We stand under his porch awning, both of us soaked. Luke pulls off his vest and hangs it on a bench. His white shirt is nearly transparent and his muscles poke out from beneath it. I watch them flex as he wrings out his bandana. I waving motion snaps me back and I see Luke's been trying to talk to me. Feeling embarrassed, I turn around.

"You can come inside," Luke says as he opens the door. We enter and the house is quiet. "My pops and Bo are out of town right now. After last night, I didn't much feel like going into the city." He walks around the shop gracefully and I take in every inch of this place. Sketches of furniture and houses line the walls, the smell of sawdust and freshly chopped wood fill my nose with each breath.

Something about this place makes me feel nostalgic. It's been nearly ten years since I've been here yet it doesn't look any different. "That's right, you and I would play here sometimes as kids," he says as he runs a hand over a freshly carved chair frame. The rain outside grows louder and a few flashes startle me.

"Scared of a little lightning?" Luke teases but I don't laugh. "Come on," he motions for me to follow him to the back of the shop where their little house is connected. We reach a dark red door and I see little measuring marks along the doorframe. I press my fingers against the carved in lines. I always beat Luke in height when we were younger, just by a few centimeters. He would always get so angry.

"Here," he tosses me a towel and I use it to wipe off most of my damp face and wring out my hair. As I lower the towel I feel my face heat up at the sight of Luke removing the last inch of his shirt. He tosses it over his door without a problem and I try to avert my eyes.

"D-did you have to do t-that here?" I stammer. I hadn't realized I've been clenching the towel tightly. "What's wrong? It's not like I took off my pants. Don't tell me you're embarrassed."

I feel his body heat as he stands near me and I try to turn away but he manages to stand in front of me. "Look," he grabs my face and forces me to look at him. My face instantly burns and he laughs. "You're as red as a tomato!" He chuckles and I throw my towel at him. "It's not funny!" I yell but I feel like laughing. A flash lights up the room and a loud boom shakes the house. I stumble as I back away from the nearby windows. I feel my body collide with Luke's and his arms wrap around me. "It's okay." He whispers into my ears.

Normally I would force him to release me and yell at him, but something about his arms around me makes me feel protected. The storm continues but Luke doesn't leave my side. "You were always scared of the usual summer typhoons when you were younger. I guess you haven't changed." I feel his chest rise and fall as he laughs and I immediately turn around and face him.

"I have changed a lot, thank you very much." A loud boom startles me and I leap, accidently colliding my lips with Luke's for a brief second. I push away quickly and he looks as shocked as I am. Embarrassed, I run out of the room and find the bathroom. I shut the door behind and lean against it. Luke tries to open it but I force it closed each time.

"C'mon, Akari, open the door!" He knocks on the door and turns the handle. Unable to hold the door closed he forces it open and I can't look at him. "It was just a kiss," he says calmly. I still can't look at him. "I don't know what the big deal is," he forces me to face him but I don't look him in the eyes.

"Don't tell me, was it your first?" He starts to laugh and I start to get mad. "Shut up! So what if it was," I say loudly. I shove my way past him but he grabs my arm. "It's okay. It's cute," he says playfully. I want to slap him but the lights shut off and we're left in the darkness of his hallway. I've never much liked the dark and I press my body close to his.

"Let me go find some flashlights. Wait in my room." He walks down the hall and into the shop. I sit on his bed as the rain continues to beat against his windows. Flashes of lightning and booms of thunder preform outside one after another. Luke returns with a flashlight in one hand and another turned on illuminating his face. "Boo!" he jokes and tosses me one.

"You're not funny, you know." I say turning on my flashlight. "You used to laugh at my jokes all the time when we were kids," he says sitting next to me on the bed. A sudden chill fills my body and I shiver. "You never did get out of those damp clothes." Luke stands up and walks to his closet and tosses me a red shirt and some shorts. "I can't wear these!" I exclaim. "These are you-" I can't even finish my sentence.

"I know they're boxers but that's all I have that might fit you. You're so tiny compared to me. My pants are too big. Just try them on," he leaves the room and I lock the door to make sure he won't peek. I quickly remove my damp clothes and put on the dry ones. Thankfully they're not too big and I open the door to see Luke's disappeared.

I step out into the hallway but Luke walks out of their living room and brings me a steaming mug. "It's hot cocoa. It's all I can make to be honest. Pops is the chef around here," he hands me the warm mug and I hold it close, taking in the warmth. "I had no idea it'd be so cold during summer."

"It's only like this because of the storm." He takes a sip of his hot cocoa but makes a face as he realizes it's still too hot to drink. He places it on the nightstand. I've noticed he's changed into sweatpants but still remains shirtless. He leaps onto the bed next to me and lays his head on his hands.

"It's hard to believe we're alone together like this," he says quietly. "You wanted nothing to do with me the last few days. Why the sudden change?"

He turns over and props himself up on his elbow while his other hand resting inches from my leg. "I can't really understand it myself. You're always there when I need help." I fidget with my fingers, unsure of what else to say.

"Is that all? Geeze, a guy puts his neck on the line to save you from some psycho and you have nothing else to say?" He pokes my leg and I twitch a bit at the sudden touch. "You're the one who wanted to talk."

I lay down beside him. "Yeah, I wanted to tell you, you're an idiot and I hate you," I say with a playful smile upon my face.

"You don't mean that," he squeezes my side and I jerk. "Stop, I'm ticklish there!" I yell but I know I gave him ammo. "Really?" he says and continues to squeeze me. I wiggle around until I'm face to face with Luke. He looks at me with his eyes colored caramel from the dark lighting. I feel my heart racing being so close to him.

"I meant what I said last night, you know," he says without looking away.

I continue looking at him without saying anything. He continues, "I know I don't show it but I really do like you, Akari. I know I teased you and always pestered you to the point of you hating me but I always thought you were cute when you pouted."

"Idiot," I mumble and turn to face the ceiling.

"Hey, I'm being honest with you. Besides, you made me wait ten whole years."

"Wait? For what?" I turn to face him again but he's no longer looking at me. He doesn't say anything and my curiosity grows stronger. "Tell me." I scoot closer to him and poke his face.

"We made a promise back then on the day you left. You said you'd come back every summer but you never did." His voice has sadness to it.

"I'm sorry," I say, unsure of what else I can do. "We couldn't afford the trips and I went to school in the city. It was difficult."

"Did you ever think about this place while you were gone?"

"Sometimes but it turned into a memory after some time." I hate being so honest.

"Even me?"

His question shocks me. I didn't even recognize him until my mother mentioned it. How can I tell him that? "Luke," I say but he stops me. His hand rests on my hip and his eyes reflect mine. "It's okay if you forgot," he says quietly. "I never once forgot you," he says quietly.

His hand is warm and I feel the urge to pull him closer to me, to feel his body against mine. "I'm sorry," I say quietly. I feel horrible. "Don't," Luke cups my face with his hand and pulls my face to his and his lips brush mine. "You're here now aren't you?" he says with a hushed voice so low I can barely hear him.

He kisses me again softly before pulling away and smiles. "You're red again," he says louder. Realizing how close we are I push myself away but his arms wrap around me and pull me to his chest. The warmth of his body makes my already hot face feel like molten lava.

"Let go!" I say into his chest but he tightens his hold.

"I'm not letting you go." He presses his lips to my ear. "Never again."