Rupture

Ch1

Ch1

“Bella!” Luke called as he ran up her driveway. She was talking to the police when he arrived.

“Luke!” She said desperately, as his arms wrapped around her.

“What happened? Where is he? Is Travis okay?”

She sniffled, pressing her cheek against his chest. “I don’t know. They just took him to the hospital to see what could be done.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. I walked in and my place was a mess. I called out to Blakely and Travis but there wasn’t an answer. I saw a blood trail from the couch cushions and found Travis behind the love seat.” She dropped her hands from his chest to around his back, clutching his shirt. “I’m so sorry Luke.”

“Hey, he’ll be okay. He’s a fighter.” He assured, cradling her head in his arm, stroking her hair. “Where’s Blakely?”

“I don’t know.” She sucked back her tears and moved her forehead to his neck. “I’m scared Luke.”

“I know, I know. But she’s gonna be okay. We’ll find her. I promise.” He placed a light kiss to her head. “We should probably get out of here, let the police do their job.”

She nodded slowly, she was becoming more and more exhausted the more he talked. The way his voice was so calm and assuring soothed her.

“We’ll go to my place.” He walked her over to his truck, opened the door for her and helped her in. “They’re both going to be okay Bella. I promise.” She nodded as he leaned in to kiss her. Then he shut the door.

Bella woke the next morning to a loud crash in the living room of Luke’s apartment. She had slept in his room while he slept on the couch.

“What’s going on?” She wondered as she heard yelling. She got up from the bed and walked into the living room, where she saw Candice yelling at Luke as she smashed a vase with his baseball bat.

“Stop it!” He shouted as he took the bat from her hands.

“What’s going on?!” Bella shouted as she picked up a busted picture frame.

“You!” Candice shouted, pointing a finger at her. “You little-“

Bella interrupted her. “I’d choose your words wisely Candice, before you say something you’ll regret.”

“Is that a threat!?”

“Does it need to be!?”

“Okay! Look!” Luke interjected, stepping between the girls. “Candice, I know I hurt you, and for that I truly am sorry. But I’m not apologizing for why I left you at the altar. I’m not in love with you.”

“You were! Until little miss sunshine came and ruined everything!”

“You’re right.” He said simply with a shrug as Bella scoffed, but he wasn’t finished. “I was in love with you, but I was in love with Bella first.”

Candice’s eyes began to water, and Luke sighed. “You should go. I put your bags by the door.”

“So this is it? You’re just going to trade me in for an old car?!”

“Hey!” Bella scoffed and leaned toward her, ready to pounce, but Luke held her back.

“A classic Cadillac.” He smiled. “I was always more of a fan of the classics.”

Candice rolled her eyes as she picked up her bags. “You’re going to pay for what you did Bella!” She slammed the door as she walked out. The room was left in silence.

“Wow!” Bella said, looking up at him. “And you almost married her.”

Luke let out a laugh, the sound of it booming through her ears. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. “How are you this morning?”

“I’m okay, you?”

“I’m better. The hospital called, said Travis was awake and doing fine.”

“That’s great!” She smiled widely for him, but the smile turned to a frown as Blakely came to mind. She let out a sigh. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m really happy he’s okay.”

“I know.” He placed his hand on her cheek, gently stroking the sleep lines on her cheek bone. “You’re just worried about Blakely.”

Bella nodded and kissed his palm before hugging him tightly. “When are we gonna go see him?”

“Visiting hours start at ten, but he’ll probably be asleep. Se we could go get breakfast and then go. Does that sound good?”

“Yeah, do you think the police are done with my house?”

“We can certainly go check it out, why?”

“I need clothes.”

“Ah, well let me get dressed real quick and we’ll head out.” He pecked her cheek and walked to the bedroom. He poked his head out again. “Oh! And sorry for waking you with all of the racket.”

“It’s fine.” She assured before he shut the door to his room. She sighed and looked around the loft. It was a mess. There was shattered glass, pictures were strewn across the floor, around the table, and spilling out of a box. It must have been pictures for the wedding.

She smiled at that.

The wedding that didn’t happen because she snagged the groom.

“Mission accomplished.” she thought to herself. She heard the shower from his bathroom and sighed. As long as she was waiting she could clean up. She made her way over to the pictures on the dining table. They were his, most of them consisted of him, her and Nick. Bella was always in the middle of the boys in every picture they took.

Until senior year, when Nick was sent to an all-boys school to, “get his act together” his parents called it. So that year it was just Luke and Bella. She picked up a picture and looked at the way they looked at each other, big ear-to-ear smiles that made their eyes squint together. Even then she looked hopelessly in love with him. If only she had realized sooner.