11

Let's Go for a Ride

It's around midnight and for some reason, I'm not tired.

I'm flicking through channels on my TV, trying to find anything other than an infomercial to watch, and secretly wishing that Luke would start playing his guitar again, just so I'd have a reason to knock on his door.

I sigh at the thought, he probably even isn't up. Or if he is, he's probably doing something much more interesting than lying in bed trying to decide if he wants a Ninja Blender.

Flipping over, I fluff my pillows and close my eyes, willing myself to sleep. It's really no use, I'm still wide awake, and with a sigh, I turn back to watching TV. Some lady is dramatically trying to force an eggplant into a seriously small vegetable dicer. She's an idiot, but she gives me an idea.

Food. That's what I need. Food can put anyone to sleep.

Slipping out of bed, I head out into the hallway; pausing briefly outside of Luke's door to see if he's up or not. His room light is on, but other than that it's quiet. I head downstairs and into the kitchen. There's a box of leftover pizza from the other night in the refrigerator, some fruit that I don't feel like cutting, and a half a jar of Nutella.

All of which I'm not exactly in the mood to eating. Sighing, I close the door and lean against the counter. I decide to go back upstairs, I wasn't really hungry in the first place.

This time when I pass Luke's door, I can hear him softly laughing at something. Without thinking twice, I turn the knob and push the door open; mentally praying that he's dressed.

And he is.

He's wearing a long sleeved sweatshirt and a pair of shorts, and he's sitting on his bed, with his head bowed as he watches something on his cell phone.

Luke doesn't notice me. I reach over and flick his light off and back on, and he looks up from his phone, pausing to take a ear bud out, "You alright?"

I nod, "Yeah, I'm bored. What are you doing?"

At first, he doesn't say anything, his bright blue eyes just staring at me, and then he sits up and admits matter-of-factly, "Penguins. I found a new video." Then, "What's wrong, Annie, you can't sleep?"

I nod my head, and lean against his door frame, "I don't know what it is."

"Well, come here." He sets his phone on his nightstand and motions for me to cut the light off.

I turn off the light, but I don't move. Should I really be in alone with Luke in his bed? He calls my name, and before I can ponder anymore on the thought, I walk over and crawl in besides him.

His covers are as warm as they were yesterday, and I slide under them; my bare leg making contact with Luke's calf. He lets out a low breath, and then snuggles down under his covers; twisting on his side to stare at me.

Reaching out, he tucks my hair behind my ear. My heart is thumping wildly in my chest, and I'm glad it's dark because my face is warm. Before he can do anything or say anything, I grab his hand and let it drop to the bed, nervously quipping, "Are you gonna tell me a bedtime story?"

Luke smiles shyly, "Not tonight, Annie."

"Another time?"

"We'll see." He turns over on his back to look up at the ceiling, "So, you're getting a car, huh?"

I nod, even though he can't see me, and flip over on my back beside him, "So, I've heard."

"And, I'm teaching you how to drive it?"

I nod, again. Lazily turning my head, I smile at him, "Wasn't it your idea?"

He laughs, a touching low chuckle, "You're right."

"I can't imagine this going well, you're distracting enough," I mumble.

Luke laughs, sitting up on his elbow, "I distract you?"

I nod, and then I realize how bad that sounds, "Oh! Wait, no, not like that. I meant 'cause we're always arg--"

"Nah, you think I'm hot, don't you?" Luke's arm reaches out, firmly taking hold of my waist and he pulls me right up against him before playfully rolling over on top of me. His head drops down on my chest, and he nuzzles his forehead against my neck, "Don't you, Annie?"

Surprised, I gasp, freezing underneath him. I blurt, "I do not think you're hot! I meant you distract me because we argue a lot."

"It's okay, I honestly don't mind." Luke's head lifts up and he smirks down at me, "Is that why you can't sleep? Because you're too busy thinking about me?"

"You're right," I huff.

"I am?" Blue eyes blink in surprise and I have to force myself not to roll my eyes.

I nod, "The thought of your face is enough to give anyone nightmares. Now, get off of me!" Wriggling my body around only makes it worst.

"That wasn't very nice," Luke teases. "I think I might just lay here all night." As if to prove his point, he dips his head again laying his cheek on my chest, "I've never been more comfortable."

"Oh my God, Luke." I groan, kicking my legs around underneath him; Luke presses his hips down against me, forcing me to stop. Wiggling my arm loose from his grasp, my fingers grip his hair and I snatch his head back. "Move it or lose it."

Blue eyes suddenly go out of view, Luke's eyelids squeezing shut and he smiles in pain, "Dämn girl, what else can you do with that grip?"

Despite myself, I laugh, "You're such a boy." With his head tilted back like this, it's hard to keep my eyes from the smooth, pale skin of his neck and the shape of his Adam's apple visible underneath. For a brief minute, I find myself wanting to lean up and press my lips against it and I swallow; my heart building speed.

Luke smirks knowingly, "I wouldn't want to be anything else."

Seeing this as an opportunity to take over, I kick my legs hard, forcing him back with my hand and I clumsily flip us both over. He laughs, cursing quietly and before he can get the chance to sit up, I crawl over him; pinning him back down, with my bare legs on either side of his hips. "You know what, Luke? I think it's time you get a haircut."

With my eyes still on him, I reach over and yank open his nightstand drawer; rifling blindly around until my fingers enclose on a pair of scissors. I smirk, draw them out and let them dangle over him, "What do you think?"

