-chapter 12-

''Who knew someone as famous as you could know this much about 19th century poetry," Ana said to herself, not meaning to say it aloud.
"Wow, calling me dumb, eh?" Luke raised an eyebrow.
"No, just surprised," She typed the last word of the essay and saved it to her thumb drive, "But thank you, really, you didn't have to." the girl glanced at the bedside clock and it read 11:27, which surprised her. It was amazing how fast time ran by when her brain was occupied.
"That's the twelfth time you've said that," he smirked, "You're welcome, now stop thanking me," he shook Ana's shoulders giving a warm smile.
She hopped off the chair and stood to stretch, "So what now," Ana yawned as Luke stood with her.
       "Don't you have a dog?" The tall blonde suddenly asked, searching around the room, looking tired.
The shorter of the two giggled to herself, "Why, yes I do," Venturing out of the room and to the terrace where Molly's water and food bowl was, Ana greeted her chocolate lab followed by Luke.
       Opening the sliding glass door, her brown ears perked up, listening for who the intruder is. She opened her eyes, as soon as she saw her owner she jumped out of her bed and attacked me with love. First Ana, then Luke.
"Why do you keep her out here?" He asked in a sing song voice, bending down to scratch behind Molly's ears, earning a tail wag.
"We keep her out here when she starts to stink," Ana informed the Aussie while refilling her dog's food bowl, "Its Izzy's turn to give her a bath, so I'm going to force her tomorrow," She squated next to Luke, petting Molly's back.
Luke scrunched his nose, "Yeah I guess she is kind of smelly," he held both sides of her snout, "You're a stinky girl aren't ya? Yes you are, yes you are," he said in a sing song voice.
Anastasia rolled her eyes, it was adorable, but everyone talked that way to babies and animals, it got annoying. But the way Luke's lips puckered close, but not closing the small gap was the cutest thing on the face of the planet to Ana.
"Don't you have a dog?" She mocked him tilting her head, taking a seat in one of the three lounge chairs.
"Yeah, but he's back home, I couldn't take him to the states with me," he claimed the seat next to the girl. Molly sat between them and looked from one to the other, anticipating some attention.
"No you stink baby girl," Ana told her dog in a high pitched voice.
Told you, everyone does it.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Ana quickly left to answer it. She turned the knob, and pulled the barricade, ready to uneasily greet whoever was on the other side.
Unfortunately, it was not whom she expected. Ana's body frose and her lips parted. Hands tensed and a ringing pain attacked her blonde head. The girl on the other side of the door was not welcome, nor any form of companion of Ana's. Neither said a word. Ana stepped back, opening the door more, letting the creature step past. It's 11 at night, why was she at her door?
She examined the walls and counter tops as she passed by the kitchen into the living room, taking a seat on the sofa. How did she know where Ana lived? The unwelcome guest gave a fixed smile as she awaited someone to break the silence. Never being the one to take charge.
"Hey, I think Molly wants some wa-"Luke stepped in the room, not finishing his sentence. He took a step back and gave Ana a look of confusion.
Pointing towards the fridge, Ana knew exactly what he was going to ask, "Empty two water bottles into her bowl for me please?" she offered politely. Luke nodded and rushed towards the fridge then out the glass door. He could obviously feel the uncomfortable tension.
"Should I come back later?" The heathen asked, clutching her purse in her hand bracing her arms to stand up.
Keeping quiet, Ana eyed her down. She could not bring herself to say anything. If she did, she would probably end up saying something rude and true, and Anastasia did not want fake tears staining the carpet.
"Well Uh, I see you're busy, I probably should have called," the girl stood and straightened her clothes, making her way towards the door, "I'll just come by tomorrow and we can have lunch, yeah?" luckily, she saw herself out and shut the door behind her.
Ana let out a long breath she wasn't aware she had imprisoned. Instinctively, she starred menacingly at the indent on the sofa. A giant crater where her fatass sat down without asking. The arrogance of some people. It amazed her at times. Really.
       Letting the sad display of a pretentious surprise be in the past, Ana greeted Luke on the terrace.
"So," he stretched the 'o', "Who was that?" Asking innocently, obviously aware of who it was, but wanting to break the silence.
