I Want You Around

The world had changed so much, life was simpler before Lucas had gone away. Everything had been so much cleaner, and balanced. Xanthe had always been his balance, the Yin to his Yang. She was the reason he kept things small, compartmentalized. That was until one stupid mistake, one small over step.

The first thing Lucas did when he got out was look for his girl, but he couldn't find her. He'd found a place to crash, he had no intention of going back, so was trying to stay out of the life. He kept searching around town, asking after her, not getting any traction. He was beginning to loose faith that he'd find her, then he spotted her on the street walking home one day.

Lucas was a mess, his life still split out in pieces. He didn't know what to say to her, what to ask, he was just glad to have found her finally.

@ Jay.B

@ A Drop On the Window

It was a chilly evening, and Xanthe pulled her light jacket closer to her body to keep herself warm while trying to get back to her apartment quickly so she wouldn't be late. She knew her boyfriend would be home a couple hours after she arrives and she knew that it was crucial to have dinner ready for him as soon as he walked through the door, especially if she didn't want a repeat of what happened last night when she was a couple minutes late with dinner.

Xanthe stopped briefly and sighed to herself, trying to shake those thoughts off. However, she felt someone was watching her, but didn't see anyone or anything out of the ordinary. So with that, Xanthe continued her journey to her apartment.

Lucas smiled to himself, she looked as beautiful as ever. He began to slowly follow behind her, trying to build the courage up, and to figure out what to tell her. He'd tried his best to keep her out of his world, away from the violence, but that plan had blown up in his face.

He followed her into a small apartment building, and stopped for moment, before walking up behind her. "Hey how is my Girl?" he asked as he got closer

@ Jay.B

@ A Drop On the Window

Xanthe dropped her keys and her body instantly froze when she heard the familiar voice behind her. What is he doing out here? How did he find her? He was supposed to be in prison for a very long time. Xanthe didn't turn around, not knowing if he was really there or if her mind was playing tricks on her but also too nervous to face him if he was there. The only thing she could do is use her voice, barely.

"L-Lucas?"

Lucas heard her voice, it was just like his memories of it, he'd played over and over in his head.

"Of course," he said softly. He stepped closer, and put his hand on her shoulder, he just wanted to see her more clearly. To hold her in his arms again. It had been five long years, since he'd seen her

"How have you been?"

@ Jay.B

@ A Drop On the Window

Xanthe tried not to flinch when she felt him touch her shoulder, but she couldn't help it because of her current situation that she hadn't told anyone about...not that she was able to, but she played it off as a chill from the cold air. However she faced him, when he turned her around gently. A light gasp escaped her lips, seeing Lucas was here in the flesh. "I-I've been good." She told him, not really telling him how she really was. "You're really out...s-since when?" She asked

Lucas let his hand drop away when she turned to face him. He shrugged softly, not sure what to say, how to explain it. "Yeah I'm out, couple of weeks now," he said softly. He looked at her, "you aren't an easy girl to find," he added. He wasn't really surprised that she hadn't heard he was out, He'd told her not to stick around when he first went inside, didn't want her waiting around for her whole life.

He smiled at her, "are you gonna invite me up?" he asked curious.

@ Jay.B

@ A Drop On the Window

Xanthe blushed but shrugged her shoulders. She never expected to see Lucas again or at least not this soon. It wasn't her idea or choice to be this hidden from everyone, but she couldn't tell him that. However, she froze when he asked if she was going to let him in. Xanthe needed to get in and make dinner for her boyfriend, knowing he would be coming home soon and she was afraid what would happen if he had saw her ex in their apartment. However, she felt bad if she were to tell her first love that he had to leave.

Lucas watched her, and gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "It's okay if you not comfortable with it," he told her. He knew things had been a bit of shock, and crazy last time she'd seen him. He stepped back from her, "I just want to give my girl what she wants, like I always have," added.

He didn't want to rush things, but he really did just want to kiss her, and have her in his arms again. He needed his balance back. He pulled a paper from his jacket, and scribbled on it, "when you want to look me up," he commented.

