Mariam woke up in the dead of night to the shrill sound of enraged screaming. She shoved her head beneath her pillow to drown out the intrusive sound. She had morning classes the next day, she couldn't afford to lose any sleep.
Unfortunately, the walls of her apartment were ridiculously thin and Mariam heard a string of profanities billowing through the walls.
She sat upright after several moments, rubbing her eyes as the loud yammering continued. "Ugh," Mariam groaned sleepily. Yawning, Mariam slipped out of bed and padded to the front door.
She slowly blinked away the sleep from her eyes and then, there was the unmistakable smack of skin against skin. Mariam immediately pressed herself against the door, raising on her toes to peak from the peep-hole. She saw Luke out in the hall with a girl. His hands were raised.
Mariam gasped, stepping away from the door. Had he harmed a woman?!
She swiftly snatched her keys from the counter, a precaution in case she had to protect herself. For someone of her stature, Mariam sure managed to acquire a new form of will power. She opened the door just as the young woman stormed away. "Wait-!"
Luke turned to her. Mariam instantly dropped her keys upon seeing the busted lip and bloody nose he brandished. She stared at him in shock. "W-what did you do?" Mariam whispered.
Luke tapped his bloody nose. "Nothing."
Mariam pushed her door open, whelmed by a sense of sympathy for him. "Come in."
Luke huffed stubbornly, looking away. "No. I don't want you," he mocked. She couldn't help but blush as he threw her words back at her. "I'd rather stay out here-"
With a brief acquire of courage, Mariam grabbed his wrist. "J-just come in." He bent to grab her keys and followed her inside without objection.
