( 𝗅𝗎𝗄𝖾 𝗁 , 𝖺𝗎𝗋𝗈𝗋𝖺 💘 )

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
HELLO ARE YOU THERE

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
ARE YOU FREE I NEED HELP

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
god am i desperate

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
hi yes! i'm here!

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
wait i didn't expect u to reply

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
what

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
i texted so many people but
they're all busy so i thought
hey why not try luke

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
aren't u on vacation 😭

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
i am which is why i'm free
to reply?

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
what do you need help with

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
ok this is embarrassing but

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
there's this rally sort of thing
tomorrow and i'm planning to
meet with the NGO's nj manager
to sort out details for becoming
a member

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
and this is the first time i'm doing
something like this all on my own
with my own contacts so it's a big
deal for me

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
omg

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
yeah so i need to have the perfect
outfit but i'm so fucking confused
idk why i left it for the last minute
that is SO unlike me

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
i texted a few people (mom, nico,
aunty, even considered dad, this
one model friend i recently made
here) but they're all either not
answering or they're busy

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
and i need to make a decision rn
or i'll go crazy

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
so are u actually free? can u help?
pls dont compromise on fun for this
i can always wait for the others, i'm
just a little obsessive like that

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
of course i'm free! and yeah
i can help, i help june with
outfit stuff all the time and she
hasn't stabbed me yet so i'm
guessing i'm not that bad at it

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
u sure? it's okay if u don't
want to

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
aurora please i wouldn't lie

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
i want to help

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
okay so can i facetime u?

𝗹𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵
absolutely!

𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 💘
great

𝖂hen Luke woke up this morning, the last thing he expected was to FaceTime with Aurora in the middle of lunch with Ethan, Mark, Dylan and Seamus.

But that's exactly what's happening, and he had to walk away into the garden enclosure of the little vacation themed restaurant to have some privacy — and also gawk at her in peace but we won't talk about that.

He still can't believe it as he's holding the phone in his grasp and she enters the frame again with two hangers in her hands.

"So, is this too professional?", she gestures towards a grey skirt suit, "Or is this too casual?", she holds up the left hanger containing flared dark blue jeans, a maroon fitted Henley and a black oversized jacket.

She is so pretty, especially with that homely, comfortable look she's got going on — wearing a pair of grey shorts and a way too large Alvarez football jersey with all her hair piled on top of her head in a bun, her round glasses framing her face, she looks like an actual goddess come alive.

He just can't believe that someone so beautiful could be real?

"Luke?", she frowns and he's startled out of his daze, a blush spreading over his cheeks because he's been caught staring.

Goddammit, Luke. Pull it together.

He clears his throat.

"Uh, sorry. So, what's this rally about? What's the NGO?".

"It's an animal rights thing".

"Oh, cool", he nods then immediately cringes because cool? Seriously? and scratches his head, "Do you have a formal meeting?".

She purses her lips then shakes her head.

"No, I'll just be submitting my portfolio and clearing his questions after the rally. At a café near their office".

"And you're fine with that jacket? In this weather?", he points at the black jacket over the left outfit.

She glances at it before shrugging.

"So I'll feel a little warm during the rally. But the café will be air-conditioned. I really don't care, as long as it looks good".

"Okay. I think you should go with the left one. The gray suit is too professional for this".

"Right? I had such strong feelings about this one but I thought, an opinion was needed so. Yeah. Well, thank you. You just saved my life. You deserve like, all the choco chip cookies in the world".

He laughs, "How'd you know I like them?".

She blinks and shifts on her feet, placing her clothes on the bed — the same bed where he'd . . . . been with her the last time they saw each other, god that was addictive — and sits down on the chair, bringing the phone closer to her face.

"You told me about it. When we had breakfast together that morning".

Something, something feels fluttery inside his body. He can't pinpoint to a specific feeling but suddenly, he has the urge to smile really, really wide.

But he controls himself.

Sort of. He dons a tiny smile.

"You remember that?".

She rubs the side of her neck, the action seeming way too close to nervousness.

"Yeah, of course I remember. I have . . . . sort of a photographic memory when it comes to . . . moments. Like I can tell you exactly how I met the first girl I ever befriended and exactly what we talked about that day but my high school Geography lessons? I don't remember shit", she shakes her head, "So yeah. I remember. Sorry for rambling. I'll let you get back to your friends".

He hates that she thinks he'd rather be with his friends then talk to her right now, help her because sure, he hasn't seen them since some time but they'll be there he knows that.

Aurora though is . . . . flighty. He has no idea what her next move will be so he'll take anything.

He'll catch onto all the little crumbs she lets slip if it means he could be just a little bit closer to knowing her, the actual her not the one she tries to be to protect herself but the one who laughed so freely with him that one morning.

"I really don't mind. And Seamus is just drilling Ethan about his breakup with Seamus' best friend, which might I add was tragic, so I feel like this is more interesting", he smiles in hopes of reassuring her.

She smiles quietly, giving him a small nod as she brushes her hair behind her ear.

"I'll go work now. I have to make some finishing touches to my portfolio. Thank you so much again. Really. It means the world to me. Do let me know how I can repay you".

He wants to say — God, Aurora. Stop it. Don't you see? I'm already so . . . well, obsessed sounds stalkerish so whatever the more normal word is, that is what I feel about you. I tried to convince myself that this isn't what I need but I'm hopeless so there you go. Do you really think you need to repay me? I'll do anything for you, you just need to ask. Wait, that also sounds kinda weird so . . . . just pretend I'm talking about it in a more normal sense.

But what he says is, "Anytime. Don't worry about me. Maybe we could . . . have dinner once I get back? Whenever it's convenient for you".

She stares silently and her expression is so neutral that he's scared he accidentally overstepped.

Stupid, stupid, dumb Luke, you really do need June for everything. Are you crazy? What the fuck is wrong with yo—

"Sure", she answers with a smile.

He exhales in relief.

"Uhm, so I'll go now. Thank you. Bye, have a great day".

He smiles softly, "Bye. Good luck for tomorrow".

She sends him another smile then hangs up leaving him to stand there for a second before realising that he's going on dinner with her, soon hopefully.

And that's a win for Luke.

Great day indeed.

***
look i may have a jack pfp and i may have started this nhl fanfic series with a jack fic BUT i feel like it's important for everyone to know that luke's my favourite brother, he's literally my spirit animal 😔🔥