Last Dance || 5sos

Chapter Thirty Six

In the morning, I wake up, and stretch my hand out beside me. When I realize that no one is there, realization sinks in, and I'm reminded that he's not with me. I sit up in my bed, sighing, and running my hands through my hair. I step out of bed, walking to my window and ledge, looking out at the sky. I stay there for who knows how long. I don't even realize when Sadie comes into my room, sitting on my bed. "Can we talk?" I turn to her, frowning. 

"I suppose." We didn't talk much last night. We both needed the night to our selves, to think things over. 

"I need you to know that I honestly never meant to hurt you," Sadie says. "I had no idea that Michael would ever do any of this. I never knew this side of him. When we started dating, he was so sweet, and he wasn't like this at all. When I noticed that he was acting strange toward you, I thought nothing of it, but I should have paid more attention. I'm so sorry, Noelle."

"That's not what I wanted an apology for," I say. "You shouldn't have to apologize for your boyfriend cheating on you. He's an idiot, and he doesn't know that he's just lost one of the best things to ever happen to him, if not the actual best. I'm mad because you never told me about you and Luke," I say, huffing.

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to even recognize it as my own past, Noelle. That's why I was so persistent about keeping the two of you separated. I wanted to guard you, protect you. I felt like I had to, because no one was there to protect me."

"I don't need protection. I need a sister I can trust, and friends who won't betray me, or lie to me. What happened between the two of you?" Sadie sighs.

"Before Michael and I started dating, Luke and I became friends, sort of, and we got to know each other better. As the month progressed, we got closer, and I thought that I loved him. It was stupid young love, not even love. I thought that I loved him, but he didn't love me. He loves you, Noelle. I see it every time he looks at you. You make him nervous, and Luke never gets nervous."

"Michael said he broke your heart," I continue. She frowns.

"Like I said, stupid young love. I caught him one day in the hall way, making out with one of my friends. I never talked to him after that, only to say that I never wanted to see him again. He didn't even seem genuinely sorry at the time. So that's why I didn't want you two together. I wasn't even dating Luke, at the time, but he still betrayed me just the same. Michael was there to comfort me when it happened, and soon I grew to actually love him. I was more guarded when we started dating. But now, I realize that he was always the same; he just took more time than Luke did to prove it to me. Whether on accident or not." I look out the window again, falling silent.

"You could have told me," I mumble. 

"You're right," she nods. "And I should have. I should have told you from the very start. And I'm so sorry," she says.

"I forgive you," I reply after hesitation. She smiles, holding her arms out. Eventually a smile comes to my face, and I walk into her hug. I may have forgiven her, but it doesn't mean I've forgiven Luke completely. How do I even know that he won't do the same thing to me? Am I supposed to just trust my sister's judgment? She was blinded by him once, it would be all too easy to fall for his games again. Besides, he should have been the one to tell me. When we first met, he acted like he didn't know who on earth my sister was. 

Luke had a feeling that Sadie disliked him at first, but he always acted as if he had no clue on earth why. That was a total act, because obviously he knew why. He was an ass to her. How can I just easily forgive him for that? I can't.

"I hate boys," Sadie says as we hug. I realize that I haven't even offered her comfort over her breakup when she starts to cry.

"I know. They suck, but the good thing is that sisters will always have your back, no matter what."