What This Is

Chapter 9

Lacey's POV

"LACEY! LACEY LACEY LACEY!!!!!!"
A familiar voice yelled. Excitement filled my body from head to toe as I heard Luke shout my name with such happiness.
I'm still laying in the same place I was this morning and I was to comfortable to move, even if Luke was at the door.
"Come on in Luke!" I exclaimed through the thin walls.
I hear the door creak open and his feet hit against the hardwood floor to the living room.
"Hello gorgeous," Luke confidently stated.
"Hola guapo," I rolled my eyes in amusement at his confusion.
"Hello handsome," I cooed, answering his confused expression.
He strode to my spot on the couch and grabbed my hands, lifting my light body towards his chest. His strong arms enveloped me, his faint smell of axe overwhelming all my senses. I hugged him back, nuzzling my head into his chest.
"Would you like to go on a walk with me?" He whispered into my ear.
In response, I disbanded from him to lope into my room to change from leggings and a band tee to a ripped pair of skinny jeans, American eagle sweater, and my grey vans.
About a minute had passed when I looked into the mirror. I gasped at how terrible I looked, I brushed my hair and applied coverup and mascara, and grabbed what my mom likes to call my hobo bag because it has all I ever need in it.
I jogged back into the living room and saw Luke looking at his watch.
"Did I take to long your highness?" I teased, honestly nervous that I did.
"... If 2 minutes and 56 seconds is too long then yes," he smirked, pretending to scold me.
I laughed and we walked out side.
In the park, you've got two choices: the popular area with multiple playgrounds, food stands, and a beautiful center fountain, or the mostly remote, beautifully manicured nature walks.
Luke led me to a place I haven't been to in a long while: the ice cream stand.
"I wasn't sure if you wanted some but I figured since it's nice outside..." Luke trailed off.
I knew why he was nervous, but I didn't want to sound ungrateful, especially since he was right, it was a clear sunny day; a great start to summer. Only 3 months of school left...
"I think that you come up with some of the greatest ideas," I smiled reassuringly up at him. His hair was perfectly styled today. He was truly the most handsome guy I've ever seen...
I could see the smile form in his eyes as we sat on the edge of the fountain, and I took a spoonful of ice cream. I forgot how amazing this ice cream shop was, the last time I came here was with my dad...

I was torn out of my thoughts when Luke scooped a spoonful of ice cream out of my bowl.
I laughed as he let me take a scoop out of his.
I tried my best to ignore the knowing smirks and sideways glances we got by grown up commoners, but despite my best efforts I smiled even bigger.
Luke whispered in my ear, and I smiled so bright, I think the sun might have some competition.
I tossed our ice cream bowls and allowed Luke to rest his arm over my shoulders as we walked in the direction of the nature park.
~1 hour later~
Nuzzled under Luke's arm and into his shoulder, I could feel the hum of Luke's chest as he spoke. He is talking about what he whispered earlier.
"...I just couldn't wait for Mike to leave. He hurt everyone in the house, and did nothing for us."
"I'm so happy for you..." I cooed as I reached up and laced my fingers around the ones coating my shoulders.
We sat there for a while, when Luke lifted his head off mine. I looked up just in time to see someone shoot a rock at my hand that was holding Luke's.
"Hey, Little Hipster! What are you trying to do, replace your daddy, or maybe......Keylo?" the voice intentionally harsh and painful. It only belonged to one person: Ryan.
Ryan was with his whole group: Melissa, Olivia, Lexi, Bethany, Jordan, Brandon, and Kaleb.
Everyone laughed at Ryan's "joke" and carried on.
I'm glad because I was already shaking with anger and sadness.
Luke's arm tensed around my shoulders so tight that I had to say something.
"Luke..." I squeaked.
"Oh, I'm sorry, but what the hell was he talking about, and who even is he?!" Luke's voice was soft and forgiving at first, loosening his grasp on my shoulders, but grew with anger as each word spilled out of his mouth.
I sighed, not knowing where to begin.
"Lacey..... Can you tell me?" Luke whispered, noticing my weakness.
I took in a shaky breath. All my flashbacks, all my haunted memories, all those painful nights.... Luke is asking me to speak of all that.
'Okay, if he wants to know, let him know, let him leave like everyone else,' I thought.
"My father was the highlight of my life, always making me smile and I always made him smile. Then things just started to get bad....I don't know what happened but suddenly he was always mad, made me quit all my activities, and him and my mom started screaming over each other every night. I had a best friend, Keylo. Him and I were friends since day one. Stuck at the hip, doing everything together.
So when things were getting bad with my parents, he would come over and we would hang out on the roof, he would comfort me. I would comfort him because we both got bullied. His nickname wasn't a that bad, punk boy, but the things that Ryan and all Ryan's friends would do to him....they were horrid. Keylo, despite all the terrible things Ryan would do to him, had a crush on Ryan. Ryan always played with his head, and pretend to kiss him, then beat the living daylights out of him because Keylo was gay.
One night, my father was beating my mother and I, and as suspected, I went to the roof. My dad thought I would run off, so he screamed at my mom even louder and her screams of pain were louder than that of a nuclear alarm. Finally, she drove off. I had texted Keylo, asking him to come over, but he didn't answer.
I was worried, as assumed, so I walked the short distance to his house. It was around midnight, so I jumped in through his window. I could see him moving around in his room, but he wouldn't talk to me. He had a tendency to have night terrors and do some pretty scary things. So I avoided him and went to his parent's room. I woke them up, and they went to his room alarmed. I grew more worried by the moment; they have never seemed so terrified. Something had happened that night I guess. When his dad opened the door, I could see Keylo. I screamed at him. 'Keylo! Keylo stop! You're sleeping! Stop!' He had a gun Luke..." I paused to try and contain myself.
"Lacey.....it's okay, you don't need to continue," Luke soothed, stroking my hair.
I ignored him and continued to get it over with, "I ran to him and he lowered the gun. He held me tightly. His scent was incredible. For a moment, I forgot everything, but then he said, 'I'm completely awake darling. I love you so much Lacey,'" my voice cracked at the memory. "'Stay strong, okay? Live mas for me, amiga, okay?' He said. I tried to stop him. I looked up at him, willing him listen to me, but all he did was push me away. He pushed me out the door and slammed it shut. His dad and mom beat against the door, but the trigger was pulled. He was done. We all knew it. My dad left a few months later, and since then, I've been bullied about both of them. Since then I haven't been able to trust any guy, or love anyone. My dad has intruded into our house a couple times. I come home and he's passed out on our couch. He leaves before my mom can make it home though. He always threatens me not to tell my mom he was there," I stopped.
I haven't been this raw in front of someone before.
The tears were rivers rushing down my face.
Luke's arm tightened reassuringly around me, pulling me into a hug. I nuzzled into him. He was safe. He was good. I had to teach myself that.