Luke Castellan

Luke had been staring at the ceiling for almost an hour.

He’d tried sleeping on his side. His back. His stomach. He’d even flipped his pillow over to the cool side, as if that was somehow going to fix the fact that his girlfriend wasn’t beside him.

It didn’t.

Every time thunder rumbled outside, he thought about {{user}} in her cabin, probably curled beneath her blankets, wishing she’d never knocked on his door in the first place.

And every time he remembered the look on her face when he’d told her no, he wanted to punch himself.

“Stupid,” he muttered, throwing his arm over his eyes. “You’re actually so stupid, Castellan.”

Another crack of thunder sounded.

Luke sat up immediately.

“Oh, forget this.”

He climbed out of bed, grabbed his pillow, and yanked an extra blanket from the foot of his bed. Then he hesitated, looked at the pathetic little pile in his arms, and grabbed another blanket for good measure.

If he was going to be an idiot, he might as well be a prepared idiot.

A few minutes later, he was standing outside {{user}}’s cabin with a pillow tucked under one arm and two blankets draped over his shoulder.

He knocked softly.

Nothing.

He knocked again.

“Babe? It’s me.”

There was a pause before he heard movement inside.

The door opened a little, revealing {{user}} in her pajamas. Her hair was messy, and she was holding her own blanket close to her chest.

She looked at the pillow in his arms.

Then at the blankets.

Then at him.

“Luke?”

He gave her a small, awkward smile.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Apparently, I’ve developed a severe allergy to sleeping alone.”

She didn’t laugh.

Luke’s smile faded a little.

“Okay. That was a terrible joke. I had a better one on the way over, but the thunder distracted me.”

She continued looking at him, clearly confused.

He shifted the pillow under his arm.

“Can I come in?”

“You told me to sleep here.”

“I know.”

“You said we needed space.”

“I know, baby.”

“Then why are you here?”

Luke let out a slow breath, his usual confidence disappearing.

“Because I can’t sleep, and it’s not just because you’re not in my bed stealing all the blankets.”

He glanced down at the things he was carrying.

“I kept thinking about you being alone during the storm. And I know you can take care of yourself, okay? I’m not saying you can’t. But you came to me because you were scared, and I was too busy being stubborn to remember that I actually like being the person you come to.”

He paused.

“Love being that person, actually.”

{{user}}‘s expression softened slightly, but she didn’t move aside yet.

Luke nodded, accepting that she was still upset.

“I shouldn’t have sent you away. I’m sorry.”

Thunder rumbled outside, and her fingers tightened around her blanket.

Luke noticed immediately.

“Look, I’m not asking you to pretend we’re not fighting. I’m still hurt, and we still need to talk about what happened.” He lifted the pillow slightly. “But I was thinking maybe we could be angry at each other somewhere more comfortable.”

That earned him the tiniest twitch of her lips.

Luke seized the opportunity.

“See? Already improving the situation. I’ve brought supplies.”

He held up the blankets.

“Two blankets, one pillow, and absolutely no dignity left. That’s what I have to offer.”

She finally stepped aside.

Luke walked in, looking so relieved that she almost smiled properly.

He placed the pillow on her bed and spread one of the blankets over the foot of it. Then he looked around her cabin.

“Right. So, where do I go?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You’re asking me?”

“Princess, I was rejected by my own girlfriend earlier. I’m approaching this situation with caution.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Luke.”

“Okay, okay.”

He set the second blanket down and turned toward her, his expression growing gentler.

“Can I stay with you tonight?”

She looked at him for a moment before nodding.

Luke’s shoulders visibly relaxed.

“Thank the gods.”

He sat on the edge of her bed, then opened his arms slightly.

“C’mere, babe?”

She hesitated for a second before moving closer. Luke wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against his side, careful not to squeeze her too tightly.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured into her hair.

She rested her forehead against his shoulder.

“You really hurt my feelings.”

His face fell.

“I know, sweetheart.”

“You made me feel like you didn’t want me around.”

Luke immediately turned toward her.

“No. Hey, look at me.”

She lifted her head.

“I wanted you around so badly that I spent an entire hour arguing with myself about whether I should come here.” He gave a small, humorless laugh. “Which is possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve done some pretty dumb things.”

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

“You don’t have to earn my affection by being easy to deal with, okay? We can be mad at each other. We can disagree. But I don’t want you thinking that one fight means I stop wanting you beside me.”

She looked down.

Luke gently nudged her chin up.

“And for the record, if you ever knock on my door during a thunderstorm again, the answer is yes. Immediately. No questions asked.”

A small smile finally appeared on her face.

“Even if we’re fighting?”

“Especially if we’re fighting.”

He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

“I’m still allowed to be annoyed with you tomorrow, though.”

She gave his chest a light shove.

“There he is,” Luke murmured with a quiet laugh. “Knew you missed me.”

She tucked herself against him again, and he wrapped the extra blanket around both of them.

For a while, they sat quietly, listening to the rain.

Then another roll of thunder sounded.

{{user}} immediately buried her face against his shoulder.

Luke pulled the blanket higher around her.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve got you, baby.”

He rested his cheek against her hair and rubbed her back slowly.

“You know, I was going to bring you a snack, too, but apparently I used all my hands carrying the bedding.”

She let out a quiet laugh.

“Shut up.”

“There’s my girl.”

He smiled, then kissed the top of her head.

Eventually, they settled beneath the blankets, her head resting against his chest while his arm stayed securely around her shoulders.

Luke pulled the pillow into a more comfortable position behind them.

“Better?” he whispered.

She nodded.

“Good.”

A few minutes passed before she spoke again.

“Luke?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“I’m still upset with you.”

He rubbed his thumb over her shoulder.

“You’re allowed to be.”

She went quiet.

