Moving In || l.r.h

• 42 •

The car ride wasn't awkward. I don't know why I expected it to be awkward but I did. Luke and I held normal conversations, avoiding the topic of my parents at all cost. I could tell he was itching to ask questions but I was glad he refrained. I wanted tonight to be about him and I, starting a proper relationship. Thinking that scared me. It really did. A relationship meant complete commitment; it meant always thinking about him as well as myself. I could just about look after me, sometimes I didn't even do that, I was worried about failing Luke. I was worried about upsetting him because I can't cheer up. I knew he couldn't ever understand how I feel when I do what I do but he would have to learn to; that petrified me. Being in a relationship meant sharing emotions and I didn't want him to know how I felt all the time.

"Hollie?" Luke asked, his hand suddenly making an impression on my arm. I shook my head out of the spiral of scary thoughts.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about us," I said. I wasn't going to lie to Luke. When I spoke to him I knew that a relationship is what I wanted, but that didn't mean it couldn't scare me, right?

"Stop worrying okay? We have been dating for almost a month, it won't change a thing, other than the fact that we will have been outside our houses together." He was trying to change the mood and I admired him for that. I slipped my hand into his and squeezed, recieving the same treatment back off of him.

"Are we nearly there yet? I haven't eaten in like four hours," I said. He chuckled but didn't take his eyes off of the road. I know he wanted to keep me safe, especially after the swerve that we experienced a few weeks ago when we attempted a first 'date' last.

"Why did you wait so long?" he asked me. "But, for your information, yes we are here now," he replied. I sighed in relief.

"I waited so I could eat properly here rather than leaving half of an expensive meal." He rolled his eyes at me and pulled into a parking space behind the restaurant.

He slowly opened his door, making sure not to hit the car next to us, and then walked over to my side and did the same for me. I tried to be elegant with my heels but I ended up squeezing through the door at an awkward angle and buckling because of the small heel I was balancing.

"Fuck these things," I cursed down at my shoes and Luke laughed at me. When we finally got out from the small space between two cars, I stood up straight. A laugh escaped my lips and Luke's head whipped around to look at me, confused. "I'm the same height as you in heels," I explained. Again, I saw his eyes roll, I didn't know why I had found it amusing but I did.

Before we entered the lit up restaurant, I saw the sun beginning to lower in the sky, casting an orange colour over the clear water in front of me. It truly was beautiful. The plants surrounded the restaurant, giving it an old ornate look but it still looked modern.

Suddenly I felt a hand drag me away from my admiration. Luke's fingers were now entwined with mine and he was leading me inside the door.

"You can look after, I'm hungry and so are you," he mutters under his breath. I can't help but smile at his sudden rush, I knew he wanted to sit down so he could stop worrying about the table being booked. As if on queue my stomach made a loud noise and the waitress came around the corner.

"Hello. What can we do for you today?" she asked, her eyes scanning Luke quickly.

"I booked a table. It's under Hemmings," he replied, oblivious to her looks and smiles.

"Oh yes, Luke. Follow me." She grabbed a few menus and led us through the restaurant. It was pretty, to say the least. The lighting was just low enough to cast shadows of the tables on the tiles floor, making it look more mysterious but making the atmosphere more relaxing.