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fourteenth

day the nineteenth

**

She'd barely eaten and locked herself in her bedroom. Her eyes were glued to the ceiling as she laid still on her bed. The event that took place days before kept running over and over in her mind.

It was as if a tape was pushed on repeat, the memory kept coming back and she couldn't stop it. The way his lips felt, his hands on her back and then in her hair, how he gripped her tighter. Only to be yanked away mere seconds later. She couldn't get his voice out of her head, the raw anger it possessed.

But worst of all was the way he stared at her. His face possessed clear distaste as if he couldn't even stand to look at her.

Wren ignored the ring at the door, lifeless eyes continuing to stare at nothing. The person outside continued to knock and frantically press the bell.

After a while, it stopped. Once again, Wren was welcomed with comforting silence. But a knock at her window made the numbness dull a bit, as she slightly turned her head.

When she didn't make a move to open it, the guest started tossing pebbles at the glass. Knowing her mom would have a fit if there was so much as a scratch, Wren angrily got to her feet and threw open the window. To no surprise, she came face to face with Luke.

"Uh, hey." He looked clearly uncomfortable, rubbing the back of his neck and gnawing his lip ring.

She didn't answer, looking at him as if he was transparent. 

"Can I come in?" 

Wren again answered him with silence but stepped out of the way. Luke put one long leg after the other through the windowsill. His blue eyes swept the room, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"I really like your room, very punk rock." His gaze landed on hers, prominent dimples exposed on his cheeks. When she continued to stare at him blankly, he spoke again.

"So, how's it going?" He cautiously walked across the room, taking a seat in a chair and picking up an eraser on the desk. He twirled it around with his long fingers, looking at her with an earnest expression.

Not responding, Wren continued to gaze out the window at nothing in particular. Luke sighed,  looking at his hands.

"That bad, eh." Blue eyes flicked back up to her, his smile fading to be replaced with concern. "I feel awful, Wren. I didn't know that night messed you up this bad.

She finally spoke. " Not everything is about you."

Shock registered across his face, the twirling of the object in his hand stopped. "Excuse me?"

"I'm not upset because of you." Her voice hovered above a whisper. "I could care less about that night."

Clear hurt flashed across his face, he bit the inside of his cheek. "Oh, uh, that's... cool."

Uncomfortable silence rested over them, Luke opened his mouth numerous times, but couldn't find any words to say.

"You can leave now, nobody's asking you to be here." The statement that fell from her mouth sightly surprised her, she was acting exactly like...

"No they aren't, but I'm staying whether my company is wanted or not." A whisper of a smile danced on his lips. 

Wren didn't understand why he was sitting in her room, much less staying. If she was in his position, she would want nothing to do with her.

"Oh," she whispered.

"So, I guess you're not going to tell me what's wrong?" Luke asked. Wren gave a slow shake of her head, he nodded in understanding.

"I get that, talking really screws things up, doesn't it?"

And despite everything that had happened, Wren let out a laugh. Luke was right, talking did screw things up.

"Well, just know I'm here and I'm not leaving. I'll give you some time, just call me whenever." He stood up, a sad smile lingered on his face. Luke slowly walked over to the open window, casting wren one last look and draping a leg outside.

"Wait." Her voice stopped him, Luke slowly turning his head around.

"Yeah?"

She reached out and wrapped her arms around Luke's broad shoulders. He was still for a second, shocked by her action. But it didn't take long for him to wrap his arms around her waist. He pulled her closer and she didn't protest, he softly stroked her hair as a tear slipped down her cheek.

After what seemed like a lifetime, they pulled away.

"You're going to be okay," Luke said softly, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"Yeah." Wren gave a small smile. "I know. I'll call you."

"I'll be waiting." He gave her a wink and a salute, ducking under the window. Shutting it, he stepped onto the roof, giving her one last smile and disappearing from sight.

Something about his appearance made a relaxed feeling rush through her body, she knew what she had to do.

Not even bothering to call him or grab a pair of shoes, she raced to his home with hair flapping behind her.

She was going to apologize, talk to him, be satisfied with being just friends. Wren punched the doorbell with no response. Continuing to do so, but no answer. She twisted the handle and the door creaked open.

A woman stood in the entrance, boxes in her hands. The way she looked, was absolutely heartbreaking. Bags hung under her dull eyes, she wore pj bottoms and socks, a green shirt with a large stain on the front sagged against her skinny frame.

"Hello?" The greeting came out as more of a question.

"Are you Wren?" She asked, her voice soft and defeated.

"Uh, yeah." Wren could feel her heartbeat in her throat. "Where's Harry?"

The woman looked at her blankly, as if not registering what she asked. Wren was about to ask again when the woman dropped the boxes and dug around in the pocket of her bottoms. She handed Wren a couple of wrinkled papers. Wren took it with uneasiness.

"Uh, thanks?" Wren's eyes crinkled in confusion. "But that doesn't answer my question. Where's Harry?"

First, she thought perhaps the woman couldn't hear her, or maybe she was simply ignoring the question. But then the dead eyes landed on her and the words that came out of her mouth made Wren wish she didn't answer.

"He's not here."

"Then where is he?" Wren pressed on, feeling her heart drop. So that's why he had all those boxes. He was moving and didn't even tell her.

"Not here."

"Is he coming back?"

A dry laugh escaped her lips, something that made shivers run down Wren's spine. "No, he's not coming back."

And that's when it hit her. Harry wasn't coming back, because he simply couldn't.

"Why Harry?" She whispered to herself, waiting for the answer she knew wouldn't come.

**