To love you | Malum

Ch. 27 - Balance Boards + Happy Endings

Michael + Ch. 27 - Balance Boards + Happy Endings

I had another training with Aurelia today, and Ashley offered to take me – though I wouldn't let her because I knew that getting in another car with her would lead to more questions, and I didn't want to give answers. I was so afraid that she'd start to see me behind the glass for who I really am, and I wasn't really sure about why I was scared, either. I decided to wheel myself down there since it was only a block away, a block – far enough away for it to take at least five minutes, and five minutes is enough time to run into somebody that you do or don't like, and I just happened to run, or wheel, into Luke. I was still terrified of him even after he apologized and admitted that I inflicted him to be mean to me. His feelings just got in the way.

"Michael. . ," Luke said blissfully, hands gripping a ceramic coffee cup, hair sweeping across his forehead underneath a red and black beanie. "I was hoping I'd run into you today. Actually, I really just. . wanted to give you something, but if you don't want it, I understand. I wouldn't accept a gift from me either." He laughed, and his laughter was like a million dandelions flying through the air – and I wasn't sure why I thought of it that way, of him that way. I just did.

"What is it?" I asked, pressing my back further into the seat of the wheelchair for better comfort, though it didn't offer much. After what he previously told me, I couldn't help but wonder if he still felt that way, if he was being nice because he thought I'd get with him. I could never truly be sure of anything anymore. "I'll think about accepting it, but I have to know what it is first."

He reached inside of his pocket to grab out a box, velvet and black and tied with a small, cheap ribbon. "It's a promise ring. I was going to give it to Calum but. . I want you to have it. I've seen the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him, and I haven't seen anything quite like that in a very long time. It's important that you don't lose him, or that he doesn't lose you, okay? What you have is. . special, Michael. Don't forget that, ever."

I looked at him, and his eyes weren't as dull as they used to be – and that wasn't because I was admiring him, I wasn't. It just seemed like he was finally learning that being hateful doesn't get you anywhere in the long run and I appreciated that. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because at one point in my life, I had somebody look at me the way that Calum looks at you. But now he has a kid on the way. . and things have changed," Luke chuckled, his eyes watering the slightest bit. "I'm not here to talk about me or my relationship problems. I just. . want you to know that I'm sorry for ruining your life and for taking away the one thing that made you happy."

"Yeah. . thank you," I mumbled, still unsure about what I could say to him. I wasn't ready to forgive him yet for what he did to me, but he did deserve to have a chance at something, though I didn't know what that something was. I just knew he needed it. "But Luke?"

"Yeah?" He was looking down at his feet which were turned sideways and meeting one another halfway through the middle, and then he looked up, and he was a pebble that people continued to step on. I stepped on him because he stepped on me, and we both seemed to forget that we both have stories that neither of us know nothing about.

"Keep the ring. You know. . for the guy. I think you need it more." I smiled, and then I left him to stand there by the stupid stop sign  so he could feel less stupid about himself, less hateful. While I still have yet to forgive him, he has to forgive himself for what he's done. That's the only way to get closure – and I knew that he knew that when I looked back to make sure that he was okay after having that conversation, and he was smiling back. It felt nice not being hated by Luke Hemmings anymore.