The room was still, the silence thick with tension. Roxy sat on the edge of her bed, her hands trembling as she fought the overwhelming pull of her thoughts. She pressed her palms into her knees, trying to steady herself, but the urge was too strong, too loud.
Luke stirred awake in the studio across town. Something gnawed at him, an unexplainable feeling that he needed to check on Roxy. Throwing on a hoodie, he made his way to her room without hesitation.
When he opened the door, his heart sank. Roxy sat hunched over, her hair falling in front of her face, her shoulders trembling. She didn’t look up as the door creaked, her breaths uneven and shallow.
“Roxy,” Luke said softly, stepping into the room. He knelt beside her, his voice steady but gentle. “Hey, what’s going on? Talk to me.”
Her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white. She shook her head, refusing to look at him. Luke reached out, his hand lightly brushing against hers. “It’s okay. I’m here. Whatever it is, you don’t have to go through it alone.”
She didn’t respond, her breaths hitching as tears silently streamed down her cheeks. Luke didn’t push her. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a firm but gentle hug. She stiffened at first but then crumbled into him, clutching at his hoodie as though it were the only thing anchoring her.
“Let’s sit,” he murmured, guiding her to the floor. “Just breathe with me.”
As they settled on the floor, Luke kept his arms securely around her, his steady presence grounding her. She clung to him, her tears soaking into his hoodie. Luke adjusted his position to make her more comfortable, his lap brushing against hers in the process. Roxy stiffened slightly at the contact, but Luke didn’t acknowledge it, focusing entirely on calming her.
“You’re okay,” he whispered. “I’ve got you. Just keep breathing.”
For a while, the room was filled only with the sound of her ragged breaths slowly evening out. Then, Roxy tilted her head up, her teary eyes meeting Luke’s. He offered her a small, reassuring smile, his thumb brushing a tear from her cheek.
“You’re not alone,” he said softly. “No matter what, I’m here.”
Roxy didn’t answer with words. Instead, she leaned forward, her lips brushing his in a hesitant kiss. Luke froze for a moment, his breath hitching, but then he leaned in, returning the kiss gently. It wasn’t about passion—it was about comfort, a quiet connection in the face of overwhelming emotions.
The door creaked slightly, and both froze as Alex and Reggie peeked their heads inside. Alex’s eyes widened comically as he registered the scene. “Oh, uh…” he stammered before instinctively covering Reggie’s eyes.
“Dude, what’s going on?” Reggie asked, his voice muffled behind Alex’s hand.
“Nothing!” Alex hissed, dragging Reggie back out of the room. “Nothing at all!”
“Why are you covering my eyes, then?!” Reggie protested as they disappeared down the hall.
Luke sighed, shaking his head as he turned back to Roxy. Despite everything, a small, shaky laugh escaped her, and he smiled softly.
“See? You’re not the only one who gets into awkward situations,” he teased, his voice light but still filled with warmth.
For the first time that night, Roxy felt a tiny flicker of relief. Luke’s presence and the boys’ comedic interruption had managed to pull her back from the edge, if only a little.
“Thank you,” she whispered, leaning her forehead against his.
“Always,” Luke replied, his voice steady and sure.
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