashton's eyes that are fixated on the floor. He's been weird all after noon, and has hardly spoken at lunch, which is very unlike the high-spirited boy I've come to know.

"Yeah?" He mumbles tilting his chin slightly to meet his friend's gaze.

"Mikey and I are going to head to the rec room, would you or Cora like to go?" He suggests looking back and forth between us. We just finished our lunch, so there is about half an hour before my counseling session with Luke.

"I'll pass, thanks." He mutters and Calum slides back in his chair, so he and Michael can leave.

"Alright man, call me if you need anything. You coming Cora?"

"Not today, thanks though." I give him a knowing smile, trying to imply that I need to stay back and see if Ashton is okay. "So, what's wrong?" I ask once the other boys have left through the metal double doors to go back to their wing.