"Annalise," Anastasia said truthfully, not wanting to give details.
He nodded understandingly and changesld the subject to something else. Although, Ana wasn't aware. She wasn't paying attention anymore. All the memories and nightmares of Annie (Annalise) , brought back terrible fears, and broken promises. So much hope, but so little faith. It was hard to stick by her as long as Ana did, but she couldn't leave her alone. Once Ana finally worked up the nerve one day and stood up to her, Annalise kicked her out, and it went down hill from there.
It was extremely rude in all honesty. Anastasia was having a nice day, and the night was going good too, but Annie just had to stick her nose every other place except for where it belongs.
"Ana," Luke drug Ana back to Earth, "you don't have to tell me if you don't want, but I don't like that worried look on your face. You're much too beautiful to look that sad," he wrapped the flustered girl in a warm embrace and rubbed her back to comfort her.
She refused to speak, she couldn't bring herself to say anything. Luke was so sweet and selfless, she couldn't possibly tell him she did not eed his pity, because right now she did. It was unknown why, but then all Ana needed was someone's comfort, and someone's love. Something Calum never gave. He would hug, and kiss, but he didn't know how to comfort Ana, or make her feel good. She was tired. Emotionally and physically.
"Thank you," Is all she could bare to make out at that point, all that was allowed to escape her lips.
      "I thought I told you to stop thanking me," he released the tired girl in his arms and brushed a thumb over her delicate cheek. Ana could feel the smile on her face as he began to lean in closer.
Luke's lips sent a chill down my spine and Ana's heart beat rose dramatically. She placed her arms around his neck while he put his hands around her hips. Ana allowed Luke to take all my frustrations, and built up emotions. He tried to deepen the kiss, unfortunately Anastasia pulled away. As an apology, she stared into his eyes, not knowing what to say.
"Uh, I'm sorry," he scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably, "I was just caught up in the moment, and you, and your eyes, and your lips," he rambled uncontrollably, "and the way things were progressing I tho-"
Ana cut him off with a kiss, wanting him to stop rambling so her thoughts could process. Shortly after she broke away and wrapped her arms around his waist, letting her head rest on his chest.
"Luke, I think it's time you go home, it's kind of late," reluctantly, she mumbled against him, feeling her eyes getting heavy.
"Yeah, you look pretty tired, sure we can't have a sleep over?" he leaned down to catch the shorter girl's eyes in his, hoping to persuade. Giggling, she shook her head with a big smile, feeling her cheeks heat up.
"Let's get you to bed then," picking her up bridal style and walking to the room, gently he laid her down. Immediately, Ana covered herself with a blanket, "Can I call you tomorrow?" He asked while watching her snuggle against her pillow sweetly.
Nodding, Ana smiled against the pillow, hearing his footsteps leave and him exit the apartment. It was sweet of Luke to care that much and not force her into sexual desires he obviously craved. He was a true gentleman.

-.-.-.-

The sun's morning rays attack Luke as he awoke from the most wonderful dream. He groaned in irritation and rolled over, staying still for a second while he internally worked up the courage to get out of bed. Blindly, he walked out the room towards the bathroom to wake himself up with water. Instinctively, he stepped into the shower and let the cold water run over his body, waking up each and every individual cell, giving him an energy boost.
After the shower, the tall blonde stepped out and walked into the kitchen with a towel wrapped around his waist, too lazy to put clothes on. Quietly, he searched the fridge for something easy and quick to eat while he was still nude. He picked an apple and leaned gainst the island counter casually.
         Ashton's breath hitched at the sight. Quickly he fled back to the hallway to calm his breathing before recapturing his 'cool'. Luke's bare upper torso was mesmerizing under the florescent kitchen lights, the way his V-line was defined made Ashton happy all over. Finally collecting his composure, he entered the kitchen nonchalantly.
"Morning," Ashton greeted uneasily, walking into the kitchen picking up a banana and peeling it. Yes, he was aroused at the sight of Luke, so he was secretly hoping to repay the favor by playing with a banana in his mouth. Don't judge him.
"Morning," Luke gave him a smile and continued eating the apple, oblivious to what Ash was attempting to do.
