more ↠ lrh

twenty-five

Class was boring per usual but it was more bearable because I was actually in a good mood for once.

After class, I went to my parent's house, parking in the driveway before walking up.

"Arabella!" My mom smiled, hugging me tightly.

"Mom, you saw me last week," I chuckled, hugging her back before pulling away. "I'm actually only here to pick up something."

She raised her eyebrows. "Which is what?"

"I know about the letters." I said as her face fell. 

She sighed, her eyes meeting mine. "I kept them for a reason."

I raised my eyebrows, rolling my eyes. "And what's that?"

"To protect you."

"From what?"

"Him."

I scoffed and extended my hand to her. "Give them to me."

"Bella-"

"Now."

She sighed heavily before moving over to the desk in the study, pulling out a large stack of letters, a rubber band wrapped around them. "We got one every day. You know, you could just text each other."

I took the stack from her hand and bit my lip to stop from smiling. "Thanks."

I drove back to town, deciding to drive to the coffee shop and getting some hot chocolate for Luke and I. I drove past Mugs, seeing that it was actually open.

I found a parking spot outside before heading inside, not seeing any changes. No remodeling?

Molly was standing behind the counter, smiling at me. "Arabella, hi!"

"Hi," I smiled back. "Remodeling done already?"

She furrowed her eyebrows. "We haven't remodeled anything."

"Oh." I simply said, trying to think why Luke would lie to me. 

"Your regular?"

"No, actually," I said. "Two hot chocolates."

I paid and she handed me the two drinks and I thanked her one last time before heading out to my car.

Mugs wasn't remodeling, why was Luke at the Hideout?

I knocked on his door, my mind elsewhere once he opened it. "Umm..hello?"

"Sorry," I chuckled, stepping inside. "I actually stopped to get some drinks."

His eyes fell to the cups, eyes widening at the logo. "Mugs, they finished remodeling already?"

I set them on the table, turning around to face him. "They weren't remodeling at all."

His eyebrows rose in shock. "Really? Wow, I s-"

"Cut it out," I rolled my eyes. "Why were at the Hideout and why did you lie to me?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets, moving his eyes to the floor. "I just-I wanted to see you."

"You could have called me Luke, you didn't have to show up in my place and lie to me."

"I'm sorry," he sighed. "I just missed you."

I shook my head. "No, I'm still pissed you lied to me."

"Babe, it's not that big of a deal."

"So, you showed up there-my place, by the way-"

"Wy do you keep saying that?" Luke cut me off. 

"Mugs was our place right, but now it's yours," I said as he nodded. "How would you feel if I showed up at Mugs everyday?"

"I wouldn't min-"

"Don't lie to me again!" I sighed, running a hand through my hair. 

"Bell-"

"The Hideout was the place where I felt comforted, where I could escape and just chill for a while," I explained calmly. "No offense, but you stressed me out, Luke, and you showed up there and it just-it stressed me."

"I stress you out?"

"Stressed, Luke."

"Are you really mad over this?"

"You just-you intruded a personal space for me over nothing-"

"Not for nothing!" he sighed. "I wanted to see you, Bell."

"You told me to leave you and make a life for myself, right?" I said to him. "I did and you just come back and expect me to have a spot right for you?"

"No, but I hoped."

I shook my head, sighing as I sat on the couch. "You lied to me."

"Alright, yeah?" Luke said to me. "I'll probably lie to you tomorrow when you asked me if a shirt looks good, I'll probably lie to you when I tell you I feel okay, this is stupid."

"It's not stupid to me!" 

"Arabella."

"Luke." I mimicked him, setting my hands on my hips.

"I don't want to fight over something stupid like this."

"We don't have to fight." I said, setting my purse on my shoulder.

"Good because-wait, where are you going?"

"We can't fight if I'm not here to fight with you."

"Bell, please, don't go-"

"I'll see you later." I said, pulling my hand from his and moving down the hall back down to the car.

Maybe it was stupid. Maybe I was stupid for thinking that Luke's lie was important, but it was. He set me up. It wasn't fair to me, it wasn't fair that he invaded my space.

Once I got home, I tossed the stack of letters on the couch, falling next to them.

Hesitantly, I ripped open the first one and unfolded it.

Bell,

I miss you so much.

Every day I wake up and still reach for you, I still can't sleep on your side. Sometimes I made Calum cuddle with me because I miss holding you so much.

No matter what temperature it was, you would always cuddle with me. Last winter, when I was sick and the heat was broken, you made me put a shit ton of clothes on, you pulled socks on my feet, beanie on my head, and you cuddled with me.

You made me hot chocolate, you took my temperature, and gave me medicine. I love you for that.

A week later, you were sick because of me and then it was my turn to take care of you.

Even in the middle of the summer, you would throw all the blankets off, you would take off all your clothes, turn the air conditioner on full blast, but you would still cuddle into my chest and wrap your arms around me.

I miss cuddling with you. I miss you so much. 

Love you.

                                                                                                                                       - Luke