"Be careful," he flinches.

"What, you scared of a little haircut?"

"Anastasia, I swear."

"Mm, you used my full name. You must really be scared then, huh?" I lower my face down to his, and turn my head so that his mouth is directly below my ear, "Can't hear you, Luke, speak up."

I can feel the soft, rhythmic, pace of his breathing against my cheek; the smell of him lingering between the two of us. I felt my stomach do its infamous dip as I lifted myself back up with a smile. "Well, guess that's a go for me to cut it."

My fingers weave themselves through the blonde strands, and I let them stay there awhile, sifted warmly against his scalp, before gently lifting a piece. I position it between the scissors, "Ready?"

Luke's eyes are wide, nervous, but he still says, "Do it. I dare you."

"You think I won't?"

"I know you won't."

With a small laugh, I shrug and right as I'm closing the scissors, preparing to snip off the ends, Luke reaches up and snatches my wrist; seizing my movements. "You were actually gonna do it?" He whispers hotly, looking slightly amused. Carefully removing the scissors from my grasp, he flings them across the dark room.

Hands grip the sides of my waist and Luke pushes me off of him, my back falling back against his bed.

It's a brief moment when we both look at each other and I don't know why I find myself laughing so hard, but all of the sudden, I can't stop. My breath comes in quick gasps between my unstoppable giggles, "You looked so scared!"

He rolls his eyes but I can see the small trace of a grin on his face, "Annie shut up before you wake up your mom."

Cupping my hand over my mouth, I try to force myself to stay silent. It takes a while, but eventually I quiet down and, bite my lip amusingly, as I look up at Luke. He's staring impassively across the bed at me and he says, "This isn't how I envisioned my night going."

"Sorry."

"Don't be," he shakes his head, with a small smile. "I'm having fun."

"Me too," I whisper. "What time is it?"

Luke blinks and he grabs his phone, clicking the home button and instantly lightning up the screen, "It's one in the morning."

I sigh, closing my eyes, "I don't think I'm going to bed any time soon."

Then it's quiet again. After a few minutes, maybe more, Luke sits up and looks at me, "Let's go for a ride." He doesn't even wait for me to respond, before he's sliding out the bed and tugging on a pair of black Vans.

I stare at him, "Luke, it's late. My mom isn't gonna let me."

"She's not gonna know," he snickers. Grabbing a hat out of his drawer he tugs on it. It's black and there's a yellow pom-pom on the top of it, that bounces whenever he moves, "Well, you coming or not?"

--

We end up at 7-Eleven, because Luke is in the mood for a Coca-Cola Slurpee, and I turn my head towards him, amused.

"What?" He laughs.

"Nothing," I laugh, unfasten my seat belt and push open the door. It's cool out, and I tuck my hair behind my ear before crossing my arms over my chest and following the tall boy into the brightly lit convenient store. Besides the cashier, we're the only ones here, and I stick to Luke's side as we head toward the Slurpee machines.

Luke looks back at me, and a huge smile crosses his face, challenging me ."I dare you to put your mouth under the nozzle."

"No way," I laugh, "That's unsanitary." Shaking my head, I grab a huge cup. I mean, if Luke's treating, I might as well.

Holding my cup under each nozzle, I fill it to the top with a little bit of each flavor.

"That's disgusting," he murmurs besides me. Then he fills his own cup up with just the Coke flavor, drinks it halfway and refills it. "Come on, I'm feeling Twizzlers."

Grabbing two straws, I trail him to the candy aisle, standing back as he stocks up. "Want anything?"

I shake my head, laughing. "I think I'm fine, thanks."

"So, Airheads, then? Got it." He nods, grabs a package and then leads the way to the counter. Once he pays, we head back outside.

"Answer me this, Luke," I start, "How can you eat all of this junk food and still be in shape?"

"Genetics? High metabolism, maybe?" He leans against the side of his truck, "Plus, I workout Annie."

"Do you really?" I laugh, pointedly running my eyes up and down his lean frame. "I mean, you're fit, but you don't have any muscles."

Cocking his head to the side, he tugs on his black lip ring and takes a sip of his Slurpee before setting it and his candy down on the top of the car, "I don't?"

Shaking my head in amusement, I sip my drink. Blue eyes blaze playfully, and he takes a step forward towards me before lunging at me, and grabbing me around the waist; lifting me up and against his chest.

This time, when the flutters begin in my stomach again, I happily embrace them. I'm having too much fun, tonight. I lift my Slurpee above us, a mere attempt at not spilling it, and dig my fingers into his arm. "Stop, before you make me spill my drink!"

"No, take it back." He laughs, nudging his forward against mine.

I shake my head, and then reach out snatching his hat off of his head, "I don't know about you, Hemmings, but I stick to my word." I single-handily try to pull it over my hair, "This probably looks better on me."

He grins a bright boyish smile that makes him look every bit of fourteen, and then he sets me down, before reaching out and adjusting it on my head. His long fingers flicks the pom pom, "It does."

"Told you."

Luke nods and then stares at me.

"What," I laugh.

He shakes his head, "Nothing." With a sigh, he takes a step back, "We better go."

"Guess this means, I win," I mutter, "You're in fact skinny, not muscley."

"That's not a word, and this isn't over," he laughs. He grabs his stuff and then walks around the side of the car before saying, "You better not spill anything in my car, or that's your ass, Anastasia."

--

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