chapter four:
the key to your heart

Luke pushed himself off his mattress, his head ached as he rubbed at his flesh. Hoping it'd soothe away some of the discomfort he felt. He was hungover, and he regretted drinking last night.

He honestly didn't remember Joe leaving, the man likely slipped away in the middle of the night when Luke passed out. He walked into his kitchen grabbing a glass and letting it fill with water.

He'd spent the entire time today just sitting about, his entire body felt like it was on fire. He'd take all the pills that were necessary until his headache disappeared completely.

He sat down on his couch groaning as he pushed a pillow over his face. He was never going to drink again, at this rate he'd be stuck inside all day.

He didn't even wanna encounter the sunlight, his poor eyes couldn't handle it. He'd perish away the second he even attempted to step outside.

He closed his eyes letting himself drift away into a much needed rest. He'd sleep all day if it helped get rid of his hangover.

—

   Joe was slipping back into his old habits, he walked down the sidewalk, a hat pressed over his head as he watched Luke's door. He needed to get inside somehow, he needed to figure out what was behind that locked door.

Luke's door opened like clockwork and he walked outside with a cigarette in his lips. He rolled his trash tin over to the end of the road.

"Morning Susan, got a light load this week I see" the old woman let out a light chuckle. "Johns been working all week, ain't much trash from it".

Joe pushed his hat further down as he leaned into a wall. Luke grabbed his car keys out of his pocket "I gotta get going, I'm meeting up with Judith, I'll see you around Susan". The old woman smiled "you and that girl outta get married by now, or settle down".

Luke didn't say anything and nodded his head as he got into his car, he drove off and when the coast was clear. Joe ran forward approaching the front door, he had at best an hour.

—

   Luke walked into the small coffee shop smiling weakly at Judith who sat at a table. She stood up at the sight of him "oh I hope you aren't pissed off at me! I'm really sorry about the whole Joesph thing".

He let out a soft laugh "it's alright Jude, I guess I was just upset since I thought you'd scare him away, my dating life isn't going well".

"Oh that guy is way into you, you could call him and he'd run right over, the way he looks at you is so adorable, he's definitely into you".

Luke smiled "that may be true, but I imagine he's busy with work today, I don't wanna bother him". Judith huffed "shit if you don't text him, I will".

He grabbed his phone out of his pocket "what do I even say? Wanna come over? Hey let's hang out?".

"What are we in high school? Just give me the phone and let me handle this for you". He smiled as he handed Judith the phone "it better not be anything embarrassing, It'll scare him off".

Joe stopped searching the kitchen drawers when his phone went off. He grabbed hold of it, maybe things would work out on his end.

Luke wanting to meet up, suppose luck was on his side today. Although the text felt odd, Judith likely wrote it for the man. At the sound of the front door unlocking Joe cursed to himself as he slipped into the bathroom.

"I better get all the damn details Luke, I mean I didn't just help you score the guy for nothing". Joe peeked out the crack of the door smirking.

"Jude you're amazing but you should really get going, I gotta at least make myself look decent, this is my first sorta date since like last year".

Odd, what happened with the ex? Hadn't they been dating only a few months ago?

Jude smiled "oh and you'll have a great time, I really like that Joe guy, have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do".

She left and Luke walked into his bedroom, Joe slipped past the doorway. His steps were quiet as he walked towards the front door.

A thud entered the air making Joe pause for a moment. Luke walked out of his bedroom sighing deeply as he approached the basement door.

The key, he's wearing it. Joe watched as the man unlocked the lock and slipped down into the room. He knew following after him wouldn't be smart.

So for now he left, he'd come back later anyways. Maybe he could figure out how to get the key, Luke kept it close to himself for a reason.

—

   Joe walked towards Luke's house with anticipation, he had one mission and that was getting the key. He'd make Luke get absolutely drunk again if it meant grabbing the key off his neck. He knocked and after a minute the door opened and Luke smiled at him.

His hair was still slightly damp from showering "come on in Joe" he moved out of the doorframe. Joe walked inside his eyes noticing the chain around Luke's neck, the key.

He smiled "I got your text" Luke huffed slightly "Judith sent it, sorry if it was a tad bit confusing or weird or just overall stupid. She just really wanted to help me out I guess, she's actually coming over later to hang out with us"

This Judith girl was becoming a problem, Joe knew he'd have to take care of her if he wanted Luke to himself. She was a distraction, she was reckless.

Luke pours them a glass of wine "it's all I got, hope that's okay?" Joe smiles. "This works for me, so if you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living? I'm just curious".

Luke seemed agitated by this question as he drank his wine, "I don't really do anything that's interesting like you, I mean working at a book shop, that sounds better then what I'm doing".

"You work at an office or something?" Luke laughed "no, I used to work for my parents company but I gave up that lifestyle, I do other things. They aren't really important, they're boring".

Joe found this odd, he needed to figure out what Luke was hiding from him. "Did you by chance read that book I recommended to you?".

Luke's eyes lit up "yeah, I actually finished it last week, I meant to stop by for something new, but I got caught up in work". He smiles as he finishes the rest of his wine. They talked for hours, while Luke got wasted and passed out on the couch.

Joe stole the key from around the man's neck, he knew now wasn't the best time to search the locked room. He'd make a copy of the key and come back once he's earned Luke's trust.

He'd wait and make Luke fall in love with him slowly. He just needed to get Judith out of the picture first, she was ruining things for him.

not edited! (Gasp!)
—
authors notes:
I have so many drafts of this just sitting here collecting dust at this rate, but I'm slowly getting them republished. I believe I have one left to get out before I actually start writing again for this.