Percy didn't remember falling asleep, but she was suddenly being woken up. She stirs, opening her eyes, and blinking a few times. "Huh?" She mumbled, her vision clearing up.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. Let's get you out of here." Strong arms wrap around her waist, pulling her to her feet. Luke's shift had just ended when he came back, not surprised to see her sleeping at the bar. He helps her up, his arm wrapping around her waist as she leaned against him, her legs wobbly. "How much did you drink?"

"Not enough." She murmurs, resting her head on his chest. "Can I have another one?" She asked, her voice slurred.

Luke laughs, shaking his head. "I think you've had enough for one night." He began helping her through the crowd to the exit, but then stopped, turning to the right. "Come on, this way."

Percy looks up, squinting at him since her vision was blurry. "Where are we going?"

"My place." He said casually. Even in this state she knew that didn't sound good at first.

"I ain't sleeping with you." She slurs, her eyebrows furrowed together. "Even though you are really pretty. Like, really pretty. It's distracting. And I already have someone distracting."

"That's not what I meant." He replies with a chuckle. "I live close by, and I didn't want you driving home when you're in this state. When you're more sober, I can take you back here to get your car if you drove here or take you home-"

"My friend drove me here." That made her realize she hadn't seen Reyna in awhile. She hoped she was alright. Reyna could take care of herself, but still. She would have liked to know where she was and to know if she was okay or not.

"Well, then I'll have no choice but to take you home myself." He teased, grinning at her while guiding her to his car. At one point, he decided to pick her up since it was easier to get her to his car.

Percy smiles sleepily. "My hero." Her unfocused eyes blinked up at him with a lazy, content smile as Luke carefully placed her into the passenger seat of his car. He chuckled softly at her drowsy affection, securing her seatbelt before closing the door.

As he got into the driver's seat and started the car, he glanced over at her. "You really should be more careful, you know. I hope you've got a good friend who'll be checking up on you."

Percy mumbles something incoherent, her head lolling to the side as she tried to stay awake. "Reyna's good people." She managed to say, her words slurring slightly.

"I'm sure she is." Luke agreed with a warm smile. He pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards his apartment. He didn't live too far from the bar, so it was a quick drive. But after glancing over at her, he noticed she had fallen back to sleep. He couldn't help the smile that tugged on his lips as he watched her sleeping peacefully. She was a mess, but a cute one.

When he got to his apartment, he gently shakes her awake. "Come on, Percy. Let's get you inside and into bed."

She grumbles in response, swatting his hand away. "Leave me alone. I'm fine."

He rolls his eyes, getting out of the car and making his way to the passenger side. He opens the door, unbuckling her seatbelt and picking her up. She rested her head on his chest, letting out a tired sigh as he carried her inside. He had some trouble opening and unlocking the door with her in his arms, but he managed. After shutting the door with his foot, he carried her to the couch and set her down. He grabbed a pillow and blanket, propping her head up and covering her with the blanket.

He smiled fondly at her as she curled up on the couch, her mouth slightly parted. Luke brushed a stray piece of hair out of her face, admiring her for a moment before standing up and heading towards the kitchen. He knew she would be hungover tomorrow, and he wanted to make sure she was properly taken care of. So, he got her a glass of water and some painkillers, laying them on the coffee table.

He looks back down at her, his expression soft. "Sleep well, Percy."

****

As the next morning came, the bright rays of sunshine shined through the window and hit Percy's face, waking her up. She groaned, turning on her side and covering her head with the blanket. She shut her eyes tightly, feeling her head pounding. D***, how much did she drink last night? She didn't remember leaving the bar.

Percy slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the unfamiliar surroundings. She looked around, seeing that she was in a living room. A living room she didn't recognize. Panic surged through her as she sat up quickly, regretting it when her head began to spin. She held her head, groaning in pain. Through her blurry vision she noticed a glass of water and two pills sitting on the coffee table. She hesitated, not sure what pills they were. She hoped they were Tylenol, they looked like it. She was in too much pain to question it, so she took the pills, gulping them down with the glass of water. Percy set the empty glass down and glanced around again nervously. Okay, so, she was in a random person's house. This wasn't her apartment, and she had no recollection of how she got here. What did she do? Did she sleep with someone? She looked down, relieved when she noticed she was still wearing her clothes. She remembered being at the bar, getting drunk, and then nothing.

