Secrecy from the Fans - Luke Brooks

No Boys Allowed

We had sat in the same lounge chair for twenty minutes in complete and utter silence. We sat in the sitting room that overlooked the back garden that led on to the back veranda where Luke’s family was. I watched Luke’s family socialize in this time. I watched Nonno and Nonna waddle around the back yard and around the veranda talking to the separate family groups making sure everyone was fine. I watched Gina and her sister, Jenna boasting about their achievements they had made in life whilst glaring at each other. I smiled proudly at Gina as she flipped her curls over her shoulder sassily. I watched Jai pretend to play dinosaurs with his little cousins. I had always found it interesting watching people. I know it sounds creepy, but I don’t know… I had always found it interesting. I slyly glance at Luke who had been staring the same spot on the floor the whole time. I half stand up as I readjust my dress, he looks up and half-heartedly smiles.

“Do you want to go play with Jai,” I smile at him, trying to cheer him up. I didn’t realize he would act so glum after I confronted him.

He looks out into the yard at Jai and smiles at the ground and shrugs, “Nah its okay, you go have some fun.”

With that I stand up and brush my dress down and smile a quick good bye to him and he continues to look at the floor. I was over him sooking! I make my way through his family who gave me strange glances seeing me walk towards Jai.

 “Hey Rach,” he smiles at me and leaves the game with the children. I examined his smile quickly seeing how different the two twins smiles were. Jai kind of had a more of a cheesier, childish smile whereas Luke had a cheeky grin that made my heart melt.

“Hey Jai” I smile at him.

“What’s the matter with him?” he questions looking at Luke who had moved from the sitting room inside to sit at the table outside. He was still sulking.

I sigh, “he’s just having a sad because I kind of confronted him after he had a go at Beau.”

“Oh, so that’s why Beau left”

“He left?”

“Yeah, he left like maybe half an hour ago in his car.”

I gasp, “He drove? He was practically drunk when I was talking to him!”

Jai’s eyes widen in realization and then his phone lights up in his pocket and he answers it and smiles.  “Hellllooooo, Yes. I will. Yep you do that. Okay. Yeah love you too. Yep. Yes. Okay bye Beau.” He hangs the phone call up and returns it to his pocket.

“You are right he is pretty drunk,” he laughs, “he’s at home now trying to make a sandwich… yeah, he is a strange boy.”

I laugh in relief, “He sure is!”

A small girl in a floral dress stands behind Jai and cuddles his leg, I see she was the only girl out of the four children that were here. She questions me, “Are you Luke’s girlfriend?” She asks shyly.

I blush and squat down to her level being careful about my dress, “No I’m not unfortunately” I look up to Jai and he is smiling down at the girl.

“Oh,” She says taking a warming to me and quickly stands in front of Jai’s leg although still hugging it. “You should be, you are pretty.”

I laugh then smile, “Not as pretty as you though!” I watch her blush and then smile. “What is your name?” I ask her.

She lets go of Jai’s leg, “Courtney and I’m this many.” She says a little more enthusiastically putting up five fingers.

“How many is that, Courtney?” Jai asks.

“Um, FIVE” She smiles up at him then back at me.

“Well done, my name is Rachel and I’m seventeen. So this many.” I grab her hands and make her hold her palms out making a ten then I hold seven of my fingers.

“Woooow. You are almost as old as my Mum.”

I hear Jai laugh, “Not quite, she is the same age as Luke and me.”

She quickly brushes off what Jai had said and looks up to me, “Can we do some coloring?” She says grabbing my hand.

“Sure,” I smile and she drags me to a small table were there was some coloring books and pencils. She gives me a coloring book and she grabs another and we sit there coloring for a while.

“No Luke, no boys allowed!” She says bossily at Luke. I turn around and see he was standing behind me.

“But.. but!” he stammers amazed at the child.

“Can’t he stay Courtney, just this once” I plead and Luke bends down to the small chair I was sitting on and kissing my cheek.

“Hmmmm, okay just this once but only if you say yes to that you will be Luke’s girlfriend.” She says still in her confident tone.

I was speechless not knowing what to say and I look at Luke who was grinning from ear to ear, trying to contain giggles and I almost start to laugh due to his face. Luke pulls one of the small chairs and sits beside me, “She does!” he says smiling at me cheekily and kisses my cheek. Courtney smiles proudly and continues coloring. Luke looks at me and smiles cheekily and grabs a piece of paper and writes in a pink pencil, “Courtney really likes you :)”
“Yeah, she is cute” I write back in a blue pencil.

I watched him write, “not as cute as you though ;)” I place my hand on his thigh and smile at him and he smiles back.

“Sorry again about before,” I say.

“Me too.” He smiles, “Just forget about it, okay?”

“Okay”

“Courtney darling, we have to go. Say good bye to Luke and his girlfriend please” A lady which I am assuming was Courtney’s mother says smiling at us.

“Bye Luke” she says standing up and wrapping her arms around Luke and Luke picks her up and spins her around. Courtney laughs in happiness and I smile at the pair. I always found it really attractive when a boy gets along with children. Luke places her carefully on the ground and gives her a small kiss on the cheek and she does the same.

“Bye Rachel” She says and I bend down being careful of my dress as she wraps her arms around my neck. She places a slopping kiss on my cheek then goes and runs up to her Mum. I smile at Luke and wipe the slobber on my cheek and rub it on his shirt.

“Hey!” he says and he playfully places me on his shoulder. I laugh and remember I had a dress on.

“Lukeeee! Put me dowwwwn!” I screech.

“Nope!” he laughs.

“Luuuuke! I have a dress on!” I screech.

I hear him laugh and he places me carefully down and I face him and pout at him. I saw his face and he was grinning from ear to ear and I smile at his smile.

“You are cute, you know that right?” I say, touching his nose with my index finger.

“Yeah I know, but do you know that girl.. I’m pretty sure her name is Rachel. Yeah she is just a tad cuter then me.”

I smile, “Oh really?”

“Yeah” he grins and looks at the floor. I place a gently kiss on his lips pulling away before anyone saw.

We left shortly after and Gina and the boys dropped me home. I thanked them for a good night and they all friendly grinned back at me.They were such a nice family; Luke walked me too my door and kissed me on the cheek again, not wanting to do anything infront of his Mum. I just wish I knew what Luke and I were. We sure weren’t ‘Just Friends’.