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TBA

CHAPTER ONE

I SHOULD START from the beginning. And I should tell you all about it in chronological order, like it went down.

But truth be told, that's not how it happened.

I met Lukas at a cousin of a friend's, of a friend's party. This was two weeks before I would inevitably, yet surprisingly decide to drop out of college.

He was a classic portrait of the tall, dark and handsome figure. I did not however peg him for being literate.

"They're called classics for a reason. Because they're timeless pieces of art. Take Hemmingway, authors of today could never."

And argumentative. At this point in time, I was not yet aware that Lukas was a law major.

"They're called classics because they're pieces from the past."

"The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past."

"Faulkner." I tipped my beer cup in appreciation of his appropriate quote.

"A classic. Important."

"I never denounced their importance. I simply stated that the books of today will be the classics of tomorrow. No reason why they cannot share the pedestal with your beloved art."

He shook his head, not counteracting my argument. Only bemused that I would think to make an argument so ridiculous.

Truth be told, I knew the John Green of today is not the Ernest Hemingway of the past. But change is inevitable, necessary, sought after even. One is not worse than the other simply because of its differences.

"I find your disinterest in the classics quite ironic, considering you were named from one."

"Quite a leap. You don't know my parents. For all you know the only book they own is a dusty Bible."

"I highly doubt that. I would like to know why they named you Addie though." He smiled into a sip of his beer, teasingly. Provoking, though I'm not sure what yet.

"I was dead when I was born. But apparently, I needed a second chance at life, if only to prove you wrong about the power of the contemporary novel."

"I'm quite happy you got that second chance Addie Bundren."

"It's Lewis."

He hummed, a small smile playing on his lips. So obviously refraining from sharing a secret.

"Can I take you somewhere?" He asked.

This was the moment. This argument. This night. The flint that sparked it all.

If there was ever a proper beginning to our story, it would probably start here every time.

After that night, I didn't see Lukas for another week. My interest in my classes, although weak to begin with, was slowly starting to decline. And before I knew it, I was encouraged to join a tutoring session to combat this 'uncharacteristic' behaviour.

It was held in a small classroom, occasionally used, and after nightfall. I can't recall any of the other students who were there for the extra statistics tutoring. I do, however, vividly remember the moment the door opened and Lukas walked in.

Jacket dotted with beads of rain from outside, his hair a little darker from being damp and his smile wide and welcoming.

My cheeks heated, immediately recalling the night we shared together a week ago.

Macy called it a hit and run.

It was fun for a night, but guys like Lukas usually aren't looking for something long-term. Which I guess was fine for the moment because neither was I.

And then he smiled at me, unfazed that I was sitting there. It was a nice smile.

I can recall all this; his grey t-shirt beneath his jacket, his passionate gesturing, the way his t-shirt stretched taught across his back as he wrote on the whiteboard. But for the life of me, I can't remember anything he said in that class.

"You're a hard person to get a hold of Bundren." I was nearly out the door but I turned around when he spoke to me. He was busy shrugging on his jacket but didn't make a move to leave yet.

"It's Lewis."

"Ah, I guess that was my fatal mistake."

"Are you sure it wasn't hubris?"

"No." He laughed. It was a nice laugh. "Only that I never asked for your number."

"Well, that was certainly an error. I have a nice number, with triple digits and all."

The last person left and the door slowly closed behind them. Lukas threw his bag over his shoulder.

"Would you like some coffee. Maybe I can coerce that number out of you and find out what's so nice about it?"

In retrospect. I should have taken a moment to consider. But I didn't.

"I'd like that- the coffee I mean."

"Of course." He put his hand on the small of my back as we walked out of the classroom. And often when I think about that touch it still feels just as warm as that night.