Forgotten Mentionables

cHaPtEr 14:

"See you later Ri! Nice meeting you Luke!" Raja yelled with Zahvii waving not even looking up from his phone.

Rolling my eyes at her excessive behaviour I just waved back at her. When I opened the lock to the building, a wave of fatigue hit me. Yawning, I walked to the elevator with Luke in tow completely unconcerned about my surroundings. I hadn't even realized the elevator had arrived until Luke stuck his hand out to stop the door from closing again. I mumbled out a thanks and shuffled inside.

I wonder if he had a good time tonight. Looking at him, I saw he was leaning against the back of the elevator with his eyes closed. Tilting my head to the side I squinted at the slight wrinkle in his forehead and the strained corners of his eyes.

What was he thinking about to make him so stressed? Maybe he didn't like my friends. Wait that's not possible, his smile was genuine when they make jokes. Zahvii and him are basically inseparable now. So what could it be?

Suddenly the thought pops up and I slap my forehead with realization. This caused Luke to jolt upright, his eyes snapped open in alertness. The creak of elevator door opening again saved me from being looking stupid for the thousandth time today. He didn't say anything as we walked out of the elevator and we walked in silence to the front door .

I fumbled with my keys thinking about his obvious discomfort. It must be about his dad. It is so easy for me to forget the reason why he is even here in the first place. He deserved a hug. It just wouldn't be from me.

Sighing, I pushed open the front door, flung my shoes of my feet and started walking down the hallway to the room. I falter a bit. Maybe I should say something at least. I turn on my heels to see him bending down and dealing with his shoes.

"Hey Luke,"

"Hmm?" he replies not looking up from untying his shoes.

"Did you have a good time today?"

He stopped fumbling with his shoe and looked up at me with a smile. "It was interesting. Especially your friends. Some are strange, but they seem like cool people".

That made me smile a little. He liked my friends! That boosted my courage up enough to ask what I really wanted to know.

"Are you okay?" I bite the corner of my lip after I rush out the words.

The smile he once had dropped a bit.

"No" he said bluntly and then continued to take off his shoes. His reply shocked me, but I knew I couldn't just leave that alone.

"Why not? What's wrong?" I pushed. "If there is anything I know it's that bottling it up will do nothing but make it harder to function. It will eat away at you until you tell it; say it out loud and acknowledge its existence"

By now I had his attention. I hadn't intended to say that much, but my past haunted me in ways that were unignorably, I didn't wasn't anyone to ever have to deal that way. His eyes glazed quickly with remorse but disappeared under his cool exterior.

It didn't seem like he was going to talk despite my little speech on sharing feelings, so I kept going, "It might be because we've only really known each other for about a day, but if you need anything or want to talk, I'm here."

I even poked fun by saying "No, seriously I'm here, like same room and everything. I can't really go anywhere since this is where I live, so I can listen".

That warranted a chuckle from the blonde giant. "Glad to know that we are stuck together" He joked.

I smiled and said, "Yeah sorry buddy, but I'm everywhere ". And with that, I walked to the back of the apartment to grab a shower. "Luke murmured something as I walked away , that sounded a lot like "I don't mind".