"Stuck In The Friend-Zone Again and Again"

"Tell You That It's Alright"

{3rd Person P.O.V.}

Luke was standing in front of Paris's door, about to peek in and wish her goodnight, when in the quiet of the house he heard quiet crying.

Luke furrowed his brow, confused, and pressed his ear against the door to see if it was Paris.

When the sound got a smidge louder, there was no doubt in his mind that she was crying.

Luke creaked open the door silently and poked his head in, finding Paris curled in a ball under the duvet with only her tear soaked face to be seen.

"Paris?" Luke whispered worriedly.
Her previously closed eyes flew open, and she attempted to stop crying.
He walked slowly over to the bedside, looking down at her with concern.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked gently.
"N-nothing," she stuttered, trying to wipe the tears from her red ringed eyes.
"If it was nothing you wouldn't be crying like this," Luke said. "So tell me."
"No," she said, her voice tight with trying to restrain tears.
"Just tell me, Paris," he pressed.
"Leave me alone Luke!" She cried in frustration, wiping a stray tear and hiding her face in her hands.

Luke, instead of taking a step back like he might've if she wasn't crying, crawled into the bed beside her and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her body and nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck.
"Luke, go!" Paris said loudly in desperation, hitting his chest lightly in a poor attempt to get him to let her go.
"Why?" Luke asked, his voice muffled by the skin of her neck.
"Because I don't want you to see me cry," Paris sighed, giving up, the tension releasing from her body as she relaxed into Luke's chest.
"I've seen you cry before," Luke protested gently.
"Not like this," Paris said. "Those tears were different. Worried tears and movie tears are different than these tears."
"What kind of tears are these?" Luke asked gently.
"Broken tears," Paris said, beginning to cry again. "Because I'm broken."
"What?" Luke exclaimed. "What do you mean?"
"I'm broken, Luke," Paris said, looking up at Luke with tears running down her face. "And I don't know if I can be fixed."
"What happened?" Luke asked softly, looking at her with soft eyes and a furrowed brow of concern.
"I- Jake," she said, her voice cracking at the end.
"What did he do?" Luke growled, instantly getting angry.
"He- he broke me," Paris whispered, sounding very broken indeed.
"What did he do?" Luke spat.
"He cheated on me," she whispered, almost silently.
"What?" Luke yelled.
"He never loved me, he was just in it for- for," she broke off, crying.
"For what?" Luke pressed gently, not pressuring her.
"For- for- for sex," she finally breathed.
"Oh Paris," Luke sighed sadly, tightening his grip around her as she sobbed.
"And- and I walked in on him and her, when I went to say goodbye," she wailed quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Luke asked her.
"Because I couldn't," she answered.
"Why not?"
"Because you'd see. You'd see through the smile that I wear, my forced laughs. You'd see just how broken I really am. And that's why I don't want people to see me cry. Because when they see you cry, or through the cracks of the happy facade, you're weak. And when you're weak people can get in. And when people get in, they hurt you. I let Jake in, and all he did was break me down, and rebuild the walls around me that he was slowly and gently taking down. I told you I was lonely before. Now I'm more lonely than ever. Because I've realized that no one loves me. I mean, why would they?" She gave a humourless chuckle. "I'm just me: a starry eyed girl with big dreams. Who want a girl who won't even get it on with them?"
"I would never hurt you," Luke whispered again. He pulled back and looked her in the eye. "Ever."
"Jake did," she reminded him through her tears.
"Yeah well he's a dick. And only dicks get with girls for the sex. A million actual wonderful guys would absolutely love you. You'd have them whipped from the minute you met. Jake broke your heart, but not every guy will. You'll find someone who'll treat you right."
"Don't you see?" She cried. "I can't trust anymore. How do you think I'll ever be able to trust a guy again?"
"Someone will earn it, and deserve it. If they deserve it they'll work for it and prove themselves to you everyday," Luke said softly.

Paris didn't answer, just continued to cry, but it didn't matter to Luke.

He just flicked off the nightstand lamp Paris has forgotten and pulled her closer, rubbing her back and whispering soothing words in her ear until she finally cried herself to sleep.