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fourteen

I left Luke's the next morning, a new letter in my hand.

We didn't do anything but sleep last night. We stayed up late, laughing and talking about everything. 

Bell,

We made love four months after we met.

It wasn't anything special, even though I really wanted it to be. I really wanted to take you out to dinner, spread those fake rose petals across the bed, light candles, pop a bottle of champagne, all that shit.

We were on the sofa, watching some stupid soap opera that we ended falling in love with, your legs were on my lap, my hand on your thigh. You were grinning as you favorite character popped on screen, which was Duke, who's not hotter than me, btw. 

One commercial, I was tickling you, I ended up on top of you, your legs wrapped around my waist.

I'm not gonna write all the details because this isn't 50 Shades of Grey, I just wanted you to know that it was absolutely magical.

It was slow, passionate, full of love, it was perfect. 

Right when I, you know, inserted-you know..you giggled. It was silent and you just let out a giggle. I smiled and kissed you, I loved you so much right then. 

We just started laughing up a storm right then and there. 

The sad part was we missed the rest of the soap opera and someone important died.

Love you. 

                                                                                                                 - Luke

I smiled at the letter, folding it up and slipping it into the same drawer.

At dinner, my parents were mumbling on about David and I was tuning them out.

"What do you say?"

"Sorry, what?"

"Will you come to our banquet tomorrow night?"

I quickly nodded. "Of course."

After dinner, I called Luke, a grin on my face. "Hey."

"What's up beautiful?"

I smiled. "So, my parents are having this banquet and I really want you to come."

"I don't know..."

"Please?" I whined. "For me?"

"Fine."

***

I pulled on the dress, looking in the mirror. "I don't know, Mom.."

"You look so good," she smirked. "David will be drooling."

"Yeah." I huffed.

I helped my parents set up before meeting Luke outside. 

He, surprisingly, was wearing a suit. Something different than his skinny jeans and band tee shirts.

"Holy balls," I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. "You look amazing."

"Not as amazing as you," he smiled back, kissing my lips softly. "You look beautiful."

I intertwined my fingers with him and pulled him inside, sitting at a table near the back. Gladly, my parents didn't see Luke and I throughout almost the entire dinner.

"Dance with me." I said to him.

He raised his eyebrows. "You don't even know how to dance, plus, you didn't want anyone to see us."

"I don't care if anyone sees us." I said, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the dance floor.

I smiled as I wrapping my arms around his neck, his resting on my waist, his blue eyes looking into mine.

"You know, my eyes are bluer than yours." He whispered to me.

I shook my head at him. "No, they're not."

He smiled down at me. "I love you so much."

I smiled back. I opened my mouth to finally say it back when my mom said something through the mic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming tonight, thank you for all the donations to our company," she said. "To close the night, my friend David has something to say."

I furrowed my eyes, dropping my hands to my side as I watched David push through the crowd, his eyes on me.

I reached out for Luke but the crowd had already pulled up apart. 

"Arabella," he said to me. "I love you so much and I have never loved anyone like I've loved you."

Except yourself.

He pulled a box from his pocket, kneeling down on one knee as my mouth dropped in shock. "Arabella Toth, will you marry me?"

Gasps were heard all around the room, people staring at me, waiting for an answer.

I turned and looked at Luke, watching his blue eyes fill with sadness as he turned away. 

"Well?" My mom asked from stage.

I looked down at David, watching him pull a tight smile as he held the big diamond ring in his hand. He raised his eyebrows, starting to become impatient.

"I'm sorry," I breathed, backing away. "I can't marry you."

I quickly turned away before he could say anything, moving to the only room Luke could be.

I opened the door and closed it, sighed as I saw him facing the window. "Luke."

He turned around, tears on his cheeks. I moved over to him, my hands moving to his face. He flinched away, putting space between us.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"I don't fit in here." He said, pulling at his tie.

"Have you ever fit in?" I chuckled, trying to lighten the situation.

"I can't even fit in with your family," he said, his voice wavering. "They want you to be with David."

"I don't care," I said to him. "I want to be with you."

"Maybe we shouldn't do this anymore." He said, his tears audible in his voice.

"What?" I asked, taking a step forward. "I'm not marrying David, I'm not even dating him, I'm with you. I want you."

"No, you don't," he shook his head. "I'm not good for you. You should be with your family."

"Yes, you are good for me," I said, reaching out to him as tears fell down my cheeks. "Luke, please."

"You'll never love me as much as I love you and I can't handle that," he sobbed, sucking in a breath. "You don't even know me. You're not going to get your memory back and remember who we are together."

"We can make new memories," I quickly said, tears falling down my cheeks. "Start a new life."

"I can't."

"If you love me, why are you walking away from me?" I yelled as he reached for the door.

"I can't have you," he shook his head. "I love you so fucking much, Bell, but my life is not the life for you."