𝑹𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 [𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧]

14- Return

Luke shoved me back into the room. He pressed his lips to mine roughly, shutting the door and  pushing me up against a wall. He was clever, he didn't dare try anything while my maids were present. While I had dismissed them, Luke had seen his opportunity. I pushed him back.

"Get away from me." I growled.

"I didn't think of you as shallow enough to fall for the Prince. But, here we are." Luke accused.

"Shallow?" I asked, laughing satirically as tears welled in my eyes. "I'm not the one who left because of his giant ego. I didn't leave you out in the street. I didn't!"

Luke looked at me wierdly, then his eyes widened. "I thought you were smart. Come on, Annie." he face palmed.

I glared at him. "Don't play games with me, tell me why you left?"

"Isn't it obvious? I got drafted!" He responded angrily. My cheeks heated up and my tears vanished from my eyes. Luke had never wanted to leave me. He had been drafted into the army, he didn't have a choice. Luke only left me because he didn't want to hurt me. A sob escaped my mouth. I threw my arms around him and kissed him. "I love you, Luke. So, so, much. " I whispered against his lips.

He didn't respond, only kissed back harshly, dominating my tongue, making it bow to his. His touch wasn't curious, it wasn't careful, it wasn't respectful. It was dominant, rough,  disrespectful. It surpassed my boundaries without my permission, it was greedy.

Curious. Careful. Respectful.

I pulled back as the pair of sea green eyes haunted my vision. Raven black hair. A kind, humble and nice man. I knew him, not nearly as much as I would like to. His name seemingly vanished from my mind only coming back as Luke came in to kiss me again.

Percy.

I dodged Luke's attempt at joining our lips. He looked at me angrily, not shocked, just purely angry.

"What's wrong now, Annie?" He growled, annoyed.

"Percy." I whispered. I felt like I'd just killed an old friend. I felt like I had betrayed Percy, which I had. I had cheated on him, with Luke. I had told Percy that there was a chance we could end up together. It was slim, sure, but I wanted that. I'd always seen a future with Luke, the two of us getting married, rasing kids. I wanted that too, but then, Percy's face fixated in my vision in again. His kind smile and his sparkling eyes.

I exhaled deeply. "I need time."

"Oh, were his lips not as sweet as you  wanted them?" He asked.

Luke sat on my bed, holding his head in his hands. "I thought better of you, Annie. I thought you loved me. I thought you cared enough. But I was wrong, you were shallow enough. You chose money over me, you're just like them." he snarled. I grimaced.

"No, I'm not choosing him or you. I'm choosing me." I looked at him directly in the eyes.

That was the truth at the core of everything. I didn't know what I wanted yet, and I couldn't let myself be swayed by either Luke or Percy. I had to give myself time to decide what was best for me.

"Annie,"

"Please." I begged. Luke exhaled deeply.

"Take your time locking lips with Jackson.Then tell me what it is, money or love?" He ordered, banging the door as he left. My heart felt like it was slowly losing the ability to pump blood. I flopped down on the bed, crying for the first time in weeks.

°○•○•○•○•○•○•○•○°

I returned from the Report, tired as I was, dinner was in a few minutes. Luke refused to talk to me for the rest of the week. I tried to get him to listen to my justification, but he wouldn't listen. Percy had noticed my odd behaviour and tugged on his ear the next Thursday, I didn't tug back. I didn't want him knowing my ex boyfriend was here.

I had told Piper though, and taken advice from her. Piper claimed she was based but chose that I stay here at the Palace anyway. I didn't tell her that I kissed Luke though, that wouldn't have ended well. My mind was muddled as I quietly entered the dining hall for dinner, I noticed there were was unusually less amount of girls present.

"Pipes," I asked my friend, sitting at our usual table. "Where's everyone else?"

Piper looked at me like I forgot her birthday. "Really? They're GONE! " she whisper yelled. I shrunk back. Of course the Rebel attack last week had it's negative impacts.

"Okay, calm down. You know I'm not in the best spot." I said, causing Piper's face to turn sympathetic.

"I've already told you what I think." she said, lifting her hands into the air. Abruptly, she stood. I followed her example, as the Royal family entered the dining hall. Reyna was scurrying behind them and she looked troubled. She hurried to the table and worriedly sat down with us.

"What's got you so worked up?" I asked her as her dark eyes scrutinised me and Piper.

"You know the Rebels are getting more aggressive, right?" She asked.

"Yes." Piper and I said simultaneously.

"And there are only like, eighteen of us left?" Again, Piper nodded and I kept quiet. There was something foreboding about whatever Reyna was going to say.

"Well... Percy's kind of choosing the Elite tommorow."