"Mornin' babes."

"Hi, Kez."

"Hey, cutie pie," grins Rory, as the girl slides gracefully into the back of the G. Rory's their ride to King's this Monday morning, of course.

Except she's also pissed with all of her friends. "Now, shut up and don't talk to me because I'm mad at all you bitches."

Kezie chokes as Asmaa rolls her eyes in the passenger seat.

"Come again?"

"She's mad because we didn't--"

"Because," Rory clarifies, "y'all were all conveniently "busy" when I invited all you to come get nails done with me," she pouts, eyeing her through the rear mirror. "That's like, our thing, guys. I'm still sad."

"Um," Kezie exclaims, "I invited you all out with me to the gym--"

"Yeah, yeah," Rory rolls her eyes. "You had to work out--"

"Alcohol turns to sugar, y'know."

"Thanks Dr. Kezie. I guess that's important," she scoffs. "But Asmaa here blew me off for a nigga, and--"

"Who?" Kezie leans forward excitedly. "Zayn?"

Asmaa laughs, embarrassed from the passenger seat.

"Yeah," she blushes, fiddling with the bottom of her hijab. "Him."

"Awww!" Kezie exclaims. "I cry, I cry..."

And she leans forward excitedly, "Are you two like, exclusive now?"

"I wouldn't say that, but--"

"You're talking. Like, seriously?"

"I--Yeah," Asmaa grins. "Told you, all the girls think we're dating..."

"You mean 'cause that's what you told Justin?" Kezie grins knowingly, "'Cause that's a whole other story all in itself, ma--"

"Yeah, yeah," Rory mutters, still stuck on her salon date. "Like I said, there was the gym and a dumb nigga--"

Kezie and Asmaa both choke on their laughter.

"--So? What's Desi's excuse, then?"

"She came and worked out with me," Kezie sings. "Then, we went to eat," she grins. "What happened next may surprise you."

Asmaa chuckles throatily. "What happened?"

"Call Desi," she grins, "and ask her."

Asmaa whirls around. "Okay, now you know you have to tell this story, Kezie."

"Exactly," Rory nods. "So, stop playing. It's the least you can do for ditching me."

"Okay, Rory," Kezie snorts as she gets flipped off through the mirror. "After the club," she swats at the girl's shoulder, "I wanted Nando's but Desi's suggestion to go to O'Nell's won out."

"The pub?"

"Yeah, ma. The one near the palace? So," Kezie grins, as Asmaa turns again in her seat to face her, "we went there and ran into Calum--"

"Oh," Rory grins, nodding smugly, "your man."

"Not at all," Kezie tuts, ignoring the way Rory and Asmaa both share a quick look, "But, he was with another friend, whose name is Luke, who I also went to school with, who also had his birthday at the club on the night of the Leo party."

Asmaa laughs. "Desi's?"

Kezie grins smugly. "He bought the lap dance, ma."

"What?" Asmaa stutters, "The friend? Luke?"

"So, what?" Rory asks, "He was fucking Desi while you were fucking Calum?"

"More like, he kept her company while Calum wanted to talk to me," Kezie deadpans, "I fucked absolutely no one, thanks Ror."

Rory nods. "So...? Is this Luke, he's like, Desi's man-toy now?"

And Kezie only shrugs, giggling from the backseat.

"I say," she grins, "we give her a call and find out."
__

Desirée stretches, opening her eyes to soft grey sheets draped across her exposed shoulders.

She frowns.

Her sheets were definitely red.

She was definitely not in her own sheets.

Bits of the night trickle back to her memory. There was the bar and there was Luke and there was the house punch, which she'd ordered because Luke's looked delicious and she had to have one herself.

That shit packed one hell of a punch.

She was drunk after two.

And now, as she lays in bed, she can only imagine what happened the night before. She can only imagine the sex because she can't remember all of it.

The bed's empty.

She sits up, looking around.

Silence.

Emptiness.

She's taking in a rather empty room, save for the bed with its grey sheets, a dresser, an acoustic guitar case, and desk littered with a few cologne bottles and papers...there was a closed laptop, a picture frame, and a few signed posters framed neatly on the wall.

It was clean.

It was all very Luke, judging by the things he'd chosen to share with her just the night prior over drinks.

Ugh--She wants to kick herself. She broke a cardinal rule: it was never okay to fuck some dude after a night at the bar.

Not if you were actually maybe interested in seeing him again.

