Forever and a Day

CHAPTER 15

I feel very weird. I woke up to the loud ringing of my absurd alarm clock. I looked at myself in the mirror and told myself I had to get a grip. I didn’t like Lawrence in any romantic way. I mean, he’s barely a friend, how could he be more? I took a cold shower hoping the temperature would slap the right mind back to me. 

As soon as I got dressed and out of the shower, Toby was already waiting for me on my bed fiddling with my phone. He liked invading privacy, he really did and it really pisses me off.

“And what do you think you’re doing with my phone?!” I snapped at him angrily.

Without looking away from my phone, he said, “I’m reading your text messages, what does it look like?”

I leaped forward and struggled to get my phone back from my too-big-for-me-to-fight-off big brother. “Give me back my phone, Toby! I’m serious!”

“Yeah? Well so am I when I say that that Luke dude wants to meet up at O’Hare’s today at 12 noon.” He said triumphantly as he saw my shocked expression. How dare Toby invade my privacy?!

“I said give me that!” I yelled as I snatched the phone off Toby’s hands. He chuckled then left the room feeling pleased with himself. For some reason, he really feels great whenever he pisses me off. Asshole brother. He was right, though… about Luke. He did want to meet me at O’Hare’s later.

At about 11:30 AM I headed to O’Hare’s wearing my all-famous t-shirt and jeans outfit. I found Luke seated in one booth finishing his iced tea. Wow, he was early too. He spotted me then smiled. His smile reminded me so much of Jake that my heart broke each time I looked at him. His smile turned to a look of confusion and concern then I realized that my eyes were turning watery. I pushed past the tears and tried my best to smile back. He gestured for me to go sit opposite him and I did.

“You’re looking casually lovely today,” He complimented with the same British posh he had.

“Thanks,” I said as I looked down awkwardly. This was not Jake. I kept telling myself. If this was Jake it would never have been awkward between the two of us. No looking away, no silence… just that certain connection we had. 

“So, you might be wondering why I wanted to see you,” Luke started, snapping me out of my reverie.

“I guess,” I said in a voice too small, even for me. It seemed to me like his fancy British ways of speaking drown my small town verbal abilities.

“Not so much of an extrovert now, are we? That’s okay, you need not be intimidated by the way I talk. Means not that much, you know?” Luke raised his eyebrows skeptically like he read my mind or something or it was just that common for people to be drowned by his grace.

I only nodded and gave him a small smile, he smiled back and proceeded to what we were talking about.

“Look, the point is, maybe I see your point. Sounds funny, but true,” I remained silent for him to continue what he was trying to say. To be honest, it doesn’t make much sense to me.

“You see, I now see that my brother needs you. I think he needs you, anyway. But he never mentions you anymore, not that I’ve heard of. And he’s trying his very best to avoid everything and anything that involves you,”

I felt like I was stabbed. His words felt like a dagger struck right through my heart. I tried to swallow the heavy lump in my throat but failed miserably. My eyes burned but I willed myself not to cry in front of Luke.

He must’ve noticed my facial expressions and continued what he was saying. “That’s precisely why I think he needs you. He needs to accept you again. I mean, he was doing exceptionally well before you left him, right?”