luke rivers

“Fuck, I’m getting married in a month,” the realization hitting Owen as he sat at the bar, nursing a beer. June 23rd was approaching rapidly and there wasn’t anything he could do to stop it, not without getting Gwen in trouble. “I never thought I was gonna get married. Am I supposed to feel kinda nervous about it?”

Luke chuckled at the other’s question. “Yes, nerves are completely normal. It’s a huge day.” There was a point in his life that he got close to marriage and even then there was this huge feeling of nervousness running through his body. He could still remember how it all felt. “I’d say there would be something wrong if you aren’t nervous? I don’t know, that’s just a thought. Don’t really know if that’s a real thing.”

“Yeah, I really do feel like the new kid. Good thing we aren’t picking lab partners today, or else I’d really be freaking out.” She really did feel like a new kid to school. The fact that she didn’t know anyone in the city didn’t help anything either. “Maybe I’ll just get a gym membership and pay to run on a treadmill.”

“Oh I definitely do not miss picking lab partners, that was always so overwhelming.” He said, letting out a huff. “Don’t get a gym membership, especially when the weather is just getting nicer again. It’s better to go outside and enjoy what Boston has to offer especially since you’re fairly new here.”

“I get to move into my new house this weekend! I’m so excited! So much more room for activities and I have a garden so expect invites to garden parties or any party for that matter!”

“Hey! That’s exciting. But please do tell me you have help lined up to move, you being pregnant and all should be doing no lifting. Not even a pillow.” He joked. “No, but seriously if you need any help let me know.”

“It’s that painfully obvious?” She groaned. She hated being new to a place and having to rely on others to help her. Independence was what she missed most since she got here and she was starting to crave it again. “Yeah, I moved here the start of the month and I finally settled in enough to have time to go for a run and well, look at how that worked out for me.”

“Very much so, or you could’ve been a tourist.” Either way, Luke figured out she was new to the city since anyone native to the place would know where North End and the other neighborhoods were. “Just a month? You’ve got some time before you get to know the place quick. It’s like starting high school as a freshman and having to figure out where every classroom is.”

“That you have, my friend,” Ryan agreed with a nod of his head. “Remind me to get you one of those on your next birthday. I’ll pick the most annoying song too.” He grinned, only joking but wanting to mess with his friend anyway. “Well, that’s sweet. I’m sure she’ll be happy she’s getting taken out and that you’re not cooking,” he teased Luke again, giving the other guy a playful wink. It was far too easy.

Emily felt excited when Luke offered to come by her work place with food. It had been a long time since she started working there and she never really had any visitors. Not any special visitors, anyway. She was even let know of his presence beforehand, as a text was sent to her warning her about a hot man who had asked for the directions to her classroom. Her work colleagues were something else, they gossiped even more than the kids, she just hoped it wouldn’t really get her in trouble, it wasn’t like she couldn’t have visitors for lunch, right? 

A smile was instantly curving her lips once she saw his face peering through the half open door. Her classroom was not messy, it was quite okay, actually. There were some nice scribbles on the blackboard and she had a few assignments on her desk she made sure to push aside so Luke could put the lunch on it. She kissed him back wishing they could linger the kiss for a bit longer, but soon she was adjusting her position on her chair. “You know, I could really get used to you bringing lunch over to me.” She told him, letting out a small chuckle as she realized how he actually did not fit on the chair he was sitting. “You definitely could do with a bigger chair. To be honest, there is this kid in my class that has to sit in the front so he doesn’t mess up the whole alignment of chairs.” Emily realized all too soon that she was probably rambling and looked at him with an apologetic smile. “Rambling again, aren’t I?” She did that way too much when she was around him. “So, what did you bring us? I am very hungry and all I have is a bottle of water and an apple.”

“That’s something that we can make happen.” He smiled, leaning a bit on the desk chair that seemed to get smaller by the minute. Luke knew that the school year was coming to a close soon and he had a few shifts that were overnight so his days could line up like this one. Besides, anything that gave him an opportunity to see Emily he would take. “Anything is better than cafeteria food whether it is from a school or the hospital anyway.” There was something about cafeteria foods that seemed to have the same effect anymore. It was like none of them were safe from criticism. “I like the rambling, it’s cute.” And he was sure he did some rambling here and there as well, probably too much he hardly noticed. “An apple? How cliche.” He teased, digging into the bag and pulling out two sandwich. “Two are BLT and one is veggie cheddar. I wasn’t sure what you’d like so I got you two to choose from.” He laid out the two different sandwiches for her to pick and he stuck with his own BLT. “There’s some chips in there as well, cookies, and two bottles of water. Call me a walking Subway.” He chuckled as he unwrapped his own sandwich and began eating. “So I walked into the wrong room before getting to yours and the other teacher knew exactly where I was headed. Words gets around fast around here.”

“Ugh it’s the worst. I even get headaches if someone sprays too much perfume around me. Imagine the torture I endure while I am picking up a perfume for myself. Luckily I found the perfect one years ago and I’ve been using it ever since.” She said with a smile. “It’s fine, you can blame, I don’t mind. It’s better than her being upset with you.”

