December 24th, 2020
10:32 pm

Here we are one year after Luke and Dani's famous first date. After becoming a couple on New Year's, the two twenty-something-year-olds had the time of their lives being helplessly smitten for each other, that is until they were forced to be stuck indoors. At first, Dani opted to go back home, unsure if she should bring Luke with her, but then she questioned whether going home, in general, was a good idea at all. Luke wasn't against it, but Dani ultimately decided her heart belongs with Luke in New York.

The time spent together also inspired Luke to write new music as Dani has become his muse. It was definitely helpful for the band as they were taking steps towards getting into the music industry, plus who doesn't love a good ol' love song that was made from purr and real love? Besides that, most if not all of Luke's songs have been about Dani, and she has just been absolutely dying to hear one.

Now currently holed up together in Luke's apartment, the couple was continuing their newly established tradition from last year; Christmas and chill. They wouldn't have wanted it any other way, but things were different this time around. For starters, they had officially known each other for a whole year, but also they were in love.

The two were well into this year's Christmas and chill, watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas while mildly uncomfortable by the look of Jim Carrey as the titular character. Actually, Dani wasn't phased by it as she grew up with the movie, but Luke could not get over how creepy the Grinch looked. He had already been antsy all day, which Dani couldn't quite put her finger on why.

"Do you want me to turn off the movie?" Dani asked Luke, receiving a puppy dog face in response.

"Please?" He pouted.

"I mean, I could force us to watch Rent." She trailed off.

"Anything but this," Luke begged. "I think I might have nightmares until next year."

"Alright, I'll turn it off." Dani giggled, then grabbed the remote to turn off the movie. Luke let out a sigh of relief, leaning his head back against the wall as he was glad he didn't have to go through another minute of that.

"Phew."

"How about we take a hot chocolate break?" She proposed. "We haven't taken a break in hours."

"I'm cool with that. I'll go to the bathroom then meet you in the kitchen." He replied.

"Okay," Dani said, then quickly kissed Luke on the cheek, noticing how he tensed up as he did (which wasn't the first time he's done that recently). She frowned as she hopped off the bed, walking out to head to the kitchen while Luke went to the bathroom.

Using this time, Dani pulled out her phone to text her best friend Kendall in an attempt to figure out what was going on instead of getting ready to prepare some hot chocolate. There were a lot of things Dani thought of that could be the reason why Luke had been acting weird lately, but none of her guesses was the actual answer.

•••

PRIVATE CONVO
Dani Phantom 👻 [ Dani ]
kendall from btr 😎 [ Kendall ]

Dani Phantom 👻
SIS

I have like 5 minutes

kendall from btr 😎
yo yo yo

what's up

how's christmas and chill 😉

Dani Phantom 👻
Luke did the thing again

kendall from btr 😎
the thing where he gets all tensed
up from the slightest form of affection?

i mean that's a mood but

Dani Phantom 👻
Omg girl-

I feel like he's hiding something

kendall from btr 😎
yeah that he loves you DUH

Dani Phantom 👻
I'm doubting that

I feel like he's gonna dump me 😔

kendall from btr 😎
ABSOLUTELY NOT

i would literally risk my life just
to go take a flight and fight him

Dani Phantom 👻
I don't know what he has up his sleeve
but I'm nervous

kendall from btr 😎
well you better lmk what happens!!

gotta lmk whether i have to whoop
some ass or not

Dani Phantom 👻
Fineeeeeee

I gotta go make hot chocolate now

kendall from btr 😎
ooo yummy

bye queen ily

Dani Phantom 👻
Bye 💞

•••

Just as Dani was finishing up her conversation, Luke came out of the bathroom and walked into the kitchen, startling her a little bit. "Hey."

"Hey!" She jumped. "Sorry, I was texting Kendall."

"Don't be sorry." He brushed it off, then noticed she hadn't taken out what she needed yet. "Want me to go reach the hot chocolate stuff for you?"

"Pft, I can reach it." Dani scoffed. Just as she opened one of the cabinets and attempted to reach up, she proved herself wrong by failing to reach for what she needed.

"Okay, I was wrong." She looked down in embarrassment. "I'll just go get the milk."

