Dear Diary

Chapter 88

"Hey, Soph, wait up a minute!"

Sophia glanced over her shoulder on her way to class one Friday afternoon and paused when she saw Luke rushing to catch up to her. When he reached her side, she gave him an expectant look. Luke's gave her a broad smile and she instantly knew the look.

"What do you need?" she asked and crossed her arms over her chest.

Luke gave her a look of mock hurt. "I am wounded that you would think that I, your closest friend, only talk to you when I need something."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. Luke slumped in defeat. "Okay, fine. Yes, I need your help."

"With what?" Sophia asked as she tilted her head to the side in a gesture for them to begin walking.

Luke scratched the back of his neck. "Well, it's my sisters' thirteenth birthday party tomorrow. We want it to be a surprise, and I was hoping you would help me decorate because I'm clueless. My parents are busy with fetching the food and keeping Mary and Olivia distracted."

Sophia frowned. "What makes you think I would be good at decorating?"

"Well, you did the final touches on that history project and our group got full marks for presentation so ..." Luke explained and turned on the puppy eyes, that were slowly but surely becoming Sophia's weakness.

She sighed. "Fine, message me the details."

"Thank you!" Luke beamed at her as the warning bell rang. 

He bit the inside of his cheek and before he could talk himself out of it, he quickly kissed her cheek before dashing down the hall, leaving a stunned Sophia behind him.

-

"Okay, how about now?" Luke asked for the umpteenth time as he repositioned the 'Happy Birthday' banner.

Sophia shook her head. "A little more to the right," she said, causing Luke to huff before stretching in the way she directed.

Sophia tried her best to focus on the straightness of the banner, but she couldn't seem to stop her eyes from gravitating towards Luke or, more specifically, the muscles on his arms that stretched and contracted with his movements.

She swallowed and forced herself to look away. She just couldn't get that kiss on her cheek out of her head. Although it wasn't even a second, it's affected her more than she would like. Her brain couldn't stop envisioning it. What would have happened if she had turned her head towards him at that exact moment? What if-

"And now?"

Sophia blinked and looked at the banner then at Luke. When their eyes connected Sophia felt her face flush and she quickly averted her eyes. 

"Looks fine," she muttered, and quickly busied herself with fetching streamers from a box.

What is wrong with her? An innocent kiss on the cheek and she's suddenly scatterbrained. She needs to get a grip.

They finished the rest of the decorating in record time and Luke wiped the sweat from his brow. "Phew, my sisters better appreciate this," he stated and glanced at Sophia.

"I'm sure they will," she replied and sat down on the sofa, while Luke plonked down next to her with two bottled waters, apparently exhausted. 

He handed her the one and Sophia felt her stomach turn when their fingertips brushed. She bit the inside of her cheek and discretely moved further away from him. Maybe she's coming down with something.

"Hey, speaking of birthdays," Luke began as he took a swig from his water bottle and stretched out on the couch, casually placing his arm behind Sophia's head, "when's yours?"