Long Time No See

@ katahdin
Luke sighed and shook his head. Did he know deep down those things didn’t make him a man, maybe. But he didn’t want to admit that. He felt safer retreating into himself. Sharing his emotions and being vulnerable was dangerous, it showed weakness. It could get you killed, he had seen it happen. So he just shook his head. He didn’t want to fight with Wren again, it wasn’t worth it. “I am strong because of me, Wren. Not him. Not anyone else.” He said and looked down at her. “I don’t want to fight about this because I care about you. But vulnerability gets you killed in this world. Weakness gets you killed. I’ve seen it happen, right in front of me.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I bottle things up because it’s what is safest, for everyone. I let it out, at the gym, or something like that. It keeps me strong mentally and physically.” Luke have her a small smile. “I don’t need help, I can do things on my own.” He told her.

Luke swallowed hard again, he wanted to tell Wren everything about the last 8 years but he knew the stupid details didn’t matter. He knew she probably didn’t care as long as he didn’t kill anyone. He had come close, but never actually did it. Luke’s temper had changed due to the gang, his emotions flipped on a dime and he got angry quick with some things. “I’ll tell you about how I got this scar.” He said and pointed to his abdomen. “So obviously we are the largest gang in the city. Control the most area so we can get the best places to distribute, deal, Uh.” He paused. “All the gang stuff you know?” He paused again. “Well one of the other local gangs, Latino one, was encroaching on our turf. Usually wouldn’t be super big deal but this was a promising spot. Great place to deal or distribute drugs, hide shit away. No cops. Nothing.” Luke chuckled as he was thinking about it. “So Fabio sends me and a couple of the new kids to go tell these guys to scram. Well apparently they expected it because when we got there, there was only a couple. So we were like get out of here or we’ll make you. And then they jumped up. I swear it was like their entire gang had come out of the shadows. The killed one of the kids right in front of me, Jackie, slit his throat.” Luke paused and his eyes seemed almost devoid of emotion. He shook his head before continuing the story. “I was fighting hard, for me and the other two. We were doing fine until I got hit in the back of the head and lost my switchblade... then I woke up on the ground behind the ally and the leader or lieutenant of that gang was going on and on about how we fucked up. How they were gonna take this place over, and they were gonna send me back with a message, dead or alive.” Luke paused and closed his eyes, breathing deeply. “The kids were gone so I had no idea what was going on. Next thing I knew they were using my own switchblade to carve something into me. I think they were gonna carve their gang sign. They didn’t finish. They ran off because they heard police sirens. So I was left there bleeding out. It probably doesn’t look like much now but it was bad. Fabio came and found me when the kids got back and told them what happened. They brought me back to the warehouse to stitch me up but I’d lost so much blood I really don’t remember much of it. Just remember waking up the next day and I was shocked to be alive.”

@ BadStreetBoys

Wren frowned as he ignored her advice and said he didn't want to fight, shaking her head a little. He was so stubborn, and she hated that he wouldn't just admit that he needed help, or that he just needed to open up to her and stop suppressing his feelings. She just wanted to help him, why couldn't he just accept that? "Luke.." she frowned, but he cut her off by beginning to speak about how he'd gotten the scar he'd shown her yesterday. She remained silent as he spoke, giving his hand a squeeze as he spoke.

"Oh, Luke.." she frowned, resting her head against his shoulder as she hugged him. "I'm so sorry that that happened to you, Luke.. But it's ok now, you'll never have to go through that again, I promise." She soothed, rubbing his back gently.

@ katahdin
Luke gave Wren a faint smile and shrugged. “It’s not the worst thing that’s happened to me. I’m okay. I’m good.” He told he and hugged Wren back. “I’m okay.” He repeated, trying to reassure both of them that he really was okay. He had all kinds of stories and tales of the life. He didn’t hate it, he didn’t dislike it. He kind of enjoyed the thrill that it brought him. But he wouldn’t tell Wren that. He felt as if it did help him grow, even if it was in a negative way. “Either way, it’s whatever now. Its gone and that’s not my life.” He said, almost disappointedly.

