One & Only

✍ T w o

The only sounds at the dinner table are forks scratching against empty plates and the occasional throat clear from my mother, quietly begging me to break the silence. I keep my eyes on the porcelain dish and push around a piece of lasagna that I have no appetite to eat. I remember these plates. The nice one's that my mother kept on display in the glass cabinet in the dining room. Around the border of the circular dish was a pattern of intertwined gold leaves. When we were little, Luke and I thought it would be a good idea to use them for a picnic we were having in our fort. A fort composed entirely of TMNT bed sheets and pillows. After one plate slipped from my hand and smashed into pieces, Luke told my mom that he was the one who broke it. He took the blame, and was grounded for a week. That was a time he cared about me. Now it's hard to believe that he ever did. He's a stranger. Slowly, I raise my eyes from the plate to sneak a glance at the blonde haired boy across from me. I can't believe it's really him. Luke pierces his lasagna while holding a death stare on the person in the chair right of mine. Landon. Noticing Luke's looking, I take Landon's hand in mine and rub my thumb over his tan skin. He flashes me a quick smile, and then gives my hand a squeeze before turning his face back to the silent table.

"So, Luke, tell us how the tour was hm?" My mother finally broke the silence. She is sitting on Luke's left, across the table from Landon. On Luke's right is his mother and across from her (on my left) is my younger sister Val. The ends of the table are occupied by the fathers, who are conveniently both distracted by the golf championship playing on the small TV next to the bookshelf. Luke softens his expression from his death stare and turns to my mother.

"Europe was great and all, I mean it was a once in a lifetime opportunity." He starts off, still turned to my mother. I reach for the glass in front of me and take a big gulp of white wine. I'm gonna need another glass. Or two. "But I missed home. My family, friends..." He turns to look at me. "...my best friend." I choke on the last bit of wine in my mouth. Everyone at the table, including my father and Luke's, has their eyes on me. Then, Luke speaks to me for the first time in a year. "Scar are you alright?" A worried look spreads across his face. Landon places his warm hand on my back and pats slightly. I cough some more and excuse myself from the table.

"I think I just need some water." I croak, pushing my chair back from the table. I scurry into the kitchen and press my palms to the cool marble counter, resting my forehead on a cabinet. I take deep breaths. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Inhale. Exhale. The tray of cookies is resting on the counter, a large crack now running through the ceramic dish. Only a few cookies were managed to be saved after the little incident that occurred earlier. You know, when the ex love of my life appeared in my mother and fathers house. The house that I showed up to with my boyfriend. I smooth down a wrinkle in my navy sundress and take another deep breath. I open the cabinet in front of me and select a small, glass cup. I hear the screech of a chair as it is being pulled back. I walk over to the fridge, filling up my water glass, praying to God that Luke isn't the one getting up.

I'm convinced that God hates me.

"You alright Scarlet?" His familiar voice drifts into my ear. Still facing the fridge, I down the glass of water before slamming it onto the marble. Not enough force to break it, but enough to scare the shit out of my ex boyfriend. I turn around in time to see him flinch. "Scar, I-"He starts.

"Don't call me that." I snap before he can finish his thought.

"Okay, Scarlet, can we talk?" He slowly steps closer to me as I cross my arms and lean back on the refrigerator. I put on my best resting bitch face and make a motion with my hands as if to say "go ahead". "Look, I know you must hate me. I would hate me too if I was you." I scoff. He pauses, staring at me intently with his baby blues. "I'm so sorry for hurting you. For leaving all of this behind. Can I just explain to you how much I regret it? How it was the biggest mistake of my life? How I thought about you every night before I went to bed and every morning the second after I woke up? I missed you. So fucking much. Shit, Scarlet, all I want is to have you back. I want my best friend back." My eyes sting with tears that I don't allow myself to spill. He takes another step closer to me. "I know you've seen the tabloids and all that shit about how I had one night stands with random fans and European models but they're not true. The only girl I wanted, the only girl I will ever want, is you." His face is inches from mine, his hand resting on the fridge behind me. A lone, warm tear travels down my face. I put put my hand on his cheek as more tears start to fall. He closes his eyes and pushes his cheek harder into my hand.

"Sorry isn't enough Luke." My voice breaks as I wipe my eyes and slip away from him, moving towards the other side of the kitchen. He follows me and turns me around by the waist, forcing me to look at him. I'm so close to his body that can smell the laundry detergent on his "You Complete Me(ss)" t shirt. The one he's had since sophomore year. The one I wore the morning after we lost our virginity to each other.

"Tell me then. What I have to do. I'll do anything. Please, Scar. I mean- Scarlet. I still love you." I open my mouth to respond, then hesitate and decide its best not to say anything. How does one repair a relationship such as this one? A relationship so broken and mangled that it can never go back to the way it was ever again. I close my eyes and press my forehead into his, breathing him in. I gently place my lips on top of his, to which he responds by pressing his lips harder onto mine. I pull back and wipe my mouth off before walking back into the dining room as if nothing ever happened.