That's what makes her the angriest, now--it's the fact that she even allowed herself to find Luke the slightest bit attractive or funny or sweet. He'd bought a dance with her at the strip club. That was a no-no. He was twenty-one. Also a no-no, and to top it all off they hadn't even gone out yet and had had sex.

Desirée actually hates herself right now. She's been here too many fucking times before. She's spent the night at guys' places she thought were interested in more than just a fuck; more than just the sex after they assumed that was all she had to give.

Why?

Because she was a stripper, and all strippers were only there to fuck, right?

Wrong.

But, try telling that to all the horny fucks that came into Phoenix.

And she's gearing up to swallow her anger and disappointment and find her clothes and make this walk of shame.

Desi slips from the bed, finding her clothes laid neatly on the desk chair next to her purse.

Confused, she slips back into the leggings and things she'd been in last night, pulling her hair into a bun and stuffing her hat into her bag and making sure her wallet and ID and keys were all where she left them.

They were.

She grabs her phone and notices a few missed calls. They're all from Rory and Kezie and her brother; a pleasant surprise. She'll have to call him back when she gets home.

She pockets her iPhone in her hoodie and slips on her shoes and is halfway across the room when her phone buzzes again.

¿Dónde está mama?

It's Rory again. And because it's Monday, she can only imagine that she's probably in the car driving  Asmaa to King's.

And Kezie too if she didn't get a ride from Calum.

Another thing that confused her. Where the hell had Kezie gone last night? Why couldn't she find her or Calum in the pub?

Desi sighs--Rory was going to have a field day with this one once she told her this story. She and Kezie were definitely not going to let her hear the end of this.

She texts her back.

Call me later

"You're up."

"Oh my--" she jumps, nearly dropping her phone as she looks up at a smiling Luke--he's in a thin tee and grey sweats hanging low on his hips, hands shoved into his pockets.

She stares at his crotch a beat longer than she'd like to admit.

He clears his throat, a tiny smile on his face. "Desirée?"

"I..." She blinks, taking in his sleepy face and lazy grin, "You're here?"

He shakes his head, confused now as he crosses the floor. "Where else would I be?"

"Um, anywhere? Gone? At work, maybe," she rattles, "It's Monday..."

"I took off."

"Why?"

"What do you mean? 'Cause you're here."

"Because I'm here?"

He laughs. "Pretty much, yeah."

And he kisses her.

And when he pulls away, Desi's so shocked that Luke feels he should apologize.

"I'm sorry," he mutters. "I just...I thought..." He shakes his head, pulling away. "Like, I don't know what I thought and...Sorry. Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't..." He screws his eyes shut. "I'm fucking rambling again--"

"Luke," she reaches out, grabbing his arm, "no, no. Don't," she bites her lip, "It's not you," she says, "it's me."

"You," he shakes his head, "you don't have to say that."

"I mean it," she begins. "My mornings after don't usually include kisses," she looks away, "They just entail awkward panty searches and walks of uncomfortable shame."

Luke stares at her curiously, his brows pinched, a slight smile on his face; his expression is pretty unreadable, and Desirée is starting to feel like she's overshared.

But, it's Luke, and so far, he's been nothing but adorable and honest.

"Well," he says, "we really should change that."

She shrugs. "It's just what happens."

"Happened," he clarifies.

"Fine," she rolls her eyes. "Happened, then."

"There we go," he grins, his voice sleepy and deep and groggy. "Sounds better, doesn't it? Feels better."

And he takes a seat at the edge of the bed, patting the sheets beside him.

"Hungry?" He asks, staring up at her.

"Kind of starving, actually," she allows herself to grin, "Why?"

"'Cause I was gonna make breakfast," he grins as she sits beside him. "And I figure it would be best if I don't feed you cereal."

She laughs. "Breakfast of champions."

"More like, of the single and lonely," he chuckles. "What've you got a taste for?"

"You cook?" She lifts an eyebrow. "You don't peg me as the chef."

"Hey," he pouts, "I make a mean omelette."

"Prove it."

"Kiss me first."

"I..." His statement catches her all the way off guard. "Make my omelette first."

"Can't make it if I don't get a kiss."

"You can only get a kiss if my omelette's good."

"I should probably get a second kiss if the omelette's good, right?" He smiles. "The first is like, motivation, yeah?"

"You stole a kiss already, remember?"

"Seems like I should redeem myself."

She fights a laugh. "You are really very persistent, you know that?"

This was like, talking to her brothers. This was, arguing with a child. And Desirée actually found herself playing along.

