All Chapters of IN BED WITH HER : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

LUKE’S P.O.V My eyes bat open the second the door closes. I stir in my bed, wanting to go back to sleep, till I notice Dre’s not here. She left the room, which isn’t an unusual thing to do; she probably got a call from someone, and didn’t want to bother me with it. But she's woken me already. I’m up and can’t go back to sleep. I might as well do something productive, like way overdue homework, or study for the SATs that’s just around the corner. I shimmy out of my sleeping bag, stretching full length before getting to my feet. Dre’s reading desk is a mess; it wasn’t like this before I went to bed. She must have been studying once she was back. I really admire how studious and how hardworking she is. And how she makes time for everything and everyone. Her mum, her hobbies, school and all the advanced extra credit classes she offered. SAT preparations, tutoring sessions, and even that idiot boyfriend of hers. She knows how to balance it all without getting burnt out. And I

DRE’S P.O.VWe all watch Luke leave unannounced, and shortly after, Nate leaves too. He has a meeting with the principal, promising to return after.Once they leave, it’s just Ruth and me, like yesterday.“Here we are again,” she giggles.I smile, a little friendlier this time. I’m kinda getting used to her being around.“How have you been?” I ask.Her smile falters, and she picks at her perfectly manicured nails.“Not good,” she says.I really don’t want to ask further questions, but she looks desperate to tell me.“Why, what’s wrong?” I ask against my will.She sighs, still picking her nails, like she wants to rip them out.“Do you think Luke likes someone else?”“Not that I know of.”She looks puzzled.“I find that hard to believe. You’re best friends, from kids.”“Yeah, but it doesn’t mean he’ll tell me every single thing. Hell, he didn’t tell me about you,” I say, remembering the time Luke drove her home.“He’s just so full of secrets,” Ruth replies. “ I really, really like him.”

LUKE’S P.O.V“Mum, we want to get a separate table.”I follow Dre into the diner, and she had told me to let her handle Ruth and begged me not say anything.Halle looks a little disappointed, but Aunt Raina doesn’t seem mind.“That’s alright. We can still eat together again once we get home. I’ll make grilled cheese sandwiches,” Aunt Raina suggests.Dre smiles softly, and her mum finally agrees.We’re about to leave, but before going, Dre turns to look at Ruth.“Aren’t you coming, Ruth?”Ruth looks up from the menu she’s been pretending to read.She looks between Dre and me.She gives a tight-lipped smile before getting up from the table, taking her purse with her.“It was so nice to meet you both,” she says to Halle and Aunt Raina with a smile.They both smile in return, and we lead the way.Dre finds a booth for us to sit at and slides in first.I sit next to her, and Ruth sits opposite us.Dre looks to me, but I told her earlier I don’t plan on speaking to Ruth; I just want her out

LUKE’S P.O.VI sit on the grass, watching Dre argue with Coach Adams.She does this every Phys. Ed class, feigning injuries or pretending to be sick, to get out of participating.Coach Adams, like usual, didn’t let her at first, but eventually, he’ll let her sit it out.Her face twists dramatically as she clutches her stomach, doubling over like she might collapse any second.“Not this time, Waters!” Coach Adams barks, already fed up. “There’s always something wrong with you. Go run laps!”“Cramps!” Dre fires back, her voice sharp with fake desperation. “Period cramps. I can’t do anything.”Coach Adams pinches the bridge of his nose. “You can’t sit out today.”Dre exhales loudly, then straightens just enough to dig into her pocket.“I have a sick note,” she says, handing him the folded sheet of paper.I clamp a hand over my mouth, barely holding in my laughter as he reads it, his face tightening with every second.He sighs, so sick and tired of Dre, giving her back the note.Finally,

LUKE’S P.O.VDre and I wait patiently for Ruth to finish talking with her friends.Dre's on her phone as we wait, typing away anxiously.“What’s wrong?” I ask, leaning into her the passenger window.“I’m supposed to meet Nate, but I can’t,” she explains, her eyes still glued to her screen.“Why can’t you?”“Because we’re taking Ruth home, remember,” she says, slightly pissed.“By home, do you mean Ruth’s apartment, or your place?”Dre finally looks up from her phone.“I mean her apartment.he lives alone, she won’t manage a sprained arm on her own, Luke.”I nod, then turn to meet Ruth at the other side of the car.“Hey, we need to go,” I say to her.Her friends agree and soon, they hug and say their goodbyes.Once they’re gone, I open the door for Ruth to sit in the back.“Be careful,” I warn, stopping her from climbing in on her own.She turns to face me.I carefully lift her into the seat.She smiles at me, soft and a little tired, then reaches up with her good arm.Before I can thin