friends || l.r.h

2.2

The next evening came sooner than I thought. My father got called in to work, which he couldn't deny since they were paying him his holiday special which was double. We could use the money to put toward the new baby. He already left for work earlier, and will be home around 11. Which was good timing since we stay up till midnight and make holiday treats. Luke use to always do that with us.

I was currently getting dressed for the Newlons Christmas Party they have every year. It ends at 9. I pulled on a a grey dress and some boots with white boot socks that stuck out, and pulled on my white cardigan before walking down the stairs.

"I wish you was going," I said practically pouting to Lilian that she wasn't going and if have to attend alone. I had to go to give them their gifts anyways.

She gave me a smile, "I know, my stomach has been hurting me, but you look gorgeous. You'll enjoy it," she said as I gave her and Wade a hug before waving the off and began walking down the street. Everything was snowed in, and it was really slick out. Lilian and dad didn't want me driving, so I decided to walk the two blocks, which wasn't so bad. It was surely freezing out, though.

After arriving, and giving their gifts, I was debating whether or not to bail. I went upstairs to use the bathroom, but as soon as the bathroom door opened, Luke came out.

I quickly tried to turn around, but he called my name out and pulled me back and into the room close to us and shut the door. His face held a guilty expression and I didn't know what to feel. I need to feel anger. I need to make myself feel anger towards him.

"Fuck sakes," I said under my breath, "What do you want?" I said sitting up.

"You to talk to me. You're not answering my calls or texts," he said desperately.

"Because I don't want to talk to you!"

"Cleo, i'm so sorry. I really forgot. I wouldn't lie to you about this," he said desperately wanting me to cave in. But that's not what's gonna happen for him. Not this time. This time i'm done.

"What could you possibly be doing that made you forget?!" I asked as his face turned from desperate to guilty in seconds and I immediately knew my answer.

"Fuck you luke. You were with her, weren't you? You fucking ass, I should of known," I said shaking my head as he began to apologize and feed me excuses.

"No Luke! Stop with the bullshit!" I said making my self feel anger. "I've put up enough of your lies and excuses and bullshit. Ever since you got with her you've treated me like shit and i'm done with it! I don't want to be your friend anymore! You broke my promise. The old Luke would have never done that," I said as tears flowed slowly down my cheek as his eyes water.

"No Cleo. I messed up but no," he said shaking his head as the tears built up, "You're not leaving. I don't care. You're my best friend and i'm not letting you go, I don't care," he said and I scoffed.

"That's too late!" I yelled, "Now that you see that i'm actually hurt you want to apologize but you see Luke, once I forgive you you're just gonna go right back to being the way that you are an who you've been! I can't deal with it anymore, I just can't keep setting myself up for hurt!" I told him as his tear felt and I still couldn't fathom why I was beginning to feel guilt and sorrow for him. He's the one that did it to himself. He's the one who hurt me.

"No!" He said, "Cleo please! I will do anything if you just forgive me! Anything, whatever you want! I'm so sorry! I don't want you to stop being my friend," he said.

"No, that's too late," I said.

"No I don't care what you say," he said and I think that I had enough.

"Luke just leave me alone," I said and he shook his head and another tear rolled down my cheek. Why did he have to be so stubborn. He was slowly breaking me and I don't know how much longer I could deal with this.

"Just leave me alone!" I yelled at him, "Go!"

"No!" He said back, "i'm not leaving!"

"I want you too! I want you to leave!" I told him, "I hate you luke!" I said and he said nothing. He stopped and he looked like he just realized what I said.

Things got quiet now, and the yelling between us stopped. I'm surprised my parents haven't walked in to see what was going on.

"You hate me?" He asked as I held my head up and looking down at my lap, not being able to look at him, crying.

I couldn't answer. What I said wasn't true, but it's the only way to get him away from me.

"Cleo," he said serious and I couldn't answer him. "Cleo, look at me," he said.

"I can't, Luke," I whispered trying to control my crying the way I could at the moment.

"Do you really hate me?" He asked but I ignored him, so he asked again.

"I don't know!" I coughed out from the crying.

"Fine," he said standing up an wiping his tears, "tell me you hate me and i'll leave you alone. If that's what you want," he said.

"Luke-"

"Tell me, Cleo," he said, "Go ahead!"

"Luke stop!" I said. "I just can't-"

But as I was in the middle of the sentence his lips were pressed to mine, and my eyes widened.

Luke just kissed me.

I couldn't help but find comfort in the kiss and immediately relax against him. I can't believe my best friend since I was five years old was sitting here missing me. Now everything was falling into place.

I liked Luke. Fuck that. I think I was in love with luke. The feeling I have makes me know. I've never loved before, but this was it. This was what love was. Him.

We pulled away and I shook my head. No. This can't be happening.

"Luke, no. I just can't anymore-"

"Cleo! You're breaking my heart," he said as my mouth feel apart no believing he said that.

"Fuck you, Luke. If anything it's me! From all the bullshit-"

"Dammit, I fucking love you!" He said cutting me off and I stopped talking. He said he loved me. But how is he meaning it? Did he just mean it as a friend? Or?

He sniffled wiping his tear off his cheek, "There," he said, "I said it. I love you," he said as I sat in pure shock not believing what I was hearing.

"I was scared that if you found out, you'd push me away and I'd lose you. So I tried my best to move on from you, but whatever I'd do, it would always come back to you." He said. "I'm sorry, Cleo, i'm sorry i've hurt you so much," he said as I didn't even know what to think.

As my lips parted to speak, the door busted open, and a frantic Natalie, Lilian's best friends daughter, ran in.

"Cleo!" She said as I looked at her scared. "It's Lilian!" She said as my heart dropped.
and pulling through the doors to find Lilian's room. Once we did I immediately ran in.