The realisation that a stranger is currently staring at us takes a while to set in. Both my father and I freeze in place, the pain in my wrist momentarily forgotten as I watch Luke take a tentative step forward. 

His eyes focus on my father's fingers that are firmly clasped around my wrist and it is only then that my father releases me. 

Dad's eyes are crinkled together, marring his greasy looking forehead with crease lines. The crowsfeet by his eyes deepen as he stares at Luke in bewilderment, looking like he can't quite believe his eyes. 

"Is that...is that a Daltech first stringer?" His jaw goes slack, face filled awe. "Is that our wide receiver?" 

He must be asking me those questions but I'm currently at a loss for words. I tuck my throbbing wrist behind me just as Luke nears. 

Even with my dad's towering frame, Luke's broad shoulders and long legs somehow make him more intimidating, both of them almost the same height. My father takes an unconscious step back, looking as star struck as ever. 

I turn my attention to Luke only to find him eyeing me worriedly. He then turns to my dad, his gaze not so friendly. 

"Hi Danielle," He smiles cautiously, studying the dynamic between my father and I. "Everything, okay?" 

"Of course!" Dad flounders, grabbing the pack of beers from my good hand. "Just a little father and daughter bonding. You know Danielle?" 

At the mention of our relationship, I notice Luke relaxes a little. His broad shoulders droop slightly, dropping his defensive gait and the sharpness in his gaze disappears. 

I resist the urge to stare into those mesmerising eyes of his. If I started, I'd probably never stop. My hearts beating along with the throbbing in my wrist. I can't believe Luke Bradshaw saw us. There are a bazillion students on campus. Why of all people did it have to be him?

My cheeks start to burn. No one in college knows about this part of my life and I'd always intended to keep it that way. 

Luke is easily one of the most popular students on campus. I sincerely hope he doesn't share our encounter with anyone else, especially Zander.

"What are you doing here?" I blurt out without thinking and then wince because that was rude. It's not like I own this part of town. 

He grins softly, more amused by my abrupt question than offended. "I live here." 

Both my father and I look at him like he'd just told us he moved here from Mars. 

Luke's smile widens even more at our reactions and because we've both lost our ability to speak, he continues to explain. "I live on the other side of the park but we always come here for cheaper liquor. That's where I've seen you before. At Elizabeth's." 

I remember him telling me he's seen me before. I'd been so drunk at the time, the words barely registered in my brain. 

So he's seen me at Elizabeth's. Funny, because I've never seen him and he's not exactly the kind of person you miss. 

"I've never seen you here before." I mumble and my father bristles. 

"Danielle, where are your manners? The guy said he lives here. Do you need his house permit for further proof?" He quickly stumbles forward and offers to carry Luke's pack of ciders, even though Luke could probably carry a dozen of those without breaking a sweat. "You need help with that, son?"

Luke shakes his head and a lock of soft brown hair falls past his forehead. I stare at it, half tempted to push it back into place. 

We end up heading to the check out counters together, my dad ambushing Luke with all things football related. I should thank him for the distraction, hopefully my dad will forget all about his ridiculous request for money after meeting a somewhat celebrity in our state. 

"Don't you think it's funny how we've never crossed paths before even though we live in the same neighbourhood? " Luke says once we've paid for our things and left the store. 

We're now gathered idly on the sidewalk and Luke is standing in front of us with his back to the road, the setting sun casting a shadow over his tall frame. 

My lips purse. Before college, I hardly ever left the house aside from school. Most of my time was spent locked in my room or the hospital. It's hardly a surprise why I've never met him or anyone else around here, aside from Elizabeth of course. 

I wonder why she'd never mentioned being neighbours with him before. Is that how she met Zander?

My mind spins like the wheels in a clock while my dad speaks for the both of us. 

"I know. Can't believe we've been staying with a legend all this time. Did you go to school here? I read that you used to play in Michigan."

Luke's cheeks redden slightly and he waves my father off in embarrassment. "Hardly a legend. I'm just an amateur. We moved here only a year ago. A few months before I started at Daltech." 

Ahh, so that's why I haven't noticed him around Liz's place. 

"Let me help you with that," Luke reaches out and takes the pack of beers that I had been carrying after paying for them. "I'll walk you guys home." 