Luke leaned back into the couch as he looked over at Wren. “What do you think would have happened if my dad never died and I never left?” He asked her. He sincerely wanted to know what Wren thought. He had spent a lot of time thinking of the “what if’s” and the “maybes.” He wondered if she did too. His eyebrow furrowed as he thought about what she told him when they last fought. The thought of him not being there to protect her. The thought of him going back to that town and having to see these people and not just hurt them the way they hurt her. His mind moved to wondering about how things were back home. His friends, their friends, the girls who always flirted with him or he flirted with, he wondered how he would be accepted. Would people be scared of him, would they respect him, would they want to befriend him? He shook his head trying to stop wondering and listen to Wren.

@ BadStreetBoys

Wren remained curled against his side as he leaned back into the couch, keeping her head tucked in against his shoulder. She was quiet for a long while after Luke asked what she thought would have happened if he'd never moved away, thinking through her answer before giving a little shrug. "I'm not sure, Luke... I thought a lot about what ifs and what could have happened if you'd stayed after you left, but it's been a long time since I thought about any of that.. I thought I'd never see you again, and dwelling on the past hurt, especially when I was thinking about what could have happened." She explained with a sigh, looking up at him after a moment. "What do you think would have happened if you'd stayed?"

@ katahdin
Luke nodded slightly as he listened to Wren, he knew how much thinking about it hurt. All the time he would think of those same things and they just hurt, so over time, he too, stopped thinking about it. He bit his lip when she asked him as well. “I don’t know a lot, but I know one thing.” He said. “You never would have gotten hurt, I’d have protected you.” He told her, giving Wren a tight squeeze. “I think we would have been a couple, I don’t think you would have sad no to me asking you out. Maybe the girls would have been worse when we were official? But I mean they still wanted to be close to me, so they also may have backed off a bit. My boys wouldn’t turn on you.” Luke looked away as he continued to speak. “I think things would have been better. I mean my dad wouldn’t be dead. I wouldn’t have joined a gang. I think things would have been good. But that I’d have lost you anyway when you went off to school. Because I don’t think I’d be able to go with you, I’m not smart enough for that stuff.” Like shrugged and looked back. “Who knows.”

Luke rubbed Wren’s arm as they sat their. His emotions felt like they were all haywire at the moment. Thinking of the last, the what if’s, and the future was confusing for him. “I wonder how things will be when I return.” He said, not truly looking for an answer, just wondering aloud. “Hopefully I don’t have to kick anyone’s ass when I get home.” He said with a laugh. Luke really just wanted to be left alone by people. He wanted to be seen as someone to stay away from so that he didn’t have to deal with the old high school drama. He wanted to fix things so he and Wren could be together. But he also knew that may not happen and wanted to open his mind to seeing someone back home.

@ BadStreetBoys

Wren smiled a little as he spoke about what he thought would have happened, snuggling closer as he squeezed her in his arms. "I think we would have been a couple too.. I would have gone to the dance with you, and it would have been perfect." She smiled a bit at the thought, closing her eyes. "I don't know about what the others would have done.. Who knows, everything could have ended up the same. But I don't think I would have lost you when I went to college. You've always doubted yourself, Luke. You could have gone to a two-year college or program to learn how to be a mechanic or whatever you wanted, and then you could have started your own business.. You still could, if you wanted." She pointed out, looking up at him. "You're smart Luke, I wish you could see yourself the way I see you." She sighed, settling back against him.

She shrugged a bit when he asked how things would be when they returned, smoothing out a wrinkle in his shirt. "Who knows.. The point is to stay out of trouble, though. Not go looking for it. But our class's five year anniversary is coming up, I'm sure you'll be able to see everyone there."

