I Hate You But I Love You.

I Hate You But I Love You. Chapter 24

**Scarlet’s P.O.V.**

“Why do I have to have four tests in one day?” Alice whined. I chuckled at her and shrugged, continuing to my locker. But I saw something strange. Lukas and Mark were standing in a corner talking in hushed voices. But it looked like Mark was trying not to yell.

He suddenly looked up at me, “Scarlet! Come over here.”

Lukas whipped around and stared at me, his eyes wide, and I noticed he had a band aid on his throat near his jaw bone, “No Scarlet, stay over there!” and then he whipped back to Mark and punched him in the arm.

“What’s their problem?” Alice muttered.

I reached my locker and started dialing the combo, “I have no idea. They’re just odd.”

“Do you think Lukas gets into fights with people a lot?” Alice questioned, almost absentmindedly.

I raised an eyebrow at her, “Why would you say that?”

“Well he always has some kind of band aid or bruise. He has that band aid on his neck,” she pointed out.

I shrugged, “Maybe he cut himself shaving?”

“Hmmm,” she hummed and then shrugged. But I think by now I knew the answer about Lukas. I didn’t know for sure, but if you pay attention the signs are obvious.

“Hey Scarlet, Alice,” Dakota greeted, coming up to us.

“Hi Dakota. Hey, do you know what Mark and Lukas are fighting about?” I asked, looking over at the two who were still having a hushed argument.

Dakota rolled his eyes, “Knowing those two, the same thing it’s always about.”

“Well maybe you should go calm them down? They look like they’re about to murder each other,” Alice said, looking at them. Actually a lot of the students in the hallway were looking at them.

“Good idea,” Dakota muttered, and then walked over to them. Mark saw him first and started saying something, but Dakota cut him off by placing a hand on each of their shoulders. They all had a quiet conversation and then Dakota pushed Mark one way and pushed Lukas in the other direction.

“Conflict is diffused,” Dakota said happily walking back towards us. But that was also the direction he pushed Lukas so Lukas was behind him. He was looking at the ground, trying to ignore us but Dakota grabbed his arm and made him face us, “Lukas, say hello.”

Lukas rolled his eyes and shook his arm out of Dakota’s grip, “Hello.”

“Hi Lukas,” I smiled at him. He flipped his bangs out of his eyes and offered a small smile.

“Did you cut yourself shaving?” Alice asked, staring at the band aid on his neck.

Lukas hand went up to it, “Uh, yeah.”

“Oh Alice, always the blunt one,” I awkwardly laughed.

She shrugged, “I was curious.”

“Well you know what they say,” Dakota smiled, “Curiosity killed the cat.”

I started laughing while Alice looked at him with wide eyes. “Come on Alice, let’s go to class.”

~*~*~

Art class seemed pretty awkward today. Lukas and Mark normally sit next to each other but instead Lukas sat next to me and Dakota was next to Mark. They also weren’t saying much; so basically Dakota and I were talking, trying to bring them into the conversation.

“Oh Lukas, I texted you yesterday, did you get it?” Dakota asked.

Lukas looked up and shook his head, “I, uh, lost my phone.”

“That’s odd,” Mark muttered.

“And why is that ‘odd’?” Lukas snapped.

Mark shrugged and tried to look innocent, “You just don’t normally lose things. You sure someone didn’t steal it?”

Lukas clenched his jaw, “I’m sure.”

“So, um, you guys hear of any good concerts coming to town?” I asked, hoping they wouldn’t start fighting.

“You’re a liar Lukas,” Mark whispered.

Lukas quickly stood up and said in a low voice, “Fuck you.”

Mark stood up too and shouted, “No! Fuck you Lukas!”

“Boys!” our teacher yelled, appalled. The whole class was watching intently, but Lukas and Mark were just glaring at each other. “Is there a problem boys?” she continued.

“No ma’am,” Lukas said in a low voice.

Mark sucked in a breath, “No.”

“Well Mark, you’ll have to go to the office for cursing. Lukas, I want to talk to you in the hallway.”

After they were gone and our classmates started talking and I leaned across the table and said to Dakota in a hushed voice, “Does Lukas get abused?”

Dakota’s eyes were wide in shock and he sputtered, “Wh-But.. uh.”

“So he does,” I muttered, sitting back in my seat, “Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone.”

Then Lukas came back in the room and sat next to me with a huff, “Sorry ‘bout that guys… Is something wrong Dakota?”

Dakota started chuckling awkwardly, “Haha, what? Why would you say that?”

“You’re really pale and look like you peed your pants,” Lukas smirked.

Dakota rolled his eyes, “I did not pee my pants for your information. And I’m pale because… I’m a vampire! Rah!” Then he ducked his head down and started scribbling on his paper furiously.

Lukas looked at me with a raised eyebrow, “What’s wrong with him?”

I shrugged, “You’ve known him longer.”

I didn’t think Dakota would freak out so much; I guess I just surprised him. But as much as Dakota’s antics are amusing, I was sad to find that out about Lukas. Then I wondered if I should tell him that I know. Well maybe not now; but that also explains why he and Mark have been fighting so much.

But do I even want to talk about it? I’ve just been getting over my abused past; would I be able to talk about it with Lukas? At least without making any jokes.

I stole a glance at Lukas while he was drawing. There were still some signs of that old bruise on his face, but his eyes looked so sad and broken. Curiosity got the better of me and I started wondering what his life was like. But I knew I couldn’t ask, especially not here.

The bell rang and we started packing up our stuff.

“Hey Lukas,” I started. He stopped and looked at me. “Do you, um, wanna hang out after school for a bit?”

He smiled a little, “Yeah, sure.”