Eternally Yours

Chapter 13 - A book as a weapon

I looked at my phone one last time before placing it back on the bedside table next to me. Luke had stopped sending messages and calling. Finally!

I sat on the bed with my legs stretched out and opened the book I had started reading last week. Just as I heard a loud noise coming from downstairs, I closed the book in my hands and put it on the bed, unmarked, without realizing that I'd have to find the page I had left off later. Startled, I took a few quiet steps and picked up the book again, taking it with me.

In the hallway, I felt my heart racing with fear as heat consumed my body. I hid when I saw a large shadow reflected on the wall facing the stairs and heard heavy footsteps coming up.

Instinctively, I held the book in the air, stupidly intending to use it as a weapon if necessary.

"Skyler!" I heard a male voice call out to me, and I sighed in relief as I recognized it.

"Luke! You scared me!" I said stepping out of the shadow. I clenched my fist and lightly punched his arm, then brought it to my chest. "I thought someone had broken into the house."

"And you were planning to defend yourself with that?" He asked, pointing to the book I still held in both hands.

I rolled my eyes at his brilliant deduction and placed the book on the sideboard between the door to my room and Nick's.

"What are you doing here? And how did you get in?" I asked, turning away and making my way to my room, to which he responded silently by holding up the house keys in the air. "And why did you come here in the first place?" I asked again.

"You weren't responding to my messages or answering my calls, so I had to come here." He said in a cold tone, following me and stopping at the doorway to my room without taking another step. When I didn't say anything, he continued speaking. "Who were you with this afternoon, Skyler?"

"With Megan." I finally said.

"With Megan and who else? I'm pretty sure the message you sent wasn't meant for Megan."

When he asked me who else I had been with, heat spread through my body and I started to sweat nervously. I'm not quite sure why. It's not like he had anything to do with it.

"Who were you with, Skyler?" He asked again, cutting off my words, and before I could answer, he continued. "Did you go on a date with Dr. Jackson?"

Luke referring to one of the twins as Dr. Jackson Avery made me let out a slight laugh that was quickly interrupted. After all, I wasn't the only one who saw the resemblance between them and Jesse Williams.

"What's so funny?" He asked, and the smile on my face was replaced by the same serious expression I had seconds before.

"I didn't go on a date. I went to have coffee with my friends, that's all." I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You went to have coffee with your friends dressed like that?" He questioned, looking me up and down and then back up again, stopping at my eyes. "And after having lunch with your friends, you sent a message to one of them saying 'Hey, had a great time this afternoon. Thanks'?" He continued, making faces and changing his tone when referring to the message.

"Luke..." I tried to speak, but he cut me off.

"Do you like him?"

"Luke..." I tried to speak again.

"Do you like him or not?" He cut off my words again, taking a step forward and entering my room.

"LUKE!" I shouted, and he stopped, widening his eyes. "It's not like you have anything to do with it, but we're just friends who spent a few hours together. It wasn't me who sent you the message; it was Megan trying to tease you. And me..." I said, the last words in a quieter, almost imperceptible tone. "And even if I did go on a date... I'm tired of you and Nick meddling in my life. Leave me alone! Why does it bother you so much?"