Author's note: So this story would happen around the end of season 2 or the beginning of season 3. It happens in the summer, right as school stops. There's a lot in this story that might not be "right" according to the story, but I changed some stuff (creative licence or whatever). I needed to, just to make the story work.

Disclaimer: I own nothing :(

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"Hey Mom," Luke Girardi said, walking in the kitchen.

"Not now," Helen answered, talking on the phone to someone. She waved Luke away as she listened intently to the person on the other line.

Luke sighed and went upstairs. It was a normal occurrence that no one listened to him, except for his girlfriend Grace Polk. He smiled at the thought of her. He had just come back from seeing her.

He passed his brother Kevin's room, the door being closed. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Kevin was probably still at work, or out on a date with a girl.

Luke knew that Joan was home and knocked on her door.

"Go Away!"

"Joan, it's just me," Luke answered, not sure if he should open the door or keep it closed.

"I don't care!" came the reply. It sounded as if Joan had been crying, but Luke knew better than to ask what was wrong.

Knowing his father wasn't home yet, Luke went to his room to see if he had some e-mails. Opening his computer, he waited for the internet to pop up. Seeing that there were no new e-mails, Luke got off.

He paced his room, waiting for his mother to get off the phone. He wanted to tell her that his teachers were thinking of making skip a grade, tell anyone for that matter. Grace was the only one that knew, and she had been happy. She didn't exactly show it, but he could tell.

He heard his mother hang up the phone and went downstairs.

"Hey mom!"

"Hey Luke. I need to finish this supper, okay?" his mother answered, a look of worry on her face.

Luke nodded, his face falling. "Okay."

His father came home, and supper was served. But whenever Luke tried to get a word in, someone would interrupt him, whether it was his sister with her latest club-joining, or Kevin's big story, or even his father's latest breakthrough in a case.

"Hey, what's with you?" Kevin asked, noticing Luke's small frown.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just-"

"I bet he's just bummed that one of his theories didn't work out. But it's not fair that I can't go to that party tomorrow!" Joan whined. Luke sighed, and continued picking at his food.

After supper was over, Luke retired to his room. "What a loving family I have," he thought bitterly. Before realizing what he was doing, he grabbed a bag and filled it with clothes. He scribbled a note on a spare piece of paper, took his keys and scaled out of the window. Tomorrow was the last day of school, and Luke could afford to miss it.

Starting his car that his parents had gotten him for his birthday last year, Luke drove away from the house.

Not knowing where he was going to go, Luke drove around until he stopped in front of the Polanski house.

He noticed that the car was gone, but there was a light on in the living room. Luke knocked, hoping Grace was the only one home.

Sure enough, Grace opened the door in a pair of drawstring pajama pants and a black tank top.

"What do you want geek?" Grace asked.

"Run away with me."

"What!" Grace exclaimed, the shock on her face evident.

"Run away with me. Just for a while. Tomorrow's the last day of school anyways, and I can't stand spending another moment with my family. We have a summer cabin we use sometimes in Henderson, in North Carolina. It would take us about half a day. Come with me," Luke pleaded.

Grace hesitated for a moment. "Come inside," she said, holding the door open.

Luke stepped past Grace, and noticed that she was alone. If this would have been a normal circumstance, his teenage mind would be hard at work. But nothing was normal to him at the moment, except the idea of running away with his girlfriend.

"So, why do you want to run away?" Grace asked, sitting back down on the couch. Luke sat next to her.

"No one listens to me, except you. I know I sound whiney, but it's been going on for too long. No one cares about me cause I'm the smart guy that doesn't need help with anything. It's so sick and tiering!"

Grace nodded and took his hand in hers. Normally, Grace would never do that, but she could tell Luke needed comfort, or else he never would have came here. Grace nearly laughed as she thought of herself as a source of comfort, but she realized that she too found comfort in being with Luke.

"So, will you run away with me? I know your home situation isn't perfect either," Luke asked, hoping Grace would say no and talk him out of it.

But Grace wanted to leave, even if it was only for a little while. A few weeks without her drunken mother would do her well.

"When do we leave?"

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Author's note: Been thinking about this one a while. Tell me what you think!