"Wanna grab lunch?" I spun around to come face to face with Luka. I hadn't seen him since that day in orientation when I got lost and somehow made an enemy in the form of Chasity Saunders.

"Well, hello to you too." I tried to sound disinterested just so he wouldn't know that I was excited to see him. Reason being that it's been a month and I haven't made a single friend and I've low-key been looking for him in the crowds hoping we could be unsure freshmen together.

"We could talk over lunch, come on." He threw his arm over my shoulder and quickly began leading me to the lot where his car was parked. I wasn't that much into cars... I had no idea what type or model it was, but as Luka led me to his ride I felt my jaw drop.

"You drive that?" I asked incredulously. Honestly I was transported back to high school when I'd see kids driving sports cars when I could barely afford lunch.

Is there a secret club I wasn't invited to that hands out sports cars and designer everything to its members? Yes, yes there was... and the name of the club is My Parent's have Shit ton of Money.

"Yeah," he mumbled absentmindedly. I watched as his eyes roamed the lot, pausing to watch the school exit for a minute before flitting back to my face. "Come on let's go."

He pulled out his keys and pressed the button before telling me to hop in, a part of me was wondering what going on with him. He seemed jumpy and him just showing up randomly without not so much as a hello but insisting we go to lunch was kinda shady. But somehow I trusted that whatever was going on, he'd explain it when he was comfortable.

As for me and my safety...I glanced over at him while putting on my seatbelt, assessing him and piecing together the little facts I knew about him.

I decided he was harmless.

He glanced over at me as he inserted his keys, the car rumbled as it came to life and settled in a smooth purr as he paused to hold eye contact, he had a curious look on his face.

"This feels like we're running away from something...or someone." I said with a grin, he rolled his eyes before throwing his arm behind my seat turning his head, he put the car in reverse.

"Total dad move." I mumbled as I pulled out my phone and checked my emails. The bank had sent me an alert, I don't know why I signed up for the emails. All it does is remind me every time I withdrew money and on the rare occasion I deposit.

It's like a reminder... which screams 'bitch you going broke!'

"Where to?" Luka asked as we drove out of the school grounds and integrated slowly into the traffic, I glanced at the time, I had an hour until my next class. "I don't know, I thought you had a plan. I mean, you basically kidnapped me."

"Do you fw Chinese?" He asked glancing over at me briefly, I nodded "Yeah, whatever is fine really." He made a humming sound while reaching over to pull up an aux cord before connecting his phone, glancing up at the road briefly at intervals to make sure we didn't die.

Rushes by Frank Ocean filled the car as Luka adjusted the volume.

"I love this song," I mumbled as I took in the sleek exterior of the car, glancing at the steering wheel briefly I saw that it was a BMW that's as much as I could tell. Either way, this car was really nice.

"You're into Frank? Damn...that means you never reply to messages and is probably a little sad. You ever heard of Joji?" He said with a chuckle.

I looked at him eyes wide, "What do you mean by 'ever heard of' Affection and Slow Dancing pleases my angsty teen emotions very much thank you."

He laughed, "Alright that's like basic stuff how about Kid Cudi, Jesse Boykins III, Crooks or Hopkins?"

"Yo, Earth Girls is my shit I swear I listened to it everyday for a week and Nocturnal Rainbows makes me feel like starting a revolution!" I probably looked smug but I didn't care, I was pretty cocky about my music taste.

My life may be mediocre but I'm constantly comforted by the fact that my music taste is straight fire.

"You're my kinda girl." He said glancing at me briefly a few times before focusing on the road again.

"Right, cause music taste is important if you're tryna be my friend. I mean... I'm obviously too cool for you. But if you have such a good playlist, I can hang with you once in a while. Nothing to tarnish my reputation or nun like that but you know." I shrugged nonchalantly a grin already threatened to take over my face as Luka snorted.

"Yeah, don't think I forgot your Ned reference freshman. You're as weird as they come. Definitely not what the majority of Bridgeport considers cool." He used one hand to make air quotes.

What I said was a joke, and I know he knew that but somehow I feel like what I said hit a nerve. And I wondered, if he didn't like Bridgeport so much, why did he apply?

I feel like there's this big backstory that needs to flesh out before I could completely understand the boy across from me.

_____

Luka can eat.

I mean, the guy is skinny as hell and you'd never guess that he could put away food like that.