I stiffen like a block of wood, holding on to the plastic handles for longer than necessary. Dad glares at me and rips the bag out of my hand before handing them to Luke. 

Dad starts hounding him with more football related questions and I grit my teeth as I follow them begrudgingly. I don't want Luke to know where I live. I don't want anyone to know I live in a small run down flat that looks like it should be bulldozed for being such an eyesore. 

But dad doesn't seem to care or have any semblance of self awareness. This is a Daltech football player on sport scholarship, almost everyone in the state knows who he is. Besides Zander, he's the last person I want near my house. 

My body tenses, my neck muscles growing tighter by the second, like cords wrapping around my throat. Zander! He can't know about my decrepit home, not when I'm trying to get him to date me. 

"Luke!" I half shout, making the two of them stop. 

Luke whips around to meet my gaze and my dad looks like he wants to plummet me into the ground for interrupting them. I can't worry about that now, all I can think about is how this might affect my mission with Zander. 

"Can we talk for a second?" I gesture to the park behind us, which would lead him further away from my house. 

"Sure," He responds quickly, making my father's face fall. He hands the beer to my dad and proceeds to join me. 

"I'll be back soon," I call over to my dad and he only nods quietly. He's studying Luke in that sickeningly calculative way that makes me think he's plotting. He always has that look on his face when he wants something. 

I don't wait for him to leave. Instead I walk ahead, leading Luke towards the park that separates his side of town from mine. 

The leaves above form a dark green canopy above us. I walk over to a shaded area and sit down on one of the swings. Luke sits down on the one next to mine. His legs are so long that his knees jut out into the air, making him look like a spider. 

"So..." I start, putting my weight on the balls of my feet, making the swing move back and forth ever so slightly. 

"So..." Luke mimics, gesturing for me to continue. 

"You know where I live now." The regret in my voice is evident, it makes him frown slightly. 

"Yes, I do," He says slowly. "I already guessed as much, seeing as you always visit Elizabeth. It was either here or there." 

He nods in the direction of his housing area and then mine. 

A lump in my throat forms and it's suddenly harder to speak. "But now you know I stay on this side." 

Luke seems to understand my insinuation and his frown deepens. "The difference doesn't mean anything. We're still neighbours." 

I sigh loudly and look away. I study the dried leaves that have fallen by my feet, all brown and crusty. My shoe tramples one and I kick the floor, driving my swing forward. A rush of air hits my face and I close my eyes, wishing I could disappear with the wind. 

I still don't look at him when I stop. Instead, I stare at the winding cement walkway people use for their walks or runs. 

"I don't like people knowing." I say softly, so soft I doubt he would hear it. 

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about." He answers patiently and my head whips in his direction. 

"It would be great if you didn't mention this to anyone else." I finally say what I'd wanted to say all along. "I know we're not friends and you have no reason to hide this but I just hope that you will."

Luke places a palm over his chest and smiles. "Don't worry I won't. If it makes you uncomfortable I'll keep this to myself." 

"Great." I don't know if I can trust him but it still feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest. 

I'm ready to leave when Luke puts up two fingers, looking like he's asking a question in class. "Although I'm going to need some clarification." 

His tone is teasing and I wait for him to continue. 

"Do you not want anyone to know where you live? Or that we met?" His eyes are alight with amusement. Why the hell did I stare at them, now I'm trapped. I can't look away.

"Umm, both?" I stutter. 

"You're the first person who's ever said that to me. Should I be offended, Danielle?" He leans back, feigning hurt but there's that teasing in his voice again. 

For some stupid reason I blush. "I'm not embarrassed." 

I just have a mastermind plan to break your best friend's heart and I can't let anyone get in the way of it.

"I should go. It's getting dark." I say, getting up and dusting the imaginary dirt off my jeans. 

Luke stands up after a few seconds as well. "Well it was nice 'not meeting' you, Danielle." 

I grin at his words, unable to stop myself. "Same here."

His eyes light up and he runs a hand through his hair. "I'll see you around then." 

"I hope not." I answer, keeping the joke between us going. 

He winks at me in understanding and waits for me to leave first. "I would offer to walk you back but you clearly wouldn't want that, right?" 

"Right." I say, still smiling. I wave at him, taking a few steps back before finally turning around to leave. 

When I reach the front door to my house I realise I'm still smiling.