A Little Bit of Love & Hate (Luke Hemmings & Barbara Palvin)

Chapter 16 - Part Two

I stood up to fix my sweatpants, the ends were riding up my leg and that's when I heard it.

L: I DID NOT DECIDE TO BE BETTER TO YOU BECAUSE I FELT SORRY FOR YOU!

Luke raised his voice for the first time to me ever. It scared me, I never was the girl who cowered away from a yelling voice, but he had this terrifying yell and when he stood up he.... let's just say, if looks could kill.

I jumped at his voice and scooted farther towards the wall. He looked over at me while tugging at his hair. He was at one end of my room and I was over by the window. He stormed over to me and when he got close I just collapsed to the floor and began hugging my knees scared he'd hurt me. It wasn't until then that I noticed I was crying. My body was shaking and it didn't help that my window was opened and the cold evening air was hitting my back. I felt him crouch down next to me, only for me to scoot farther. I moved my head so I could take a peak at him. When I shifted he looked back over to me. He looked pained and upset, but I didn't understand why. He had a tear fall from his eye and by instinct I wiped it. He smiled. I didn't understand what he was now smiling at.

V: What are you smiling for?

L: You haven't done that since we were 16, it was a nice memory that came back.

V: What memory?

L: You fell off a swing at the park and we both were laughing until we cried. You then wiped my tears and kissed me.

V: Oh, I'm sorry.

L: Don't be sorry for something that wasn't your fault.

The room fell silent. Not one sound to be heard, until he asked.

L: Why'd you back away from me a few minutes ago? You fell to the floor and were crying and shaking. What's wrong?

V: You yelled. I haven't heard someone yell like that since my father found out I had cancer. He went ballistic when he got the news and it was the first time I found out. I had dropped to the floor crying, shaking. I felt like I just lost control of my life. I lost you and I was about to lose my life at 16. It was a lot to handle.

L: I'm so sorry Val, please understand that I'd never do anything to hurt you again, physically or emotionally, okay?

V: It's okay Luke it was a long time ago.

He hugged me and at that moment it all felt right. Nothing felt out of place. He was holding me and everything felt okay.

L: Continue your story, I'm sorry for shouting.

V: Okay, um so you found out. I was a wreck all over again. My parents told me everything and I remembered bits and pieces. I fell in love at 16 and my heart was broken. I didn't want to see you after that, the heart break and betrayal and bullying, it was all too much. I didn't want to go through it again. I remembered back to the day you kissed me in my bathroom the first day we moved here. It made my heart skip a beat. I thought about it so often, until I found out all that was held in our past. I did everything I could to erase you from my memory again. I want us to be us, the past behind us and just look forward.

L: I would love that. I've never wanted something so bad. So, how'd you know the song?

V: Well, funny story actually. I had a dream one night a while ago. I was in this building's hallway and there were lots of doors. None of them were unlocked .I heard this song playing and I wanted to know where it came from so I twisted and turned down hallway after hallway, but no luck. Finally, one opened and it led me outside. It was a field, filled with teenaged girls. I heard that song playing and then when the song ended, I heard guys talking. You all individually introduced yourself and announced that you were "5 Seconds of Summer".