WHEN THE RAIN STOPS- Scrutinized [TANNER x LUNA] 2 IN 1

SIDE STORY PT. THIRTY ONE

|LUNA|

Cole wasn't good with aftercare like Tanner. He would always fall asleep right after and then leave me to take a shower on my own. Luckily he made me less tired then Tanner so I had the energy to do it on my own. Life was peaceful. I would go to work at 6, come home at 7 , cook, clean and hang out with Cole then sleep either at 11 or 10. He and I were going strong, 2 months strong. We celebrated over cake and a movie. However while I was living out the simple life, Layla and Laurence were still waiting to meet Cole. We had invited them 4-6 times before but each time they were planning on coming over Cole felt sick so I would always canceled. Until one night where they were about to come over and...

Ringgg. Ringgg. Ri-. "Hello?" I said, "hey Luna! We're so excited to meet him, finally!" "I know! I'm so excited for you guys to meet him too."

"Lunnnaaa!" Cole called from the living room. I told Layla to hold on and walked for the living room where Cole was cuddled up with a blanket. "Yea?" He coughed. "I don't feel good.. c-can we stay in?" He sounded like a puppy, how could I say no? Besides if he wasn't feeling well I didn't want Layla, Laurence, Ein or the bay to get sick. I softly smiled and rubbed his head. "Yea, no problem." I walked back to the bathroom and told Layla that we had to cancel. She groaned "ok, maybe next time." "I'm sorry.." "it's fine. Bye Luna." She hung up, disappointed. It made me feel like shit but I was looking out for them. I went to go change when another call of my name guides me back to the living room. "Yea honey?" He patted the seat. "Come sit." He pouted his lip to look adorable and I sat down. He laid on my lap and gave me a look. "Do you love me?" "What?" "Do you love me? Because it would be nice to have my favorite cake right now.." "from the store or-?" "From the pastry garden!" The pastry garden was a little pastry shop in town. Near my favorite book store. I was already dressed up so why not? I patted his hair one last time before going to get my bag and keys. Once I was out the door I walked to my car and drove the 10 minutes to town. Then the additional 7 to the shop. From there on it was easy sailing. I got out and the ambiance of the city range in my ears, along with the satisfying sound of my heels on the pavement. I heard talking but then again it was the social part of the city, with restaurants, malls, and outlets. But this talking was louder, almost like the conversation was about me.. I didn't want to look since I didn't know if it was just me hearing things. So I just kept walking til I reached the shop. The ring of the cute little doorbell rang when I opened it, welcoming me into the world of cake, muffins and pastries galore. I didn't have time to look since I was sent here on a task, but I caught a glare of a familiar looking figure. I shook it off and waited in line. I looked at my phone and saw texts from Cole. 'Are you there?' 'Who's with you?' 'Don't talk to any guys!' I giggled at the cute overprotectiveness of the texts. In my mind it showed he cared.. soon enough I was close to the finish when the feeing of someone watching me lingered.

I looked around to find.. Tanner. My eyes widened with fear and embarrassment. I haven't seen or talked to him since we broke up, I couldn't tell if he was happy or angry to see me. He waved to me with a smile and I waved back before going back to staring at the persons back. Awkward. About a minute later I got to the front and ordered Cole's favorite. A piece of chocolate cake covered with chocolate melts. The clerk rang me up and I waited for the cake to be ready. About 10-15 minutes. In that time span I had enough time to look in the book store! Besides I didn't want to be there with Tanners glaring eyes. I asked the clerk if that was alright and she said yes, so with that, I was on my way. I just had to pass through an alley way... perfect way for Tanner to pop up.

I groaned and got my pepper spray ready. Then when I was in the middle of the ally I felt someone behind me. I held up my pepper spray. "Tanner, I swear to god if your behind me." I turned around slowly and quickly got my pepper spray ready to fire. But no one was there. "Hu-?" I was stopped with a hand on mine, grabbing the spray out of it. I quickly whipped around to be faced with A baby blue shirt, covered with a white lab coat and red tie... I looked up in horror. "Can't say I liked that, but I was flattered that you and I were on the same page." His smile taughted me. "What are you-?" "Just wanted to talk. And see how you were doing." He crouched down to my level. "You don't seem like your old self." I shoved passed him. "Leave me alone." He grabbed my forearm. "Can't." He then slammed me into the wall and started to kiss me like he missed me. Like he was in the desert and dehydrated while I was the water he craved. In that moment... I had forgotten that I was dating Cole and froze in shock while he begged in between kisses. "I need you-.. to leave him-.. and -. Come with-.. me."we caught our breath and he told me at a whisper level. "I'm not gonna ask again.." I looked up to him and pushed him away. "I'm not gonna leave Cole just because you tell me to." He fell and looked back to me while I yelled. "You messed up! Just admit it! And Leave. Me. Alone." He was silent, like he was surprised I said no to his offer. "He messed you up..." I looked back. "What?!" "You heard me." "TANNER!" I was mad and went to tackle him, but he was happy and smiled wide "LUNA!" I pushed him down to the floor and started beating on His chest. He laughed and I got fed up real quick. To the point where I stopped him with a firm slap across the face. He froze and I yelled. "THIS ISNT FUNNY YOU JACK ASS." I went to stand when once again he stopped me by grabbing my wrists. " LET ME GO GOD DAMNIT!" "Look at you! You're a tired mess! DONT YOU SEE HOW BAD HE IS FOR YOU-?!" I spat in his face and he stopped yelling. I was wearing a cocky smile til I felt something rise in his pants. "Ugh! You're fucking disgusting." I got up and picked up my purse that was flung. Then walked away from him, back to the shop. I didn't have time anymore.

