Luke Castellan | MLM

You had moved away from the campfire because you couldn't stand the noise. You were sitting on a log. You weren't very well known at the camp, but now everyone knew who you were: the boy who came back alone from that mission that almost killed him.

You heard footsteps. You didn't turn around.

"Don't you like the campfire? " Luke asked, sitting down next to you without asking permission.

" You said a lot of noise," and he nodded.

"Yes, children are very noisy ," she laughed, and when you didn't join in the joke, she glanced at you sideways. "Oh, how serious. Am I bothering you?"

-No, I just want to be alone.

"Bad luck, I wanted to be alone too, and here we are ," he said, and remained silent for a while, playing with a twig he found on the ground.

"I heard about your mission ," he blurted out suddenly, without taking his eyes off the twig.

-And what did they tell you?

-You came back alone. You remained silent, and Luke turned to look at you, no longer smiling. How did you do it?

-I don't know. Good luck, I guess.

"I don't believe in luck ," he said, looking straight at you with that intensity he used when he wanted you to believe something. "I think you're stronger than you let on."

"And why do you care?" you asked, and Luke chuckled softly, running his hand through his hair.

-Because I like you. And because I don't like people who hide.

-I'm not hiding.

"Yes, you're here, alone, in the dark, instead of being with the others. That's hiding ." He leaned slightly toward you, waiting for you to say something. When you didn't, he shrugged . "All right, don't talk. But if you ever want to talk for real, not with the campfire kids, find me."

She stayed there, beside you, without moving. She wasn't playing with the twig anymore. She glanced at you sideways, with a lopsided smile.

-You know what? You're cute when you're quiet.

He said it quietly, as if he didn't care if you heard, but he stayed there waiting for your reaction. He didn't get up. He didn't leave. He just stayed there, looking at you.