“I won’t lie, I do enjoy it when a woman is wearing a really nice perfume and don’t mind smelling it here and there but sometimes some of them are very pungent and haunt me forever.” He said with a small chuckle. “I’m kidding I won’t be doing that but it’s nice to know you’d have my back.”

Once he found it, he knocked on the door with his free hand and peeked his head through the small opening. “Is this detention?” He joked, stepping inside of the classroom. It had definitely been quite some time since he was in a setting like that. “I come bearing food,” he lifted the takeout bag a bit and moving it around to show where it was from as he walked towards her desk. Luke had opted for a simple meal that wouldn’t make either of them fall into a food coma afterwards and getting some sandwiches from one of the deli’s that was by the hospital he enjoyed going to. Placing the food on the desk, he leaned down closer to her to give her a quick peck on the lips. “Hi,” he smiled, moving backwards again and pulling one of the chair desks closer to her desk so he could sit. “Being in here reminds me how much I do not miss high school, I barely fit in one of these chairs.” He chuckled, extending out his legs that were a little too tall for the chair.

Emily: You might just have struck luck.

Emily: Okay, I can't wait.

Emily: I am a pretty good friend of the principal, plus, we can just lie and say that you're meeting with me to discuss career day.

Luke: I think I did.

“Aww, how sweet. Luke likes me, he really likes me,” Kelly replied sweetly, raising a hand to her chest. Clearly, she was just teasing him, but she was pleasantly surprised at his demeanor, he actually was a pretty sweet guy. “Okay, sure… but, there’s just one little problem,” she hesitantly responded as she followed behind him. “I’m vegan, can you work with that? I mean, you say you can cook so I assume you know how to.”

“Stop.” He said in a whiney tone. For a second Luke had forgotten Kelly was a vegan and he had no expertise when it came to cooking with those type of dietary restrictions. “I know what goes and what doesn’t go in vegan food. I’ll figure something out.” Stepping inside his apartment, he headed for the kitchen and started to browse through his fridge and cabinets to see what he could find. “Pasta is a good option. I can do a pesto sauce and I’ll just serve it to you without cheese, a sin really.”

“You’re going all the way fancy,” she smiled teasingly, “I am sure that she will love it. Some people just take this day for granted and honestly, it’s been twenty five years that I have those and they never fall any short of amazing.” Mother’s day was definitely one of Renee’s favorite, being able to gather the entire family to celebrate and having William’s family over too, was always nice. “Are you always big on important celebrations?”

“If we do anything but fancy my grandma is always complaining.” Luke loved the woman but she was too much at times. “We are. The whole family grew up celebrating anything and everything. One time my grandpa won a bingo game and they threw a mini party with themed cupcakes.” He was probably about seven years old when all that happened but he could remember it vividly. “What did you end up getting your daughter for her birthday by the way? I know my suggestions weren’t the greatest.” He chuckled. 

Emily: Be thankful that I actually was a cheerleader during high school and still have the uniform laying somewhere around.

Emily: I'm glad to hear it. Any words when she will be out of the hospital?

Emily: I think I would love that. Around 12:30 the bell rings for lunch and I have around an hour. Is that okay for you?

Luke: oh my god 😱

Luke: It's going to take a couple of months for recovery. I'll tell you more when I see you.

Emily: Your imagination is very wild, because I am not going to be wearing those outfits, but it's also not something that I can't make happen. 😉

Emily: Hope you didn't jinx it by that. How's that little girl you were telling me about? Is she any better?

Luke: Well know I'm glad I said what was on my mind.

Luke: She had a little complication last night but she was doing much better this morning.

Emily: Not especially bad, but not great either.

Emily: Found out I am going to have to take over the cheerleader squad next year. How fun.

Emily: How's your day going? Very busy?

Luke: Cheerleading? Is it bad that imagining you in one of those outfits? because I am

Emily: Hey there. Just texting to ask how's your day. Hopefully way better than mine?

Luke: It's good now :)

Stella never minded the early mornings too much. They gave her a chance to clear her head as she ran through the streets. It was too early for the morning work commuters and too late for the walk of shame culprits, both clubs she had been a member of. As she ran through the streets, she thought about how Boston was going to be a new start. She needed things to work out for her. So lost in her thoughts, Stella hadn’t realized where it was she exactly had ran to. Surprised that she even saw someone who looked somewhat normal, she decided to approach them. “Excuse me, but do you know which direction to North End?” She asked them, breathing slightly heavy from the run. “I was lost in my run and being new to the area doesn’t help when you’re trying to get lost in the moment.”

Even with a day off, Luke took advantage of his time and was up early for a morning run. Normally he would sleep in but with the recent case at work, his mind was constantly on one particular patient of his. The run was helping with those thoughts and clearing them a little bit. After running non-stop for a couple of miles, he slowed down his pace to more of a walk to get his heart rate steady then coming to a full stop when someone approached him. “North End would be north,” he said with a note of humor in his tone. “It’s that way.” He then said pointing east from where they were standing. “So you’re new to the city?”