He smiles, shrugging, and for the second time that morning she thinks about her siblings and how they'd probably really get along with Luke.

"I just wanna know how badly you want to eat."

Her stomach rumbles.

He laughs. "Sounds like you could really use some food."

"I actually think I hate you."

"If you're thinking about it, I might still have time to change your mind, then," and he grins cheekily again and Desirée can't even fight how surprised she is with the quickness of each of his answers.

He shrugs, "Might as well give up that kiss, now, Sangria."

"Desirée," she clarifies, folding her arms, turning away, shrugging, "And it sounds like I might starve, then."

"Okay," and he stands up.

And he walks towards the door.

And he leaves.

And Desirée gasps. Like, she's actually shocked.

Did he...?

Yes.

Yes, he did.

Desirée looks around.

"Luke," she calls, halfway expecting him to be standing outside, in the hall.

No.

No answer.

"Luke!" She stands, rising from the bed. She's kind of getting pissed that this dude actually just left her. "Luke!"

"Yeah?" He sticks his head in the doorway. His mouth is full of something and it smells sweet, but Desirée is staring at him like she can't believe what her whole adult life has come to.

He laughs, cheek full of the peach she sees in his large hand. "What?" He's looking at her look at him looking pissed.

"You really just left me here hungry, asshole?"

He laughs aloud, now. "Where'd you think I went? China?"

"No...but, I don't know. Shit."

And he pouts because she pouts.

"Aw," he smirks, crossing the floor again. "You're just...you're so small."

"Okay? And--? Eep."

He pushes her shoulder, and she falls backwards onto the bed.

And he falls on top of her.

"Luke, I fucking swear--"

"I'm seriously fucking starving," he interrupts, his long body halfway on top of hers, "so I went to get something to eat," he holds it up, swallowing. "See? It's 'cause I'm fucking starving."

"Yeah," she mutters, and she's fighting a grin as she stares up and into his bright eyes. "I see it, and I smell it."

"Want to--"

"I swear," she interrupts, "If you say something stupid like, "Wanna taste it," I'm leaving."

He laughs. "Good thing I wasn't actually gonna say that."

"Sure," she snorts, throwing her arms around his shoulders, "Now shut up and give me a kiss so you can make us omele--"

The words are barely out of her mouth before his lips are on hers, and they're sweet like the ripe fruit he's let fall onto the bed, his hands pressed against her waist and her thighs. And he was a really good kisser, like to the point where bits of last night come flashing back to Desirée and she remembers all at once how she ended up here in the first place...

Her hands slide through his hair, gripping at dark roots

And when she moans in his mouth he pulls away.

She blinks. "Why'd you--?"

"I'll never make omelettes if you do that," he chuckles, running a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his blush-tinged cheeks.

"Okay," she smirks, the sexiness of Ms. Sangria coming out at once. "Don't, then."

"I--" And she almost laughs watching his lips part. He's considering not making omelettes now, she can tell.

And she's right, until he shakes his head.

And she's surprised.

"I can feel your stomach growling, Desirée," and he pushes himself from on top of her. He grabs the fruit that's all but rolled onto the floor. He holds out his other hand to her, which she takes.

She rolls her eyes as he hauls her to her feet. Now, she's hungry and horny and that was not a great combination. 

"My omelette better be good, Luke."

"Honestly? I can't guarantee shit."

"Oh my god, Luke..." She blinks. "Are you serious?"

"I mean," he chuckles, grabbing the fruit from the bed, "I think I have eggs..."

"Luke, I'm leaving."

"You're not," he whines, and Desi's shocked by how quickly he can go from sexy and mannish to boyish and pouty.

His long arms snake around her waist and he's back on her, his chest pressed against her back as his lips ghost against her ear.

"Stay."

Her horniness is winning this war against her hunger, damn him.

"I thought you didn't want anymore distractions?" She grins. "I thought you were trying to cook."

"I am," he laughs, "'Cause I'm actually trying to feed you." 

"You might not even have eggs, Luke!"

"I do..." He grins sheepishly. "I think..."

She groans, turning in his arms, tugging on his waistband. "I think food can wai--"

When her phone rings.

"I..." She takes her phone from her pocket; fuck, "It's Kezie."

"Oh," Luke nods, and his eyes are lidded and he's groaning but he's still understanding or whatever. "Go ahead, yeah?"

And Desirée smiles apologetically, before lifting her phone to her ear.

