Luke's POV
"There, all better... hopefully..." she says with a smile but I could tell she was still shaken up by what happened...
I tried smiling back but it hurts to even move. Every inch of my body hurts, throbbing in pain. She helps me up and I take in her offer "thanks Julie..." I mumble
We start walking, side by side, the silence between us is louder than the cars driving beside us every ten minutes i couldn't help but still feel Nick lingering... he should be gone. Hopefully he's gone
Julie's pace is slower than usual and I can see the worried etched on her face, even though she's trying to hide it. I want to tell her I'm okay, but my body feels like I just been through in a meat grinder and my mind is racing through thoughts I just can't pin down.
"I'm sorry you had to see that." I finally break the silence, my voice sounds foreign distant, like it should belong to someone else... "you shouldn't have to put up with Nicks crap anymore..."
Julie shakes her head, as her head lingers to the ground "it's not your fault Luke, Nick... he's just." She trails off trying to find the right words "I just didn't think he would go this far."
I nod, not trusting myself to say anymore. The ache in my ribs flare up with every step I take, but I keep going. Not wanting to slow her down. We're almost to her house now, and I can see the familiar porch light glowing in the distance.
We reach for her front door, and she turns to me, her eyes filled with concern "are you sure you'll be okay walking home? I can ask my dad if you can sleep on the couch...I mean with everything that's happened... I'm worried about you..." she says and I smile softly as much as I can
"I'll be fine..." I lie, hoping I sound convincing enough for her... knowingly I thought wrong
"Dad can Luke stay the night?!" She screams inside the house I close my eyes in pain "Yes of course..." it's the weekend so.. thankfully we don't have school
"I can't have you walk home in pain Luke... I'm sorry..." I nod and we head inside the house
"Actually; I'll sleep on the couch, and you can take my bed for the night..." I shake my head "no, I can't let you do that Jules." I say to her "The couch isn't really that comfortable..." she says "I'll be fine..." I lie again, what is up with me lying...
"Ugh, just come upstairs with me." She says taking my hand and helping me up the stairs we made it inside her room and she looks at me "My bed is big enough... I'll put pillows in between us..." she says with pleasure
I nod and I go into the bathroom in her room and look at myself in the mirror I hear her sigh and walk over to me "I'm sorry... again." She says standing beside me seeing that I'm not myself
"I'll survive." I say, actually meaning it she rubs my back and I look down at her, she looks at me
For a moment the pain fades into the background. it's just us, standing there in the small bathroom, the world outside feeling far away, her hand moves in slow, comforting circles on my back, and it's like she's silently saying she's here for me, and that she's not going anywhere
"Thank you." I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. I'm not sure if I'm thanking her for the first aid or for sticking by my side, or for being here in this moment. Maybe it's all of it.
She nods, a small, understanding smile approaches on her lips, "you don't have to thank me." She replies softly, her hand lingering on my back before she pulls away "come on you have to get some rest."
I nod, I don't move right away... apart of me wants to stay in the moment where it's just us... but she guides me to her bed and I sit on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping my weight and she stands there for a moment, watching me with the same concerned look
"You'll be okay." She says more to herself than to me, like she's trying to convince herself that everything will be fine.
"Yeah." I lay back, but I wince a little bit "I'll be fine."
She turns off the lights and for a minute I'm just scared of the darkness she lays beside me and she reaches down for my hand and we just lay there holding hands I look over at her and she looks at me again I nod reassuring her she rolls over facing me and I roll over facing her
"Goodnight Luke..." she says as we're still holding hands "Goodnight Jules..." we both sleep through the night.
