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** this chapter would make more sense if you read mostly the first two chapters, or if you want the first ten at least.
Julie
I spent all night in bed. I cried and balled my eyes out, until I found under my bed his hidden scotch. Max said to hide it there for emergencies. He had a glass or two, but it remained almost full.
I filled a glass with the dark liquor and drank it until my eyes were dry and my throat in pain.
Max was my best friend, my partner in crime. In a matter of two days, I lost him two times and permanently. When sleep finally caught up with me, my dreams turned into a pile of memories—good and bad. Losing him left a void that would never be filled.
Next day, it was his funeral. Saying goodbye pained in a twisted, new, way. I tried not to think our poor ending and focus on the rest. On the sleepless night that we'd sneak out in the garage and play games and chat, or when his father died and we spent each day together traveling around the town until we couldn't keep going. When my father announced my marriage and the way he held me in his arms and when his girlfriend broke up with him two weeks later, he stole a glass of scotch.
I left the badge with his name on his grave and a bouquet of dahlias. There weren't many people, mostly unknown relatives. I bet he'd laugh if he saw those bounded by blood relatives in his funeral as when he needed them, they all turned their backs on him.
Life has a funny way of getting with people.
After his funeral, I couldn't shed any more tears. My eyes remained dry. Even now, after twelve hours laying in Luke's arms, I feel empty.
"He was kind, you know," I said breaking the fragile silence. I heard a 'hm' in response, "he was always there for me, always." Barely as whisper my voice turned into a nostalgic tone.
"One time, I had a fight with my father. The guys and I had planned to go to this concert of a random group just for the thrills of it and dad wouldn't let me." A smile crept in, "So, Max helped sneak out and took me to the others. I convinced him to stay with us, and he only agreed cause he said that it was his job. Turns out he just was a huge fan of the group and just wanted company."
A bittersweet chuckle left my lips, a storm never ending in my heart.
"My father caught us two hours later."
Luke's fingers lingered on my hair, playing with some curls. It was almost liberating to have him this close. Feeling his breath on my skin, his heartbeat on my ear. A soft kiss pressed on my temple, and with a grin he focused back on my hair.
It was like I didn't know how to breathe until I was inside his embrace.
We spent the night with me rumbling about memories of Max and Luke listening hooked by each story, laughing softly at the funny ones and stroking my hands at the heartbreaking of others.
