(These chapters might seem a bit long, but I promise it's worth it! In the end!!! ❤️❤️)
Luke's POV
I wake up slowly, the dull ache in my body reminding me of everything that happened yesterday. For a moment, I keep my eyes closed, trying to hold onto the comfort of sleep, but the memories rush back— Nick, the fight, the fear in Julie's eyes. And then I feel it, her weight against my chest, her breath soft as she sleeps
My eyes flutter open, and I look down to see Julie curled up beside me, her head resting on my chest. She looks so peaceful, so unlike the tense, worried girl from last night. There's a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the bruises beneath her touch. It feels... right, having her here. But with that warmth comes with creeping anxiety of What happens next? How do we face the day after everything that happened?
I shift slightly, trying to undo the stiffness in my body and Julie stirs, damnit... her eyes flutter open, and for a moment she looks disoriented as if she doesn't know where she is. Then her gaze focuses on me. And I see the realization in her eyes.
"Morning." I say softly, not wanting too startle her
"Morning." She replies, her voice still heavy with sleep, she blinks a few times. And before I know it i see the same worried expression as I did last night... "how are you feeling?" She asks
"Sore." I admit, finally... but I give her a small smile to show that I'll be okay "but better, thanks to you."
She sifts, sitting up slightly and I feel the loss of the warmth when she pulls away. There's awkwardness towards us now, that wasn't there last night. I guess we realized how close we've gotten
"My dad will be up soon... we should be getting ready..." she says nervously as she starts to get up
"Yeah.. right." I say getting up but quicker than usual I groan in pain she rushes over to me and puts her hand on mine I look up at her
She looks back at me "Jules... about last night... thank you, for... everything." I say
"You don't have to keep thanking me, you know. That's what friends are for." She says and the word hit me friends thats all we're ever going to be...
"Yeah... friends..." I say after and we head downstairs
"I should probably head back to the boys, I think I'll be fine walking back to my house..." I say, and she nods "you could stay for breakfast...my dad won't mind."
"I shouldn't..." a little part of me does, but facing her dad and trying to explain why I'm bruised and battered, feels overwhelming to me... "but thank you for offering..."
She nods, understanding in her eyes, but there's a flicker of disappointment, maybe? I hate that I'm leaving her alone to deal with this... but I need time to think, think about everything that happened...
We head to the door, and she opens it for me, the cool morning air hitting us both as we step outside. I turn to face her not sure what else to say or do... "I'll see you at school...okay?"
"Yeah." She nods, her eyes holding mine for a moment longer than necessary "Be careful, Luke..."
"I will." I promise, though I'm not sure how much I can protect either of us from what's coming...
As I walk home, I felt the weight of everything pressing down on me. The warmth of the morning sun does little to ease the chill in my bones. I don't know what's going to happen next, but there's one thing clear... nothing will ever be the same after what happened last night...
Julie's POV
As I watch Luke walk away, a sense of emptiness settles in the pit of my stomach. The house feels too quiet, too still, after all the chaos that just happened as of yesterday. I close the door behind him and lean against it, trying to gather my thoughts.
I've been running on adrenaline since the moment I saw Nick grab Luke, but now that it's over, the reality sets in and it's hitting me hard... Nick- someone I used to trust, care about, and once loved... cheated on me, and now he has the audacity to beat up someone I care about...
I make my way to the kitchen needing something to ground me, I hear my dad coming downstairs, I know I should start making my breakfast, but my hands are shaking too even think about cooking. Instead I sink into the chair at the table burying my face in my hands
Nick is still out there... he can try and hurt Luke again... but if he does try, he'll have to go through me again... just like last night... this isn't over... not yet. I can feel it... no matter how hard I try and forget about it happening... it's not over...