        Unknowingly, Ashton began to stare and drool. Luckily, before Luke noticed he gathered his hormones and changed the subject on his mind, "Where were you last night?" He questioned, taking a bite of his fruit.
"I was with someone," Luke told him honestly, finishing off the apple and throwing it away.
"You're cheating on me?" Ash scoffed jokingly,"You slut," he put his hand up to his chest, clutching his heart like Luke ripped it out of his gay chest.
Chuckling, Luke pushed away his terrible acting, "You're the side hoe, get used to it," he snapped, walking into his room and closing the door behind, leaving Ashton to finish his banana alone.
Routinely, Luke removed the towel from around his waist and threw it onto the bed and walked to the closet to get clothing.
"Please tell me that this isn't your towel, and you aren't naked right now," Calum's voice said behind Luke. He turned around in a panic and grabbed the closest pair of underwear out of an open drawer and put them on.
"Why the hell are you in my room for?" Luke yelled whilst putting a leg through the hole on his briefs. Hopping on one leg to balance himself, but with all the confusion and panic Luke ended up falling on his side.
A few muffled snickers came from Calum as the blonde tried to stand back up and finish clothing his lower half. Eventually, he successfully put his briefs on and looked up to see Calum shielding his eyes, "You can look now asshole," he held up a middle finger and smiled as his band mate removed his shield.
"Well that's not very nice," he pouted.
"What's not very nice is you just randomly in my room while I'm trying to get dressed," Luke argued, waving his hands in the air for dramatic affect. The blonde groaned in frustration, "What the hell do you want?" He asked, wanting this uncomfortable situation to be over.
"I don't know man, I just wanted to talk," the Raven haired boy admitted, scratching the back of his neck. He seemed to genuinely want to talk to his friend, "After you get clothes on you hooker," he snorted throwing the towel at Luke.
It landed on his pale face and the end corners wrapped around the back of his head. Angrily, the taller frustrated boy snatched it off his face and threw it back at him, turning around to face my closet again. He grabbed a simple black V-neck and faded skinny jeans.
"Okay, what's up mate?" Luke asked once he was finished and sat down next to him, giving a friendly smile. It had been a while since Luke and Cal had a man to man talk, so the transition was a bit uncomfortable.
Calum returned the smile for a split second, but it quickly faded, "Well Uh, I'm having girl troubles mate," he slouched and Luke couldn't suppress his laughter.
"Seriously?" he shook his head, not believing that the slut of the band would come to him out of everyone in the house about this, especially when Luke liked the girl he was 'dating'.
"Yeah," Cal turned his body to face the blonde, "There's these girls, and well you've met one, but the other you haven't, her name is Monica," he shut his eyes at the mention of her name, " Anyway," he placed his head on his palm, "Ana is nice and awesome in bed, but Monica has this sort of edge about her that's so intriguing and mysterious," he explains to luke with his eyes widening in awe. Silently, Luke waited until he was done, "But I don't want to leave Ana in the dust, ya know?"
        No. Luke didn't know. All he knew was his best friend was being an inconsiderate asshole.
"I want them both, the nice and sweet side, with the mischievous side. It's a perfect combination," he said with a grin.
"Who's Monica?" Luke gritted through his teeth, raising an eyebrow at him.
Smirking, the dark haired boy glanced down at his lap, "She's this really cool chick I met downtown a few days ago. She's got long brown hair and piercing green eyes," he locked eyes with Luke"she's so hot dude."
"And you're still seeing Ana?" The blonde continued to question him, wanting all the details.
         He nodded, "Yeah, I'm having lunch with her today actually," he grinned looking down.
"I thought she was mad at you because you stood her up?" Luke pointed, not to anything in particular, just a gesture.
"I called her when I got home last night, I was surprised she answered, considering how late it was," Calum admitted, smiling at the memory.
"I was with her all night? When did you call her?" His voice deepened and the anger rose in the back of Luke's throat. His jaw line hardened as his body tensed. The fact he tried to contact her after being in be with someone else is what got Luke heated, the fact it was Ana made it worse.
So badly did he want to rip his best friend into shreds just for having as much stupidity as he does. People say, 'Boys will be boys', and that's true.