CHAPTER EIGHT

"How was school?" Luke asked Elena, handing over a giant lollipop.

"You first. How was school?"

"Transfer to my school, if you want to know," he pouted.

Elena shook her head. "You're in your final year, I've got one more year. Seriously?"

"It doesn't matter."

She rolled her eyes. "Are you..."

"School was okay," he cut her off. "Tons of homework."

"Mhmm. Same."

"And?" Luke stared at her obviously not satisfied with her answer.

"Someone called June."

"I called you about 30mins ago."

"Seriously," Elena replied. "It was an unknown number. But I feel like she saved the number as unknown number."

"Ohh."

"Yeah," Elena replied, immediately wanting to change the topic. "Guess what?"

"I don't know."

"Ivy invited me to a party!"

He arched his eyebrows. "Ivy?"

"Ivy!" She yelled hitting him. "My friend from school. I've told you about her, Cmon!"

"Oh, the nerd June doesn't like?"

"Yes. And she's cool." Elena rolled her eyes at his description.

"Since when did nerds become cool?"

"I'm a nerd."

"You're dumb."

She glared at him. "Lick your lollipop and stop spewing nonsense."

"Ouu."

"Ivy isn't a nerd! She's just smart and June doesn't like her."

"Oh-"

"Yeah! She's cool too, really pretty," Elena argued. "Nerds don't throw parties that literally half of the school gets to go to."

"True," he admitted. "But, are you going?"

"I don't know," she replied, honestly. "Whadyuthink?"

"I don't have a good feeling about it," he said, Elena wrinkling her nose. "Do you think the nuns will allow?"

"I don't know," She replied. "Come with me, I'll go ask."

This time, it was Luke's turn to wrinkle his nose.

He didn't reply.

Honestly, he didn't know why he felt that way. It was just a party anyways, just a party. But still he couldn't bring himself to be excited about it.

"Why don't you want me to go?" Elena tugged his arm.

"I don't know."

True

"You'll miss me right?" She tugged his arm harder. "It's just a dayyyy."

Elena finally let go of his arm when she didn't get any reply. There was no way she was going to a party Luke didn't approve.

He draped his arms around her shoulders. "You can go."

Elena tried to suppress her smile. "I was going to. With or without your permission."

"We both know that's a lie," he said, pulling her closer to him. "Have you seen the new restaurant that opened around?"

"A new restaurant?" She replied wide eyed. "let's go, you'll pay."

"We're splitting the bill."

~•~•~•~•~

"I don't like the restaurant's food," they both said in unison, immediately bursting into laughter.

"The food was too sweet."

"What? It was way too salty."

"You're weird," Elena said, shaking her head.

"You're weirder. Who considers salty food sweet?"

Elena and Luke got to Amigo late, spending more than half of the time arguing on their way back. Luke, of course, knew their argument was baseless and pointless but he wouldn't let it go- an opportunity to tease Elena.

Immediately they got home, they headed straight to the sister in charge of Elena's dormitory. Nervously, Elena asked if she could attend the party.

She scrunched her nose immediately.

"There'd be so much drinking, drugs, boys and bad behavior," she said, Elena rolling her eyes.

"No, sister," Elena replied, unsure herself. "It's just a small party."

"I'll think about it," she said. Elena nodded knowing there was nothing to think about. She had expressed her disapproval immediately.

She signalled to Luke as they both made their ways out of the sisters area. He sheepishly walked behind her, rubbing his palms together.

"Hey..."

"I almost forgot you knew how to talk," Elena cut in playfully, trying to hide her disappointment. "You could have filled in a word or two."

"I know, I should have..."

"Yeah, you should have," she cut him off again. "Luke, I really wanted to go that party."

"Would you at least stop cutting me off?"

"I didn't right now," she shrugged. "What?"

"I really should have eaten before going to meet her," he said, Elena arching an eyebrow. "I couldn't think straight cause I was hungry."

False.

Elena stared at Luke wondering what went on in his head.

"We are at the restaurant."

"I didn't like the food."

True.

"You're such an idiot," she muttered.

"You love me anyways," he said in a singsong voice, earning a glare from Elena.

True.

"Dream of bedbugs and cockroaches," Elena said, turning to leave. "See ya later, good night."

"Dream of me shaving your eyebrows if you fail your maths test," he smiled. "Good night."

"I hate you."

Luke watched Elena's figure slowly disappear, as he smiled. He rubbed his palms together, wondering where he got that new habit from.

He knocked on the nun's door politely, patiently waiting for an answer.

"Come in," she said in a high pitched voice, making Luke guess she was planning on auditioning for a old choir.

"Good evening, sister."

"Oh it's you, Luke," she said, sparing him a quick glance before going back to what she was doing. "You came with Elena few minutes ago, right? Party babies. Did you forget anything?"

"Yes," he rubbed his palms together,again. " I forgot to drop a word or two."

She stopped, turning to face him. "And that is?"

"Could you please allow Elena go to the party?"

"Well, that was about," she replied, counting with her fingers. "9 words."

Luke rolled his eyes.

"No," she deadpanned.

"Why?" Luke asked, taken aback by her reply. "it's a harmless party anyways."

"Harmless?" She laughed. "How can a party thrown by a high school be harmless? There'll be so many bad things, oh Jesus. It'll corrupt her mind and soul. It'll..."

Maybe they came to the wrong nun.

"A nerd's throwing the party," he cut her off.

She didn't say anything but Luke could read her mind. Nerds don't throw parties.

"Exactly. It's just a nerd's party- nothing much. Who will be there anyways, just the nerd, Elena, and a bunch of loosers," he said. "It's really going to be harmless, just let her go. I bet she'd be wishing she never went when she's back."

"Why does it bother you anyways?" she asked. "It's Elena who's going right?"

"I know right," Luke replied. "But even if it's a lame party, as long as it'll make Elena happy, I should try to make it happen."

She pressed her lips together. "Fine, she can go."

Luke tried to hide the fast spreading smile on his lips. Instead, he shrugged. "Thanks."

She nodded, as she ushered him out of her office. Immediately he got out, he let the smile spread freely on his lips.

Yes! He brought out his phone to text Elena to come meet him.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat," Elena drawled lazily on seeing Luke. "You're interrupting my beauty sleep."

"Yeah right," his voice dropped in sarcasm. "Guess what?"

"I can go back to sleep?"

"You can go to the party," Luke corrected. "The sister agreed."

"Really?! YES!" Elena exclaimed. "How did she agree though?"

"If you're so grateful, buy me a meal later," he replied. "I might have filled in 9 words for you."

"Wow, what did you say?"

"I told her it was only you and a bunch of losers that were going to be at the party."

"I don't know if I'm supposed to hate or love you," Elena said, smiling.

"Whichever one comes with more passion."

She smiled. "Thank you."

"You know what to do if you're so grateful."

"Kick your face? Of course."