He ordered the whole spread, dumplings, soup, chow mien, chicken fried rice and a whole bunch of weird meat dishes I didn't want to know the name of.... everything and I was skeptical at first because I don't like the idea of wasting food. But he cleared away most of it, and whatever we didn't eat, he got take away boxes for us. Safe to say I have dinner covered for tonight.

After lunch and the basic table talk that usually occurred in between bites, I still didn't know a lot about Luka.

I mean, I knew what he was allergic to and his music taste and the fact that he has way too much money for a eighteen year old college student. I mean usually college students struggle a little bit... if you don't struggle are you even doing it right?

But he didn't seem to have to worry about stuff like that.

Other stuff bothered him though, his phone kept blowing up. And he was adamant on ignoring it.

At some point he had told me the reason he was in such a hurry to leave campus was because Chasity and some of her girls wanted him to be apart of some campaign about something he thought was trivial.

____

I had asked Luka to drop me off at work real quick, as I burst through the door, Ash looked up from where she was sloped over the counter. The place was not as busy as usual but it still had a few customers.

The usual bunch.

I walked over to the counter, Ash threw me a huge smile when she saw me. "Please come save me." She said dramatically, "It's boring here without you,"

I rolled my eyes, I had accidentally left my phone charger here yesterday and I didn't have a shift today and my phone was rapidly drinking its battery.

I needed a new one, the battery in this one was shit.

"I left my charger, I just swung by to get it." Ash groaned,

"Hey remember, Friday we're..." She trailed off and I watched her eyes focus on something behind me.

I turned around curiosity no doubt etched on my face, it took a lot to get Ash's attention. So far it's only been successfully done by food, shoes and boys.

Which technically Luka fell into the last category. I turned around to face Ash, a wry look on my face...

"You have a boyfriend, remember him. Tall, drives a red car... goes by the name Oliver?"

I watched her eyes snap back to mine, and go wide when I felt Luka come up beside me.

"I know you said you have to get back in an hour, and the traffic will pick up soon." He said while checking out the coffee menu.

I glanced at the clock at the far corner, somehow I found myself looking at the ominous table where he usually sat.

It was empty.

"Hey I'm just going to grab my charger, Oh Luka this is Ashley by the way. Ash this is Luka." After the quick introduction I hurried around back, throwing Nate a quick greeting I hurried to grab my charger from my locker. On my way back Nate handed me a ziplock with pastries.

"Aw thanks, I'm really in a hurry though have a class in less than fifteen." I said throwing him a smile.

"See you Friday?" He asked as I headed towards the door.

I can't believe Ash told everyone I agreed to go. Honestly it shouldn't have surprised me.

"Yeah, I'll be there." I said waving a goodbye.

Luka with his greedy ass got coffee and chocolate filled croissants. I don't understand where he puts his food.

"Seriously you'll probably have colic or something." I said.

"Ready?" He asked around a mouthful of pastry.

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah dummy."

I threw Ash a quick smile and waved goodbye mouthing that I'd call her.

She looked like she had a whole lot she wanted to say. I almost dreaded the questions just as much as I dreaded Friday.

"Let's go, I already don't have my coursework let's not make me late too." Luka was holding onto the door waiting for me to step out.

I was almost out the door when I spotted him, walking from across the street towards the coffeehouse.

I watched as he crossed the road in that easy way New Yorkers did...like they were immune to cars and couldn't be run over by the equally crazy drivers.

He was wearing baggy pants, Breton stripped shirt under a black windbreaker paired with black sneakers. He always looked good, it was something I'd noticed over the past few months. This guy could put himself together and it helped that he was gorgeous and could pull any look off effortlessly.

"We tryna get moving or not?" Luka said, he was still holding the door because I hadn't fully exited yet.

I could feel the heat creeping up my cheeks as I ducked my head, and stepped out of the doorway. Heading automatically to the direction of the car.

"Weirdo." Luka mumbled as he bumped shoulders with me, a knowing grin on his face.

I rolled my eyes.

I didn't have to look back at the coffeehouse to know that Rakim was looking at me. I could feel the familiar weight of his eyes watching me.

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This isn't edited, I haven't even proof read it yet and it's probably shitty... I'm so sorry.
But I've been getting such good feedback on this book and it sucks that I can't make a lot of time for it.
I really appreciate all of the love the book has been getting.
Thank you guys so much
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