Chapter 21

166 2 0
                                    

I want to write a song that makes you smile 

One that keeps you around for a while 

I wish for small things like losing this feeling 

I've seen this coming, I've seen you leaving. -Little Bit Of Truth. You Me At Six

Chapter 21

Juliet's POV

I woke up to the door of my room being thrown open violently.

"You little whore!" Nate screamed at me. Luke jumped off the bed quickly.

"Who are you?" Luke stood in a protective stance in front of me.

Nate just laughed. "Doesn't matter does it? Just someone that's going to ruin your life." He looked at me though while saying this. I shook with fear and Luke noticed.

"You're that Nate fucker aren't you?" Luke shook his head in disgust. Nate just growled and jumped towards me. Luke was quick to shield me with his body. I heard the crack of a bone and Luke's eyes went wide.

"Luke!" I screamed.

"Juliet..." He tried to pick himself off the floor but grabbed his side in pain. Nate kicked him aside and Luke groaned in pain again. Then I saw the last thing I thought I'd ever see. My brother grabbing Nate by the hair just before Nate grabbed me.

"How dare you touch my sister?!" Brad threw him across the room. I gasped. How could he be here?

"Wh-Who?" Nate looked confused and disoriented as Luke's eyes went wide. They both took in the size of my brother. Prison had made him bigger and he had gotten more tattoos. But his eyes were no longer dull and cold. They were full of life. Full of love. For me. He was protecting me. I almost cried. They used to look like that before...

"Brad, what's going on in here?" A cop walked through the door. I only imagined what we looked like- A poor girl in her hospital bed with a boy on the floor clutching his side. A 6 foot 5 prisoner covered in tattoos standing over me and a disoriented man on the floor.

He looks disappointed. "Brad... you were here for visitation" He trails off.

"I didn't- he was attacking my sister." Brad looks defensive but his eyes burn with anger towards Nate. I remember when they burned like that in my direction.

Suddenly Ashton bursts through the door. "Arrest Him!" He shouts and points at Nate. My heart tugs for Ashton but I'm too confused to realize what i'm even feeling. I realize I'm having a panic attack. Soon I don't feel anything at all.

Luke's POV

I realize Juliet has passed out but I can't do anything about it. I can feel that my rib is broken and The officer looks confused. Soon Ashton is explaining what he did to Juliet and Brad is explaining he was protecting her. The officer looks to Juliet for her input but obviously she is out. My vision blurs and the pain is unbearable. Soon I join her in dreamland.

--------------------------

When I wake my mom is crying.

"Oh Luke!" She wraps her arms around me.

"What happened?" I ask.

"Nate is gone. He's gone down to the station for questioning. Juliet has gone as well to give her statement." This scares me. She is alone. She needs me. I begin to get up but yelp out in pain.

"You have to stay still. You cracked a rib." My moms eyes fill up with tears again. "You saved her. Nate had a knife and if you hadn't of blocked her at first she would of gotten stabbed." This is news to me. He had a knife?

"I need to be with her. She needs me." I tell my mom. Juliet is probably so scared.

"Ashton went with her Honey." My mom holds my hand. I just stare at it for a while. Ashton went with her? "He drove her down there. Apparently they had some issues to work out."

"But..." I trail off. What did I want? Her to be happy or her to be with me?

'You could make her happy.' Hope tells me. But I quickly stuff it back down.

Juliet's POV

"Thanks for the ride." I look out the window. He nods. The atmosphere is awkward and filled with tension.

"Why did you break up with me?" I ask tentatively. He pauses for what seems like forever.

"Luke wants you more than me. He would treat you right." Ashton's eyes fill with tears.

"How do you know?" I look at him. He looks down at my lips and I know what he wants to do. I move closer. "You treat me right." His eyes flicker to my lips but he shakes his head. "I'm so sorry I just...Goodbye Juliet."

--------------------------------

The station is smelly and gray. I wish somebody was here with me. Preferably Luke but still, anybody. Well not Ashton obvoiusly. Apparently we are done. I can't believe I can still walk with this pain on my heart. Plus all the looks I'm recieving from the people around me. They try to give me looks of comfort but it makes me feel worse. They all know why I'm here and my cheeks couldn't be redder.

The circumstances were different than the last time I was here. My life was different than the last time. I still didn't know if this heartbreak, confusion and absolute hatred burning inside of me was better than a nice beating. At least back then I deserved it.

"Hello Miss Tanner. Right this way." A officer comes over to me and begins leading me down an ever grayer hallway, (If that's possible.) "You just have to give your statement and we'll ask some questions. Then hopefully this whole mess will be over with." He gives me a sympathetic look.

"Alright." I nod.

------------------------------

"Thank you for your cooperation." The officer shakes my hand and I force a smile. I begin to walk back down the seemingly never ending hallway. When I get to the front lobby I'm yet again surprised. But instead of going into panic mode I'm furious. Absolutely furious. I hate that love burns behind my eyes for him because all I want is to hate him.

"Ready to go Babe?" Ryder tousles his hair and gives me an award winning smile. One that used to make me do anything he wanted. My parents thought it was unhealthy the way I submitted myself fully to him. Because in the end what was I without him? Of course now I realize I am everything without him. I was nothing before, now I am my own person- and that won't change.

"Where were you a month ago? When I needed you? I don't need you now. Get out. I h- hate you." My voice breaks. I could never lie to him. Soon I'm crying into his chest.

"I wasn't even contacted. Somebody told them you didn't have any living relatives." He gives me a pointed look.

"I thought you wouldn't want me."

"You're so stupid." I was waiting for that. The destruction. The feeling of slipping back under his spell. Why did I love him more than anything? "Wait- I- I didn't mean that." He scrunches his brows. This was new. When was The Ryder Tanner ever sorry? "Just come on. Let's go home."

"I live with Liz."

"Not anymore." Much to my surprise relief floods through me. I will be gone. Never to see Ashton Irwin again. The embarrassment would be to much. I don't even care. I have to get out of my head anyway. My whole time here has ruined me. It made me feel. When I lived with Brad I didn't. I had three stages- Pleasing him, being beat and then recovery. Repeat. I had no time for feelings.

But then I think about Luke. Who saved me without knowing it. The boy who... I said I loved. I couldn't just leave him. This is what I get for feeling. Heartbreak. Heartbreak. Heartbreak.

Sweet Nothing (5SOS)Where stories live. Discover now