Revival of old feelings

"She said I'm cute." Nora poked her cheek, she stumbled, Luke caught her by the elbow, "And clumsy." He added. "Your laces again." He motioned with his chin.

"Oh." She bent down and fiddled with them. "Oh, come on." Luke bent down and took the laces from her hands, "Dummy."

"That looks easy, teach me how to tie them, someday." Nora said and got up.

"Say, is programming the only thing you can do properly?" He smirked.

"No. I'm good at a lot of things." She looked at him.

"Like."

"Like? Umm." She opened her mouth but closed it, "I'll tell you later, let's head back, we're already late." She nodded and paced towards the car. He shook his head and followed her.

Rachel was talking to someone on her phone, while Joseph was sleeping inside. "Man, he's the only one who slept well in all these days." Nora muttered. "Agreed." Luke said.

"I'll sit in the back." She opened the door and got in, "Now I'm gonna sleep." She stretched herself. Luke looked at her, "Go ahead. I'll get her." He moved towards Rachel.

They pulled out of the parking and were on the road. Sleep was an alien concept now for Nora, she tried, but the sleep was long gone. Rachel was in the front, she was busy with her phone, while Luke was driving, without speaking a word. It was too quiet, but she had no intention of breaking it, she just leaned back in her seat, her eyes closed. After sometime her eyelids felt heavy and finally she drifted off.

She woke up somewhere in the way, Luke and Rachel were arguing, "Seriously Luke, I did what you said, I stayed away. Now what?" Rachel shouted.

"Lower your voice Rachel." He snapped. "I have been telling you this since forever, I cannot do that, I don't feel anything."

"You really are under someone's influence, you've known me for so long. Why are you so reluctant?" She almost choked up. Luke looked at her and sighed, Nora dozed off again.

***

"I'll drop you next." Luke said, he had dropped off Joseph at his place first. They reached Sorane late at night and now it was almost dawn.

"You really hate staying beside me don't you?" She said, her voice croaky.

"No Rachel it's because it'll be easier for me, and I can get home faster taking this route, I can't function on no sleep." He said frustrated.

He stopped the car under her apartment, "Here you go, good night." Rachel unfastened the belt and shifted in her seat. She looked at Luke, he was looking straight on the road, she leaned in and kissed him on the lips, startled, he blurted, "What the fuck Rachel. Stay away from me."

"Stay away? Don't act like this Luke." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Please Luke, my feelings for you have only grown. I'm sorry for what I did before." She was trying to climb onto him.

"Don't." He removed her arms and pushed her back into the seat. "Just so you forgot, you are the one responsible for this, you are the one who broke up, Rachel. I won't make the same mistake." He didn't look at her, "Now get off."

"You can't stand being touched by me now, huh? Am I that dirty?" She said, her eyes teary.

"No, you are not dirty and do not use that word for yourself ever. It's just that I don't feel anything for you now. Please understand that." He sighed.

"Is it because of her?" She looked at him.

"Because of who?" He finally looked at her.

"Because of her." She pointed at Nora.

"What?! Are you insane? Where did she come from?" He was shocked at her words.

"Don't think I'm an idiot, I saw her kiss you!" She yelled.

"Kiss?! You lost your mind?" Luke said in disbelief.

"I saw it, you were leaning close to her, she was on her laptop, you smiled and then she kissed you." She said accusingly.

The wheels started turning in his head, "Seriously Rachel? That was an accident, she didn't expect that I was standing close, I was at fault." He brushed it off.

"It wasn't your fault Luke, it's just that she is a scheming bitch, you better stay away from her." She put her hand on his. He jerked her hand away, "Enough Rachel, I've had enough of it. Don't you dare say a word about her. You have no right to meddle in my personal affairs, not anymore. Now get off before I say something I am not supposed to say." He glared at her, his tone dead serious.

Rachel was taken aback, she grabbed her bag and stepped out. Luke started the car and drove away, while she stood there looking at it getting smaller every passing minute.

Luke stopped the car after he got at a safe distance from her apartment. He slumped on the steering wheel and closed his eyes. He stayed like that for a few minutes and then straightened himself, looking in the rear view mirror, Nora was still asleep, "Man, you sleep like a log. Don't you?" He smirked.

The dormitory building wasn't far from there, it hardly took him fifteen minutes to get there. He turned around in his seat, "Nora wake up, we're at your dorm." She didn't budge, "Wake up Nora." Nothing. He got off the car and reached on the other side and opened the door, "Wake up already." He shook her by the shoulder, "Hmm, don't touch me, go away." She mumbled in her sleep.

"Come on Nora." He shook her little harder. "What." She was finally up. Luke smiled, "We're at your dorm, wake up."

"Is it?" She looked around her eyes half open.

"Yes."

She turned to the door, he held her by the arm and helped her get off. "Bye. Good night." She waved at him and started towards the building.

"Hey your bag." Luke said. "You can have it." She replied. "What?" He was confused at her reply.

"Oh man, she still asleep?" He ran up to her, "Nora, you forgot your bag."

"Oh yeah, thanks." She took it from him, still half asleep. He sighed and held her by the shoulders and jerked her awake.

She looked around her, confused and wide eyed, "You up now." Luke asked. She nodded lazily.

"You better make back to your room safely." He smirked.

She gave him a sleepy smile, "Okay, you too drive back safe." And turned to leave. He stood there until she got inside the building and then he started towards the car.