When we pull up to the park, I immediately spot Ben's car. He sure was eager to get here.
"So what am I supposed to do?" I ask Luke shyly. I look at him, but he gives me no glance back.
"Just go talk to him and I'll worry about the rest," he says sternly.
I didn't know if I was supposed to sweet talk him or go off; I would much rather the second option. I don't bother asking Luke though.
I almost go to kiss him goodbye, but stop myself when I realize that he probably won't accept my kiss.
"I love you," I say quickly as I open the door and hop out. I don't hear anything back, which I expected, and shut the door before walking away.
I get a nervous feeling in my stomach as I enter the park. A few people are here, parents mostly, while supervising their children that are playing on the playground. I spot Ben lightly swinging on swing. When he sees me, his face lights up and he waves me over. As I approach him, he stands up and holds his arms out. Why would he expect a hug from me? Then I remember that I drug him here and am supposed to be playing nice.
When I get over to him, I let myself slide into his arms. I feel so uncomfortable and annoyed as he squeezes me. I'm doing this for Luke, I remind myself. I take deep breath as he releases me and look into his eyes. The eyes that once belonged to my best friend, but now reside in someone I despise; someone who might have just ruined my relationship. I gulp down my anger and begin the lies.
"Follow me," I say as sweetly as I can. I guide him into the wooded area just in case he is also trying to set me up and there are any paps around.
I keep my eyes focused on the ground the whole time we walk in silence. When it suddenly grows darker, I know we are in the shade. I lead him a few more steps in, just so that we are completely out of sight from anyone at the park. There are trails that run throughout the small forest, so I take him to an area I used to go to so that no one will be able to see us. Whenever I needed to get out of my house and away from my parents or just from reality for a little while, I would come to this secluded spot. I would bring my headphones and lie back on the grass, not caring about a thing in the world.
"Are you taking me somewhere to murder me?" He asks jokingly.
I'm not, but Luke might.
"We're almost there," I say with a fake smile, avoiding his question and my thoughts. I sure hope Luke wasn't going to try to kill him. There's no telling what he'll do when he's angry.
When we reach our destination, I turn around and face him.
"So why'd you bring me here?" He asks with a smile.
"I wanted to be alone with you. I never know if there's going to be people with cameras around, and I didn't want any of this to be posted anywhere. I don't want anyone, especially Luke, to see us together yet."
"Yet?" He asks mischieviously.
"I have to break up with Luke first, then I'm all your's." I want to throw up all of the lies that are coming from inside me. I don't know how I could possibly sound believable when I don't even believe myself when I say these words.
"Prove it," he whispers.
"Prove what?" I ask.
"That you're going to be mine. And that you want me." His smile has disappeared and he now has a dark look on his face that I would not be expecting to see right now.
"And how can I do that?" I gulp quietly, hoping he doesn't notice.
"Kiss me," he demands.
My stomach is now aching from the nerves that are blowing up inside. I don't want to kiss him, that is the absolute last thing that I want to do; but so far Luke hasn't done anything and I have nothing left to stall him with. He will get suspicious if I don't do as he asks, and I can't have that. I have to do this.
I walk closer to him as slowly as I can. I don't break eye contact; I have to make all of this believable. When I am close enough to him that my chest is against his, I stare at him for a few moments more. When I realize that there is nothing left to do, I stand up on my tippy toes and slowly make my way towards his lips. I close my eyes and squeeze them shut, not being able to hide my anxiety. At least his eyes were closed too.
As I feel nothing, even though I am to the point of where his lips should be, I open my eyes to a surprise. Ben is now lying on the ground a few feet away from me, Luke standing next to me. I haven't seen this much anger in his eyes since his last encounter with his brother. My breathing has picked up and I don't know what's going to happen next.
Ben stares up at both of us, confused and angry to say the least. "What the hell is going on?" He yells. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you!"
He jolts up as if he's going to attack me. ME. But before he can get far, Luke kicks him hard in the stomach, making him slam back onto the ground and clench his wounded area.
"Don't you dare touch her," Luke says quietly, but angrily. A deep voice that I have come to known. At first I was afraid, but I know that was his voice when he was protecting me. It still didn't give me the best feeling.
"Too bad I already did," Ben says as he tries to laugh, but the pain forces him to wince and hold his stomach again. "I almost got even farther this time," he coughs. I can tell he is trying not to cry. I don't even feel bad for him.
Luke does not like these words and kicks him for a second time. This time Ben yells out. Luke grabs the hem of his shirt and picks him up, dangling him in front of him. I guess I never really realize how strong Luke is until he is harming someone.
"You're lucky I don't fucking kill you right here," he whispers to him. With no effort at all, he throws him against the ground once again. He jumps on top of him and starts slamming his fist against his face, causing his nose to gush blood. Flashbacks of the fight he had with his brother flood my mind and I begin to panic. Ben deserves a good, hard punch, but I know Luke can take this too far. He doesn't think straight in his stage of anger. However, I know not to get near him, since last time he ended up hurting me.
"Luke!" I yell. "You have to stop and we have to get out of here!"
Nothing. Nothing besides the continuation of his knuckles pounding into Ben's nose.
"Please baby, stop all of this." My nerves are shot and I am starting to feel dizzy. He could get into huge trouble if anybody sees this, and that's the last thing we needed right now. "Luke," I begin sobbing. He finally stops at the sound of my voice for a second time. "I love you. I love you so much and no one else. He will never matter to me. Please stop and let's leave. This doesn't have to happen anymore. We're leaving here soon anyways. Just come on and we can disappear from here. No one has to know. He got what he deserved, but that's enough. Things are getting out of hand." I pause, letting my tears catch up with my words. "Come with me," I whisper. He turns around to look at me, the anger has somewhat dispersed from his eyes. I hold out my hand and he hesitantly grabs it. My heart races from his touch, the first sense of contact I've had from him for what seems like days. I pull him up and glance into his eyes as he stares back into mine. He looks drained, mentally and physically. He looks almost as if he is the one who just got beaten. I can sense that tears are trying their hardest to make their way down his cheeks, but he does well to not let them out. "Let's go," I whisper.
I tighten my fingers around his and begin to walk when I notice something wrong.
Ben's limp body still lying on the ground.
