She Looks So Perfect

Chapter Twenty-Three

Luke's POV

I've made a mistake. I don't know what to do, and it's freaking me out. I think I've fallen for two different people.

Elizabeth loves me. She really does; and I love her too. Spending two years with someone intimately can do that, I guess. Breaking up with her really screwed with me, and thinking of her being even half as bad as me turns my stomach upside down.

I don't want her to hurt; I didn't want to do it. But I can't be with someone who just reminds me of another.

Rylie loves me; she told me so. I love her too I believe, and I'm so fucking torn betweeen the two of them.

Three years ago, I wasn't able to imagine myself with anyone romantically, no one even finding me remotely interesting. Now I'm stuck, a constant internal argument. Rylie or Elizabeth?

My emotions were rippling through my mind, the weight never lifting as I slowly fell under the pressure.

"What do I do?" I thought out loud whilst sitting on Ash's couch with Michael.

"What?" He asked, tearing his eyes from the comedy playing about in the background.

"Oh, sorry. Thinking out loud," I said, which I seemed to do more often than not.

"You okay?" He asked. Michael was a secluded person, but he cared deeply about many people, and he knew how to handle tense or pressed situations.

"Yeah, I just, I'm having girl trouble."

"Rylie?"

"Uh, partly," I trailed off. I didn't really think this through; he didn't know about Elizabeth. None of them did.

"You wanna tell me about it?"

Did I want to risk it? "It's Elizabeth too."

Silence. The only thing heard was the studio audience laughing generically on the comedy continuing on the screen across from us, "Elizabeth? Like, the one you dated?"

"Uh, yeah. Michael, can I trust you with something?" I couldn't believe the newly discovered confidence rushing through me like a high.

"Of course."

"I just broke up with Elizabeth. Two days ago."

Silence once again.

"If you'll just give me the chance to expla-"

"Why didn't you tell me? Do the other guys know? Does anyone?"

"No one but you, I, and her. I didn't tell anyone Michael, for this reason actually."

"How long?"

"We didn't actually ever take a break. The night you guys stormed off, I went and found her, and apologized."

Once Calum, Ash, and Michael had stormed off, I was in a frenzy. I was pacing my room, crying, the hot tears nipping at my cheeks. I couldn't lose all four of them in one night; that was too much to bear. I couldn't even drive yet, so I grabbed my bike from the side of the house and rode it to her house. It took fifteen minutes, and my legs were on fire and jelly-like all at once, but I ignored my body and shakily pulled myself to her door, knocking although it worsened my headache.

No one answered for several minutes, and just as I was about to give up and trail back home, her mum opened the door. I must have looked pathetic. With my back arched, blood shot eyes and wet cheeks, I wasn't an attractive sight, "What's gotten you, Luke?" She said, wide-eyed, pulling me into her home.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I said, referring to entering her house, "I need to talk to Lizzy, I've made a mistake." I plainly said.

"Do you need to talk to her?"

I begged, holding onto the side of the house to catch my breath, "Please."

She came out with red eyes, and messed up hair. The clouds started rolling in, along with thunder. As the rain began slowly, she looked everywhere but me, her arms crossed.

"Lizzy, please. I love you."

She wasn't going to give in that easy, "Look, I know I've been wrong. I know that more than anything, Lizzy, please give me another chance. You mean more to me than anything. Please."

I couldn't tell if she was crying or not, due to the lack of light and the abundance of rain, but I pulled her in for a hug. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and kissed her forehead.

"Dude, why wouldn't you tell me this shit?"

"I didn't want to lose you," I trailed off.

"That's still fucked up. You wouldn't have lost me, but now you have," he got up, going towards the door, "Don't bother contacting me, mate."

I got up, following him out. I wasn't going to let this happen again, "Michael, please, just hear me out."

He continued on, stopping just before reaching his car, "What?"

"Michael, I didn't want to cause any more trouble than what's already been done. I know I've fucked up, but give me another chance."

He stood in front of me, silent, not moving a muscle, looking at the ground. An angry smirk played on his face, and I didn't know how to read it.

"I think I'm in love with Rylie."

He looked up from the ground, his eyes darkening with anger, "You're in love with her. Really? Then why? Why would you be with Elizabeth? You're sick, fucking sick."

"I didn't know. As soon as I realized it, I broke up with Elizabeth. I can't handle this, Michael. I don't know who to pick and I know you would pick Rylie, I know you wouldn't think twice about Elizabeth, but that's because you've never given her a chance."

He laughed, "She's an asshole. I don't know why you've given her a chance at all."

I stood straight and confident, ready for anything, although I knew Michael's stance on violence, "I've given her a chance because everyone deserves a chance. Everyone. She deserves it just as you do. The reason you don't understand her and my love for her, is because you've never given her a chance."

"I think you've made a mistake in this," he said, turning towards his car once more.

"Maybe it's you." I turned around and stormed into Ash's house.