Once I got there Coles cake was waiting for me. I quickly got it and left. Thankfully Tanner didn't bother me anymore, but unluckily someone else did. "Luna?!" I turned and saw Layla... angry. "Lay-." "Are you fucking serious?!" I paused, and she grabbed my shoulders. "YOU LEFT TANNER FOR THAT PIECE OF SHIT?!" I pushed her off. "COLE IS A -." "MANIPULATIVE SON OF A BITCH." Laurence stepped closer to me. "Tanner told us what he did Luna." He was stern and serious for once. "He is a good guy!" "HOW?!" ... fear struck in my eye with all the yelling that was happening. Especially now since it came from an angry Laurence. "He-. Uh." "Exactly." Laurence scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Don't invite us over til he's gone." "But wai-." "OR TALK TO US." They stormed away and I was left there.. alone. I unlocked my car and got in. 'Did I just loose my friends? Surely not. No, no i did! Nono I didn't. Ugh!' My breathing quickened and I was steadily spiraling out of control. That anxious and jumpy feeing returned from back when Vincent died. The air became harder to breath and harder to shove down my nose and throat. I felt like I was being hung or suffocated. The world could've collapsed and I wouldn't have felt any different. Tears rolled down my face and I weeped, "stop.." I said weakly to my brain. All my thoughts collided, and Vincent was the one narrating them. 'You're a murderer, You don't have anyone else. Hell even Cole might leave you. Just face it. You're a burden.' I cried out at the torture going on in my mind. I felt like I was going to pass out, and I was close to passing out til my door was flung open. "Breath Luna, breath." Tanner unbuckled my seat belt and took me out of the car for some fresh air. He held me close to his chest in an embrace and comforted me. "Breath Luna, it's alright." My breath was becoming more clearer and my vision became less dark. "That's it.. just focus on your air." He did his usual movements like breathing in deep with me and rubbing my back slowly, it helped and soon enough I was calmed down. I thanked Tanner and we looked into each other's eyes. Slowly loosing track of time before is mapped out of it "I... gotta go.." I turned away and drove off without another word. I felt like I had betrayed Cole that night. And the guilt was astronomical. Once I got home I put down my keys and walked to the kitchen. Where Cole was finishing eating rice and chicken. I put down the cake and looked defeated. I gave him a look. A look that told him. 'I drove all the way down town, stood in line, got this cake for you, but you just couldn't wait?!'  He just shrugged it off though and gave me an excuse. "You took too long."

I scoffed a smile in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me." He stood up and looked at the cake while grabbing it. "I don't even like this flavor.." he scowled at the cake and threw it away.  He sighed and casually said. "You couldn't do one thing right, could you?" At this point i was fed up, he didn't know but I had the option to leave. And here he was not appreciating that i stayed. I slammed my fist down onto the table. "WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SO MEAN?!" "Be carful of what you say Luna." "NO! BECAUSE IM TIRED OF-." Out of no where Cole charged at me, a minute of wrestling later and he had slammed my head down onto the counter. Making me light headed. "DONT TALK! YOU CANT! YOU KNOW WHY?!" He crept down to my ear and yelled into my eardrum. "BECAUSE YOURE JUST A SCARED LITTLE GIRL, WITH ABANDONMENT  ISSUES. EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE HAS LEFT! DO YOU REALLY WANT TO PUSH ME AWAY TOO?" "N-no..." he lifted my head a little just to slam it back down with a ton of force. "SAY IT AGAIN." "No!" Tears flowed out of my eyes and he lifted my head. "Don't fucking cry." He was annoyed but I couldn't help it, it fell out of my grasp like baby oil. "I-I-." I was stopped with a firm punch to the face. I was dizzy and couldn't comprehend that Cole had just hit me. But as I fell down the only thing lighting my way was Coles sinister smile...