Opposites

Chapter Twelve

Luke never returned to the bonfire as the night started to wind down and people started to leave, it was getting pretty late but I stayed sitting, intently watching the flames of the bonfire as they got weaker. Hero sat opposite me with Amy on his arm trying to get his attention, but his gaze was fixed on the floor. Harriett, Kath and Kaitlin sat beside me talking about Harriett's now ex-boyfriend Dylan. I wanted to leave and see Luke, but deep down I also wanted to avoid the awkward conversation I knew I would have to have with Luke when I got back to my dorm room. 

"Just stop Amy!" Hero shouted breaking the peaceful chatter of the girls, causing all eyes on them. 

"What's your problem?" Amy asked her face turning to hurt. 

"You are. Constantly all over me. I'm getting tired of it. You are just a fuck," Hero stated standing up pushing Amy of off him. Without another word Hero walked over to Harriett and motioned for her to come with him, she gave the girls an unknowing look and they walked off deeper into the woods. The only thing I find sweet about Hero is the love he and his sister have for each other, even though they are complete opposites. 

*** 

I decided, not long after Hero and Harriett disappeared, to head back to my dorm room and face the music I knew was to come. I took a slow walk back across campus, taking my time. It was late, and cold. I had only my cardigan on, and it was only thin, I wrapped my arms around my body and carried to walk with my head bent down starring at the ground with every stride I took. 

"Rose!" I heard a British accent shout. I turned around as an instinct, seeing Hero running in my direction. He reached me and he was barely out of breath. I kept my arms folded as I stood there shivering. "You cold?" He asked as he stood there in just a plain white t-shirt. I gave him a small nod, afraid that if I spoke I would stutter from the cold. He quickly untied his jumper that was tied around his waist and handed it to me. I looked at the jumper then back up to him, it was cold, surely it wouldn't hurt just to keep a little warmer. 

"Thank you," I stutter as I pulled the jumper on over my head. 

"I just wanted to say that Luke was bang out of order," Hero states as we stand there in the frost of the night. 

"Are you serious?" I ask astounded. "Luke has the right to be mad. I kissed you right in front of him."

"So? You kissed Jason, and it was only a game. It meant nothing," Hero defends. 

"It meant nothing?" I ask a little hurt. 

"Of course it did, what did you think it meant?" Hero chuckled. 

I look at him, I could not believe he was saying this all to my face after the moment we had at that time down the lake. I roll my eyes and turn, walking away leaving Hero standing alone. 

***

I made my way back to my dorm room, I went to get my key out of my jeans pocket but then realising I had given it to Luke earlier. I knocked twice on the door and it flung open to Luke standing there with his blonde hair all matted from him running his fingers through, which he always did when he got stressed. His eyes widened, then turned to anger when he saw me standing there in an oversized hoodie that I was not wearing earlier that night. 

"Who's jumper is that?" Luke asks not moving so I could enter my own room. 

"It's Hero's, I was cold," I admitted instantly regretting it. 

"His? You went and wore his hoodie after I left when you kissed him?" Luke shouted. 

"Can we go in and shut the door please?" I ask trying to get past him. Luke huffs as steps aside and lets me in closing the door behind us. "I started walking back, when Hero came up to me, and apologised. He saw I was cold, and offered his jumper," I half lied. 

Luke went to speak but his phone started ringing, he looked down, saw who it was and quickly hung up before I could see the name. "Who was that?" I asked. 

"No one," He quickly replied shoving his phone back into his pocket. 

"It was clearly someone," I retorted. 

"This isn't about me, Rose. It's about what's going on between you and that guy," Luke said changing the subject. He was obviously hiding something, I could always tell when Luke was hiding information from me, he was never good at that. Not even when we was kids. 

"Tell me who that was first."

"It was Emma, okay?" Luke finally admits. 

"Emma?" I ask, jealousy hitting me. I knew I didn't have any right to be jealous, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. 

"Yeah, when you left. I've been meeting up with Emma," Luke admits his voice getting soft. 

"So, you get mad because I kiss Hero because of a game. But yet, you have been meeting the town bike?" My voice started to raise. 

"Rose, I was meant to talk to you about it for a long time now. I just never knew how." Luke tries and grabs my hands but I pull away. "Rose - "

"Has anything happened between you two?" I ask already knowing the question. 

"I slept with her three weeks before you left to come here," Luke admits almost in a whisper. 

"It had been going on before I even left?" I shout, hurt evident in my voice. 

"You were never meant to find out like this."

"Then you get mad at me?" I ask. 

"Rose - " Luke starts. 

"We promised to save ourselves for each other. But that was a lie. You chose her, over me? You chose that skank? How could you?" I shout, finally letting the tears flow. 

"I love - "

"No you don't," I interrupt letting my voice go soft. "You should leave."

"Please - "

"Leave!" I shout flinging the door open for him to exit. Luke looks at me with those longing eyes, I had once looked in and saw my whole world, now I just see a pool of guilt and shame. Luke without another word leaves. I quickly shut the door behind him and slump myself down to the floor with my back up against the door, not even trying to control the sobs escaping. I let the tears wet my cheeks as I sat there with thoughts running through my head.