Lucas ✔️

Twenty-Five

**Can everyone please check out this song? He's an Indie Australian guy making music in his bedroom and I literally fell in love with this song on Spotify**

I pushed my way through the café doors quickly and took a deep breath of the cooling air outside, using it to douse myself in reality. I had never seen Lucas anywhere other than outdoors late at night, so meeting him when it was still semi-light out and in a closed environment was a bit much for me. My mind struggled to keep an appropriate distance from him and he had managed to break down my hesitant walls in a manner of minutes.

Lucas stepped outside after me and sent me a small glance, the corners of his mouth edging up as I puffed my cheeks out and looked away from him.

"You like it too much?" He asked innocently, but the twinkle in his eyes said he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Oh, shut up!" I hissed back, although it didn't have any effect as he laughed at me.

My phone dinged in my pocket and I pulled it out, checking my messages quickly as we walked in silence. Lucas didn't even try to peer at my messages, as though he couldn't care less who I was talking to, and it annoyed me for some odd reason. Ignoring the grumbling annoyance building in my stomach I checked the message.

Hey, Lilith. It's Memphis here – save my number!

Where are you? Want to catch up?

Hey Memphis, I'm heading home now.

Sorry, I won't be able to catch up tonight!

Maybe tomorrow?

Sounds good. Chat to you then.

We stopped at the lights and Lucas threw his to-go cup into the bin as we waited for the lights to change. I quickly saved Memphis' number under a new contact and checked my other message from Cole.

Hey Lil

Janie's home safe and sound.

Pls msg when you get home.

Thnx for looking after her Cole.

We're walking home now.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket and eyed Lucas who glanced at me with a small smile, his steps eerily silent next to me.

"Janie's home safe," I said, kicking a rock on the ground awkwardly. He hadn't even asked who I was texting, so I don't know why I felt the need to offer him the information. Especially when it was obvious he didn't even care who I was messaging.

"That's good," he said quietly, watching the rock I kicked as it bounced ahead on the quiet street. We were officially in the suburbs, which didn't mean much in this town. Each house looked as perfect as the last as the sun dipped low beneath the horizon, a few straggling streetlights buzzing to life earlier than most.

I grabbed a ghoul from my shoulder and moved him to my other one, rolling it to release the tension built from its heavy form. Lucas watched and sent me a small smile, one that crinkled the edges of his eyes, before digging into his jacket pocket and pulling out a packet of cigarettes. He tapped the box and grabbed one out before glancing at me as I watched him. Holding the packet out her offered me one and I hesitated before grabbing one.

"Why do you smoke?" I asked him curiously, watching as he lit his cigarette and took a drag. I held mine in my fingers lightly, rolling it and inspecting the stick of danger. I had never smoked before.