Minutes blurred to hours, blurring in to days. In all honesty I had no idea how long I'd actually been here now but I'd worked out it was 3 weeks. I'd hardly been home, let alone spent time with my parents. Not that they would have particularly noticed, or minded, for that matter. They'd made friends with many people in the village, whilst I was still just hanging out with Luke. Although I seemed to be complaining about that less and less each day now.
Today was the first day where I wasn't really sure what to do with myself. Luke hadn't knocked on my door this morning. It didn't bother me too much, but it felt odd not having anything to do. And the question of what Luke was doing which seemed more important flitted across my mind.
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I stepped outside, closing the now-painted pastel green front door behind me and began to make my way up to the ice-cream shop where Luke and Alli worked. Looking around, only Alli was on a shift today. Each time I came here the boat decor on the ceiling had changed and been added to. I assumed that the fishermen brought things back to liven it up. Not that it was lacking in any way whatsoever. I waited for Alli to finish serving the customers before going up to the counter.
"Talia," she smiled, "it's always nice to see you." It occured to me that I'd never seen her out of work, but she was always smiling and always had her hair in a pony tail and the pale blue apron hanging from her neck.
"You too," I replied.
"No Luke today?" she asked, glancing outside the door. It also occured to me that she'd never seen me without Luke, which seemed strange.
I shook my head, "I haven't seen him...I was wondering if you had?"
She bit her lip, thinking. "Oh," she said, tapping her forehead with the palm of her hand, "he's fishing today. He should be back by lunchtime." I thanked her and began to leave the shop before she called me back. "Talia..."
"Hrm?" I mumbled, walking to the side of the counter.
"I like you."
I frowned, letting a small giggle pass my lips. "Thanks?"
She went back on her words. "I like you because you're a challenge for Luke. You stand your ground and from what I've seen you haven't fallen for his charm as most of them do."
I wanted to question her on 'them', but I felt I better not. It was easy to put two and two together really - Luke's norm was most probably hooking up with girls who came to stay here on holiday, seeing as that's all this place was good for. I'd always assumed that was how Luke's mind worked, but hearing it from someone else dampened my mood a little.
"He's kinda annyoing to be honest," I replied, trying to stay light-hearted.
Alli laughed, "I'll agree with you there."
I left the shop and headed down to the beach, soaking in the golden rays and enjoying the clear blue sky, determined to stay happy.
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"Fishing huh?" I asked Luke as he jumped off the boat. It was old and rusty, but obviously still served a good purpose.
"It's great, we caught loads today. You should come next time."
I screwed my nose up, "maybe I'll pass."
He laughed and came up to join me after bidding goodbye to the men he'd spent the morning with. "Sorry I didn't let you know."
I shrugged, "it's fine, I went and saw Alli."
He looked a little surprised, "you did?"
I tried to read his expression, which was proving very hard. And right then I knew he was evidently guilty of something. "Yeah I did."
![Souvenir [Complete] by honeyedlashton](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/264028147-80-k998291.jpg)
"Well, what did you talk about?"
"Jesus Luke, you sound like a jealous girlfriend." He smirked before tutting and I knew he was still looking for an answer. "We were just talking about how annoying you were," I teased.
He rolled his eyes, "amazing." I smiled a little, noticing that he'd taken to using this phrase which had always been my thing.
We'd reached the bottom of the rocks on the beach. Only now did I question my outfit for the day. It was the first time I'd worn a dress and flip-flops here and now I knew why. Luke had already started to climb before turning back. "Come on!"
"I can't climb in these." I pointed to the flimsy shoes (if you can even call them that) on my feet.
"Stop being such a girl, Westwood." I scowled at his use of my surname.
"Well sorry for not having a penis, Hemmings," I shot back, a smile tugging at my lips.
I looked to the water and knew the tide was going out from what I'd learnt, at least, so I took off my flip-flops and placed them between two rocks, leaving them until later. I carefully picked out a route that couldn't damage my bare feet too much and followed Luke to 'our place'. (Which I'd like to add, Luke wanted to continue calling 'Luke's thinking place' but I refused to name it after him so we settled on sharing it.)
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"You want to know something?" Luke asked after the two of us sitting in silence for a while.
The weather today was gorgeous, and it certainly made a difference to the view. I felt so incredibly content looking across the shimmering sea compared to when I went there to 'think' and was met by grey gloom and doom.
"What?" I replied without tearing my gaze away from the scenery - the sea, the cliffs, the sky, the whole scenery still never failed to amaze me.
"You're pretty."
"Luke..." I said frowning. I wanted to punch myself at the fact that I felt myself blushing.
"I'm allowed to tell you you're pretty," he said matter-of-factly, noticing my annoyance. Truth was, I didn't want to be annoyed. But I felt I had to be.
"Okay but..." I trailed off not finishing my sentence. Srewing up my eyes I rubbed my hands over my face and through my hair.
"But what?" Luke pressed and I sighed. He was standing his ground but I couldn't help comparing him to a lost puppy. Being turned down wasn't something he was used to.
"But I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here, for years...I'm not here on holiday waiting to go home in a few days. I actually live here Luke and you're the only person I'm friends with so don't fuck this up."
Luke shook his head and mumbled under his breath. It was something about girls being fucking idiots and something about Alli and I talking...either way I got the jist. I glared at him and he looked away. I did too after a short moment. Luke knew exactly how I felt about moving here - he'd guessed it all just weeks before. There was no way I was letting him contribute to that misery even more.
"Sorry," I mumbled after sitting in stony silence for ages. I'd probably been too harsh, but I didn't want him getting any ideas.
Luke drew his head to look at me, resting his chin on one hand. "No, I'm sorry."
I smiled at him and he smiled back.
"I'm not annoyed at you," he said. My eyebrows furrowed together. He noticed and continued, "I'm more annoyed at Alli. She probably told you stuff earlier."
I played this to my advantage. "What sort of stuff?"
He shrugged, "about girls, I guess."
"Nope, she didn't mention any girls," I tutted. "Something to tell me Lucas?"
He looked kind of surprised. "No, not really."
I punched him softly in the arm, "you can't leave me hanging now, can you?"
He stood up, "I spend time with the girls who come on holiday here sometimes, sort of."
I followed his action but carried on walking past him, smirking. Secretly I wanted to say something - a snide comment prehaps - but I couldn't. If this was me and Luke making up then I knew I couldn't be as harsh as I was when I first met him.
I was thankful that my back was to him because somehow I felt a little jealous and there was no way on Earth I was letting him in on that.
"I hate you and you're annoying," Luke called, biting his lip.
I turned back waiting for him at the bottom of the rocks, picking up my flip-flops from earlier. "Same goes for you."
Luke walked me home as if nothing had happened, which I was glad of. I didn't want to be sucked into any games he played. He was attractive but I just couldn't go there. Not when he was the only person I felt completely comfortable around.
**********
oooh! what is Luke like, huh?;) someone new will be introduced soon which will stir things up, but you may have to wait a bit for that!
if you liked the chapter it would be great to hear any comments, or if you could vote
I have school so it's hard to update much now but I will have more time after Friday (I'm going on study leave). my tumblr is sunshinelucas if anyone wants to contact me :) x