"Oh, gosh, I hope I didn't get kidnapped or something." Percy muttered, rubbing her temples. Her memory was still a little fuzzy.

"Don't worry, you didn't." A deep, familiar voice came from the doorway. Percy turns her head to the left, her eyes widening as she saw Luke, the bartender, walking into the living room. He gave her a warm smile, setting down a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her. "Hungry?"

Percy stares at the plate of food, her jaw dropped while her stomach growled. "You're hot and you cook? Are you a serial killer or something?" Her face flushed after realizing what she blurted out.

Luke let out a soft chuckle. "No, I'm not a serial killer." He assures her. He smiles reassuringly, sitting on a chair near her with a playful glint in his eyes. "I promise, I'm just a regular guy who enjoys cooking and works at the bar. Who also happens to think you're cute."

"Cute, huh?" Percy repeated, her face growing warm.

"Very." He confirms, smiling at her. "Do you remember anything from last night? How are you feeling?" He questioned, his expression filled with concern.

Percy rubs her eyes, trying to piece together the events of the previous night. "I remember being at the bar and getting really drunk," She admits, her voice still tinged with grogginess. "But that's pretty much it. I'm sorry if I caused any trouble."

Luke shakes his head, his smile gentle. "You didn't cause any trouble. You were just having a rough night. I brought you here to make sure you were safe. And you don't need to apologize. Everyone has a night like that every now and then."

Percy hesitates, then took a bite of the bacon and eggs. The food was surprisingly delicious, and she found herself relaxing a little more with each mouthful. "Thanks for taking care of me. I guess I didn't really think through what I was doing last night."

Luke leans back in his chair, observing her with an easygoing demeanor. "No problem at all. I'm glad you're alright. Do you have a ride home or would you like me to take you back to your car?"

"My friend brought me there, so I'm sure she can come and pick me up. Can I use your phone?" Percy asked as she continued eating. The food was so good, she couldn't resist taking another bite. Plus she was really hungry. She was also still a little hungover, but she was feeling a lot better now.

"Of course. I'll go get it for you." Luke stood up and left the room.

Percy took a moment to admire him as he left, a smile tugging on her lips while she kept eating. He was such a sweet guy, and he was very handsome. And his cooking skills were excellent. She didn't know him too well, but she was beginning to like him.

A few minutes later, Luke walks back into the room, handing her the phone. "Here you go."

"Thank you." She smiled, dialing the number to Reyna's cellphone. 

She held the phone to her ear, waiting for her to pick up. As she talked with Reyna, Luke had left and took a shower. Once she was done talking with Reyna, she glances at the clock and notices she thankfully would have plenty of times to go change and get to class on time. Which was good since today was the first day and she didn't want to be late. But while she waited for Luke to get back, she took a glance around his place. Sometimes you could really get a good understanding of what a person was like just by looking around their house.

The room had a cozy, warm feel to it, and the furniture was well-worn but comfortable. There was a stack of books on the coffee table, along with a laptop. The kitchen was well-stocked, and there was a small dining area attached. She noticed a record player with a crate of records in the living room by the tv stand. An acoustic guitar was leaning against the wall, next to a bookshelf that was full of books, vinyls, and some picture frames. 

Percy couldn't help her curiosity, so she went over to take a look at the pictures. There was one with a young Luke, smiling widely, standing next to an older woman. They both had the same blond hair and blue eyes, so she guessed it was his mother. It looked like they were at a baseball field. Young Luke was wearing a baseball uniform, a glove in his hand and a bat resting on his shoulder. He looked like he was around ten years old, maybe. She smiled softly, admiring the picture before she moved on to another picture that caught her eye. 

