Lights (2019)

A Stranger I Know

I stare at Luke for a moment. I probably look ridiculous, because I'm pretty sure I am catching flies. I look between his face and the drink he is offering me. I timidly take the cup from him and place it directly on the kitchen counter. Why exactly is he talking to me? I fight the urge to look over my shoulder and see if Harry has followed me. Nope, I am on my own.

"I'm fine," I answer. "I'm just looking for Louis--"

"Oh, Louis? I saw him take some girl upstairs a while ago." Luke tells me. Just my luck...my only ride out of here has gone missing in action. I am not the person to want to be out late...if it were up to me I would never leave my house. So when someone ditches me after they dragged me out of my safe haven I am not a happy camper.

"I guess that means I have five minutes," I joke... or try to. Luke just gives me a what-the-fuck look. Well that one fell flat. "Do you know who it was?"

Luke shrugs, pouring himself a cup of the clear liquid. "Some girl with black hair?"

So he did end up with Jane. He didn't even need me. Why the fuck am I here? I am willing to bet money that Louis just wanted me to come so it would piss off Harry, me distracting him was just a plus.

Luke gestures to the cup in front of me. "Take a sip," he says.

I shake my head. "I really don't think I should be drinking--"

"Nonsense, you're at my house, therefore you must drink my drinks," Luke urges, taking a sip of his own. "I insist."

"You know, I'm good." I tell him. "Designated driver and all."

"Loosen up," Luke says a grin spreading across his face. I just shrug. Would it hurt? I'm pretty sure WebMD would be against me mixing my pills with alcohol. I bring the rim of the cup to my lips, and pretend to drink. I tip the cup just enough for the liquid to touch my lips. Maybe if I just hold the cup, people will stop pressing me to drink.

"Good, right?" Luke asks as I pull the cup away from my lips. I give him an unconvincing smile and a good ol' thumbs up. He looks at me strangely before shaking his head with a laugh. Luke doesn't seem that bad; it makes me wonder what he did to get oh Harry's shit list. Everyone has the potential to be an asshole, so maybe Luke just hasn't shown me his true colors yet. I put the cup back on the counter only to accidentally knock it with my elbow.

"Sorry," I say with a small laugh. I immediately grab a paper towel and begin mopping up my mess.

"Don't worry about it," Luke tells me. "Let me get you another drink."

"Oh you really don't have to," I say softly under my breath.

"Did you say something?" Luke asks as he pours another drink.

"Nope," I say. "Hey can I ask you a question? If you don't mind."

"Of course not," Luke says handing me another drink. "Go for it."

"How did you get your scar?" I blurt.

Luke's face loses all its humor. "Ask Harry," he says bluntly. I widen my eyes, and Luke chuckles again, nodding at something behind me. "Speak of the devil."

Oh shit. I turn ever so slightly to see an angry Harold stalking towards me. What do I do? Maybe he is like a dinosaur. Maybe if I don't move he won't see me. I watch as Luke throws back his cup, finishing his drink. He must need all the courage he can get to deal with a pissed off Harry.

"I have been looking all over for you," Harry growls. Well, my whole, not moving plan did not work. Maybe Jedi mind tricks? This is not the Blair you're looking for. I turn to see if he is still there and sure enough he is. Curses, the force has failed me. "Blair?"