Against All Odds

Chapter 41

Lucas

She found me.
I hadn't expected Eve to come after me. I'd assumed she'd soon forget about me. I was content simply being a distant memory for her. But here she is. She even when to see Dad to find out where I'd gone. She faced the guy who shot her brother just to find me.
But why? Surely it would be easier for her to forget I ever came into her life.
Can't she see the pain I've caused her?
When Gran finally comes upstairs after I'd left the table, I take her to one side, talking quietly so Eve can't hear.
"I want her gone Gran." I say, maybe a bit harsher than necessary.
"No you don't." She chuckles knowingly causing me to frown. "You need her as much as she needs you."
"But-" I start.
"No Lucas." She sighs, expression sad. "Listen to your old Gran for once. It may seem easy to simply run away. It may seem like the right thing to do but the easy way isn't always the right way. Just think about that before you break that poor girls heart."
Her words surprise me and she takes advantage of my moment of frozen shock to wrap her arms around me, hugging me tightly and I begin to feel my emotions resurfacing.
It had been easier to just suppress my true feelings towards Eve. Easier to pretend I was better off without her.
Now I'm not so sure I've done the correct thing by pushing her away.

~~~

I'm woken late at night by screaming. To begin with I think I'm dreaming the shrill cries echoing around the house but when I hear Gran practically bashing my door down it dawns on me that the sounds aren't in my imagination.
They must be coming from Eve...
"Lucas come on!" Gran is yelling at me to come downstairs and help but I'm stuck sat upright on my bed. I can't move.
Her screams are tearing through me like a harsh blade. I want to hold her, comfort her and tell her everything's going to be alright. But I can't.
"God dammit Lucas!" Gran curses me and rushes out of my room to do the job I should be doing.
Eve's screams are torture. My heart rip's apart to hear the strangled pain lacing her cries. This is my fault, I think to myself. This is all my fault. Eve never had nightmares before I came. Who else do I have to blame but myself?
Dragging my tired, guilt ridden body out of bed I feel my feet lead me downstairs silently. I can hear my heart beating violently against my chest. Suddenly her screams come to an abrupt halt and I let out the breath I'd been holding in.
Gran must have woken her up.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs I poke my head around the door to the sitting room, taking in the scene while making sure I couldn't be seen.
Gran's holding Eve in her arms tightly, allowing her to sob into her shoulder. Grab is soothing her hysteria, calming her down.
As time passes and her sobs lessen I try to make my feet move. I try to either walk towards her or walk away but I'm stuck on this indecisive loop. If I walk away I'll be loosing someone I'd grown so fond off ever since I'd met her. If I stay I risk hurting her all over again.
"What was your nightmare about dear?" I hear my Gran ask softly.
It takes a while for Eve to reply and when she does her voice comes across so fragile I feel my heart ache.
"It d-doesnt matter." She stammers. "I think I should g-get going...I'm clearly not wanted here."
Her words build on the ever growing self hate inside of me; I've made her feel this way. I've made her feel unwanted.
"Don't be silly, its the middle of the night." Gran reminds her. "And it may not seem like it but I know Lucas wants you here. He cares for you."
"Well he's got a funny way of showing it." She grumbles, showing more of her usual feisty self. "I came all this way and expected him to at least smile when he saw me. Instead I got treated like he regrets ever meeting me. He's not given me a single reason to stay and I can't carry on this one-sided fight for our friendship. He has no clue how much I needed him... And still need him. Life went to shit when he left and he never even looked back! Lucas became such a big part of my life and then disappeared and I don't know how to deal with loosing him. I can't stand adding him to the list of people I love that have gone from my life."
I listen to every word she says as though its a life line. By now my need to feel her in my arms is unreal.
The people I love.
Love...
She really cares for me that much?
I turn and slowly make my way upstairs, trying to figure out all the contrasting and conflicting emotions running through my mind.
I sit down on the bed in my temporary room and stare at the pale green walks.
What am I supposed to do? If I let myself back into her life I'll be putting her at risk and I can't stand the thought of me hurting her again.
On the other hand I have a connection with this girl. Do I really have it in me to ignore the pull in my heart and walk away from her completely?