Knightly in Shining Armor

Lukas

"How can you stand to live with her?" Luann asked as she drove us through the city. "I mean, she's wretched." I looked out the window with a shrug.

"I mean, she's feeding me and stuff so it's not all bad." I watched the city fly by out my window.

Lu huffed. "I just don't understand why your parents would send you to live with her of all people. What does she have going for her? Did you see her flat? The thing's like the size of your bedroom back in London!"

"Well, yeah, I guess," I sighed. "I dunno, I guess it's nice to have a change of scenery. And basically no yelling or threats from my parents either so that's a plus."

"What about from her then?" Luann asked. "I mean, she literally assaulted you. How often does that happen, huh?"

I went quiet. Lourdes had never seemed like the violent type. Except when she herself was threatened, like at the market. But she was never that way with me. Hell, she was even nice to me, taking me in and feeding me and such. I wasn't doing a very good job of repaying her at all.

"Earth to Lukas." Luann snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Kindly answer my question."

"No, she's never done anything of that sort before." I turned my head back to the window. "Then again, I was kind of asking for it."

"How were you asking for it?" Luann asked, exasperated. "You were only speaking the truth. I mean, look at her!"

"Can we not talk about this?" I groaned, feeling worse by the second. I didn't want to be reminded of how much of an asshole I was.

"Yeah, whatever." Luann stopped at a traffic light. "Coming to my performance next month?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Luann and I drove through town, chatting about mundane things.

"How about lunch?" She suggested.

"I'm always down for lunch." I grinned.

"I know you are," She chuckled. She drove us partway across town towards Times Square. We stopped in front of an upscale restaurant that was crowded to the brim. Luann sauntered right up to the front.

"Ah, Miss Morgan. Lovely to see you again," The host spoke with a smile. "For two?"

"Yes please." Luann beckoned me to follow the host as he led us into the back of the restaurant. We walked up a short flight of stairs and were seated next to a set of large windows.

The view was nice, I suppose, for a cloudy October day in a city I didn't know. The table and the whole restaurant were dressed to the nines. Everything was as elegant as one of my mother's charity galas. I never thought I'd be homesick for one of those. I never planned on being homesick at all, for that matter.

"... don't you think? Lukas? Are you listening?" Luann waved a soup spoon in front of my face to draw me out of my thoughts.

"Sorry, what was that?" I asked, turning my attention back to my best friend.

"I said this would make a wonderful place for a romantic date, but I guess that doesn't interest you," She huffed. I rolled my eyes. She was like this every time romance came up as a topic, even if she was the one to bring it up.

"Well, I don't tend to go on dates," I reminded her. "Romance is just... ugh." She fiddled with the tablecloth, avoiding my gaze. I continued, "I mean, I only ever have flings for that reason. Low commitment, low effort, with amazing results."

"That explains why you're such a bloody asshole," Luann grumbled. The waiter came by to give us menus. I scanned mine with confusion. Why was she acting like this? This wasn't typical Lu behavior.