Knightly in Shining Armor

Lukas

I was sat on the counter, observing Lourdes as she put everything away. I was trying to commit it to memory so I wouldn't be completely useless next time.

"How long have you been living in New York?" I asked, trying to start up a conversation. Her eerie silence was putting me off.

"Since... well, since like the ninth grade or something. I moved here from London just before starting high school here." She explained as she reached to put a box of baking powder on the top shelf of the far left cupboard.

"Wait, pause," I stopped her. "You lived in London?"

"Oh my god, I went to your family galas all the time," She rolled her eyes. "My parents work for yours too, so I don't know why you're so surprised."

"They do?" I asked. I felt actually stupid. How had I not known that? I mean I vaguely remember my mum mentioning it but otherwise I was in the dark about Lourdes.

"So, you came here assuming I was a random person with no ties to your family? That your parents were just shipping you off to someone they didn't know to get you off their hands?" She shook her head as she shut the fridge.

"Well... I wouldn't put it past them I guess." I hopped off the counter to give her a boost to the cabinets above the fridge.

"That's shit." She stepped on my knee to open and fill the upper cabinets.

"Not like I can do anything about it." I let her climb down before retaking my place on the counter.

"What do you mean?" She asked, placing a hand on her hip. "You can move out. You're legal, aren't you?"

"What, and have them cut me off for good?" I scoffed.

"There's this thing, Lukas. It's called an education and a job. Get those things and you're set for life. I think I'm decently well off with just that because it's not like my parents help me much either." She walked passed, ruffling my hair as she did so. I scowled, pushing my hair back to normal. "But fear not, I'll show you the ropes. As of now, you're my protégé."

"How about no." I rolled my eyes. "I refuse to be called that."

"Who said you had a say in that?" She teased, folding up the canvas bags and leaving me alone in her apartment.

I walked through the apartment, looking around while she was gone. She had paintings all over the place in neat stacks on the shelves, on the wall, and throughout the place. There were high-quality art supplies everywhere in cups or in cases. She also had a vast quantity of photographs everywhere.

I picked one up. Lourdes was standing with her arms around another boy's shoulders. They were at an art exhibition. She had a brilliantly large smile on her face, as well as flecks of paint. The paint was all over her clothes, too. Her curly hair was up in its regular messy bun.

The boy she was standing with was looking at her with mass amounts of pride. He was taller than her by several centimeters, with curly hair and darker eyes. He looked like he was 16. They weren't related, anyone could tell that much. Who was he then? How did they know each other? Why was I so invested in snooping around Lourdes' stuff?

"That's Bennett," Lourdes spoke as she appeared behind me. I almost jumped. "He's my favorite person ever. Oh shit, speaking of which." She pulled out her cell and sat on the couch, pulling her legs closer to her. "Bennett, hey!" A smile spread across her face.

So, who was this kid? A boyfriend? Crush? Regular friend? I had no idea beyond her excitement. She reminded me of when Luann answers my calls. Giddy and excited.