Chapter 3: Luke's father
The twins had decided to bike to Luke's, or, rather, to Simon's parents' house. Regardless of its ownership, everyone from school and even a few others recognized it as Luke's lair, and no one questioned that.
As the twins pulled into the driveway, they recognized some of the people that arrived before them. Nikki and Lynn were having a conversation with someone the twins couldn't see, blocked unintentionally from their sight by the girls' body's.
Nikki had plum hair styled in liberty spikes, a pale blue t-shirt with what looked like chains embedded in the hems, and boring gray jeans that reminded the twins of a dreary day. She was of the smallest build of her class, and was occasionally mistaken for a boy, given her flat chest and lack of jewelery. Her eyes were usually almost closed to the point that only her closest friends, like Lynn, knew what colour they were.
As for Lynn herself, she had thin white hair that stuck out pointed and straight right below her ears. Her eyes were a bright red, and unlike Nikki, no one could miss them. Her late boyfriend was even said to have gotten lost in their fiery depths. She wore a blood-red v-neck t-shirt that barely covered her shoulders, or much else. Her belly button had a silver ring with something on it that occasionally caused distracting light to reflect in people's eyes. Her purple skirt fell down below her knees, but only because she didn't like her knees. She was very hard not to notice and stuck out like a white line on black paper. They were both in their final year at London Duel Academy.
The person with them, sitting at the steps, had a foot stretched out and tapping. That was all the twins saw of that person, yet lost curiosity when two close friends got their attention.
"Ho, there! Leo, Luna." Called a boy with a helmet under one arm and a girl hanging onto the other.
"Jimmy!" Leo said excitedly. Luna just nodded at the girl that approached shyly behind him.
Jimmy and Tammy, also twins, brother and sister, were approaching from a tree in the front yard (Jimmy liked trees). Leo offered his hand to him and Jimmy embraced it firmly with both of his own. Leo added his other hand to the mix and his face brightened. Tammy nodded back and smiled a bit, then looked down to Jimmy's shoes as they walked away with Leo.
Jimmy was the outgoing one, completely opposite of his sister, who rarely spoke. They both had red hair that smelled strongly of cinnamon. His hair was a short buzz cut, while hers was in a typical ponytail that trailed behind her if she ever ran. He wore an open button-up t-shirt lined vertically alternating between blue and silvery-white over a plain white undershirt, as well as blue shorts with a thin black line down each side. His sister wore a thin yellow long sleeved shirt and brown pants.
"So you're going to the meteor tomorrow, right?" Jimmy asked the twins, looking from Leo to Luna.
"Sorry, Jimmy. My sister and I decided not to go." While Leo talked to Jimmy, Luna quietly dismissed herself and slipped off to find Luke inside. The three girls by the stairs said "hi" to Luna, including Roxanne, who stood up and smiled at her. She, the one who had been tapping her foot hidden from the twins until now, turned as Luna passed and opened the door for her. She followed her in, as if she had been waiting only for her to come along. Once inside, she asked: "So you are coming?"
"No," Luna replied. "Neither is my brother."
"Aw." Roxanne sighed, still following Luna. They were in the dining room. There were a few people there, yet no Luke. "I didn't think he would come, but I was hoping..." She shook her head.
Luna looked at the clock on the dining room wall. It was almost 5:30 already.
"No. We haven't had dinner yet." She explained. "We can't be home any later than six o'clock."
There were a few people scattered throughout the large living room, which would be the main social and sleeping area tonight. Leaning on the edge of the large living room bay window was a young man with short brown hair wearing a cinereous t-shirt and azure slacks. He was spying on the neighbor as she watered the garden.
Luna and Roxanne approached him. "Hey, Simon. Do you...?"
"He's waiting for you in the kitchen." Simon interrupted. The twins looked at each other. Simon faced Luna. "Well? Don't keep him waiting." Simon winked at Luna. Luna turned and headed to the dining room.
Roxanne piped up. "Why don't you ask her to be an assistant tour guide?" she asked, gesturing to the window. "I know she likes leadership roles." Then she left to follow Luna.
