Found her

Chapter 32 | Her Scars

L U C A S

'Wake up, wake up, wake up!' Lexi bounces on my bed. 'It's your birthday! Lucas, come on!'

'Lexi, be a darling and close the blinds.' I groan, shielding my eyes.

It's way too early for this.

'No! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!' She chants, jumping up and down on the bed.

'Fine, I'm up. I'm up.' I say, rubbing my eyes. I sit up slowly, yawning.

I stand up and start walling towards the bathroom, but Lexi grins and grabs my hand, leading me out of the room. I grumble, trying to get her to let go so I can take a shower, but that girl's grip is like iron.

'I have a surprise!' She sings, swinging my hand back and forth. 'Close your eyes!'

She moves me in front of a table, gets up on my back and covers my eyes, still giggling. I hear a rustle of paper and a few whispers, then Lexi jumps off my back and a bunch of confetti is thrown on my face.

'Happy Birthday!'

I see Mom and Dad at the front, still wearing their pajamas. Beside them, Sadie stands there, grinning from ear to ear, unlike Jaxon. Who has a scowl on his face and is clutching an enormous cup of coffee. Aleena and Joanna are there too, both looking far more presentable than Jaxon, who looks like he has just been dragged out of bed.

The next few hours are filled with laughter and conversation. Everyone is in a fairly good mood, even Jaxon, after his morning coffee, of course. Matheo arrives later with the box containing the cake, and once he opened it, a series of laughs spread around.

I glare at him. 'Not funny.' I say, looking down at the box with 'Getting very old, Lucas!' spelled out in big capital letters.

'It's quite funny actually.' Jaxon pipes up.

I look at Sadie expectantly. She turns to the others.

'Cake, anyone?'

***

The house is quiet, unlike how it was an hour ago. Everyone is doing their own thing, Jaxon and Aleena left, Matheo and Joanna went to Theo's house, which caused a big argument between Joanna and Jaxon. Luckily, my princess was there to ease the tension.

Sadie and I moved up to my room. Sadie being Sadie, brought a book with her and is laying on my bed, clutching it with both hands, gasping every few seconds at something that happened in the novel.

I move from my table and towards her, laying beside her on the bed. Sadie looks up and places a light kiss to my mouth.

I hum, bringing her closer by her hips so that shes sitting between my legs. She moves her back and rests it on my chest.

She looks over her shoulder. 'Done?'

I nod. 'Done. Drown is released tomorrow.'

She wiggles excitedly causing me to groan. 'Say.' I say warningly.

'Sorry.' She says, sheepishly, returning to her book.

She's changed into a pair of my shorts, which are big to the point she had to roll it a couple times for it to stay on her waist, and a tank top, which she got from Mom.

She moves her leg and spreads it over my thigh, causing her smooth, warm skin to touch mine. She shoots me a smile that causes my whole insides to light up in fire.

To distract myself, I start tracing the faded scars on her arms, causing her to shiver. She looks at me, a scared look on her face.

'They are beautiful.' I say, tracing the one on her shoulder. She seems to relax, and turns to her book again.

'They are starting to fade.' I state. She just hums.

I move my hand to her thighs, looking at her in question. She nods slightly.

I place my hand on her thighs, feeling the smooth skin, which is littered with light pink scars. I trace the one on the inside of her thigh, and her head snaps up to meet mine, a frightened look on her face.

I shake my head. 'I won't do anything, Say.' I promise, moving my hand away, but she grabs my hand and places it back.

'You're warm.' She says. 'Have I told you that?'

I grin. 'Once or twice.'

'Yeah?'

'Mhm.' I say, tracing our initials on her legs.

We sit in silence, not tense silence, but comfortable silence. The silence that doesn't make you want to rip your hair out. Occasionally, Sadie turns the book towards me to show me a quote, or reads out a passage she liked, or just hums satisfactorily every once in a while.

'No new ones.' I say, suddenly.

She turns to me, confused.

I nod towards her arms. 'No new ones.' I repeat.

Sadie looks down. She looks so young, so young. She's just a child.

She's too young.

'Yeah.' She says quietly. 'For you.'

I shake my head. 'Not for me, princess. For you. For the life ahead of you, for your future.' I brush a strand of hair away from her face. 'I'm proud of you.'

She blushes, nuzzling her head in my chest. 'Happy Birthday, Luca.' She whispers, before falling asleep, her hand wrapped around mine, her face in my chest.

I stay like that for a while, just looking at her. I spare a glance at the watch beside me, 1.30am. After moving Sadie beside me, I pull her hips towards me and place my head on her shoulder, the smell of her strawberry shampoo filling my nose.

'Don't leave me.' I whisper. 'I can't bear it a second time.'