"Perks of being 6'2." Luke chuckled.

"You're lucky I don't have heels on right now." Dani rolled her eyes. Standing at 5'10, Dani could be as tall as Luke when wearing heels, and even tower him in her highest stilettos.

"I l-like you in heels." He stuttered. At first, he almost said love, but that felt weird to say since they were a couple.

"Maybe you can write a song about it." She teased. Every single time she walked in on him writing and strumming a few chords, he would immediately stop what he was doing. Dani could guess that his writing was personal, but she never suspected that he had ever written about her, but everything was in fact about her, she just had no clue.

"Heh, yeah." Luke blushed.

"You know, I'm telling you, I wouldn't mind hearing a song one of these days. You're so secretive about your writing." Dani sighed. "Obviously I don't want to invade your privacy, but I'm just saying that I would love to hear at least one song."

"I know, I know." He frowned. Luke wanted nothing more than to sing her a song written just for her, but he was just so, so scared to do it. He vowed that he would do it though, and Luke would pull through with his promise.

"Anyway, hot chocolate is done." She said, purposely changing the subject.

"I'll get mugs." Luke offered, which Dani appreciated.

"Thanks."

Dani poured both mugs, handing one to Luke, who immediately went to take a sip despite the drink being scorching hot, almost burning his tongue in the process. "Damn, that's hot."

"Gotta blow on it, dum dum." She teased.

"I know, but I'm just so excited to drink it." He chuckled.

Although silly, the little moment reminded her of last year back in her dorm, and Dani couldn't help but reminisce. "It's funny, last year you weren't that much of a fan."

"Things change, Dani." Luke shrugged. Yeah my, things change alright. "Plus, the milk really gives it that pizazz."

"Hold on, I'm gonna go to the bathroom," Dani said, quickly setting her mug down and reminding Luke not to drink from it on her way out. "Don't drink from my mug!"

"That was one time." He whined.

"I know, I just like teasing you just as much as you like teasing me." She smirked then headed towards the hallway.

Now, Luke had to get a move on. With Dani in the bathroom, he could easily sneak out his guitar and have it with him upon Dani's return. It was Christmas Eve, and it was the season of giving, so he was going to give Dani a song. Well, a day earlier than he initially planned, but hey, the timing felt right to surprise her with it now.

When Dani came out of the bathroom and went back into the kitchen, she saw Luke not there waiting for her. She proceeded to let out a sigh and grab her mug, going back into Luke's bedroom as she assumed he was there, which he was, but she came to a surprise when he saw Luke sitting on the bed with a guitar on his lap.

"What are you doing?" She raised an eyebrow, slowly setting down her mug next to his.

"You wanna hear a song, don't you?" Luke questioned.

"Oh my god, oh my god." Dani gasped, covering her mouth with her hands in shock.

"Take a seat." He said, pointing to a spot next to him, and Dani immediately obliged.

"Okay." She replied, hurriedly rushing to sit down, having the biggest grin on her face as she was just so excited to hear what Luke had to sing for her.

"I was actually going to wait until tomorrow, but the timing felt right to do it now." Luke blushed. At this point, Dani didn't care whether this was supposed to happen tomorrow, she was finally getting a song written just by him. Sure, she had heard songs by the band, but this was purely all Luke. That's what made it so special.

"Go on," Dani said, giving Luke her full, undivided attention.

Luke nervously began to strum the chords, trying his best to focus on the strings so he wouldn't mess up. He took a deep breath before singing, and just let the words out naturally. "Lover of mine, maybe we'll take some time. Kaleidoscope mind gets in the way. Hope and I pray, darling, that you will stay. Butterfly lies chase them away."

"Dance around the living room, lose me in the sight of you. I've seen the red, I've seen the blue, take all of me." He sang, looking up at Dani and seeing how her eyes lit up hearing him sing. "Lead to where your secrets are, where we've been a thousand times. Swallow every single lie, take all of me."

As Dani listened, she couldn't help but be in awe of Luke's talents. It was clear he was passionate about music from the moment she met him, and although she may be the band's fashion designer, she definitely didn't feel obligated to like his music. Hearing this song specifically almost brought her to tears, but she was in pure euphoria just being able to hear even just a snippet of a song that meant so much to Luke.

