Crash My Party

Nineteen || Always Look on The Brightside

   » Always Look on The Brightside |

Nicole's words stayed with me throughout the day, her merciless scolding echoing around in my head and slamming against my restless brain. I agreed with her 100%, but I knew if I went to see Brook, I wouldn't be able to help myself. I love her too much to just apologize and then just carry on like nothing ever happened. Carry on without her. I keep trying to tell myself that this is for the best and that she could find someone better, but if that were the case...why do I feel the way I feel now? 

Yet again, I found myself at the bar with a lukewarm beer clutched tightly in my hand. Too many drunken girls have already thrown themselves at me, but I couldn't bring myself to have a one night stand, no matter how bad I wanted to forget. It was obvious that Brook still had her claws deep in me without even knowing it. I tipped the bottle into my mouth and swallowed as the liquid ran down my throat. Setting the bottle down, I let out a loud sigh and ran a hand through my hair. This is ridiculous.

I plucked a few bills from my pocket and slapped them on the bar, sliding off of the stool. Without telling my friends about my abrupt departure, I made my way out of the stuffy bar and towards my truck just as a drizzle began to fall. I got behind the wheel, the slight buzz I felt from the alcohol seeming to dissipate as I started the engine. What's the point of getting drunk anyway? It never lasts.

This was starting to become a daily routine, and it was driving me crazy. As I sat in my truck, watching the heavy downpour coat my windshield in waves of moisture, Nicole's words nudged their way into my thoughts once again. I sighed again and slid a hand down my face. I may be in denial, but I'm just being stupid. I was stupid to let such a great thing walk away from me and not do anything about it. She made it crystal clear that she loved me, and I just blew it off. I need to fix this.

I opened the door of my truck and got out, slamming it shut behind me. The freezing rain immediately seeped through my clothes, making them cling to my skin. Ducking my head, I quickly walked down the road. My timing may be terrible right now, but I needed to tell her this. I'd rather do it now than wait until she completely gives up me...if she hasn't already.

I walked up the stairs to the porch, feeling my heart beginning to race. I was scared, but I still needed to get this off my chest. Whatever Brook had coming to me, I would take it. I deserve it for hurting her like that. She can yell at me, push me away, hell she could even punch me in the face, but I just need her to know this. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door, stepping back and waiting for someone to answer. The anticipation was killing me with every passing second and I almost kicked the door down from nerves.

Just when I was about to knock again, the door swung open, revealing Brook looking as beautiful as she always did. Her grey eyes were wide with surprise when she caught sight of me, her lips slightly parted. Even though she looked fine now, the pain I had caused her was clear as day. I could feel the life that had drained from her, that once shining light in her eyes dull and lifeless. God, what have I done?

Brook quickly shook her head and cleared her throat, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "What..what are you doing here, Luke?" she asked me as she crossed her arms over her chest. 

"I know that I am the last person that you want to see, but I thought that breaking up with you was the best option because I was keeping you away from what was important, but keeping away from you is killing me," I blurted before I could think. "You are everything to me, Brook. I tried to get over you, I honestly did, because I wanted so badly to believe that I was doing the right thing. But never before have I been so wrong. Every girl I looked at, I saw you. God, Brook I just can't tell you enough how much you mean to me and I can't put into words how...how stupid I was to let you go like that." I earnestly took a step forward and framed her face in my hands, looking her dead in the eye. "I can't live without you, Brook. I can't even close my eyes without you in my dreams. I love you." 

As those few seconds stretched between us, I couldn't fight it anymore. I ducked down and crashed my lips down on hers, inhaling sharply through my nose. I had missed her kiss so much, it was all I could think about, all that I craved. I quickly came down from my high and pulled away, knowing that was probably the last thing she wanted me to do. 

"I'm sorry." I mumbled an apology as I released her. "I know that nothing I say or do could ever get you to forgive me, and I wish that I hadn't said what I did. I just wanted you to know, that it wasn't anything you did and that I still love you. Always." With that final thought, I gave her a feeble nod and turned to be engulfed by the rain again. 

"It was C.J's fault. I don't blame you, Luke," Brook spoke up as I took a step down the porch. I froze and whirled around, overjoyed that she was finally saying something. She shrugged and leaned against the door frame. "He never wanted you and I to be together, and so he began to try and break us up. At first I thought it was him being over protective, but not anymore," she explained.

I raised my eyebrows at this new found information. I didn't think C.J of all people would do such a thing. Now I just feel even more guilty for believing him so willingly...and stupid. "Why...why didn't you tell me?" I sputtered, coming to stand in front of her again. "I would have done something about it." Brook shrugged again and averted her eyes to the ground, furrowing her eyebrows. "Do you think you could forgive me?" I asked, not even bothering to hide the desperation in my voice.

Brook looked up at me and sighed, a faint smile gracing her lips. "I never really blamed you," she admitted. "I was just upset that you broke my heart was all." 

I blinked. "So, that's a yes?" I asked. 

This time, Brook really did smile as she nodded, standing up straight. The longer I stared at her smiling face, the bigger the grin became on my own. I loved making her smile, seeing that one gesture of happiness that I caused. "Yes, Luke, it's a yes, I forgive you even though I never blamed you in the first place." She giggled. "But you gotta buy me dinner," she added with a lift of an eyebrow.

I immediately nodded."You got it, Kitten." 

Brook groaned at this and rolled her eyes. "Again with Kitten?" She whined.

"What? It's a cute nickname, and it suits you!" I exclaimed, laughter erupting from my chest afterwards. She narrowed her eyes and socked me in the arm. I dropped my mouth open and gripped my arm, staring at her as if she really hurt me.

"Oh shut up, I didn't even hit you that hard." She laughed before holding the door open wider. "Do you want to come inside? I'm sure that your freezing cold." When she saw me glance behind her, she snorted. "Don't worry, Nicole isn't here to bite your head off. I heard that you had gotten on her bad side, a place you don't want to be with that little munchkin.". 

Feeling relieved, I quickly stepped over the threshold and she closed the door. "Yeah, I was a little scared what she might have done to me." I chuckled. "She's a bit scary when she's angry, never really thought I would see that side of her." 

"That's because people hardly make her angry, she is the type of person that laughs at rude or mean people, and skips away, but with you, I was scared for you." She laughed again and honestly the sound was so beautiful. "I'll go and get you some towels," she announced as she headed up the stairs. 

It was funny how in the beginning, when we first met each other, almost the exact same thing happened. I was fetching towels for her and her dog. I smiled to myself as the memory briefly replayed in my head before getting interrupted by the creaking of the steps as Brook walked back down. 

Before I could turn around, a towel was draped over my head, followed by Brook's fingers roughly massaging my wet strands. 

I laughed and jerked away. "Stop it!" I exclaimed. 

"You might want to take off your clothes so that I can put them in the dryer and so you don't get sick," she said, handing me the towel so I could dry my hair properly. 

I smirked. "Is that so?" I said lowly, wiggling my eyebrows. "If you wanted to see me naked you could have just asked, Kitten." I laughed when she gasped and slapped my arm. 

"Just shut up and take off your clothes." 

"Feisty!" I joked.