Between a Rock and a Hard Place // c.h.

37 - When All Hell Breaks Loose

Luke's POV
***

Ari found out quickly about mine and Cara's night together. She had packed her bags and left the island for California before I'd even gotten back to the hotel. So I stayed wi Cara, soothing her and trying to convince her that everything would be alright. I wasn't looking forward in the least to Cal's reaction if he found out, which he almost definitely would. Cara was going to tell him, and I knew it. She would tell him because she loved him and even though she claimed to love me, there was a part of her that couldn't - wouldn't - let go of Calum. Though I couldn't blame her. She had looked at Cal the way I had looked at her, and he'd looked at her with even more love. They'd been a perfect match, but of course I had to step in and fuck everything up. I hated myself for admitting my feelings to Cara, and for deciding to sleep with her, but I didn't regret them. I felt like a weight had been lifted from me. While problems still swarmed me like bees to a hive, at least I knew that I was finally free to feel what I needed to feel.

Calums POV
***

When the plane landed at the airport on Oahu, I felt horror filling my stomach. I hurried off the plane, taking a break to smoke outside of the airport. While the cigarette between my teeth somewhat helped to calm my nerves, I couldn't fight the disturbing feeling that coursed through me. In less than an hour, I'd have to face Cara... And Luke. I wasn't sure what I'd do once I was in that situation, but I knew I'd have to figure it out soon. Ashton didn't know about the situation, but he knew something was wrong. I kept my mouth shut along the whole drive back to the hotel, looking out the window and slowly dying on the inside.

   The car pulled to a stop in front of the building. I shuddered, hesitant to leave the vehicle behind. Cara waited on the steps of the hotel, her eyes brightening, with a nervous edge to them, when she saw me. Luke stood at least five feet away from her, his hands shoved into his pockets, his eyes on his feet. Instead of walking toward the girl who I'd fallen in love with, I walked toward the 6'2" idiot standing near her. Panic filled Cara's eyes as she realized what was happening. Luke looked up, his eyes barely making contact with mine before I slammed my fist into his face.

   Luke's entire body was thrown back by the force of my punch, starting with his jaw. His hand flew up over his cheek in response, and Cara gasped, saying something. The anger burning through my veins blocked whatever words she spoke, and all I could focus on was the boy in front of me. Luke might have been one of my best friends, but he'd done something unforgivable. My fist cracked against his nose one more time, blood spurting from the area where I'd made contact. I clenched my jaw, too full of anger to do much else.

   "I should kill you!" I yelled at him, slowly backing away, wiping the blood from Luke's nose onto my jacket. Terror filled his eyes, and he crawled away on the ground as quickly as he could manage. I felt a small hand on my shoulder, pulling me out of the hateful trance I was in. Cara pulled me toward her, trying to distract me from Luke. "Don't try to pretend nothing happened!" I shouted at her. She stopped, hurt and guilt playing on her face.

   "Can we please talk?" She spoke calmly, withdrawing her hand. I followed her into the building, into a small room that probably would've been used for conferences. She looked at me, sighing sadly. "How did you find out?" She asked, placing her hands in her pockets.

   "A third party sent me pictures. I'm guessing you wouldn't have told me?" I spat coldly, hiding the hurt in my voice as well as I could. Confusion found its way into her expression.

   "Danny..." She muttered, horror seeping from the word. "Cal, listen, it's not what it looked like."

   "It looked like the girl who said she loved me and my 'best friend' decided that it would be perfectly ok to have sex wig each other as long as I wasn't around to find out." I glared at her, hatred eminent in my voice. The expression on her face hurt me, I didn't like hurting her, but I didn't have many other options. "I'm not sure there's much more to hear, Cara."

   "Cal I love you! Please listen!" She pleaded, teas forming in her eyes. "I was drunk, and I didn't mean to and-"

   "Shut up!" I shouted, grinding my teeth as pain was inflicted by my words. "You say all these things Cara but you chose to do that! No one was forcing you or Luke and it sure as hell wouldn't have killed you to not do it!" I screamed loudly, my voice getting increasingly louder with every word. "You don't love me! I was stupid for thinking you could!" I turned on my heel and stormed from the room, hiding the tears that were beginning to spill from my eyes. I walked to the from that used to be mine and Cara's, grabbed my things, and called for a cab.

   When the vehicle pulled in front of the building I told them the address- the nearest airport. As I walked out of the hotel with my things I saw her, watching the car intently. Her eyes were red, swollen, and bloodshot. I hated seeing her like that, all I wanted was to go to her, to hold her and forgive her and love her.

   But I didn't. I turned, climbed into the car, and I drove off. I left her.

Cara's POV
***

   He got in the car. I lost him.