~ Black Lace ~ (l.h.)

16. Soup and Starlight

My Saturday is lazy, which is a nice change from the last few drama-filled weeks. I sleep until 12 o'clock, a much needed luxury. I have some of my brother's sugary cereal and flick through my dad's already read newspaper. As I stare emotionlessly at the horrible comics, my phone buzzes with a text from Luke.

Wanna do something with me tonight?

I can't contain my smile as I respond.

Definitely :) and good morning to you too

I have no plans for the day so I alternate between texting Luke, Calum, and Laurel, and scrolling through my Tumblr and Twitter. I make plans with Calum for tomorrow. He thinks it would be fun to go to the zoo, though I don't think anyone over the age of six actually enjoys seeing caged up animals and smelling dung all day. He seems heartbroken by my lack of enthusiasm so, in the end, I agree to go with him, only to keep him happy.

Laurel talked to Ashton last night about our 'threesome' and then they apparently went on to do unspeakable things to each other. I didn't really need to hear all the details, to be honest. I would have been perfectly fine living my whole life not knowing what my friends get up to under the covers. But that's not Laurel's style, so she tells me everything anyway.

Luke actually ends up calling me to inform me of what I should wear on our date-yes, he calls it that-and what time he will pick me up.

"Bring a sweater or something, it might get colder tonight. I checked the forecast and it said it should be a clear night, but the temperature is going to drop a bit, so long pants, maybe." He sounds so genuinely excited but he won't tell me exactly what we're going to be doing. He likes to keep things mysterious, or so he says.

The day passes slowly after that. At around 4 in the afternoon, I have a shower and blow dry my hair. I put on a loose, flowy shirt that'll be cool enough for the current summer heat but can be paired with a cardigan for when it gets colder tonight, and a pair of dark skinny jeans.

"Where are you going?" Will asks. He was walking by my room, but stopped when he saw me getting ready for something that was clearly none of his business.

"I'm going out with Luke for dinner tonight," I respond, not looking at him, but rather focusing on applying my makeup in the mirror.

"Are you gonna paint him again?" He sneers. I roll my eyes.

"No. Can you leave now?"

"You really like him, huh?" Will's voice is softer and I frown in confusion.

"I guess. Since when do you care?"

"You usually don't invite guys over for dinner and then go out with them again." I don't know how to respond. "It's normally a one time thing." He shrugs and adds "He must mean a lot to you," before he leaves.

I'm really confused. None of that was sarcastic or teasing. My brother almost seemed happy for me-a crazy thought. I give my head a quick shake and turn my attention back to winging my eyeliner. I don't have time for my brother being weirdly sentimental. I hear the doorbell ring and I panic, trying to get everything I need together. I grab my purse and my sweater and stomp down the stairs quickly.

Luke is sitting with my mother and father in the living room. To say he looks uncomfortable is probably an understatement. My dad's got a serious expression on and I catch him in mid finger-wag when I burst into the room. I can tell it's a treat-her-right-or-else talk and my mother looks like she's trying not to laugh at my boyfriend's discomfort.

"Can we skip the clichés, please," I say, taking Luke's arm and helping him up from the interrogation chair.

"It's in the fathers' guidebook, Winter. I have to tell the boy not to mess around with you or he'll be messing with me next," my father defends, only half-joking. I groan and start to drag Luke, who doesn't protest, towards the door. My dad follows wearing a sceptical expression.