Remember || Jai B. / Luke B. {Sequel}

9. Fear, Strength, & Pride

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"I've had it, Luke! You're never going to change! It's the same fucking cycle! Over and over again! That's it already! We're done!" Marina yelled out as she angrily shoved some clothes and other personal items into a suitcase.

"I'm sorry, Marina! Please, I promise I'll do better!" Luke begged, his eyes bloodshot and glassy. Blood coated his lips and chin, some of it was dry but it was mostly fresh.

"No! No you won't! You keep saying you're going to change and that you'll be a better person, but all you do is lie. Not just to me but to yourself. Don't you get it?" Tears were threatening to spill out of her eyes but she held them in, not being able to stop her voice from breaking though. "I was the one who tried, Luke. Not you. I tried to be understanding with you and love you. I understand that you're not in the right state. But I can't keep doing this. I love you, but this can't go on."

With each word that came out of Marina's mouth, Luke felt himself grow angrier. She was putting everything on him. Blaming him for her unhappiness and his misery. In his eyes, he saw it as her fault. Her fault for loving not just him, but his brother too. His fucking twin brother.

She didn't think he'd noticed the yearning looks the two had been giving each other lately. Luke knew that those feelings were still there. And he also knew that Marina loved Jai almost as much as she loved Luke, if not more.

Luke couldn't stand the thought of losing her. He'd already lost her when she'd first dated Jai. Luke had told him that he wanted her but Jai didn't listen. He claimed to love her too, but Luke knew that between him and Jai, he loved her more.

"So now you're just going to run back to Jai like the whore you are." Luke's voice turned dark and threatening and Marina felt her pulse rise.

She clenched her fists and was about to start arguing with him when he cut her off. "Don't even fucking try to deny it because you're lying to yourself too. You know that you're a whore. Jumping back and forth between us. You're taking advantage of us. Because you know, Marina. You know that we both love you and we fight for your love. You love the attention. You crave it. It's strong. Almost as strong as the hunger for blood we have."

Marina was flabbergasted. She didn't know what to say. What do you say to that? The two stared each other down, Luke challenging her to say or do something with his eyes that had become bloody with veins pulsating under them. Without thinking, Marina's hand reached up and she delivered a hard slap across his cheek.

That action surprised them both. Marina was never violent. Luke didn't even flinch and Marina was about to do it again but he caught her wrist, holding it in a tight grasp. She yelped in pain and gasped as he brought her face close to his. "Don't you ever touch me like that again." His voice was hard and Marina found herself being afraid. Her hand shook and her breaths came out ragged as they stared at each other.

Luke suddenly let go of her hand and shoved her away. Marina would've fallen if she hadn't grabbed the edge of the table and supported herself up. She breathed heavily as she looked up at Luke, refraining from yelling at him or showing any signs of physical pain.

"Go on then. Run. Go back to him. I don't want you see again." Luke whispered as he looked anywhere but at her. He didn't understand why he was being like this. He'd never yelled or been that cold to anyone before. It scared him. He didn't realize he was slowly becoming the monster he'd always feared to become. But his pride outmatched his fear and he avoided looking into Marina's chocolate eyes to let himself start to apologize and beg for another chance.

She didn't know, though. There was so much the two didn't understand about each other. They loved each other and probably always would but their relationship was toxic, slowly hurting them both. They couldn't be together. That was the main reason Luke let himself unleash like that. It'd be easier if she hated him.

Marina quickly gathered her things and hurried out of the door without a second thought. She had nowhere to go. She couldn't go back running to Jai because that'd just prove Luke right. And she couldn't run to Daniel or Beau. She didn't want to cause more problems or burden anybody.

She wished Chelsey were here. She needed her best friend more than anything right now. But Chelsey wasn't here and she wasn't coming back. So Marina told herself to suck it up and go rent out a cheap hotel room.

She hadn't even grabbed the keys to the car her and Luke shared and her phone was dead so she couldn't uber or call a taxi. She'd have to walk. The nearest hotel wasn't far, maybe a few blocks away. But it'd still take a while to get there by foot.

Halfway done with the walk, Marina was paying no attention to where she was walking and collided with a body. She let out an 'oof' as the force sent her stumbling back a bit.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking, are you okay?" A raspy feminine voice asked her.

Marina looked up and was met with a girl. She looked to be around the same age as her and had blonde hair and striking green eyes. She was short and slightly muscular, wearing black yoga clothes and a bag hanging from her shoulder.

"It's okay. It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention" Marina smiled softly as she apologized to the woman. "I'm Marina."

"Reyna", Reyna stuck her hand out and Marina politely shook it.

"It's nice to meet you."

"Now tell me. What are you doing wandering the streets alone at this hour?" Reyna asked, feigning curiosity. There was something off about her that Marina was quick to notice but she couldn't figure out what it was.

"Um...boy trouble?" Marina said though it came out as more of a question. Reyna was a stranger and Marina couldn't tell her her whole life story.

"Ah. Well that sucks. Is that why you're with a suitcase?"

Marina consciously looked down at her green suitcase and shrugged. "I figured we needed a break so I'm off in search of a hotel room."

"Why don't you come stay with me? Only if you want though. I promise I'm not a serial killer or anything." Reyna said with a small laugh and Marina sent her a tight smile.

"Well I...I don't know. I don't know you."

"Well I'm Reyna. I'm new to town. I'm just getting back from my job at the gym and I really like grilled cheese and cats."

Marina laughed slightly and thought for a few moments before replying.

"Okay."

"Fantastic."
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A/N

If you're still around, holy fuck you're loyal asf 😂 seriously thank you for your support.

I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. I kinda lost feeling in this book but started writing again and couldn't stop :)))

I love you all!