It was of what looked like a more recent picture of Luke with him holding a little girl who looked like a mini version of him. She had long, blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a gap-toothed grin. She was also wearing a baseball uniform. The little girl looked to be about four or five years old, and in the picture, Luke was holding her up in the air, both of them laughing. The warmth and happiness in that photo were palpable, and Percy couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration for Luke. It was clear that he had a loving family and a gentle side that he showed through his care for her.

"That's was my daughter." A voice behind her said. Percy jumped, startled, and turned to see Luke standing there. He had changed his clothes, his blond hair damp. He wore a blue flannel, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a white shirt underneath, jeans and black boots. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay. That's a really cute picture." Percy pauses when she realized what he said. "Was?" She asks, then grimaces, knowing this was probably a touchy subject. "Sorry, you don't have to talk about it. It's none of my business. Just forget it." Her gaze went to another photo frame on the bookshelf, one with a picture of a man. He looked a lot like Luke, and she figured he was his father.

"It's fine." Luke assures her, giving her a reassuring smile. He walks over to her, picking up the picture of him and his daughter. "This was taken a few months before she died."

"Died?" Percy repeats, her eyes widening. She felt guilty for asking him about it, especially if it was a sensitive subject. "I-I'm sorry, really, you don't have to tell me-"

"Really, it's okay." Luke's smile was gentle, and his eyes were filled with a mix of sadness and warmth. "She was killed in a car accident a few years ago. The driver was drunk, and they swerved off the road. My ex-wife and I were in the car, too, but only I survived." He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes and he looked like he was struggling to remain calm. "I don't know how or why I was the only one who survived, I keep thinking it should have been me instead of her, but-"

Percy's heart broke. She reached over, placing a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Luke." She said quietly, her voice laced with sympathy. "Look, I don't know you that well, but you survived for a reason. You should cherish that, not dwell on what could have been. I know it's hard, but it's what she would have wanted. For you to live your life, be happy. I'm sure your ex-wife would've wanted the same. That is...If you guys were on good terms." She added, her eyebrows furrowing together.

Luke's lips tugs upwards, and he places his hand on hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "We were on good terms. But thank you, Percy. That means more to me than you know." He pauses, his expression turning thoughtful. "I haven't told anyone else about this, except my therapist, of course." He looks over at the photo of him and his daughter, his smile turning bittersweet. "It feels good to be able to open up and talk about it. Even if I don't know you that well either, but with you," He looks back at her, his blue eyes meeting her sea green ones. "I don't know. It just feels like I can trust you. That's weird, right?"

Percy laughs lightly, shaking her head. "No, I feel the same way. I mean, last night is starting to slowly come back to me and I'm so embarrassed that I ranted to you about my life. So, thanks for listening and being there for me."

Luke chuckles, shrugging his shoulders. "It's no problem, really." He smiles warmly at her, his eyes brightening. "You know, I'm really glad I met you."

"Me too." Percy replied, returning the smile. The two shared a soft, tender look that lasted longer than necessary. The tension suddenly shifted, and Percy could feel the butterflies in her stomach. It was like there was some kind of electric charge in the air, and she couldn't take her eyes off him. He was gazing at her like she was the most amazing person he'd ever met, and she couldn't help but wonder if he was feeling the same way she was. It was like they were two pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly, and it was a little bit overwhelming.

After a moment, the sound of a car horn beeping broke the spell. "That's, uh, that's probably Reyna." She didn't want to leave yet, not after what happened. It was like some sort of connection was formed between them, and she wasn't ready for it to end. But she had to get to class. "Um, thank you. For everything."

Luke nods, his smile never faltering. "Of course." He hesitates, as if he didn't want her to leave either. He grabs a sticky note, writing something down on it. He hands it to her, his green eyes twinkling. "Here's my number. If you ever want to hang out or just talk, just give me a call."

Percy grins, taking the sticky note and putting it in her pocket. "I will. Thanks." She gave him one last smile before leaving, her heart beating fast in her chest.

As she got into the car with Reyna, she was already looking forward to calling Luke later.