✦ ( 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 ) ✦

"C'mon Kee--wait can I call you Kee?" Luke stopped suddenly, causing me to bump into his hard back.
"Sure." I winced, rubbing my nose as it stung from the force of his back.
"Are you okay?" Luke grew concerned before I nodded, "Yes. So, what do we have to cook?" I asked, curiously looking around the kitchen but not seeing Victor.
"I don't know - you and I will figure it out. Vic went with Sean to the hospital, it's just you and I!" He grinned, "Do you know how to cook?"

"Of course, I grew up cooking with Dee-" I cut myself off as my thoughts wondered to Dee, I missed him so much.
Tears filled my eyes as I slid them down to the ground.
"So, what do you have," I asked, looking around the kitchen - with a recipe in mine. "Just about everything, North stocked up the fridge earlier - do you have something in mind?" 

"Yes! Have you ever tried Irish cuisine?" I asked, opening the fridge to grab a large pack a bacon and sat it on the counter Luke was sitting on. "Not much unfortunately - I hear you guys have great food!" He grinned with a sparkle in his chocolate eyes. "We do," I smiled gratefully up at him. 

"Do you have onion, celery, potatoes and evaporated milk?" I asked grabbing a skillet before turning on the stovetop, "I'll make a soup," I grinned, feeling more accepted with Luke around. He didn't make me feel like a burden - more like a friend.

As I laid the strips of bacon on the skillet to cook, Luke flounced around the kitchen grabbing the things I asked for, before settling his tush on the counter again. I was in the zone as I turned the bacon until it was browned before laying it to rest on paper towels as I minced up the celery and onions as Luke and I talked. 

"What's it like where you're from?" He spoke, looking down at me with a soft smile - an unknown emotion settling in his eyes as he watched me place the onions and celery to cook in the skillet. "It's beautiful back home; quiet, lots and lots of lush green grass, and of course the food. Mam cooks the most wonderful soup - I'm using her recipe!" I grinned as I stirred the mix before setting my attention to scrubbing the potatoes and cubing them up. 

"I have to go there some day!" Luke smiled, in complete awe as he listened to me describe my homeland. "You'll always be welcome!" I grinned, giving him a fist bump, I drained the excess grease out of the onion and celery mix before I added in the cubed potatoes and the little bit of water. 

"Now, we just have to wait until the potatoes are tender - then add the milk and bacon and it's done." I smirked as his face brightened, "It's that simple?" He excitedly looked into the pan as I took a seat to rest my legs for the time being. "Sometimes Luke, simple things are the best things in life - or so I've been told by my Da."

"Da?" a deep baritone asked from behind me, causing me to jump.  "Íosa Críost tú baboon fuilteach! Cathain a tháinig tú anseo!?" (Jesus Christ you bloody baboon! When did you get here!?)

"Was that gaelic!? I've never heard it spoken before!" Luke asked as I rose a brow, "What?" Did I? Hm. must have not realized, I mused as Victor took the seat I was previously in when I got up to add in the milk and crumbled bacon before stirring, allowing it all it warm up. 

"Yeah, sorry - I don't notice sometimes." I shrugged with a wry grin, "All you have to do is add salt and pepper to tase, and it's done." I nodded towards the soup, "Miss. Sang said I could go check out the woods - am I allowed to go now?" I asked Victor as he watched me with careful eyes before nodding. 

"Just don't be back late - if you need anything, just call." Victor nodded coldly towards me before completely changing his attitude once he started talking to Luke. I rolled my eyes behind his back, before I turned and left without making a stop to grab my phone. 

It wouldn't help me anyways, my old flip phone was at least twelve years old, and the only reason I brought it, was because it contained priceless pictures Dee and I on it. I wouldn't trade it for the world. "Here we go," I grinned as I walked outside into the fresh air. 

It was dusky dark outside, but I believed I would be back in plenty of time to go to bed - If I managed to come back after supper - all the better. I wouldn't have to be in a room with every single one of them all at once. If I did, I couldn't escape their glares and judgement. 

As soon as I proved myself to them - everything would be better...I hoped. My feet carried me to the woods without a second thought. Here, in the woods - I would be free. Free to be myself, free to be able to release my emotions without prying eyes, and to be able to get able to sort through my thoughts. 

--------------------------------- It had been fifteen minutes since I had started to explore the woods, and by now, it was dark - and thank fuck I got out of the woods just in time to be able to get safely back to the Blackbourne House. 

"I'll just stay here for a bit and see if I can see the stars." I sighed, as I laid down in the grass, a little away from the house, to be able to get a good view at the sky. "How wonderous," I mused, eyes glued to the sky as they twinkled in the dark night sky - the stars were exactly as I imagined them. 

Mysterious, beautiful, and so out of reach. 

"Where the fuck is that girl!? She said she would be back!" A voice I now recognized as Gabriel's yelled as the door of the house slammed shut. "Fuck!" I hissed and pressed down deeper into the grass, hiding my shaking frame from view. 

Fuck, I was in trouble now. 

"I knew it was a bad idea to take her in! I told Owen! But because of his mother, he felt a sense of obligation!" North huffed. 

Ouch, I winced and teared up slightly - What a damn piece of shit! "Let's go look for her; Vic said she wanted to explore the woods," Gabriel sighed, coming closer to where I was at, before stopping. I breathed deeply, as my eyes closed as I felt their gazes scan over my figure. 

Was I pretended to be asleep to escape their wrath? Yup. Without a fuckin' doubt, I didn't have it in me to fight anymore today. I was taking a much-needed break. "Seems like we don't have to look much longer, " North huffed before bending down and picking my body up into his arms before walking the way they had come.

"As much trouble as this girl is; she has a beautiful mane of hair." Gabriel admitted, making me hide the smirk growing on my face before it was completely wiped away as anxiety filled my entire being. 

"She won't be causing us anymore after Owen talks with her in the morning," I could basically feel the smirk in North's tone as my chest pressed against his abs. 

Shit.   

A/N:

What do you think will happen between Owen and Keelan once they have a talk?

I have to say; I'm damn excited for y'all to find out.