Luke shook his head. "She don't want me there..."

"Well just because she doesn't want you there now doesn't mean she'll feel the same way tomorrow..."

"I guess...." he said taking a bite of food.

Lavinia nodded, not saying anything more on the matter. She knew Luke had to learn some things for himself, especially when it came to dealing with women.

"Auntie...I'm not hungry...can I go to bed?"

Lavinia looked to him, frowning slightly.

"You feelin' ókay?"

"Fine..." he answered softly.

Lavinia regarded him for a minute, putting down her knife and fork and getting him down from the table, leading him to the lounge.

"No your not...come on talk to me..."

"Auntie..I don't wanna talk..." he pleaded.

Lavinia however refused to let him go, sitting him down on the couch.

"Luke...i'm not going to let you go and mope in your room...now Bo's not here...nor is your Uncle...just talk to me..."

"I'm worried bout her.." he said plaintively.

Lavinia nodded softly.

"Any particular reason why you're worried about her more than any other girl that would run out the school doors cryin'..."

Luke flushed miserbly. "I think I love her Auntie."

Lavinia smiled softly, slipping an arm around his shoulder.

"You think?"

Luke swallowed. "I can't stop thinkin' bout her."

Lavinia nodded softly, rubbing his arm a little.

"How do you feel about her..."

Luke ighed. "Truth is...I like her for more than a friend Auntie...a lot more."

Lavinia bit her lip softly, nodding slightly.

"Well...then i recon you gotta decide...what it is you want to do about those feelings..."

Luke sighed. "Ain't nothin' I can do...she don't feel that way..."

"Have you ever asked her?" She enquired softly. "Sometimes, the best person in the world for you can be sitting right in front of your eyes...and yet you don't do anything because either you both think the other doesn't feel the same way...or something happens that means you just can't be together...and suddenly you realize your just too late..."

"We agreed a long time ago...we's friends...we don't wanna ruin that..."

"I know Luke...but that was a long time ago...this is now..." She said softly.

"Do you...do you think...she changed her mind?"

Lavinia sighed softly

"I'm not a mind reader Luke...I can't tell you that...but she might have done...you don't know until you ask and are honest with each other..."

Luke looked down but nodded.