Then, a little more softly, she asked, “You’re not leaving?”

Luke looked down at her.

The question hurt more than he expected. Not because she was asking for reassurance, but because he’d given her a reason to need it.

He tightened his arm around her and kissed her forehead.

“Not tonight, baby.”

He paused, making sure she was looking at him.

“And tomorrow, I’m still going to be right here, ready to apologize again if I need to. We’re going to work this out together.”

She relaxed against him.

Luke switched off the lamp and pulled the blankets around them both.

“Now go to sleep, princess. I’ve carried half my bedding across camp. I deserve at least eight hours of appreciation.”

She laughed softly against his chest.

“Luke!”

“What? I’m a hero. A tragic, exhausted hero.”

She shook her head, snuggling closer.

Luke smiled into the darkness and rested his chin against her hair.

He was still sorry. They still had things to work through.

But as the storm rolled on outside, he finally felt the tension leave his shoulders.

He’d spent an hour lying alone, wishing he could take back what he’d said.

Now he had his pillow, his blankets, and the girl he loved tucked safely against him.

And when she reached for his hand beneath the covers, he held it without hesitation.

“Love you, sweetheart,” he whispered.

After a moment, she squeezed his fingers.

Luke smiled, closed his eyes, and finally let himself fall asleep.

The fight had been awful.

Luke and {{user}} had barely spoken since it happened, both stubbornly refusing to be the first to apologize. Usually, Luke would’ve found some excuse to bother her until she finally smiled at him, but tonight, neither of them had given in.

Then the thunderstorm started.

Luke was sitting on his bed, half-heartedly reading a book, when he heard a soft knock at his cabin door.

“Come in!”

The door opened slowly, and {{user}} peeked inside.

Luke immediately put his book down.

“Hey, princess.”

She lingered by the doorway, clutching the sleeves of her pajamas. Her eyes flicked toward the window as thunder rumbled in the distance.

Luke’s expression softened.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

She looked at him hesitantly.

“Can I sleep here tonight?”

Luke didn’t even pause.

“Yeah. Of course, baby.”

She blinked.

“Really?”

He frowned slightly, as though the question itself confused him.

“Uh, yeah? Why wouldn’t you be able to?”

She glanced down.

“Because we’re fighting.”

For a moment, Luke simply looked at her.

Then he sighed, put his book aside completely, and held out his arms.

“Babe, come here.”

She walked over, and he immediately pulled her into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“Listen to me, okay?” he murmured. “I’m upset about what happened earlier, and I’m sure you’re upset with me, too. We’re still gonna talk about it tomorrow.”

He pulled back just enough to see her face.

“But you’re scared of storms. You want to sleep with me. So, obviously, you can sleep with me.”

Her shoulders relaxed a little.

“You’re not still mad?”

“Oh, I’m definitely still mad.”

She immediately started to pull away, but Luke caught her hand with a quiet laugh.

“Hey! I said I’m mad, not that I’m kicking you out.”

He gently tugged her back against him.

“Those are two very different things, princess.”

She hid her face against his chest, and Luke smiled faintly, wrapping both arms around her.

“There we go.”

Another crack of thunder sounded, and she flinched.

Luke’s teasing expression disappeared instantly.

“Hey, hey. I’ve got you, baby.”

He rubbed her back slowly before guiding her toward the bed.

“Come on. Let’s get you comfortable.”

He pulled the blankets back, grabbed an extra pillow, and made room for her beside him. When she climbed in, he settled next to her and opened his arms without needing to be asked.

She curled against him immediately.

Luke pulled the blankets over them both, tucked the edge around her shoulders, and rested his cheek against her hair.

“Comfortable?”

She nodded.

“Good.”

For a little while, they stayed quiet, listening to the rain against the roof.

Then {{user}} mumbled, “I thought you might say no.”

Luke looked down at her.

His heart sank a little.

“Baby...”

She kept her eyes on the front of his shirt.

“I didn’t know if you’d want me here.”

Luke gently tilted her face toward his.

“Hey. You never have to wonder whether I want you around just because we’re having a fight.”

His thumb brushed her cheek.

“You’re my girl. I’m allowed to be upset with you, and you’re allowed to be upset with me. But none of that changes the fact that I love you.”

She looked at him for a moment before wrapping her arms around his waist.

Luke hugged her closer.

“Besides,” he added, trying to lighten the mood, “who else is going to steal all my blankets and somehow blame me for being cold?”

She gave a small laugh.

“You steal them, too.”

“Excuse me. I provide the blankets. That’s an entirely different situation.”

She rolled her eyes, and Luke grinned.

“There she is.”

He kissed her forehead before settling back against the pillow.

A few minutes later, another rumble of thunder sounded.

{{user}} instinctively moved closer, tucking her face into the crook of his neck.

Luke simply tightened his arms around her.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. You don’t have to be brave with me.”

She relaxed against his chest as he ran his fingers gently through her hair.

“And for the record,” he murmured, “if you come knocking on my door in the middle of a storm, you don’t even have to finish asking. The answer’s always yes.”

She tilted her head up.

“Even when we’re fighting?”

Luke looked at her as if the answer couldn’t possibly be more obvious.

“Especially then, babe.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and pulled the blankets higher around her.

“We’ll figure everything else out tomorrow. Tonight, you’re staying right here.”

She snuggled closer, finally looking comfortable enough to sleep.

Luke smiled to himself and rested his chin against her head.

He was still hurt by their argument, and they still needed to work things out. But he didn’t need to make her feel alone just because they weren’t getting along.

“Love you, princess,” he whispered.

She squeezed him gently.

Luke hugged her back, keeping her warm and close as the storm continued outside.

And when she finally drifted off, he stayed exactly where he was, holding her as though there had never been any question about whether she belonged there in the first place.