The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 28 : Luke, Who Are You?

After being on the dance floor for close to 2 hours, Dusk was exhausted. Luke could have been there for an hour more, but he took into consideration her stamina and stepped out of the floor. But instead of sitting on the side, he asked one of the stewards to take them to the 'Tower Room'.

The Tower Room was a luxurious dining room on the top deck of the ship. They got a table on the side, next to the large glass windows. Dusk could see the water outside. She had not realised that while they were on the dance floor, the ship itself had started moving. It was no longer tied to the shore but was in the middle of the (she assumed) ocean. She could see the beach and the plaza where they had got off the taxi, far in the distance. For a few seconds, her heart raced at the thought that she was over water and not on land. If the ship got a hole in the bottom ...

Her hands tightened on the table and Luke looked up in surprise.

"I am sorry, I have never been on a ship actually. This is the first time. I am a pure desert girl. Never seen so much water in my life..." She said with a smile as she calmed herself.

Luke smiled and waved to the server who came over poured the bubbly drink into their glasses. Dusk raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you trying to get me drunk again?"

Luke replied as he smiled back, "Bubblies, Alcohol and Spirits are common in any social occasion, and I think our first actual 'Date' does qualify for it. But don't worry, I will take care of you, even if you are drunk. And as you get used to it, you will realise that your body does not react to a drink as strongly as it did the first time... Come on, a single drink will not be a problem. Besides, you kissed me last time when you had a drink..."

Dusk blushed as she remembered the first time when she spent an evening with him and she ended up kissing him on her own, because she was a little drunk and her inhibitions were swept away. She took a sip. A small flame from a tiny lamp between them gave a soft light. The rest of the room was darkened so as to allow the patrons to enjoy the view of the ocean, with the simmering silvery light of the moon reflecting on the water. Dusk felt the entire atmosphere was very romantic, and it made her wish she could walk over to Luke's side and give him another kiss... Or better still if he would come over to her side and kiss her.

She shook her head, thinking that she got crazy thoughts each time she had any of these drinks. In spite of what everyone said, these can't be good for her. But then slowly, a strange warmth spread inside her as the liquid entered her stomach... Giving a wonderful feeling, though a bit lightheaded.

The Server came to the table and placed a selection of starters for them to enjoy along with their drinks. They spent the next half hour looking into each other's eyes or looking out into the seascape and munching on the titbits that the server kept supplying. They were both silent, contemplating their own thoughts.

Embolden by the drink, Dusk decided she must get some answers from Luke.

"So, tell me, who are you actually?"

Luke had picked up a piece of shrimp embedded in a small wooden stick to eat, when his hands froze. He almost dropped the food in his nervousness.

"Wh... What do you mean, Dusk? ... I ... I have told you who I am. Has someone said something about me to you?"

Dusk gave him a lazy smile. She had two drinks already, but her mind was still working pretty well. She noticed his nervousness and knew she had hit a raw nerve.

"No Luke, you have not told me the truth. I don't mind whatever your history is, but I would like to really know who you are."

Luke continued to be silent, but he would not meet her eyes.