MIRRORBALL ; QUINN HUGHES

Eight

not a lot, just forever
intertwined, sewn together

not a lot just forever ; adrianne lenker

QUINN

THE SWELLING pain in my chest was enough to feel like my lungs were collapsing. I kept to myself, that's had I'd always been.

But being around Tate made me want to open myself up and display every emotion I'd ever felt before. And that fucking terrified me. It terrified me more to think that she probably hated me now.

I would too. I never wanted to hurt Tate but it was inevitable. Since the day that I met her, I couldn't bare to imagine life without her.

I watched Tate smile with a joy, a joy that she always had towards me. But now it was directed towards Luca Fantilli. The sight alone made me weak.

His arms wrapping around her, lifting her off the ground slightly as he embraced her like he hadn't seen her in months. Even though that was false.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes, my leg bouncing up and down uncontrollably.

"Dude." Jack chuckled from beside me, shaking his head. "When are you gonna man up?"

I turned my head to him in a flash, twisting my face up with confusion. "What are you talking about, Jack?"

Jack cocked a brow, his eyes drifting towards the brunette standing in the group of people. "Do I even need to say?"

"What are you trying to say?" I quipped. Jack and I were close, the kind of close that you can tell what they're thinking by just looking at them.

"You love her, Quinn." Jack rolled his eyes. "It's so obvious it hurts."

I glanced around, worried of someone overhearing our conversation. I nudged him slightly. "It doesn't matter, Jack."

"Why?" Jack asked. Jack could never just let things be. "I know that's she's head over heels for you. And you clearly are too."

"What the fuck am I supposed to do?" I said helplessly. "Take her and run off into the sunset? You know I can't. Luke will fucking freak out."

Luke had been protective over Tate since the day they met, always keeping her under his arm, vouching to be her knight in shining armor.

"Ew, Quinn." Luke slapped the back of my head, making me hiss as the sharp pain spread.

"Ow, Luke." I rubbed the red spot, confusion covering my features as I stared at my little brother. "What the fuck was that for?"

Luke shook his head, annoyance displaying. "Don't look at Tate like that. I'm serious, Quinn, don't even think about it."

I glanced towards Tate once more. Her illuminating smile as she pranced around in yellow and blue, repping her Michigan spirit.

"I just looked." I tried to cover my tracks. Tate was beyond beautiful, she was everything I ever wanted. "Don't make it weird."

"It is weird." Luke shook his head. "I know the way you work Quinn. You'll destroy her. If you ever try anything I will actually murder you."

I knew Luke was being serious but I still downplayed it as best I could.

"Sure, Luke." I put my hands up. "I won't look in the direction of your friend, jeez."

"Luke would get over it eventually." Jack shrugged. "Look, Quinn, I know you love Luke but you need to think about what you want."

"It doesn't matter." I glanced back over towards Tate, watching the way she leaned into Luca. "It seems she's clinging to someone else."

Jack narrowed his eyes at me. "Are you joking, Quinn? If you even gave her a sign that you wanted her she'd go through with it."

"We can't." I said, trying to finalize my decision. "She knows that. I've made it clear."

"You're gonna regret it." Jack sighed, taking a swig of his beer. "Luke sees it, I know he does. He just won't admit it."

"It's better that way." I nodded. "I don't need him being pissed at me."

Jack pulled his bottom lip between his teeth. "So you'd rather just let her go?"

"What would you do in my shoes?" I asked him, knowing his answer would be out of the ordinary either way.

"I'd go for it." Jack shrugged, pursuing his lips. "If Luke really cares about Tate, he'll be happy that she is. Same thing for you."

Like always, my eyes always seemed to find her. She seemed at peace when she was away from me, the sad puppy dog look no where in sight.

Luke was right, he always had been. I would destroy her, her feelings were sensitive and pure and I was the opposite.

"What about just keeping things causal?" Jack implied.

"What?" I raised my brows, chuckling in disbelief. "Jack not everything has to revolve around hooking up. That's worse."

Jack shrugged once more. Jack was the living embodiment of care free, he didn't care about the decisions he made.

But I felt too much for my little brother's feelings. Luke was my best friend, I couldn't betray him. At least that's what I kept telling myself I looked at Tate.

QUINNIEEE