"Hi. I'm Luke."
Mia was not previously afflicted with any respiratory problems, but she could have sworn her lungs just collapsed. Her family did not have a history of cardiovascular problems, but nevertheless, she felt like her heart had dropped into her stomach, grew a pair of legs, and kicked her.
Before she even knew what she was doing, she was talking. When had she grabbed that Darth Vader mask? When did she put it over her face? At what point, exactly, did she decide it would be a good idea to say "Luke, I am your father"?
He was laughing at her. Oh, melodious sound. She'd make a fool out of herself whenever just so she could hear that sound again. But not right now. She hung the mask back on the wall and finally possessed the sanity to return his handshake. "Not really, though. I'm Mia. Cooper. Mia Cooper. But you didn't tell me your last name, so that was... unnecessary," she rambled, casting her eyes toward the floor.
Oh God, he was laughing again. "Luke Hofstadter," he said, releasing her hand.
It was then that Mia realized he really wasn't going to run away from her. She raised her eyes and took in all his features at once. Rich brown eyes, squinty but wide. A lopsided smile. Light, olive-toned skin with a thick mop of dark curls. Hofstadter indeed.
"You most certainly are," she whispered, counting the freckles splattered across his cheeks.
He crinkled his nose. "I'm sorry?"
"Oh!" Mia exclaimed, realizing just how creepy she sounded. "It's just that, uh, um. Y-you're here to see, uh... Leonard Hofstadter, right?" she stammered, filing the comic books on the wall. "He told me about a nephew named Luke."
"Huh," he grunted, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I guess I'm not surprised that Uncle Leonard is so familiar with the workers here."
Mia's face contorted in confusion before she noticed him staring at the stack of brand new Green Lantern figurines in her arms. "Oh, I don't work here! No, no, I'm just helping out Stuart, he owns this place."
Luke twiddled his thumbs. "Then how do you know-"
"Leonard is my uncle. But not like he's your uncle, we're not second cousins or anything like that, he's just my dad's best friend and... yeah. His name is Sheldon Cooper. I don't know if you've ever heard of him. But then again, why would you know who your uncle's best friend is?" she rambled, words just spewing from her mouth. Word vomit.
Luke smiled at her. "I do, actually. My grandma talks about him all the time."
Mia could feel her face heating up and she hoped to God she didn't look like a tomato. Then she said the smartest thing she'd said all night. "That's nice," she squeaked as she tried to put a doll on a shelf just out of reach.
"Oh, let me help you with that," Luke offered, snatching the toy and setting it down with ease.
He took another one out of her arms while Mia just stood and admired his tanned limbs. She severely paled in comparison. "So what brings you to Pasadena?" she slurred as his hand brushed hers.
"Oh, well I'm starting at UCLA in a few days and I figured I'd drop in and see Uncle Leonard and Aunt Penny," he answered.
"No way!" Mia burst before collecting herself and silently cursing her mouth that had seemed to be making its own decisions tonight. "I'm starting at UCLA, too. It's actually not that big of a deal. I mean, it's a big school. I'm gonna shut up now."
Luke laughed and Mia's heart kicked her in the stomach again. "It's fine, I like talking to you," he said quietly.
Mia blushed and was partially thankful when Stuart broke the silence. "All right, Mia, we're the only ones here, you can g- oh, I'm sorry, sir," he called, stopping short when he caught sight of Luke.
The young girl quickly butt in. "Oh, Stuart, this is Luke, Uncle Leonard's nephew," said Mia, wiping her sweaty palms on her thighs.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Luke. You're very tall," Stuart commented, not seeing a strong Hofstadter family resemblance.
Luke cocked his head. "Thank you?" he questioned, feeling all of a sudden self-conscious.
After a moment of awkward silence, Mia clapped her hands. "Well, if you're gonna close up, I'm just gonna..." she trailed off, pointing to the exit.
When she was halfway to the door, she heard Luke follow after her. "Wait! I'll walk you to your car."
"Of course you will," she squeaked to herself, wishing her brain would come back from vacation.
As the cool night breeze hit her, she wrapped her army jacket tighter around her torso. She didn't know why she was acting like such an idiot. This was worse than when she almost fainted on stage before delivering her valedictorian speech.
"Th-this is me," Mia stuttered. "Well, this isn't literally me, ya know, i-it's my, uh... vehicle," she said, pointing to her car. "I guess I'll see you at the apartment building?"
