a perfect contradiction • lrh

chapter forty-three

Toxic relationship warning ⚠️

The night buzzed in his ears, loud and annoying as he sat up on the roof terrace. It's where he spent most of his nights now. The sharpness of the cold air a deserving replacement for her arms.

He forgot just how isolated he was from the world. She had become a shield. And now that she wasn't there, his isolation drenched him.

How could he ever move on from her?

Closing his door, he lingered in the corridor hoping for another chance to bump into her. With no sign, he moved on. Tonight he was meeting Jack for a drink. Like he did most nights. Jack had brought him back, blacked out and limp far too many times than he wanted to believe. It was his only escape.

Yet tonight was different. They went from club to club. And the more he drank, the angrier he became. He wasn't drunk, he didn't sway or stagger, his eyes weren't glazed or sunken. They pierced the room like hell raised thunder.

“Hey bud you've had enough let's get you home,” Jack urged, taking the bottle from the blonde's grasp.

Despite himself, he let Jack drag him through the crowd. Until his legs strengthened, his eyes raking up and down a man he had hated just at the sight of them green eyes.

Nate found his eyes and locked on them. A smirk dancing his lips daring for it to be wiped off.

“Leave it,” Jack voiced, more stern than he had ever sounded. Again, Luke let Jack drag him away.

*
Chase paced by the door waiting for footsteps in the corridor. He couldn't unsee it. Couldn't erase the horror from his mind. Despite her long sleeves, he had seen them. The unmistakable bruises around her wrists.

His heart had been erratic since then. He had tried everything, every excuse to keep her home with him - movie night, beach walk, baking, game night literally everything but she politely declined explaining that Nate was expecting her and she mustn't disappoint.

He jumped as he heard voices in the corridor. He let them settle before knocking on his door.

Luke swung the door open half expecting Jack to give him some useless advice about hangover cures when Chase filled his vision.

Neither spoke. The silence doing it for them. He could apologize but he knew the five little letters meant nothing against his actions. Actions he couldn't give an excuse to, even if initially it had been done with her safety in mind.

Chase huffed, his hands in fists beside him as he strode past Luke.

“Come in, why don't you?” Luke's sarcasm out of place.

Chase paced again, back and forth at the foot of the living room. Luke lent against the doorframe, his worry increasing the more he studied someone he once regarded as his friend.

“Is El… is Eleanor okay?” He corrected, he approached Chase when he didn't answer. He blocked Chase from taking another step. “Spit it out!” his rage returned.

“I think he's hurting her.”

Lukes face twisted, puzzled. Chase's face dropped and his shoulders dropped further, “you don't know?”

Luke shrugged in response. “She's dating Nate,” Chase began, pausing to gauge his reaction.

Luke wouldn't say he was surprised that the green eyed demon had made the most of their situation. His eyes flashed as he finally processed the accusation Chase had divulged moments before, regret filled his chest, he knew he should have swiped him out earlier.