First one

One hundred Eighteen: An A for effort

Isabella's POV

"What is this?" I whispered full of surprise as I watched Lukas putting lights in a Christmas tree that wasn't there this morning. He smirked at me, his hand instantly going through his hair to calm his nerves as he glimpsed at Ben holding another set of lights.

"He certainly has never done this before..." Mia leaned in to whisper as her shoulder lightly brushed mine. The infinite smirk on her face instantly made me roll my eyes at her. "Uuuhm Ben... It's time to grab lunch don't you think?" She suggested but more like urged him to grab his keys and go out of our way.

"Yep, I'm freaking hungry! See you later man!" He laughed without hesitation as he squeezed Lukas's shoulder and shoved the set of lights into his hands. "Bella... Be naughty or nice. Your pick." Ben said silently as he passed me on his way to the door. Before I knew it, I found myself alone in the living room with Lukas who looked nervous, in a good and adorable way.

"Sooo." I wobbled from one leg to the other as I slowly approached him. "A Christmas tree huh?" I put my lips in a straight line to sheepishly hide the smirk on my face, which was for sure a failed attempt.

He left the lights on the tree for what they were and put the ones in his hand on the floor. He came over to me, my feet glued to the floor when he did. "Well, when I woke up, I thought you had left... had left me... again..." He looked at me through his eyelashes as he slowly came closer. I wouldn't Lukas, not again... Never again. "I was worried sick and then I read the note..." He whispered, now standing in front of me, his hand slowly reaching for the pocket of the hoodie I was wearing. His fingers laced around the fabric while I felt my knees go weak, his soft touch, his slow approach, everything was making me swoon for him. "I would lie if I said I wasn't disappointed you didn't want me there with you at the police station." He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as I felt his fingers in the pocket of the hoodie caress my stomach.

I instantly shook my head. "I wanted you with me, but I didn't want you to hear me spill the details like that to a random police officer, not giving us the chance to talk about it. If we want to work this out, then talking is the most important part of getting through this." I joined his hand in the pocket and intertwined my fingers with his. The softness of them against mine, filled my heart with all the love I needed right now. I squeezed his hand, grabbing his attention. He released his bottom lip the moment his gaze met mine, his mouth slightly parted. "Lukas, trust me when I say you don't have to be disappointed... I need you." I smiled at him and as I did, his face relaxed, like a weight fell off his shoulders. I looked away to the tree in the center of the living room and pulled my brows up.

"I didn't know what to with myself... I was worried, thinking about you at that police station, the officers not taking it seriously...You crying... I didn't know what to think... So instead of sitting here, sulking about it I decided to spend my time... for something good..." He lightly shrugged his shoulders as if what he did was nothing.

With my hands, which were still intertwined with his in the pocket of my hoodie, I pulled him closer until the distance between us was almost gone. "So, you went out and bought a tree?" I pulled my eyebrows up with curiosity once more.

He playfully rolled his eyes at me with an obvious smirk on his face. "Yup..." He shrugged his shoulders before taking a step back. "And decorations." He wiggled his brows at me, and it instantly made me let out a loud laugh. "Come..." He said, turning around to walk over to the tree... His hand left the pocket only to pull mine with it and drag me along, our fingers never untangling. "I know you never had many happy Christmases, so I thought, why don't we change that from now on." He smirked at me as he looked down, his eyes boring holes through me with anticipation.