"Yeah! Yeah," he returned, running a hand through his thick hair. "2311 Los Robles?"
"Yeah! Yeah," she obliviously echoed, opening her door. "Bye, then." She heard him call out a goodbye as she slammed her door. As soon as he was out of sight, she banged her head on the steering wheel. "Oh my God, vehicle?"
With one last sigh of embarrassment, she put the car in drive and headed towards the apartment complex. She took the next ten minutes to evaluate her situation. So Uncle Leonard's nephew was in town. His name was Luke. He was attending UCLA. Was that really all she knew about him? Oh, calm down, he was a Hofstadter, he couldn't be that mysterious. Okay, further evaluation. She needed a cardiologist immediately. And was there a doctor that specialized in overactive sweat glands?
Mia spent the rest of the ride absentmindedly humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic. She was thankful when she pulled into her parking spot and no one appeared to be pulling in with her. She was less thankful when she found him on the second floor, about to knock on 2B.
"Wait!" she yelled, wishing she had just gone on without him. "Leonard and Penny are on the fourth floor," she warned. She felt awkward calling them 'aunt' and 'uncle' when they were his actual aunt and uncle.
"Oh. Thanks," he said, retreating his hand from the knocking position.
"No problem," Mia smiled, tucking a strand of pin-straight brown hair behind her ear.
She began her trek up the stairs with this perfect stranger by her side. Please let him say something. Please let him say something. Please let him say someth-
"So I've never actually met Aunt Penny."
Oh thank God. "Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, I've only met Uncle Leonard like four times, but I've met Aunt Penny... four times less," he joked, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck.
Mia giggled and instantly regretted it. "Well, she's great. I'm positive you'll love her. Everybody does."
"Well, that's great to hear," he replied with a twang of what could only be described as... chipperness. "Then I'll know two great ladies in Pasadena."
"Oh, who else did you meet?" Mia asked as they made it to the third floor.
He laughed and smiled down at her. "You, Mia."
Mia was more shocked that he remembered her name than she was that he considered her a great lady. "Oh."
The uncomfortable silence returned as they made it up the last flight of stairs. Mia was suddenly overcome with the urge to rip her eyes out, and not just because her contacts were dry and itchy. He'd just complimented her and all she could think to say was "oh."
"Well, this is our stop," she chirped with all the confidence she could muster. And it wasn't a whole lot.
"Thanks," he countered, knocking on 4B.
Mia grinned despite herself and patted the front pockets of her jeans for her key. And then the back pockets. And then her jacket pockets. No key. She checked the clock on her phone and concluded there was no way either of her parents would be awake.
"Hey, Luke, how ya been?" she heard from behind her.
She turned to see her Uncle Leonard wrapping his arms around his actual nephew. Luke really was quite tall.
"I'm great, Uncle Leonard," he replied, patting him on the back.
Mia really did enjoy a nice family moment every now and then, but she also needed to get into her apartment. She cautiously approached the two men across the hall. "Hey, sorry to interrupt, but can I borrow your key to my door?"
Leonard suddenly noticed Mia standing there and smiled. "Oh, yeah," she shorter man replied, reaching into the bowl by the door. "Here you go."
"Thanks," Mia nodded, turning back to her apartment.
"Oh, Mia!" Leonard called after her. She turned around once more, biting down on her tongue. "This is my nephew Luke. Luke, this is my friend Sheldon's daughter Mia."
"Uh, actually, we met at the comic book store," Luke interjected.
Leonard widened his eyes in realization. "Oh yeah, I forgot you were helping out down there, Mia."
"Yeah..." she awkwardly added, rubbing her arm and wishing she'd just remembered her own key.
"Well if I'd remembered, I would have made sure this one had offered you some assistance," continued Leonard.
"Oh he did!" Mia gushed, mentally kicking herself in the shins. "I mean, he was of... g-great service to me," she stammered.
Leonard looked at the tall girl strangely, and rightfully so. "Okay, well... Goodnight, Mia."
Mia immediately took advantage of the opportunity and raced to unlock the door, just barely catching the "goodnight, Mia" echoed by Luke as the door shut behind her. She leaned her back against the wall and dropped her keys in the bowl.
"Hoo."
Next Chapter: Thai Food Night
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