Between the living room and the kitchen was none other than Mrs. Kretch, placed as a guard. "And where do you think you're going, little miss." Mrs. Kretch stood and blocked her path.
Luna stood before her obsticle and looked up at her proudly. "Mrs. Kretch. I need to speak with Luke." Luna replied unwaveringly.
Roxanne stood beside her and nodded. "Mhm."
"And why would that be?" Katherine challenged.
Luna looked at the clock above the doorway: 5:30. Then back at her homeroom teacher. She began to answer.
"Let them pass." Luke called from inside the kitchen.
Katherine scowled and sat back down. "Enter."
Sure enough, there was Luke at the stove preparing dinner. Not 1 but 4 grilled cheese sandwiches lay sizzling on the griddle. More were on 3 plates under foil and there were more plates waiting. Not far behind Marie tagged along like his shadow and begged him to let her cook for him. "But Luke. I wanna help!" She stretched out his name and the word 'help', as if that would more firmly press her point. Then she saw the two girls intruding on her conversation, and her face went hard. "hmph..." She nodded her head towards them and Luke looked their way.
"Luna." He said, like it was just another word, then looked back at the griddle and flipped the sandwiches. "Oh, Luna, what a pleasure."
Roxanne cleared her throat and boldly stood in front of Luna.
"And of course the beautiful Roxanne." He said, not looking up. "I'm glad you two could make it, although this isn't the best time to talk." He also had a huge pot of soup going under a lid. Luna guessed either chicken rice or tomato cheddar.
"Ya. He's busy cooking for us, right Luke?" Marie backed him up. Luke only smiled, a very soft, sweet smile at no more than the pan in front of him.
"I just wanted to see you before you left. I'll get going now." She felt Roxanne's hand lightly on her shoulder.
Luke's head turned towards her. "What?" He turned off the griddle and turned the rest of his body to her. "You aren't coming?"
"I can't Luke. It's... it's too short notice. I wouldn't have been able to give my parent's a heads up about it." She was more complaining about the situation than about Luke's reaction.
"And I thought..." Luke stopped himself there. The pot was whistling. Marie was already at the stove with a long wooden spoon. Luke sighed, defeated, and no longer protested Marie's assistance. As soon as the lid was lifted, Luna recognized it as tomato cheddar soup.
"Ya, so did I. But she isn't going. Better luck next time Luke." Roxanne clearly wasn't pleased about her best friend's decision to back out either.
"Luna."
"I know." Luna said. "I'm really sorry Luke. I really wish I could go with you."
"Enter." said the familiar voice of Mrs. Kretch.
"Looks like it's just the two of us in the truck then."
Luna and Roxanne, startled, turned suddenly around to see that it was a large man that had spoken. He had a look on his face as if he expected this. Even more, he wanted this. He had black hair and a trimmed, round beard. Square framed glasses were hanging from his dark grey shirt with an image of a grey sheep-like being on it, instead of covering his deep brown eyes. He was a massive being, not what one expected from an observatory. He looked more like someone who did than someone who watched.
"Yes Daddy." Luke said, somewhat disappointed, but by no means submissive. However, his disappointment was not directed towards his father. "Luna's not coming."
Surprised that she didn't say anything, Luna turned back to Marie, who at that moment dropped her jaw, as well as her spoon which made a splash in the soup. Her usually bright face had lost all colour entirely. Also, Luke was staring at the still shocked Luna as if he'd been betrayed.
Luna nervously reached for Roxanne who still hadn't taken her eyes off the man that now took up the entire entrance way. Neither Luna nor Roxanne had ever seen Luke's father, and although Luke was taller than the girls and well built, she did not expect this.
Suddenly he said, in a friendly and unintimidating voice, "So..."
Everyone in the room looked at him, as if that one word commanded their respect. Luna wouldn't have been surprised if an ant or spider in some dark corner of the room had put their life on pause to see what he was going to say next.
"You must be Roxanne," he said looking at Roxanne "And Luna." He turned his head to Luna.
He wasn't wrong, yet that made him only a little less scary. The two girls looked at each other and back at the large man's chest, not daring to look at his eyes. They nodded.
