Room 221 || Lucaya

Calm Before the Storm

MAYA'S POV:

"Just come back to me."

"I feel..." I begin, not quite finding the right word to describe my state of being.

My state of being could be described as... broken. I feel broken. Picture frames are usually described as broken, not people. However, picture frames are so very similar to a human being. The gorgeous, ornate exterior, decorated to the tee can be compared to a person's feign smile to fool those around them. Pictures have the frame decorated the compliment the picture, or to even hid the flaws of the picture. Similarly, human beings put on a forefront that they are okay, when on the inside, they are truly broken. The inside of the picture frame is the picture, which is protected by the fragile piece of glass. For humans, that piece of glass is the walls built up to protect secrets, emotions, and true identity. When the glass is broken, the true picture is revealed. Sometimes, it's not always pretty.

I feel stupid. Why the hell did I let myself consume alcohol in the first place? But truth being told, I am so confused as to how I am this impaired with so little alcohol in my system. I have never been a lightweight—not even at fifteen years old when I used the chronic bitterness to drown away my father's absence.

I feel lost. I feel lost as to why I am here. Why in God's name did Lucas leave his own girlfriend to save a girl who has done nothing but be a complete sassy bitch to him? Why is he taking such great, gentle care of me like I am his wife of fifty years? Why does he not think a second about how Riley is doing? Why does he not disobey me and take me to a hospital? And most importantly: why do I feel so damn comfortable being bare naked in his presence?

Lucas scoots closer to the edge of the bathtub, resting his arms on the edge.

Breaking the disconnection, little by little.

"Penelope, you can talk to me right now. You can tell me anything," he assures me, firmly settling into my blue eyes.

Those hazel eyes, oh my goodness they get me every time. I just fall into them without even looking. When our windows to the soul meet, all the insecurities in that moment are vanished, and I feel safe and sound as if no one were to ever touch me again.

"Honey, you're mine again."

I crack.

"I feel so... worthless," I whisper, glancing down in embarrassment at the clear water.

A slight shriek leaves Lucas' mouth. "Why on earth do you feel like that? You are not worthless."

Why? Who? How? When?

One simple question, yet so many answers.

"Lucas!" I shout, my mellowness suddenly fading and anger taking over, "Why are you here? You shouldn't be here! I'm worthless... so damn worthless..."

In that very moment, all of my sadness, anger, and anxiety boiled up into one single flame ready to fire at the one person in reach—and that person was Lucas.

His knuckles grip the edge of the bathtub so tightly that they begin to turn white. Lucas leans over towards my face, causing me to lean back in fear.

I feared Lucas for once in my life.

"Why am I here?! I'm here to save you! You were being hurt, so I fucking saved you!" He screams quite loudly as his temper rises, I began to worry if the students in the hallways could hear what was going on in the tiny bathroom in Room 221.