Treatment// l.h

Chapter 12: Luke

After saying bye to the rest of his friends, Luke and Piper drove to the treatment center with a stereo and more than enough CDs.

The duo hopped out of the car and ran inside, which was tough considering Luke was carrying a stereo and Piper just didn't run.

They couldn't wait to see Addie, so both of them overcame their struggles, panting as they stood in front of the large wooden desk. The receptionist didn't seem happy to see two teenagers bursting through the door with smiles on their faces.

"Piper and Luke." Piper grinned, dropping her hands on the counter, Luke loved to see her happy.

"You're Luke?" The woman turned to Luke and he kept the smile on his face, just now realizing that it was a different woman working than usual.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." He attempted to make a joke but Piper rolled her eyes and elbowed him, trying to hide a smile.

"I'm Lorraine, all the nurses talk about you at lunch." She laughed, reaching over the desk to shake his hand. Luke was surprised but took her hand anyway.

Piper furrowed her eyebrows and Luke let go of the woman's hand, reaching for Piper. He carefully brushed his thumb over the crease between Piper's eyebrows and her expression softened. She smiled softly, leaning into his touch, both of them completely forgetting about Lorraine watching right in front of them until she cleared her throat.

Piper jumped away from his caring hands and returned her focus to the lady, but Luke kept his focus on Piper. He just didn't understand how he had these strong feelings all of a sudden.

"Um, why were they all talking about Luke?" She asked quietly, setting her elbows on the desk. Luke still stared.

"Well, sugar," Lorraine started to talk about the seating arrangements in the cafeteria and Piper looked to Luke, who still had his attention on her. She raised her arm, questioning why he was staring at her but Luke just smiled.

Piper rolled her eyes and went back to listening to the woman, "...and Cherry sits next to me. Cherry was the woman who helped you guys last time. Marge mentioned something about Addie's progress and how you guys were helping her and then we started talking about Luke and how we've never seen you so happy, Piper." She finished in one big breath.

Luke was expecting Piper to get upset because knowing her, she wouldn't want these nurses to see her happy. Instead she smirked slightly and grabbed Luke's hand.

"He helped me more in five weeks than any of those nurses did in three years." She took off running, dragging Luke behind her as they sprinted down the corridor.

The difficulty of running was still an issue but this time, their smiles were bigger, their adrenaline was higher, and their laughs were louder.

"Piper, that was the best thing that has ever happened in my life!" Luke yelled between breaths as they turned the corner, sprinting the rest of the way to the end of the hall.

Luke dropped the stereo and they both fell to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Holy shit, did I just do that?" She squealed and it sent them into another fit of laughter.

When they finally settled down, Piper looked over at Luke who was already looking at her.

They were both laying on their backs and luckily no nurses were near to yell at them.

Luke noticed how her eyes were pretty like his and he noticed how cute her nose was. He noticed that her lips were slightly chapped and her eyebrows weren't perfect, but he didn't care. His mum once told him that perfection was all the little imperfections added up. Whether it was a freckle or a pimple, those things make a person who they are.

And for what felt like the millionth time, Luke felt himself leaning in towards Piper's beautiful face.

This time, he was even closer to her lips than he was last time which is why it hurt so much when a knock came from the inside of Addison's room, "Luke, Piper, is that you?"

Luke groaned as Piper stood up, offering him a hand. This had happened way too much.

So instead of letting Piper pull him up, Luke pulled her back down to him, "Not this time."