I Suppose I'm More Human Than I Thought

[Luka Balmore]

Luka went through the line in the cafeteria as he always did for lunch, as he moved through the line grabbing of course his favorite fruit a freshly ripe jogan. He felt a familiar presence behind him and then with out warning he felt a hard tap with the back of a hand to his nether regions. The pain was immediate and shop and shot up his abdomen a he hunched over trying not to spill his tray. He breathed in and out sharply, there was only one person who would do that.

"Payback."

Luka scrunched his eyes and stood up coughing slightly, somewhat of a smile on his face he shook his head and laughed.

"What in the hell for Adrian?"

The slightly older Padawan grinned at him.

"That day on the way back from your parents house."

Luka arched an eyebrow the pain mostly subsiding he stood up straighter and shook his head.

"That was five years ago, I think the statute has of limitations has run it's course."

"An ex Sith never forgets a cheap shot, especially when it's from his brother."

Luka shook his head.

"Whatever."

The young healer then looked out to the tables for a place to sit, that's when he saw her sitting off by herself, he swallowed hard and slightly bit his upper lip. Adrian of course could not help but notice this reaction and he rolled his eyes at the situation. What Luka could see in a Li was beyond him, it's not that he had a problem with Ashlin per say nor really Kaytren at this point but somewhere deep in him there was still the traces of a grudge meaning that under no stretch of his imagination could he ever see himself dating Ashlin or really anyone in that bloodline...but really there was only Ashlin and Kaytren....he almost gagged at the thought.

"Luka, you've been talking about her for months. Maybe be a man and go talk to her, flirt. You're friends, it's not that hard. Besides how often are you two in the same place at the same time. Didn't she just get back from...I don't know wherever the hell?"

Luka felt the butterflies swarming in his stomach he shook his head to collect himself.

"Easy for you to say, we've been friends since we were little. I don't want to mess that up."

"I DoN'T wAnT tO MEsS dAT Up."

Adrian punched Luka in the arm lightly as he mocked him.

"Don't be an idiot, you're smarter than that. The fact that you're friends makes everything easier, if you crash and burn you don't try again and you resume the friendship as if nothing ever happened. Just be yourself and then maybe ask her if she wants to do something, if it feels right maybe hold her hand and if it feels even more right kiss her."

Luka took a deep breath, a bit of red showing in his Sephi ears. He calmed himself down she was a ways away and hadn't seen him yet.

"Yeah well, how will I know that it feels right?"

Adrian blinked in disbelief.

"I happen to know you're not a virgin, you're over complicating...but ummm....it's not exactly the same scenario is it?"

Luka gave Adrian a glare, he did not much care to be reminded of that day at all.

"No it's definitely not and I thank you NOT to bring that up again."

"Right. Well it's all about reading her reactions to what you say and what you do. You're perceptive enough, watch her face, her eyes, you'll know what and whether you like it or not, you're a Lynd, even Alex can flirt and if he can, you most certainly can. Now grow up and go over there and talk to her, find me later and let me know how it went."

"Oh yeah....I'm related to you....somehow."

With that Adrian clapped Luka's shoulder and turned around leaving the cafeteria. Luka was left alone, he shook his head as he walked towards the table, his feet felt heavy as they hit the ground and suddenly he was aware of everything. What was he doing? Adrian was right, this was Ashlin, one of his best friends in the world. He collected himself and smirked, as he approached the table everything felt surprisingly natural. He eyes narrowed a bit in a friendly manner and he smirked at her.

"I'm surprised a you didn't get snatched up by a Nexu out on Cholganna and everything. Remind me, why were you there?"

Luka sat down, took his knife from his tray and cut his Jogan in half, purple juice slightly staining his hand as he offered her one of the two halves. Maybe this would be easier than he thought, being this close everything felt familiar and fine with her in his presence. Whereas moments ago from across the room she was something else in a way. Something about the distance made her a girl he had a crush on whereas up close she was a dear and trusted friend....whom he happened to have a crush on, but in this setting that was secondary to their friendship, which he valued more than anything.