The Runaway 2 - N.H.

[51] Trust me

Luke's POV

We walk slowly up the stairs before Braeden says she has to stop.

"What, what's wrong?" I ask frantically.

"My knee hurts."

"Here. Piggy back," I mumble and at first she's hesitant but then I turn around and she put her hands on my shoulders. "Now," She jumps up and I fling her legs around my waist. "You good?" I whisper and I feel her nod against my shoulder.

Just as on observation I notice she's lighter than the last time we did this. Maybe I've just built more muscle.

I slowly climb the stairs carrying Bee on my back. For the first flight we are silent until she speaks up.

"So you like Scar?" She asks quietly.

I can't help the smile that crosses my face and I look down. "'Course I like her. She's amazing."

"Good," She mumbles and I can hear the grin on her face. "You can put me down now," She says when we get through the door to her floor.

"I know," I grin and she shakes her head. We get through her door and I still haven't put her down when we see everyone sitting on the couches, deep in conversation.

"Glad you've both decided to join us," Ashton says and bites back a smile.

"Luke," Braeden whispers in my ear.

"Mm."

"Put me down," She says and bites her lip smiling.

"Shit," I mumble and quickly let her down, meanwhile they are all staring at us.

She does some weird stretch thing, probably to help her knee and we walk over to them.

She looks at Niall but he seems to be ignoring her and she squints at him before looking at the letters still sprawled out on the coffee table.

"You find him?" She asks and Scar stands up to hug her. "Did you or not?" She growls and Scar shakes her head. "Of course," She mumbles and walks away and into her room.

I look to Niall expecting him to follow her but he doesn't. He sits there, staring at the letters completely emotionless.

"Did I miss anything?" I ask slowly and a few of the look up at me, including Calum who looks pissed off.

We hear a loud thud and Scar steps forward instantaneously. "Fuck!" We hear Braeden scream so loud the walls vibrate. Scar and I are about to go in there when the door opens and we see tears streaming down her face and her left hand is clutching her right.

"Not again," Scar says and almost laughs.

"Sorry," She mumbles and blood starts running down her arm.

"What was it this time?" Scar huffs and goes into the kitchen.

"I-I can't say..." She says cautiously and looks over to the group.

Scarlette walks out with a green first aid kid and she looks confused for a second. "Oh!" She says and bursts into laughter. "Good work."

"I was only going for one but it... It's glass." Braeden explains and fights back laughter. I walk over and help wipe the blood off her hand while Scar walks into her room.

"We'll need anew frame," She mumbles carrying a large smashed picture frame but I can't see the photo.

"I don't want a new one," Bee grumbles under her breath and gasps in pain when I dab at the cut.

"I do," Scar whispers and laughs. "You look nice."

I get up to look at it and a little part of me dies. A picture of me, Ash, Cal, Mikey and Bee from the beach is there. Bee is on Cal's back and Ash is on mine, with Mikey is between us laughing his ass off. I remember that day so clearly. We'd gone to Bondi for the day because it was over forty degrees and Bee was so sick of the heat. She did live in fucking England for fifteen years but whatever. That was one of my favourite days with her, Michael wasn't sour with her like he usually was. Maybe he thought we'd see her...

A knock at the door brings me back to reality and Braeden finishes bandaging her hand and stands up, walking over to answer the door.

"What are you doing here?" She growls as soon as the door opens.

"Please bitch, I'm not here for you," I hear a male voice hiss at her and I see Kyle walk past her. "Havin' a party are we? Fan-fucking-tastic," He says when he sees all of us. I have an urge to punch him but Scar grabs my hand before I can.

"What Ky?" She asks and rolls her eyes.

"Fuck, you're with him now?" He almost screams when he sees our hands intertwined. "Scar, you could do so much better!"

"Fuck off Kyle," Bee growls.

"I know you're jealous too," He starts to laugh and Braeden's face goes red. "That's" funny."

"What do you want, Kyle?" Scarlette hisses at him and he shakes his head.

"I need to borrow Bee's Adderall prescription. I'm out and I leave tomorrow."

"Than fucking ask me," Bee growls and he rolls his eyes, not looking at her.

"Scar has it anyway," He huffs at her disappointed.

"Yeah well I'm out too so I need it." She says and I know she's lying.

"Fuck, no you're not." He scoffs and turns to walk into her room.

"Get out!" She screams and follows him. I'm tempted to go in after him and force him out myself but decide against it. I look over to the rest of them who seem confused and tired. "Get off me," I hear Bee half yell and I half run into the room. I get to the door to see them having some type of fight about something and Kyle keeps grabbing her hand. "Stop it," She growls and pushes him back.

"Why? Because you're back with that fuck head? Why aren't I good enough Braeden?" He screams and I walk in to punch the shit out of him but Braeden pushes me back.

"Luke, please." She mumbles and something about the look in her eyes tells me to step back, but I am not fucking leaving.

"Why? Braeden I've tried so fucking hard t-"

"Because you cheated on me Kyle! Why wasn't I good enough?" She screams and my heart aches for her.

"We talked about this Braeden I-"

"No you talked. I sat there and took it and you know why? Because I was so fucking scared of being alone. It had nothing to do with loving you because I don't. I don't love you. I honest to god was just scared of being alone again. I never loved you."

"So every time you told me you loved me you were lying?" He scoffs and I can almost see how much he's hurting. She nods and he looks away from her. "Is it because of them? Is it because you still loved him?" He screams.

"Who?" She asks and even I want to know.

"Oh come on, Niall, Calum, fucking him!" He screams and gestures to me. "Whichever one, was it because you knew you still loved them?"

"I didn't know! I didn't fucking know anything beside that your lips didn't taste like his, but neither did the tequila and I kept trying hoping they would. I'm sorry Kyle. But I couldn't love you, not after you did what you did," The last part she whispers and I know she's hurting. All I want to do is hug her.

"I hope you're happy," He whispers and for a second I think he's genuine but then he laughs a bit. "Don't come crawling back to me when they break your heart again."

"Trust me, I won't," She scoffs and he walks out of her room, but not before glaring at me.

"Bye Scarlette," He mumbles defeated and walks over to kiss her forehead. She stays quiet while be whispers something to her but then she slaps his arm.

"Fuck off, how dare you!" She screams and begins pushing him all the way out the door and slams it behind him.

She turns to me and then her eyes flicker to something beside me. I turn and see Braeden with a single tear slipping down her pale cheek.

"He was trying to take it." She whispers and Scar immediately turns around and opens the door.