Chapter Eight

"They're both stupid,"

Luke said seating on the carpet with all the other books he brought for tonight's tutoring session.

Mom is in the kitchen making pasta, white sauce, it's my favorite. And I am sitting on the sofa with the literature book on page two hundred and sixty-four, reading the excerpt of Romeo and Juliet, the part where Juliet already consumed the sleeping potion and Romeo was frustrated he also drank poison, Juliet wakes up and kills herself.

"Yeah, but they're in love, that's why!" I yelled to prove my point.

"Love is stupid," He mumbled.

I don't want to have a debate on this topic. A person who doesn't believe will never understand until he chooses to believe. Love isn't stupid, people who are in love are stupid. 

"Funny, that's what love means to bitter people," I placed the book down beside me and crossed my arms."Luke Lewis, you're bitter, who was your last girlfriend?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.

"Why would I tell you?" He smirked.

"Because I want to know who made you bitter, duh!" I closed the book beside me.

We already discussed Romeo and Juliet in ninth grade and now we're tackling it again. Our literature teacher, Mr. Wilson, says we need a much deeper perception of Shakespeare's work. And that he didn't just write it so people who will read it will call his characters stupid.

Luke and I are doing it right now. Discussing and debating. 

"I'm not bitter," he says.

"You are," And I laughed "First sign, denial," I added.

"Why do you care anyway?" He asked with a serious tone.

As if I can tell you, I thought. Cupid will literally shoot me with his arrow if I tell lUke. 

"Love makes an individual do foolish things," I told him. "Everyone has their own meaning of love and yet yours is 'Love is stupid'," I quoted what he said earlier.

"I'm not wrong on that part," He says and drinks his cola in can.

"Juliet drank the sleeping drug so she can avoid her marriage with Paris and be with Romeo. But Romeo thought she was dead and he does not want to live without her so he drank the poison, and when Juliet wakes up Romeo is dead. She does not want to live alone without him so she killed herself." I narrated it to Luke to knock some sense.

"Romeo could have made sure Juliet is really dead," He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest as he leans on the sofa I was seating on but then I changed my seat and sat beside him.

"If you're on Romeo's shoes you might do the same," I told him, "Because love can make us do stupid and impulsive things for someone even if it means dying for them,"

"You're cheesy, really, Carly," He was shaking his head with a little smile on his lips. 

I am not actually sure if this 'way' I am doing is working or knocking his senses on. Because one thing I'm sure, this guy beside me, namely, Luke Lewis is not a fan of love, legit.

"That's true, Luke. Believe me when I am the one who says," I tried to convince him.

"Yeah, because you nearly died because of Finn," he says. "What happened anyway, I don't want to be nosy but according to Vanessa, you got into the accident after the breakup," He narrated.

"That is true, didn't know you listen to gossip at school about me," I joked.

Luke chuckled, "Even if I don't want to hear any news about you I still can because everyone talked about the Popular Break Up," I smiled with amusement.

Now he's talking, not a few words, we're starting!

"That was true, Finn broke up with me. And because I was driven by Love that makes people do foolish things. I walked out of the shop in tears and boldly crossed the road. Got hit by a car and, voila! Thank God, I am still alive," I explained with sad eyes.

"Why did you cross the road anyway? Are you going to run to him?" He asked and fixed his hair.

"I don't know, actually," and I wondered as well. Why did I? To go home or run to him?

"Love makes you cross the road in tears and get hit by a car," he chuckled and smirked. I glared at him. 

Mom shows up from the kitchen in her red apron with yellow hearts on it, "Love is eating pasta after talking about the meaning of love!" She says with her spatula.

"Finally!" I sighed in relief.

"I'm starting to think you're making me believe in love," He said nudging my shoulder as we walk to the dining table. That's what I'm actually doing, Luke. And it's a tough job, making you believe. 

"Because I think life gave you something and now you don't believe in love," I told him and winked.

We ate my favourite pasta dish, carbonara or white sauced or whatever it's called all over the world. It's not tuna, I like that one though, I like ham better. And I love mushrooms and how every ingredient compliment the whole food. Say what, I love food.

"What's your favorite food, Luke?" Mom asked Luke as she takes off her apron, hanging it on her chair, joining us in the table.

"I like mousses, any flavor." He says and shoved a fork full of noodles on his mouth.

"You like sweets! I bake a lot! You should come by more often, Carly will tell you what I baked for the day," She says and winked at me.

"A pleasure," he says and drank his orange juice. I was just on the other side of the table, quiet, listening to their conversation.

"Mom, can you cook Pesto on Friday? Jelly's vegan, I asked her to come by," I told my Mother whose eyes are gleaming.

"Alright, Pesto on Friday. Wait," she paused and think for some time, "The name sounds familiar,"

"Yeah, Jelly Anderson, the girl with the gum on her hair, she's the one," I explained.

"That's why! Poor girl, my daughter took all the blame when it's all Vanessa's fault," Mom exclaimed and Luke almost choked the hell out of him, I handed him water.

He catches his breath, "Are you okay?" He nodded and says he's fine.

"When is Vanessa coming over? No sleepovers at the moment?" I shook my head.

"We're both busy," I told Mom. Luke was just there, pursing his lips.

"Thank you for the food, Mrs. Davis," he thanked my Mom when we all finished the food. "It tastes really great, looking forward to the mousse but I must go now," Mom kissed Luke's cheeks and I helped him fix his stuff and he puts in his bag.

He bid my Mom goodbye and I walked with him to the lawn, "Thank you, for the tutor thing," I gave him a smile.

"No problem, see you tomorrow," then he walks away.

I was just standing still looking at the sky and swaying and smiling like an idiot. I did great today.

"You kind of did," says the guy beside me. Of course, it's Cupid. I guess he heard my thoughts.

"Thank you!" I reached for his shoulder and tapped it. "You have the best person for this job," I mumbled.

I went back inside the house and Mom was washing the dishes. I remembered my plans for tomorrow and I need my parent's permission for that.

"Mom, I'm going home late tomorrow. There's a party at Chester's---" she cut me off.

"Told you no parties until you have that bandage on your temple and arms," she reminded me and I continuously nodded.

"I know, it's for Luke," I added.

"For Luke?"

"Yeah, he needs to refresh and chill. I'm trying to set him up on a date," I explained.

"Set him up? You're a matchmaker now?" She was shaking her head with disagreement and was making tsk-ing sounds.

"Mom, he doesn't believe in love."

"I heard while you were talking earlier," she commented.

"And I am trying to set him up on dates with Lily, he needs this Mom. Please?" I made puppy eyes.

"Pretty please?" I asked again with my cute little eyes.

"Fine, come home before nine. Make sure that the next time he comes here, he's going to believe in whatever meaning of Love you're pushing him," she says and I hugged her.

"Yeah yeah, before nine. Thanks, Mom!" And I kissed her cheeks before walking upstairs to my room.

My plan is going to work.

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Thank you for a hundred reads in just four days! I hope you loved this chapter, let me read your thoughts in the comments and pls do vote!

Love, Ila.