He placed one hand on each of their shoulders and smiled. The two girls flinched and heard a soft squeak behind them, no doubt from Marie. He ignored her as he spoke to the two girls. "My son, Luke" he looked proudly beyond the girls for a moment, then back and forth between them when he continued to speak "has mentioned you two a few times."
The girls didn't look back. Nor did they look up. Instead, they looked down at their feet.
"So you're taking us to see it? I mean Luke and me?" It was Roxanne that piped up.
He laughed. "No. No, I'm not. I'm just bringing him. However, I hear this teacher is doing somewhat of a field trip to the same place and I've agreed to be the tour guide. Luke wanted me to bring you, Luna. An honour indeed. However, now I get to spend some time alone with my son. Nothing wrong with that, eh?" He patted Luna on the shoulder then released the two girls.
"No. I'm glad that worked well." Luna said, and finally gathered the nerve to look at Luke. The disappointment had by now melted into sadness, which he hid behind silence. "See you later Luke." She turned away just as a tear fell down her face. With that, she left the room. She wasn't surprised when Marie rushed out with her.
Roxanne said "Bye," and left with Luna.
Chapter 4
* * *
The next day began like the day before. The sun shined brightly in the sky. A cool summer breeze blew as Leo and Luna walked their usual route to school.
"Can I join you?" A voice from behind asked.
Leo and Luna turned to see it was Roxanne, but there was something different about her. In place of her usual smile was a blank expression. Her blue-black hair was loose, and the buttons of her top were in the wrong holes, which was unusual.
"Hi Roxanne." Luna said in her usual greeting tone. "How was the meteor?"
"Meteor?" Roxanne asked, her expression remaining unchanged. "Oh yes, it was wonderful. Both of you should see it for yourselves."
Something was off about Roxanne. It wasn't just her expression. It was the way she spoke. Roxanne had spoken in a near monotone that showed no sign of emotion.
"Uh, so did you stay up late last night studying or something?" Leo asked Roxanne nervously.
Roxanne turned her head and looked at Leo with her blank expression.
"No." Roxanne answered in her monotone voice. "Why do ask?"
"You seem kinda..." Luna responded.
"Out of it." Leo finished.
"Ya."
"I am fine." Roxanne answered. "We should get going, else we arrive late."
The three continued walking. Leo and Luna walked half a foot behind Roxanne that morning, as they were a bit creeped out. The three of them arrived at the school. Like the previous morning, they were a little early. So the three decided to hang out in front of the school for a bit. Leo and Luna didn't talk to Roxanne much though. Suddenly Luke arrived.
"Hello Roxanne. Hello Luna." Luke said greeting the girls. Luke had a blank expression similar to Roxanne's. Marie stood quietly behind him.
"Hello Luke." Roxanne said greeting Luke in her monotone voice. Roxanne's expression had not changed at all.
"Uh, hi Luke." Luna said with a note of nervousness in her voice. "How was the meteor?"
"It was wonderful. You must see it." Luke answered in a monotone voice like Roxanne's.
"Hello Leo." Luke said greeting Leo with monotone voice.
"The name is... uh, yeah. Hi Luke." Leo said a bit shocked.
Luke had always gotten Leo's name wrong, no matter how many time Leo corrected him. There were other things different about Luke to. He didn't have his usual smug, superior attitude. He also wore his uniform differently. His black jacket, which was normally unbuttoned was completely buttoned up. Luke's white shirt, which was usually a bit wrinkled, was neatly pressed. And Luke's red tie, which usually hung lose around his neck, was tied tightly and completely straight. The only thing that was the same about Luke was that he wore his trademark sunglasses. Leo and Luna exchanged stunned glances.
Later, the bell rang and all the students outside went into the school. For the rest of the day, both Leo and Luna noticed Roxanne and Luke talking to a lot of the other students. From what the twins could overhear, both Luke and Roxanne were inviting each student they talked to on a trip to see the meteor. Like Leo and Luna, many of the students that Luke and Roxanne talked to were a bit creeped out by the duo's strange behavior, but many of them agreed to go. Mostly because of Luke's immense popularity at the school. At the end of the day, Leo and Luna went home, did any homework that they had gotten that day, and tried to put the whole strange day out of their minds.