@ katahdin
Luke smiled at Wren and chuckled. “You say I doubt myself. I say you overestimate me.” He teased. Luke wouldn’t have minded a job working with his hands, welding, hell even owning his own auto shop would be awesome. He smiled at the thought of one day standing in front of a car shop with a big sign reading “Galloway’s Car Garage” Luke realized he wasn’t paying attention to what Wren was saying and turned his focus back into Wren.

Luke grinned slightly when she said their 5 year anniversary was coming up. He knew Wren said no trouble, but hey he had always been a bad boy. Was part of his charm and his look. “I know I know.” He said and laughed “I won’t go looking for trouble. But I won’t back down if trouble finds me.” He quipped. Luke yawned and closed his eyes. “What time should I be up in the morning?”

@ BadStreetBoys

Wren smiled a bit at his teasing, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek. "I'm not overestimating you and you know it. You really are smart, Luke. You always talked about owning your own business one day, and I honestly think you could. I believe in you, you should believe in yourself." She encouraged with a smile, giving his arm a little squeeze. She was glad to hear that he wouldn't go looking for trouble, but not at all surprised that he wouldn't avoid it if someone tried to start something with him. "Luke, you need to be careful. Getting in trouble puts you and your family at risk. If anything happens and the gang finds out where you are, you're a dead man." She frowned worried, squeezing his hand. "Promise you'll stay out of trouble, no matter what."

When he asked what time he needed to be up in the morning she shrugged, slowly and carefully pulling out of her arms to stand and go to the kitchen, getting herself a brownie to eat while she gave him space. He seemed tired, so she planned on heading to her room to let him rest after what must have been an awful few days. "I'm heading out early tomorrow morning after I pack up what I need. My parents are having movers pack up the rest to be shipped, so I don't have to worry about that. You can get up whenever you want, though."

@ katahdin
Luke blushes as Wren spoke. It felt good to have someone truly believe in him. He wasn’t used to it. Not that his parents didn’t believe in him, but they had to believe in you, so this was different. Luke frowned When she was telling him to stay out of trouble. “I can and will take care of myself. If some shit head tries to step up I’m not going to be a coward and back down, Wren.” He told her. Luke’s pride and image were too important to him. He didn’t want anyone to think twice about messing with him. “I’ll make sure my family is safe. But if I have to knock some heads I will. I’ll promise never to start anything, but I won’t promise that I won’t finish anything.” He said, shrugging.

He nodded. “I don’t have much I need from home, just wake me up when you get up and I’ll head home to grab stuff. Then I’m good.” When Wren left he stretched out on the couch, enjoying the comfort of it. “Ooh I forgot about the brownies. Bring one my way!” He called out. Thanking Wren after he got it. Luke quickly ate the brownie, and yawned again. He laid on the couch and stretched out. He felt like he was spilling over the end of it. Luke fell asleep pretty quickly afterwards.

@ BadStreetBoys

A few weeks passed, and both Wren and and Luke and his family had settled back into life in their small hometown. Wren had been working at her parents law firm in the time being while also looking for another job so she wouldn't have to constantly be under the watch of her parents. She'd given Luke some space since he'd been so busy with helping his family resettle into their old home and finding jobs for himself and his mother and getting his brothers settled into school. She'd offered to help, as had her parents, but as usual he'd refused, insisting that he could do everything himself.

Today was an off day for her, though, so she decided to head over to their home to check in with him and see how he and his family were doing. She knocked on the door once she arrived, patiently waiting to see who answered.

@ katahdin
Luke was secretly glad to be back in their hometown. It just felt nice. The memories of his father were unpleasant, but most other things felt nice. Maybe it was just the nostalgia. Luke had been staying away from places, not wanting to see people who knew him. He didn’t want to answer questions or get in trouble. He knew Wren would worry about him and so he would do his bets to avoid trouble. He went to work and went home, that was about it. Luke Especially didn’t want to see the group of kids Wren accused of hurting her, he didn’t know if he would control himself. At his core he still felt like a gangster. He still carried his switchblade, had a gun in his room, he was tense. He almost wanted back in the life for the rush, so he could fight again. Feel like a man again.

