Meet Me Half Way

Chapter 36 (Luke)

"Just one kiss. Sometimes that's all it takes for a heart to lose its balance, and sometimes we want nothing more than the chance to fall."- JMStorm.

Five months ago~~

"I need to break up with you," I said.

Layla looked up at me. Her eyes were full of pain. "Why? What did I do? I thought things were going well?"

It's funny. How fast feelings change. Maybe it was because I wasn't around her as much anymore. Maybe I thought it would be better if she found someone else. Maybe it was because of Harley. I first saw Harley a week before we talked to her at the bar. She was walking to class, listening to music. She was beautiful, and I couldn't stop thinking about her for the next few days. This random girl that I go to school with. A week later, I pretended I had just seen her for the first time at the bar. That was also the same day I drove home in the middle of the night to break up with Layla. I hated being unfaithful, and I knew having my mind occupied by another girl wasn't fair to Layla.

"I'm sorry. I want to be respectful to you," I said.

"What do you mean? Are you saying you found another girl?"

"No, but I think our lives are too different. We both want different things. We could make it work, and maybe we could have if I stayed home for college."

"You know, Luke; I thought you were the one for me."

I thought you were the one for me, too, Layla. I truly did.

You could say that I was enjoying my time away from Nashville. Mia and I spent a few days in Seattle before spending a couple more in San Diego.

Life was excellent; I could finally think unquestionably. I could finally let Harley go.

"So, did you take the offer yet?" Mia asked.

She was hanging up her clothes to dry outside. So I came out for her protection.

"I don't know, Mia. It seems crazy to become a full-time photographer for the San Diego Padres. But I'm still a Junior, and I could spend one more year."

"Luke, you know if you pass this up, you won't be able to get it back."

"Listen, I have to go back to Nashville for the CWS. I still have that job to finish."

Mia shook her head in disagreement. I smiled as I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind and set my chin on top of her head.

"Listen, I know you think that's the best decision for me, but I don't know yet. So let me decide after Nashville."

Mia spun around, looking into my eyes. She seemed sad.

"Luke, I don't think there will be an 'us' after Nashville."

"Wait, what?"

She stepped back, allowing us space.

"You still like her, Luke. I can tell. I can see it. You may say you like me, but I know that doesn't compare to how much you still love her."

"Mia, listen, that isn't fair."

Mia wiped away some of the tears that were falling down her cheek.

"I'm not mad, Luke. I promise I am not. I want you to be happy, and you may say you're happy being with me, but I know your heart still aches for her."

"Please, don't do this. I promise I don't feel that way about her anymore."

"It's obvious you're absent. Your brain may say you are happy, but your heart is saying something else."

"So what do you want me to do? Leave you here in San Diego so I can visit Omaha and see Harley?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I want you to do. You tried for me, and I admire it, but I must stop pretending our relationship is authentic."

I wrapped Mia up in a hug and held her tight.

"Thank you, Mia."

Arriving in Omaha confirmed to me that Mia did break up with me.

David was unhappy to see me, especially after I stopped reporting to him after the regular season.

He scowled at me as he watched me walk past.

"Think I can photograph here one last time?" I asked.

He scoffed, "You're lucky I'm short-staffed today, Luke."

I winked at him before I went down to the dugout; I wanted to say hi to Spencer.

To say Spencer looked surprised to see me was an understatement.

"Luke, man, I thought you disappeared off the map. Where have you been?" Spencer asked as he hugged me.

"Oh, just around."

He studied me before he let out a deep sigh.

"You're here for Harley, aren't you?"

I took a deep breath in response to his question.

"No, I'm here to decide if I want to stay in college for one more year or if I want to move to San Diego for a job."

Spencer stayed silent as he studied me again, "Ah, okay."

I nodded, "Yeah, well, I'll let you get ready."

"Sure, sure. I'll talk to you later."

Leaving the dugout left me with chills. The sun was out today, beating down on me hard.

I felt like my heart stopped when I saw Harley sitting on a seat behind home plate. She looked no different than the day I last saw her. The day I knew she felt the same toward me. She seemed happy. She was laughing and smiling with a couple of the other students. I suddenly lost all of my courage. I'm not sure why I couldn't talk to her. Maybe it was because I felt like she would be mad. I left her with no contact, and suddenly, I popped back up out of the blue. She was finally happy again. I swung my backpack around, unzipping the front pouch. I pulled out the piece of notebook paper I had. My letter to her. If she's finally happy, I can't ruin that, but I had to tell her how I felt one way or another. I spotted Sophia a few rows up. She was sitting alone. Harley has mentioned Sophia before. They took a math class together 1st semester. I quickly walked over to her, hiding from Harley's gaze.

She looked confused to see me, which didn't surprise me, considering I barely knew her.

"Sophia, hey," I said.

She glared at me, crossing her arms. "What do you want, Luke?"

"Can you give this letter to Harley later tonight?"

She reached for the paper slowly, like it was a bomb that was about to explode. "Sure, I guess."

"Okay, thank you," I said.

I quickly turned and walked away, leaving Sophia and my letter behind.