Luke's POV
This is the first few days of working on the project with Julie were better than I expected. We decided to meet up tonight at the old railway station just outside of town— it's a quiet place, almost forgotten by everyone else. It's perfect for our project, and even better for getting to know each other better...
Each day, we'd walk there after school, spending hours talking, laughing, taking notes, and snapping photos for the presentation. Julie was still guarded of the real her— the one where she wasn't weighed down by her past with Nick.
But something felt off. Sometimes, I'd get this strange feeling, like we weren't alone. I'd look around, but the station has always been deserted, just the two of us surrounded by old brick walls, and rusting train tracks.
Nicks POV
Everyday I've been watching them, listening to their conversations. I felt the range inside of me. Luke didn't deserve her, he doesn't even know her. He wasn't there when we first met, when she used to laugh at all my stupid jokes. He didn't see her the way her eyes would lit up like they did when she would look at me. But then, I knew it... I had to get her back, even if that means getting rid of Luke...
Today was the day, I could see it in their eyes, how close they were getting. It made me sick to my stomach, I followed them from a distance, keeping out of sight. They were laughing about something oblivious to everything else... perfect.
Luke's POV
we decided to start packing up our stuff when the sun was dipping below the sky, casting along the shadows over the station... so beautiful...Julie was talking about something she saw in the old news paper we found under the park bench... then I felt that feeling again, the one I felt yesterday... it made the back of my hairs stand up...
"Luke?" Julie's voice snapped me out of my thoughts "You okay?"
"Yeah, just thought I saw something," I muttered, shaking her head. "Probably just a rabbit or something."
But it wasn't a rabbit. Before I knew what was happening, Nick was there grabbing me by the collar and slamming me against the brick wall making my vision blurry.
"Nick! What the hell are you doing?!" I heard Julie scream, but my focus was on trying to pry nicks hands from around my throat. He was stronger than what I expected... I felt tears fall from my eyes as he punches my cheek bone
"You think you can take her away from me?!" Nick snarled close up to my face "you don't even know her, you piece of—"
"Nick let him go!" I look over at Julie before I couldn't even see anything anymore I felt Julie's hands trying to pull Nick back
Julie's POV
I couldn't believe what was happening, one minute we were laughing, talking... smiling, next thing you know Nicks hands were around Luke's throat! His face was contorted with anger I've never seen before... even when we were dating...
"Nick! Stop!" I cried out, grabbing his arm and yanking as hard as I could "what the hell is wrong with you? Let him go!"
Finally he released him as Luke slid down the wall, gasping for air I shoved Nick to the side stepping between them, my heart pounding so hard in my chest "what the hell were you thinking?!" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and fury "you can't just attack people like this!"
"I saw you two getting close, and I panicked..." Nick muttered, his anger still lingering
"First off, we're over remember? You cheated on me with Carrie! And you think it's okay for you to beat up Luke because you're jealous?" I felt anger running through me, I've never seen this side of me... even when my mom died I wasn't this angry... "Leave me alone, and leave Luke alone... and go be with Carrie like you wanted too all along... I never want to see you again."
My voice still trembles with fear, his face is in shock, "Get out of here, Nick," I said, my voice cold I didn't have the energy for him anymore he nods and leaves me alone with Luke
AFTERMATH
Julie's POV
As soon as Nick was gone, I rushed down to Luke him leaning up against the wall, his face pale and bruised. I knelt down beside him, my heart breaking at the sight "You'll be okay..." I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady "I promise, Luke, I'm so sorry that this happened to you."
He winced as I touched his cheek, his eyes avoiding mine "it's not your fault." He muttered but I could hear the pain in his voice
I grabbed a towel from my bag and water and poured it, I reach for his face, trying to sooth the swelling, he flinched but didn't pull away, letting me care for him
As I cleaned the wounds on his face, I felt the surge of protectiveness. Luke didn't deserve any of this... none of this... I looked into his eyes, I realized something else. I wasn't going to let Nick control my life anymore. This was the last time he would ever hurt someone I care about...