@ Jay.B

@ A Drop On the Window

The blush on Xanthe's face grew. Oh how much she missed the way he would talk to her. She knew she shouldn't let him call her his girl, when she was taken by another man, but she couldn't. Xanthe shivered slightly when his fingers brushed one of her curls away from her face, like he has always done when they were together but then she took the paper from his hand, feeling the familiar warmth. "I will" was all she could say, but gave him a soft smile.

Lucas smiled softly as she took the paper, he could tell from her demeanor that a lot had happened since he'd gone away. He didn't want to push or make her life difficult. He pulled her into a light hug, "I hope you don't take too long," he said softly. He blushed softly, as he stepped back, "I suppose, I should let you uh, go you seemed busy," he said softly. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to hold her, and make up for the five years of separation, and lost time.

@ Jay.B

@ A Drop On the Window

The hug and the familiar warmth from his body when he held Xanthe felt comforting like it always did. She almost didn't want him to let go, but she needed to get back to reality. So much has changed within the 5 years of them bring separated. Xanthe was only a shell of what she used to be and she was to scared to show that to him.

"I'm sorry." She said softly, feeling bad that she has to push him away.

Lucas looked at her, trying to see the glimmer in her eyes, the spark that made things so great between them. He couldn't see it, five years was a long time, maybe even too long. He shook his head, "don't be, I'll be there if you ever need me, you're still my girl," he said softly. He patted her side lightly, "I'll leave you to whatever you were doing," he said told her before turning lightly and beginning to walk away.

Lucas went back to the small space he'd found, and old empty building. He knew what he needed to do, how he'd stay out of prison. Find a legal way to survive, but he knew no place would hire him, not with his record.

@ Jay.B
[heading out for a few hours, I might reply on my phone]

@ A Drop On the Window

Xanthe gave Lucas a genuine smile, although it was soft and small. The way he still called her his girl, gave her butterflies like it always did . "Good night, Lucas" she told him, waving softly at him before closing the door that lead to her apartment. Xanthe looked at the time and immediately became frantic, knowing that she should have been working on dinner. She had Bkut 40 minutes before her boyfriend arrived.

[No problem. I'll be going to bed within the next 30 minutes to an hour.]

Lucas found himself laying on a small mattress, sprawled out thinking about how much stuff had changed. He missed his old life, the busyness of it. He used to run one of the front businesses for his old gang. The club where they cleaned a lot of their money, and kept customers rolling through the doors. All that changed after Lucas had to make an example of some young punk, and ended up caught.

The place was sparse, no carpet on the floors, a barely functional bathroom, but it was better than the two for four cell he'd been sharing with another inmate. Much more comfortable, space to spread out, and move around. Lucas was just playing over in his mind everything, hoping that Xanthe would end up looking him up. He didn't know if he wanted to be out here, in the world, if he didnt have her.

@ Jay.B

@ A Drop On the Window

Xanthe let out a sigh of relief when she had finished making dinner for her boyfriend, setting his plate down on the table as soon as he walked into the apartment. She looked up when she saw him walked into the kitchen. "H-hi babe. Dinner is ready for you." She said, going over to hug him.

Xanthe's boyfriend smirked and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you," he said softly. He lent in kissing her lips, "dinner and then work was super stressful today," he said softly as he grabbed her ass. He moved to the table and sat down ready to eat.

@ Jay.B

@ A Drop On the Window

After her boyfriend let go of her, Xanthe immediately felt the difference of his hug compared to Lucas. Lucas's hugs were comforting and loving, while her boyfriend, Matteo, was more just feeling her up.

Matteo began to eat slowly, his eyes watching her. He wasnt very impressed with her cooking skills tonight, and she'd have to be punished and learn to do better. All he expected was that after spending all day at work, supporting her, she could manage to have dinner ready for him, and help him relieve the stress of the day if he wanted. It wasn't that much. He looked at her, "what did you get up too today?" he asked, the question was more accusatory, than genuine, like most of his questions.

@ Jay.B