Vacant

Chapter Twenty-One

Hey readers!! So this is another chapter, and I hope you all like this. I'm noticing there are no comments and low votes...:( so please comment and vote, if not for me, for this story!! That's River! ---------------->

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            “Luke?” I breathed, not believing what I was seeing. I should’ve known it was him, and I felt extremely guilty for not knowing.

            “Surprised?” He asked, his smile fading.

            “Yeah, kinda.” I offered. I hope he didn’t take that one the wrong way.

            “Sorry I wasn’t who you had in mind.” He said, a sense of pity creeping up in his voice.

            “No, no it’s not that, it’s just…well we haven’t really talked in a while, and I just wasn’t expecting you to…well…you know…” I said, stammering. I didn’t know why I couldn’t just spit it out and tell him. He saved me, and I should be thanking him for it, but instead, I just couldn’t offer him anything better than that.

            “It’s okay, I get it. But why don’t we clear some things up, right now?” He offered, remaining still.

            “Yeah, okay.” I replied, unsure of my next move. Maybe I should just let him explain first, and see what I could come up with.

            “Well, for starters, I beat up the gang leader that was all over you, and then I carried you home so you could rest. You don’t even know how scared I was for you,” he started, wondering if maybe I would cut in. When I didn’t, he started again.

 “I missed you Chloe, and I still do. I don’t know what happened between us, and I just want you to be a part of my life, in whichever way. And I meant everything what I said when we had that argument, about when I said I really liked you, because in fact, I still do. But now that River is in the picture… I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore…” He trailed off, staring down at his feet.

            That is it. I’m sick and tired of always ruining everything! I have to break this kid’s heart because River just magically showed up, and sort of ruined everything Luke and I had coming. I miss him as well, and I’m going to make sure he damn well knows it.

            “Luke, I – I missed you too. I don’t know what happened, and I sure as hell never want it to happen again. I’m so sorry you feel that way about River and I , it’s just that we have so much history together, and I guess I just got carried away and… well, I’m just really, truly sorry.” I said, waiting for an answer. After a long pause, he spoke.

            “Well… things happen for a reason, right?”

            “Yeah, I guess so.” I said, wondering why he said that. Was he going to leave? Was he just going to break off this little apology session that was still in session?

            “I’m sorry too, and I hope we can…um… go back to the way it was before. I mean, without whatever we had going…so…um, yeah. I’ll see you around, Chloe.” And with that, he tore off from standing in front of me, and left.

            I was speechless. What had I done? This wasn’t anyone else’s fault but my own.

            “Hey, sweetheart, how’s it going?” I froze. For a moment I thought it was the gang leader, ready to pounce on me, when I felt hands circling my waist. I was so scared. Hadn’t anyone seen him come in? I had no choice but to react.

            “Stop! Get your hands off of me you asshole!” I started to break free of the backward embrace, when the hands turned me around. Only then, I saw deep blue eyes staring into my own.

            “Whoa, Chloe. Calm down, it’s only me.” River said, confusion on his face.

            “Oh, I, um… sorry. I’m sorry River, but I have to go.” I broke away from him and walked away from the park. I decided to go home, and never come back here again. There were too many memories starting to form, and re-form. I didn’t want that to happen, and there was only one way I can fix this all, and I’ll have to do it quick.

            Without a second thought, I redirected my route for home, to the route of one place in particular.