"I'll never give you away cause I've already made that mistake. If my name never fell off your lips again, I know it'd be such a shame. When I take a look at my life and all of my crimes, you're the only thing that I think I got I right. I'll never give you away cause I've already made, already made that mistake..."

Once Luke sang the end of the chorus, he stopped strumming his guitar and set it down, looking for a stamp of approval from Dani. "Uh, it needs more verses, but-"

"Luke, I love it." Dani interrupted. "You're gonna change the world with your music someday."

"I know I'm been very secretive with my writing, and well, that's because it's all about how much I love you," Luke confessed. Yes, he loved her. All Dani's fears that he would dump her were far from true, and now it was clear why he was so antsy. He had just been so nervous to tell her how he felt, but Luke didn't want to live a life without fear or regrets, and he didn't regret knowing Dani one bit.

But while Luke was being candid about his feelings, Dani's eyes widened in shock, unprepared for such a bombshell as she didn't see it coming whatsoever. "What?"

"I love you, Dani." He said. After a year around the sun, Luke had no doubts about his love for her.

Dani teared up hearing Luke's words, and while she was horrible at expressing how she felt, she too loved him, even if she had a sucky way of showing up. To show her feelings without words, Dani leaps into Luke's arms, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing him tight as she rested her chin on his shoulder.

Luke was initially shocked by the physical response, but he didn't hesitate to hug her back once the shock fizzled out of his head. It wasn't the reaction he particularly expected, but it sure like validation for his feelings to him, which was more than okay.

"I love you too," Dani whispered, and Luke closed his eyes with a smile on his face as he held her tighter after speaking those four little words.

"I said it." She said to herself, quickly letting go of Luke and looking him in the eyes. "Oh my god, I said it."

"Do you mean it?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Dani nodded. "I love you, which is crazy to say, but I do. I thought I'd be the one to say it first, to be honest."

"Well, I beat you to it." Luke chuckled.

"Come on, you serenaded me with the most romantic song I've ever heard and you wrote it about me. Nobody has ever done that for me." She sniffled. Luke made her feel like she mattered, like she could be safe around him, but most importantly he made her feel loved. He loved her through her mistakes, a bad hair day, a cold that makes her feel gross, you name it. Luke loved every part of her without hesitation.

"Maybe I can get you to serenade me now." He teased. As if though. She practically did that when they met.

"Hey, hey. I only agreed to duets." Dani whined.

"Guess I gotta write one." Luke chuckled. As if he hadn't written songs that could work as a duet already.

"Better get to it then." She giggled.

"Hey, I got plenty of time to kill." He pouted, leaning over to wrap his arms around Dani from the side, gently leaning his head on her shoulder.

"Oh really?" Dani questioned.

"Mhm, with you." Luke cooed while Dani drew circles on his back with her fingers.

"Kind of sounds like a good song idea." She said. Luke's eyes widened as she was right. It was a good song idea. The non-vocal made Dani assume he wanted to go right it now, which she wouldn't fight on if it meant she would get to hear it. "You're wanna write a song now, don't you?"

"It can wait." Luke lied.

"Go get your paper and pen," Dani ordered.

Luke took no time to get up, grabbing Dani's face with his hands and planting a big, fat kiss on her lips, taking her by surprise. "I love you."

"I... I love you too." She said out of breath as he walked away, then laid back on the bed, letting out a big sigh of relief.

"Christmas and chill 2.0; a success."

•••

MARIA TALKS!

uh surprise???

i initially planned on not doing this as i have been busy working on my original (check out dear future me lol), but decided to go for it at the last minute. i'm pretty proud of the outcome though. i can't believe i almost neglected luni on their one year 🙈

anyway, remember when i said i was doing a spin off? uh, if you can't tell, that never happened. i did attempt to write one, but i didn't like how it turned out and scrapped it completely. i'm kind of done with fanfics at the moment, so don't count on me giving a spin off another shot.

whoever manages to read this though, thank you for the support! this story remains incredibly underrated one year later, but i wouldn't take any of it back. i love what i created no matter how cringey i think it is.

anyways, merry christmas and happy holidays!