"Meet me in the kitchen," he whispers, grinning slightly as his hands fall from her waist and he backs out of the bedroom.

And she watches him go and thinks to herself, What the fuck am I really doing?

"Hello?"

A chorus of voices respond.

"Well, hello."

"Good morning, sleepyhead!"

"Desi! Where are you? Why'd you ditch me yesterday for some nigga?"

Desirée slaps a hand to her forehead. "What the f--Are you all together?"

"It's Monday, boo," Rory laughs. "Where are you?"

"Boo'd up, is where she is."

"Kezie, I'm not--"

Rory laughs. "Our girl's been fucked so good she can't remember what day it is."

And Desirée can hear Asmaa's loud, throaty laugh and her face heats up.

"Shut up," she musters. "You guys are not friends."

"Excuse me?" Kezie snorts. "You give me so much shit about Calum I can't even feel bad."

"Which is true," Asmaa adds. And then she pipes, "Come over for dinner, tonight!"

"Yeah, so you can tell us all about your new man."

"Kezie says he's hot."

"Yeah," pipes Rory. "And since I'm single and lonely I can live  vicariously through all of you and your stories."

Desi snorts. "Who says I even have stories?"

Now Kezie giggles. "I saw you go home with Luke..."

Rory's voice is unmistakable, "Henny had you actin' up, huh?"

"What the fuck, Kez?" Desi hiss-whispers over the sounds of her friend's hearty laughter. "I thought you left hours before that? With Calum!?"

"Nope," Kezie continues, still giggling. "I was literally there the entire time, babe. You forget? I was the one who was gonna call your cab, but Luke wanted to," she replies. "So," she shrugs, "I made sure you got in and let it happen."

"Kezie..."

"Looked like you were enjoying yourself," Desi can practically hear her smirking. "Didn't wanna ruin my baby's fun."

"Fuckin' hell, Kezie..."

She giggles again, that sing-songy laugh twinkling over the line. "Hey," she pauses, "you still coming to Rory and Asmaa's for din-din tonight?"

"Yes," Desirée whispers. "I'll be there."

"Good," and Kezie laughs that laugh again. "Prepare for boy talk."

"Kezie, no!"

"Too late!"

"We already know, anyway!"

"Kez!"

"Heh heh--Bye!"

And the line goes dead.

Desi stares at her phone.

She loved her friends, but she also hated them too, sometimes. 

And she walks down the hall, into the kitchen.

Where Luke's found eggs.

He's grinning, pulling things out to cook when he catches sight of her confused face and furrowed brow.

"Everything alright?"

"Oh," she looks up, "Just great."

He chuckles. "What's that mean?"

"It means," she meets him at the stove, grabbing pepper and salt and searches for some garlic or garlic powder or something, "that your friend's a bitch."

Luke's mouth parts, his eyebrows furrow. "Kezie?"

Desirée's pursed lips and rolled eyes answer his immediate question.

And then he laughs aloud. "Who'd she tell?"

Desirée is sitting on Luke's countertop, now, instructing him on how to make omelettes.

The right way.

"You don't even own enough seasonings," she sighs, peeking in his cupboards as he opens them. "How bland is your food?"

"I didn't..." he scratches his head, "What?"

"Sounds like you're answering my question."

"Sounds like you should cook for me, next," and he grins, stroking his chin as he squints, thinking about it. "Yeah...Yeah, so on date number two," he adds cheese to the first omelette, "'cause I'm counting last night as a date, just so you know..."

Desi groans, but says nothing.

He grins to himself. "...you can cook for me. And you can make something tasty."

"You like spicy?"

"I..." He blinks, surprised actually that she's gone along with this. "Spicy?"

"Yeah," she shrugs. "You like spicy food?"

"I'll like anything you make for me."

And for a moment they lock eyes. And it's like the blush creeps to their cheeks at the same time.

Desirée clears her throat, turning away.

Luke's turned his attention back to the food, running a hand through his hair.

And Desi realizes in this moment, how dangerous it would be to keep talking to, and to keep hanging out, with Luke Hemmings. 

She had to cut this off. 

This had to end. 

Even if she wasn't completely sure that she wanted to. 

__

heh i love them i love the girls i love this story #sorrynotsorry

^i might say this every chapter but i mean it lmao

more asmaa and more rory and more harry coming up. 

(thanks for patiently waiting for updates guys ya girl's been hella busy)

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(let's say...only after 20 comments will i update *muahaha*)