The sharp ring of the morning alarm had long faded, replaced by Lily's loud, embarrassed scream and a book thrown directly at Luke's face.
Still groggy and half-stunned, Luke rubbed his cheek and groaned, "Ugh… that hurts…"
With a heavy sigh, he finally pulled himself out of bed. The morning light streamed through his window, casting a golden glow across his room. He dressed slowly, pulling on his school uniform shirt, straightening the tie, and glancing briefly into the mirror. His black hair was still messy, sticking up in odd directions.
He sighed again. "What a start to the day…"
After combing his hair and checking his school bag, Luke made his way out of his room and down the stairs, the soft smell of breakfast guiding his steps.
[Dining Room – 7:55 AM]
The dining room was already alive with warmth and quiet chatter.
Sarah stood by the stove, wearing her usual apron, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she moved around the kitchen. Her blonde hair was tied up in a loose bun, a few strands falling over her cheek. She looked every bit like the perfect homemaker—soft, graceful, and calm.
Lily was already seated at the table, her face half-hidden behind her bangs as she focused entirely on the food in front of her. She was dressed neatly in her school uniform, though her cheeks were still slightly pink from earlier.
To Luke's surprise, Emily was also there, dressed and wide awake—a rare event in their household.
She looked stunning even in casual clothes: a cream-colored blouse and tight jeans, with her long hair brushed out and neatly styled. Something was definitely up.
Luke walked into the room and greeted them casually. "Good morning, everyone."
Sarah looked up with a warm expression. "Good morning, Luke."
Lily mumbled without looking up, "G-Good morning…"
Her voice cracked a little. Luke tried not to smile. Still embarrassed, huh? he thought.
"Good morning, handsome~" Emily chimed in, leaning over her plate with a teasing grin. "You clean up well in the morning. Going to seduce someone at school today?"
Luke almost choked on his breath. "W-What the hell are you talking about?!"
Emily winked. "I'm just saying, if you're gonna keep looking this good every day, the girls in your class might start fighting over you."
Luke glared at her but chose not to take the bait. Instead, he glanced at her outfit. "What about you? Where are you off to this early in the morning? You're usually dead asleep until noon."
Emily flipped her hair back dramatically. "Oh? Is someone jealous that their gorgeous big sister is going out?"
He rolled his eyes. "Please. I just asked because I'm not used to seeing you vertical before 10 a.m."
Emily chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. "I'm meeting a friend for brunch. You don't need to worry, little bro. I won't be gone all day."
Before the teasing could go further, Sarah stepped in gently.
"Alright, alright," she said, placing a plate in front of Luke. "No arguing first thing in the morning. Eat your breakfast before it gets cold."
Luke gave her a thankful nod and sat down, joining the others. The table was filled with familiar, comforting dishes—toast, eggs, a small fruit salad, and warm tea. He dug in, suddenly realizing how hungry he was.
Everyone quietly ate for a few minutes, the soft clinking of utensils the only sound in the room.
After a while, Emily stood up and stretched. "Alright, I'm off. Don't miss me too much."
She grabbed her small bag and slipped on her shoes by the door.
"I'll be back this afternoon!" she called as she left.
Sarah waved from the kitchen. "Take care, Emily. Don't skip lunch."
Luke watched her leave, then turned toward his stepmother. "We'll head to school too. You gonna be okay home alone today?"
Sarah smiled and placed a hand on her hip. "Of course. I'll just do a bit of cleaning and maybe nap for a bit. Don't worry about me."
Luke stood up and grabbed his bag. "Alright then. Let's go, Lily."
Lily quietly followed, still avoiding eye contact. "Bye, Mom…"
"Be good at school, both of you!" Sarah said with a smile, watching them head out.
She stood by the window, watching them disappear down the quiet Brisden street, her expression soft.
[On the Way to School – 8:20 AM]
The two walked side by side in silence, their steps in sync along the tree-lined path. Spring was beginning to bloom, and cherry blossoms were scattered along the sidewalk like soft pink confetti.
Luke glanced sideways at Lily. She was staring at the ground, lips pressed together.
He scratched his neck awkwardly. "Lily… are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said quickly, laughing a little too loud. "Haha. Totally fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
Luke frowned. "Because… about this morning. I'm really sorry."
Lily waved her hand, still not meeting his eyes. "I already forgot it. It was just—just a dumb misunderstanding."
Luke nodded. "Still, it was my fault. I should've been more careful…"
Lily slowed her pace slightly, finally glancing at him with a small, awkward smile. "It's okay, really. Just don't wave it in my face next time, perv."
He blinked. "Huh—?"
"Kidding! Geez!" she said with a laugh, finally loosening up.
Luke smiled. The tension between them began to melt away as the school gates came into view ahead.
"Hey," he said, "thanks for not being mad."
"I never said I wasn't mad," she replied with a teasing smirk. "But I guess I can let you off the hook."
They stepped through the front gate of Brisden High School together, blending into the flow of students, each pretending the awkwardness of the morning had never happened.
But in the back of Luke's mind, two things lingered:
Lily's red face.
And that damn book he left at Miss Ross's house.
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