“I got it!” He called out before he went to the door. Luke opened it and smiled when he saw Wren. “Hey, come on in.” He said and stepped aside so she could come in. Luke led Wren into the kitchen and sat across from her. “I’m glad you came by, I started to think you were ghosting next.” He admitted sheepishly. “How are things going for you?” He asked her. Like folded his hands on the table and smiled down at his feet. “Tonight’s the class reunion. Are you going?”

@ BadStreetBoys

Wren smiled as Luke answered the door, happy that he was home. She would have been happy if his mother or one of his brothers had answered the door too, but she had missed seeing and talking to Luke over the past few weeks. They'd texted a bit every day, and had a call every few days, but they'd both been busy with getting settled, so seeing him in person was nice.

"Thanks. I hope I'm not interrupting anything." She smiled as she followed him into the house, taking a seat at the table across from him. "I'm sorry I didn't come over sooner, I thought since we were both busy getting resettled it would be best to give you some space for a bit. I'm sorry if it seemed like I was avoiding you." She smiled sheepishly, blushing a bit especially when he asked about the class reunion. "I'm not sure. I wasn't really planning on it, since it's not like anyone will be happy to see me.. Are you going? I'm sure you want to see some of the friends you haven't seen since you moved."

@ katahdin
Luke nodded, he understood how busy they both were with the move and he didn’t want to hold that against her. “Yes I understand, still missed you though. You are my one and only friend who knows I’m here” he said with a laugh. “I don’t do much, have been trying to avoid being seen by the people who haven’t left this town.” He said and laughed again. “I think you should go, well actually I think you should go with me as your date.” He said and grinned across the table. “I saw the flyer and it’s themed after the senior prom. So dates are important.” Like told Wren, hoping she would go with him. He knew that he’d need someone there to ground him when he’s be bombarded with questions and people.

Like stood up and got a glass of water for the both of them, sliding one across the table to Wren. “I also think if you’re there you can keep me out of trouble so I don’t have to fight anyone.” Luke said as he flexed for wren, grinning. He may not have had a lot of self esteem. But building his body up made him confident. He looked at himself in the reflection in the window and flexed again. “All ive been doing is working and working out. I think I’m gaining more muscle mass.” He commented and turned back to face wren, sipping the water. “Plus if you go with me you know no one will fuck with you. I’m sure rumors have gone around about the bad boy leaving town. Hopefully they scared people and they think I’m some tough scary bad ass. Which I mean, I am. But I’ll try to be a good boy for you.”

@ katahdin

@ BadStreetBoys

Wren blushed as he asked her to go to the reunion with him as his date, looking across at him sheepishly as she sipped her water. "I'm not sure, Luke... You weren't there for senior prom, and it's not like it was much fun, anyway." She pointed out, sipping from her water again. "I don't think me being there will really make it that much better for you, anyway." She offered him a faint smile. If it had been high school before he'd left then it would be different, but after everything that had happened she wasn't sure that she wanted to see any of their old high school friends.

She rolled her eyes a bit as he flexed in front of her, shaking her head a bit as she looked at him, obviously nervous about the whole thing. "I don't know, Luke.. I just have a bad feeling about it."

@ katahdin
Luke frowned slightly as Wren spoke, more disappointed than upset. He didn’t know why he wanted to go so bad, but he definitely didn’t want to go alone. “No I wasn’t there to go to senior prom and at that dance tell you how much I loved you and that I wanted to spend a long time with you, as my girlfriend. But I’m here now. And I want to make up for lost time.” He told her gently. “Eight years is a lot of time to make up for, Wren.” He aid as he stood besides the table, hands on it. “I don’t wanna go without you, Wren.” He replied nervously.

Luke grinned when he saw her roll her eyes. “I know you love it.” He purred. “Who wouldn’t be attracted to a guy like me?” He teased. Luke confuses himself sometimes, sometimes he had self esteem and was confident as hell but other times he couldn’t think of one good thing to say about himself. “I will protect you, Wren. I’ll take care of you.” Luke told her as he moved behind her chair, wrapping his arms around Wren, then kissing the top of her head. “You know I would never let anything happen to you. I care too much about you.” Luke loved Wren and he knew she was probably skeptical of a relationship with him now that she knew what he was and everything that transpired. He wanted to use this dance as a way in. A date. To show her that he was a good guy and deserved a chance.

