The Stoic And The Beast

Lasagna Heals All Wounds

Alicia's POV

I have no idea how I'm going to survive the week. I feel like I'm running on fumes. I've been forcing myself to keep moving. Keeping myself as busy as possible. I took on extra hours at work and furiously practiced my viola at home. Between studying, practicing and working I kept myself preoccupied with my thoughts. Sure, I put on a facade and pretended everything was fine around my friends and family but the moment things slowed down, I was back to bawling tears of anger, resentment, frustration and from being just plain worn out. I thought as time passed the pain would subside. But those images kept flooding back into my mind.

Luke and Jake's words rang in my ears. And they wouldn't leave me alone. It was making me angry about how they just would not back down. Haven't they had enough? I've had enough! But they keep coming at me. They stopped approaching me but they haven't stopped calling and texting. It's been a long week. I keep deleting the messages and voicemails. I don't want to hear their lame excuses.

The stress from everything is wearing me thin. I just wish they would leave me alone. I wish I could go back to before I had met them. I should have never been so careless and stupid. They are juniors. I'm just a freshman. I should have seen this coming. I should have known it was nothing but a sick game they were playing. It was probably some stupid bet. To see who could sleep with me first. I slammed my forehead into the table. Tears streamed from my eyes at the very moment the realization hit me. It was a stupid bet! I sobbed. I wondered what Luke got for his prize. I pounded my fists on the tabletop. 

Why won't they just leave me alone! I screamed as my phone lit up once more. I didn't bother to check it. I knew it was one of them. I stood up and shoved my phone in my pocket. I shoved the tears and my thoughts back as deep down as I could. I put my emotions in check so I could finish closing up the shop. I wiped down the tables then I grabbed my bag and coat and stomped through the door, locking it and giving it a hard shake before walking away. The snow was falling again in big fat clumps. I lifted my head to the sky as I walked past the orangey hues of the street lamps. It was dark outside. All the shops lining the street were closed. There were no other people walking around or cars driving past. The night was silent. I welcomed it. I could only hear the faint patter of fresh snow landing on the ground.

I rounded the corner and headed toward the square, toward my house. I was halfway home. Then I heard something. The sound of footsteps. But they weren't my own. They were far away at first but then they sped up. They were getting closer and louder. With every louder step, my eyes grew bigger. I was ready to run. I was scared. But too afraid to look behind me. The hairs on my neck stood on end. I was about to scream. I wanted to scream but my throat closed up. My heart slammed in my chest with a thud. I spun around to face the person following right behind me. My fists balled up. I was ready to attack the person. I squeezed my eyes shut and I swung my fists but only connected with air.

"Alicia!." The voice yelled. His voice was quivering.

"Luke!" I screamed. Afraid for my life. "You scared the shit out of me. I thought I was about to be kidnapped or.. or killed!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanna talk."

I looked at him. Well, I looked above him. He was kneeled down on his knees in the snow. Holding up a plastic bag between his praying hands. His eyes were fixed on the floor at my feet. I wrapped my arms around me. I wanted to cry at the sight of him. He had tears welling up in his downcasted eyes. I saw drops falling from his chin and landing in the snow. My heart ached for him and my lungs burned. I swallowed down the hard lump that grew in my throat. I was speechless.

"I... I just wanted to give you this." Luke said as his chest heaved in and out. He held up the plastic bag higher and shoved it toward my hand. I refused to take it.