The Unknown - ON HIATUS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Chapter Twenty-One: Vanilla

Brooke's POV-

        The next day at school, I was the one waiting for Liam. I really needed to talk to him about Luke. After yesterday, it might have seemed like Liam was good with Luke, but I'm not taking any chances. He needs to know that Luke is not a threat and that they need to get along if he wants this to work out. So I waited...And waited... And waited until the final bell rang and I gave up on him. Where is he? He didn't say anything about not being here, so why didn't he meet me? Maybe he got sick last night and forgot to text me. Yeah, that's probably what happened. 

     I was about to send him a text when I walked into class, until I saw him sitting in his usual seat. What the heck? I decided that he probably was late, when I sat down next to him. I was going to tap his shoulder, but it seemed like he was really out of it. He didn't even notice me when I sat down, besides class was already starting. I managed to wait all the way until lunch before I started badgering him with a bunch of questions. 

"I'm just really busy right now and I have a lot on my mind," was all he said.

"Okay, then come sit down and you can tell me what's going on,"

"Actually I'm going to the library to study for an upcoming test."

"I'll go with you," I started to get up before his voice made me halt.

"Just stay here, I don't need you pestering me. I really need to pay attention right now and you would make things worse," he boomed, practically snarling  before stomping off to the library.

     I sit stunned in my seat. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes no matter how hard I tried to push them away. One lone tear fell down my cheek before I hurriedly brushed it away with the palm of my hand. I didn't want people to think I was a baby, but that thought flew out of my mind the second another fell. I got up and made my way to hallway, my hair covering my face as I went. I could feel the shocked faces of my friends staring lasers at me, but I didn't care. I needed to get away for a second. 

      I walked by a few lockers before I couldn't walk anymore and slid to the floor, my back laying against the smooth walls of my school. Then I cried. Though silently, I felt like everyone could feel my pain through the off-white walls. I may have been a little dramatic about it all, but I hate confrontation and will do anything in my way to avoid it. Anytime someone talks to me the way he did, I get flustered and thrown of balance. I just keep thinking in my head over and over again, that he hates me. He never liked me and dated me out of pure pity. He's going to break up with me and never talk to me again. All because I like to be clingy and couldn't give him a break.

    The tears just came down harder. I thought I was about to have a panic attack, when I felt the cool touch of hands brush my shoulders. I instantly calmed down. I looked up through my blurry vision and saw Luke staring down at me. He sat down next to me.

"I-I-I don't-," I started, hiccuping along the way, but was met with a gentle shush and the feel of his hands bringing me into a warm hug. I happily accepted and stuffed my face in his chest, letting the emotions gush out of me like an untamed river. I sat there with him for another five minutes before I got myself together and pulled away from Luke, the soft smell of vanilla leaving with him. 

"Thanks," I mumbled, my voice hoarse from the crying.

"No problem, I just saw you needed a shoulder to cry on," he warmly smiled at me.

"Yeah I just couldn't contain myself up there," I said while pointing to the cafeteria.

"Reasonably so. What Liam said wasn't the best way to handle that, even if he was stressed out. He has no excuse to just snap like that and think it's okay."

"I know, but I think he's just having a rough time right now, that's all. He'll cool down and when he does I'll talk to him."

"Brooke I think you should stay away from him for a little while, let him catch his bearings and think about what he did. Let him apologize  to you because you shouldn't be crying over any guy, no matter who they are."

Tears sprung to my eyes, but now for different reasons. I hugged Luke again.

"Thanks again for talking to me like this. It really means a lot," I said, genuinely meaning it. 

He threw me a smile and shrugged his shoulders," What can I say, I'm a ladies man."

I laughed and hit his shoulder. He faked being hurt, while even throwing in a little "ouch" too.

He grabbed my hands and helped me up. "Let's get you cleaned up," he said.

      It was only then did I realize I probably looked like a hot mess. When we got to the bathroom, I figured out that I was right. I had charcoal looking lines dragging down the sides of my face and my lipstick was smeared all over. I made quick work of taking it all off, somehow managing to even get to my locker before the last bell rang. For the remainder of the day I achieved in  avoiding any sign of Liam and when the last bell rang, I sprinted out of there so fast that I made it home in a record time of five minutes. That would do if this weeks exercise.

    As I lay in my bed that night going over everything , I decide that vanilla is now my favorite scent.

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Author's Note-

Extra update for the week, but technically not because I'm posting Wednesday's chapter today since I'll be out of town for the next week and won't be able to upload then. I also won't be posting next Saturday too, sadly.

In other news the question-of-the-day is: "Are you a hugging type or get uncomfortable like me?"

Answer down below and I hope you like this chapter. Don't forget to Vote, Comment, and Share. Byeeee!!!!

Until then, Kaylee