@ BadStreetBoys

Wren laughed a bit as he moved behind her to wrap his arms around her and kiss the top of her head, leaning her head back against him to look up at him. She could tell how badly he wanted to go, how badly he wanted to go with her, but she still couldn't help but have a bad feeling, no matter how badly she wanted to go with him. She sighed after a bit, resting her hand over his as she squeezed it. "Fine, I'll go with you. But only for a bit. I don't want to stay all night, especially not if everyone's going to be drunk or jerks." She relented, rolling her eyes a bit as he squeezed her and said that she must like his muscles, blushing faintly.

"I'm not so sure about that... I think I liked you more before, when we were younger. You were more sure of yourself and confident, and you didn't doubt yourself as much as you do now." She murmured, leaning back to press a kiss to his cheek.

@ katahdin
Orlando grinned when she agreed to go with him. “That’s fine, I don’t want to stay all night either. I’ll probably be bombarded with questions and.” He just shook his head and laughed. Luke gave her another squeeze and blushed when she kissed him on the cheek. “I wanna go for a John Travolta in Grease type look.” He said and grinned cheekily at her. “You know, the greaser gang banger type. I just wanna look the part, y’know?” He said, suddenly nervous that Wren would disapprove. Luke moves away from behind wren and went to sit back in his seat. “I just think I look good and tough in leather.” He said with a chuckle.

Luke frowned when she told him she wasn’t sure if she liked him now. “I’m still confident.” He said and sighed. Luke didn’t think this was a good sign, if Wren didn’t like him right now why would she like him after one cheesy date. He paused and sat in silence for a few moments. Luke knee he wanted to be with Wren but, she was right, he was doubting himself. He didn’t think he was good enough or that she would like him. He tried to shake off the feelings and focus back on her again. “What do your parents think of me?” He asked quietly.

@ BadStreetBoys

Wren nodded a bit in agreement, although she rolled her eyes a bit as he said that he wanted to look like a tough greaser, shaking her head a bit. "I don't think that's really what the theme of prom is. I think you'd look nice if you wear just a simple button down and slacks." She pointed out with a smile, although she doubted he'd listen to her. "Everyone will already think you're tough, no matter what you wear."

She frowned a bit though as he got a bit defensive and upset, claiming to be confident before he went on to ask what her parents thought of him. "Luke, I told you. They love you, they're just worried about you, and want to help. My mom says that she's tried to call you a couple of times but you won't answer.. They just want to help, Luke. We all do. Why can't you just accept that?" She asked softly, looking at him with soft eyes.

@ katahdin
Luke blushed when Wren said he would look good in simple clothing, just shaking his head. "They better think I'm tough, I've done harder things than any of them ever will. I'm a harder man than any of them ever could be." He told her. When she told him they were worried and just wanted to help he frowned again. "I'm okay, I don't need help." Luke said stubbornly. "I understand you want to help, but I'm fine I don't need it. I can take care of myself, Wren." he paused and shook his head. "Come on, Wren. They can't just be worried about me. They're lawyers. They like the law. I'm a criminal. I'm a bad guy. I have broken the law for eight years. It's how I lived. And they don't feel anything but worry? I don't buy it." He said sternly. Living in a gang life had turned him into a cynic in some ways. He was more distrusting and skeptical than he used to be.

Luke sighed softly, taking a breath to calm himself down. He didn't want to fight with Wren. He stood up and grabbed another glass of water, drinking it quickly. "I'll be right back, I'm gonna get dressed, then I can drive you back to your place to get ready." he told Wren, giving her a weak smile before he went upstairs to his bedroom. Luke sighed as he realized he had been a jerk to Wren downstairs.