White Noise {punk l.h. au} Sequel to "Colours {punk l.h. au}"

1

June 15, 2023

I kept my promise.

I promised to try to love again. Caleb Allistair is the full name of the man I fell in love with. The man who I will be marrying in only a few short months. October 6, 2023 is the date of our wedding.

I met Caleb straight out of graduating college. I was single for the remainder of my college career and intended to be for next few years, but that all changed when Caleb entered my life.

I did what I said I would upon graduating: I moved to New York. I found a shitty apartment in the middle of Manhattan which just so happened to be infested with rats. Definitely not the 'classy city' life I was going for.

Caleb was my next door neighbor at the time, and he was pretty much in the same predicament I was in: tiny apartment, paying off college tuition, etc. Only difference was he had a future in store for himself. He was a pre-med student studying neurosurgery.

Me on the other hand, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue as a career. I was a few months shy of turning twenty three, I didn't have my life together. That's when Caleb saved me. I fell in love with him the moment we conversed for the first time. He promised me that when he gets out of this shithole apartment building, he's taking me with him.

And he kept his promise.

Three years later, we live together in an extravagant apartment just outside of Queens. I work as a real estate agent that deals with primarily apartments in the area. My job is to convince everyone trying to move to New York that it is the best decision you'll ever make. I'm successful most of the time. People just fall in love with New York the moment they come.

My life is exactly where I want it to be. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Standing over the open flame of the gas stove in the kitchen, I looked to check on how the pasta was cooking. Giving the boiling water a single stir, I removed the spoon and placed it on the table.

I heard the sound of the front door opening and closing followed by the angelic voice of my fiancé, "Smells marvelous, honey!" Caleb chirped from the foyer.

I smiled to myself as I listened to the sound of his feet walking towards me. Suddenly a pair of strong arms wrapped around me from behind. I felt his lips press a gentle kiss on the crook of my neck. "How was work today?" I asked him. He sighed and reached one hand over the counter to grab something, "Not one of my finer days, but I'm glad to be home with my beautiful bride-to-be." He spoke before putting the object he grabbed into his mouth.

I quickly objected, "No, Caleb, that's-" I tried to save him, but it was too late. I pulled the corners of my mouth back to make my mouth into a straight line as I watched his disgusted facial expression.

"Garlic." I finished in a small voice. His lips smacked from the pungent taste in his mouth, "It looked like grated cheese; this is why I have trust issues!" He exclaimed jokingly. I laughed and stepped closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He was chuckling at his himself as his hands found their way to my hips. He dipped down and his soft lips found mine.

He kissed me passionately like every other time. It was always filled with love, lust, and longing. One of his hands flew up to my cheek to let his fingers dance towards my hair and let them get tangled in it. His voice sounded, muffled against my lips as he made his iconic 'mwah' sound before pulling back.

"October 6 just won't come soon enough." He whispered with his forehead pressed up against mine. I smiled upon feeling his hot breath close to my face, "I love you, Caleb."

His lips moved up to be pressed against my forehead, "I love you too, Rebecca."

| Luke |

I felt like dying.

I found myself in a place where I used to be happy no matter what the occasion. Sitting in the local bar, I had my fourth cup of bourbon in my hands just wishing someone would come and find me; come and take me out of here. Tell me I shouldn't waste my life at a place like this; to make something of myself.

Nights like this usually ended up with me walking back to my apartment in a drunken state and passing out the minute I stepped inside. I lived alone in the cheapest part of New York City; hoping that one day I'd run into her.

I knew she wanted me to come and find her. I knew she wanted to 'catch up' on our lives. I knew I promised her that I would. Truth is, I'm not myself anymore.

Seven years drafted in the military, each day tested me emotionally, mentally, and physically. I thought I could handle it, but it only proved me to be weak. I watched the friends I made die excruciating deaths, I witnessed innocent blood being shed. For what? Nothing.

Pain is the only thing this world has to offer. And it wasn't a world I wanted to be in.

Doctors and therapists that I've gone to see to try to 'fix' myself and my mind diagnosed me with PTSD or 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.' It didn't take a genius to figure out that I was 'traumatized.' I spent seven whole years in hell.

"Okay, dude. You've been coming here every night for six months straight. Don't you have a wife and kids to be with?" The bartender with the name tag of 'Marcy' spoke to me. I flickered my eyes over at her while taking a swig of the bourbon in my hand.

"I'm single and kid-less." I replied simply after swallowing the stinging liquid.

"Oh come on. An attractive guy like you? Highly doubt that you're single." She winked at me while picking up a glass to dry with a white hand towel.

I looked her up and down. She was attractive, no doubt about it, and she was obviously interested in me. What does she want with a guy like me? Like she said, I come in here every night for the past six months... Do I look like a guy who has their shit together?

I placed my drink back on the counter and leaned over to reach into my pocket. Pulling out a fifty dollar bill, I slid it across the counter towards her, "Keep the change." I replied and got up.

Old me would flirt back. Old me would take her home. Old me wouldn't be leaving here empty handed.

But like I said, I'm not myself anymore.

I broke my promise.

so? was it ok? i hope it was lol :) ik u guys don't want caleb around bc ruke af but he's played by harry styles so hopefully that makes him a lil better xD thanks for reading!