Deception #YourStoryIndia

Natalie

Luke P.O.V.

"Lukey!" she called, running up the stairs of the massive Bunker.

Luke, then a little boy of not more than twelve, widened his eyes at the voice. She was here!

He ran out of his room and tumbled down the stairs. He saw her standing at the end of the corridor. She was as beautiful as he remembered- wavy black hair, deep brown eyes and full pink lips. He ran to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He was pretty short for his age, so he only reached till her stomach.

" I missed you!" He cried, looking up at her smiling face.

She chuckled and ruffled his hair. "I know you did, sweety! You've grown up!"

He grinned. "How was London?"

"Oh, it was amazing. But I'm not supposed to tell you more than that." She whispered in a conspiratory tone.

"Hey! Don't steal my girlfriend!" cried Alex from behind in a mocking voice. Alex, a young man of sixteen at the time, waltzed down the corridor with an easy smirk that made all girls swoon. He came beside her and wrapped both arms around her waist and captured her lips in a deep kiss.

"Eww! Get a room you two!" Luke screeched, covering his eyes. But inside he was smiling. Both of them made a wonderful couple, complementing each other like bread did butter.

After what seemed like hours, Alex pulled away from her and placed his forehead on hers. "Welcome home, Natalie."

I gasped and sat up on my bed. Beads of sweat covered my forehead and my shirt clung to my skin.

Natalie.

Why? Why did I dream of her? It's been years since I even remembered her. After what she did to us....

A tear rolled down my cheek and fell on my shirt. Embarrassed, I wiped it away. I didn'twant to admit it, but thinking about her hurt. A lot. She was like the elder sister I never had. Sure, I have Laura, but what Natalie and I shared was something special. It was like the sibling love you read in books- unconditional and untainted. Why did she do this to us-- to me?

I lay back down on my pillow and closed my eyes, eager to forget about her. Without warning, the face of a certain blue eyed brunette popped up in my head and I sighed.

Avery.

After taking her to her room, I helped her unpack. Bal had salvaged her belongings from the fire and had them delivered to her room. She got a little teary-eyed upon seeing her family photo but composed herself and unpacked the rest. I told her to get eady by seven thirty the next day and wait for me in her room. She just nodded, and I left her sitting there, staring at the walls.

Those eyes. That smile. That frown. Those...

Oh, shut it!

"What are you doing?" I chided myself. This was no time to get attached to anyone. I knew what it did to Alex, and I was determined not to make the same mistake again.

I turned to my side and tried sleeping, but my thoughts chased me relentlessly. Sighing, I got up and left the room to take a walk.

The bunker lookd so serene at night. The burning torches had been dimmed by Alex, so they cast a wan glow on the walls and corridors. The pulsating light of the Bunker glowed in the dark, moonless night and illuminated the gardens within a six feet radius of the house. I remembered Avery's reaction to the changing colors of the Bunker and smiled. It was impossible to imagine that I'd met her only a couple of days ago.

Ave's room was on the same floor as mine. I walked down the corridor to go to the balcony, whrn I heard muffled sobs coming through the hard oak door of Avery's room. Surprised, I edged closer, and put my ear to the door. Avery was crying.

Without another thought I knocked on her door. She immediately stopped crying, but I could hear her hiccups. "Ave?" I said, softly. "It's me, Luke."

After a few seconds, I heard her croak, "Come in."

I opened the door and what I saw broke my heart.

Avery was sitting on the floor and clutching her family photo to her chest as if it were her last breath. Her hair was disheveled, eyes puffy and red from all the crying. She frantically rubbed her eyes to get rid of the stray tears and smiled up at me.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" She sniffed, her voice slightly raw from the crying. I couldn't take it any more, and went and sat beside her. I draped an arm over her shoulder, and pulled her closer to me. She didn't hesitate, and buried her face in my chest. She took a couple of deep breaths to steady herself, but then the dam broke.

She cried into my shirt, and I ran a hand through her hair repeatedly. In all this Apocalypse mayhem, I totally forgot what she was going through. She just lost her entire family, had no-one else in the world and was enforced with the responsibility of saving the world. All in one day.

I felt guilty for not asking her whether she was okay or not earlier. She lost everything, yet she stayed brave and faced all the challenges thrust upon her by Fate. I pulled her closer to me, an action that seemed as if I were holding her together in fear of her falling apart.

After a few minutes, her sobs slowed down to occasional hiccups and her breath hitched a couple of times. She pulled away from me, but I didn't let go of her completely. She looked into my eyes and braved a smile.

"Sorry for ruining your shirt," she laughed uncrtainly, pointing at the wet stain on my black shirt.

"Ah, no problem. I have enough of these babies in my wardrobe already," I said to her, winking. She smiled and looked away.

I placed two fingers under her chin, "Look at me, " I whispered.

She looked back into my eyes and the uncertainty in her eyes just made me wanna kiss her then and there. Controlling myself, I asked, "How are you?"
I was surprised at how husky my voice sounded. Damn it, Luke! Get a grip!

She smiled. "Okay, really. Just... missing my family. And this entire 'me saving the world' thing is just freaking me out.

"I know," I sighed, "But we need you. The world needs you. It might seem overwhelming at first, but don't forget, I'll be there to help you. Every step of the way."

She snuggled closer to me and placed her head on my shoulder. "That was ultra cheesy, you know that right?"

I laughed, "I know"

I pulled her closer to me, and on the hard stone floor, both of us slept in each others' arms, awaiting the adventures the next sunrise would bring us.

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A/N - HEY!!!
I KNOW, I KNOW, SHORT CHAPTER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ESTABLISH LUKEY BABY AND AVE'S RELATIONSHIP A BIT MORE. HOPE U GUYS ENJOYED IT!!!!

OH, AND PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE VOTE!! IT'S NOT LIKE I'M ASKING YOU TO DESTROY THE WHITE HOUSE OR SOMETHING - JUST PRESS THE SMALL STAR BUTTON! THAT'S IT!

------> PIC OF NATALIE...

Question of the chapter : WHO DO YOU THINK NATALIE IS? COMMENT BELLOOOOOOWWWWW!! ♡

TOODLES!
~ Tahira