Luke woke up the next morning to see her sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Morning," he said.
She turned her head and looked at him over her shoulder. She sent him a little sad smile before looking away again. He sat up and got on his knees behind her as he started massaging her shoulders.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"No, I'm not okay, Luke. I'm being held here against my will," she snapped at him.
"Keep your voice down. Karl doesn't know we know each other and I'd like to keep it that way," he said.
"Do you honestly think I will help you feel better about yourself by distancing yourself from me?" She hissed.
"I'm not distancing myself from you. If Karl knows you and I have a past, as innocent as it might be, he might find a way to hold it against me. Use you somehow to get to me if he gets mad," he said.
He stopped massaging her and put his arms around her instead, slowly letting his fingers run on her collarbone.
"I know I'm also responsible for getting you into this mess but I'll be damned if I'll make it worse for you," he said.
She reached up and grabbed his hands, pulling them away from her. She turned her body a bit and looked at him.
"You were such a good kid back then. What happened to you?" She asked.
"I was never a good kid. In school maybe, but at home I would always act out. I hung with the wrong crowd and eventually it took me down this path," he said and sighed.
"But you're grown up now. Why don't you change your behaviour?" She asked.
"I'd like to but it's hard," he said and sighed.
"You're the only one who can do it," she said.
"I know, I know. Anyway, let's unlock the door. Do you need to use the bathroom?" He asked as he took the key from around his neck.
"Yeah," she answered.
He unlocked the door and escorted her to the bathroom. He waited outside till she was done and escorted her back into the bedroom.
"I'm not gonna lock the door. I trust you so please don't do anything stupid. I need to talk to Karl about this but I'll get you out of here somehow. Just sit tight," he said and closed the door.
He walked to Karl's bedroom and knocked on the door.
"Enter!" Karl shouted from the other side.
Luke opened the door and walked in.
"We need to figure out what we're gonna do about her," he said.
"My offer still stands," Karl said.
"Shut up. Just shut up for once. I've got a good feeling about her. She won't tell anyone," Luke said.
"Wow, one night in there and she's already gotten that deep inside that thick head of yours," Karl said mockingly.
"No hurting her," Luke sneered.
"Fine, then she stays here," Karl said.
Luke sighed. He knew there was no winning this round.
"Fine, she stays here for now," he said and walked out of Karl's room.
He sighed as he walked back to his own bedroom. He didn't like that he had to tell her this. He walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Look Hope, Karl is being a stubborn bastard so I can't let you go right now," he said.
"But you said..." She started, tears filling her eyes.
He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"I know what I said and I will get you out of here. Just not right now. I will figure out a solution but if I let you go right now, he will hunt you down in no time. He doesn't like loose ends and that's unfortunately how he sees you right now," he said.
"Can't you just let me go without him noticing?" She tried.
"He knows where you live, Hope," he said and sighed.
She started crying. He pulled her with him towards the bed. He sat down and pulled her down on his lap as he gently stroke her back.
"You know, if this situation wasn't so horrible, this would actually be kind of romantic," she suddenly said.
He let out a laugh.
"Young high school me would have drooled over having you this close," he chuckled.
"How about old man you?" She asked.
"Not drooling but definately liking it," he answered and placed a kiss on top of her head.