The Only Reason (5SOS)

XXV. Deciduous

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Michael's Point of View

My mind wasn't in the mood to give me some rest. I felt guilty for not saying anything but I had developed genuine feelings for Jess. How could I just let her go? I was well aware she was still mourning the love she had with Luke.

Jess was fast asleep, her legs lightly brushing my own. I turned on my side and watched as her chest rose and fell. She looked angelic, so peaceful and I knew I couldn't keep her in the dark. She gasped as I gently shook her out of her slumber.

"What time is it?" Jess croaked.

"Four in the morning," I replied nonchalantly.

She slowly registered the pain in my eyes and cupped my face. "What's wrong, Mikey?"

"Luke and Aleisha are going to break up in the morning," I exhaled.

Jess's face lit up for a moment but frowned almost immediately. "Michael, I told you already. Luke and I are through; you don't have to plan anything."

"Aleisha's baby isn't Luke's," I blurted. She gasped once more and covered her mouth.

"What? How? Is that even possible?" Jess inquired energetically. "Wait, how do you know?"

I explained the short story in detail and as she comprehended everything, I waited. I knew this was the last night we were going to spend together; however, I'd learn to cope with it. As cliché as this might sound, I just wanted her to be happy. She couldn't have ever been content with me because Luke was always there, reminding her of what she had lost.

"You two," I began, "are meant to be together."

Jess's frown became bigger and she opened her mouth to speak but I waved her off. She bit her lip and realized I wasn't going to change my mind, therefore, she nodded carefully. Suddenly, she threw her arms around my neck and sobbed into my bare skin.

"I do. I do love you, Michael," she cried. "I really do."

"But not as much as him," I concluded. "It's okay."

She had no intention of stopping and I slowly placed her on the bed, assuring her everything was going to fit in its place sooner or later. Then, I stood up and walked down the hall to Aleisha's room. What I had been counting on was Luke being asleep on the couch, which he was. He had wanted Aleisha to be as comfortable as possible. I crept into her room and shook her awake.

"What the hell?" She half whispered half shouted.

"Pack your shit," I growled. "I'm giving you fifteen minutes, not that you deserve them."

"What is going on?"

"You think you can screw with us all, especially Luke?" I raged.

A look of terror crossed Aleisha's face as she noted the fact that I knew. She slowly lifted herself and grabbed a duffel bag from under the bed. With one swift move, she was in front of the closet. I watched her as she threw random items of clothing into the bag and zipped it shut. I had the urge to slam her into the wall for being so calm about the entire situation.

I reached out and grabbed a pen and paper from the dresser. I instructed her to write a letter to Luke that would somehow break his heart at least a little less. However, I wanted her to hurt him due to the way he had hurt Jess. She handed me the letter and I read it, to make sure everything was in order.

Dear Luke,

I don't know how to begin this or how to end it. Let me start off by saying I'm sorry for what you're going to read. I know much you craved for a baby of your own but the child I'm carrying isn't yours. If we were still together, maybe it would've been yours. But, the child is Axel's, my current boyfriend. We are getting married as soon as he is able to leave the dangerous life behind him.

I understand you'll already hate me by the time you get to this paragraph. I want you to know what I've realized over the month we've spent with each other. Your love for Jess hasn't died down, and it won't, probably never. I have seen only two true loves in my entire life, me and Axel, you and Jess. Be good to her, she deserves it and so do you.

Once again, I truly am sorry,

Aleisha

"What now?" She asked.

"You get out," I answered angrily.

As her hand turned the doorknob to the front door, she stopped to look at me. "Why didn't you tell Luke yet?"

"I wanted to spare him the hassle of throwing you out," I replied coldly.

"Thank you for being nice to me, Michael," she said, "before all of this."

I gave a court nod and she was out the door. Her letter was safely tucked under my arm and I breathed out silently. Jess wandered into the room, clutching onto her loose bathrobe. I turned around and watched her, unsure of what to do. Should I hug her, kiss her or let her stand there? She answered my telepathic question by wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Thank you, Michael," Jess wispered. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

I untangled from her and let my lips curl up for the first time that night. She was finally free of me. "You deserve all the happiness in the world, Jessie."

Jess's Point of View

I walked into Luke's room after knocking four times and not getting a reply. He was sprawled out on the bed, passed out drunk. Ever since he read Aleisha's letter, he'd been locked up in his bedroom. That was exactly a week ago and I hadn't seen him leave the room at all, except when he ran out of booze.

I gently shook him awake and he sat upright. He didn't take his eyes off me and I suddenly forgot everything that I'd wanted to say. Luke broke our eye contact and started out of the window.

"I don't understand what happened," he mumbled. "I forgot what was in the letter." He looked at me expectedly, wanting me to remind him. I was reluctant at first but I spoke either way.

"Aleisha's boyfriend was a part of some biker gang, as far as I understood from what Michael said. She came here and pretended the kid was yours until Axel had the ability to get her, and their baby."

"Stop," Luke said. "Don't continue."

"I'm sorry," I replied.

"I told my mom she was going to have a grandchild and she was delighted, what the fuck am I supposed to tell her now?" He boomed.

"Calm down," I comforted.

Luke's eyes borrowed my gaze again and he smiled. "I'm kind of glad she's out of the picture though."

"Why?" I asked.

"Are you still with Michael?"

"No, we broke it off."

"Good," he smirked. "Now I can do this."

His lips crashed on mine; hungry, demanding and needy. I kissed him back with all the force I had in my being, melting away the desires for him of the past month. He tugged at my hair, gaining dominance as his tongue fought mine.

I grabbed his shirt and tugged it over his head, discarding it to the floor. He unbuttoned my blouse and it landed somewhere in the corner. My heart fluttered and hammered in my chest at once as he took his sweats off. I slipped my leggings off and was left in only a thong and bra.

From the corner of my eye I saw Luke retrieve something from the bedside table. I heard the ripping of foil and watched as he fixated the elastic on himself. He positioned me and smirked.

"Ready?"

A/N: This is the chapter before last, the next update will be the Epilogue. I honestly didn't think I was going to finish this and it's quite difficult to stop writing about these characters.