How To Love ✓

23.

Amara

I was left stunned and yearned for more as he withdrew. My mouth was quivering. My head was foggy, my senses were blurry, and my fingers dragged across my bottom lip. I felt drawn back by his presence, which reassured me that everything between us was genuine and authentic.

And that scared me.

His eyes watched me intensely, filled with boldness and beauty. Full of fire and passion, hidden by pain mixed with doubtful love. I drew him back in and locked my arms around his neck.

"Ouch," he groaned in pain, causing me to pull away. He held up his bloodied hands to our view and I felt bad for not seeing to these earlier.

My mouth turned down into a frown. I caressed his hands with mine. I couldn't imagine the pain he felt in that moment.

"Poor baby, we should probably see to these cuts. With the germs around in the air, they'll probably get more infected." After binding his wounds with a handkerchief he carried in his pocket, we then slowly made our way out of the studio and 

We both had Literature together in the morning, so even though I offered to let him stay in my room tonight, he insisted that I stay in his room.

"I don't want you getting into any trouble Lu," I prompted as we headed down the silent highway back to campus.

"I've been through worse baby," he grunted under his breath, connecting our eyes together. I turned my head away, blushing profusely.

"So, tell me something about you," he made small conversation, "After two and a half months of getting to know you, all I know about you is your beautiful name and your cancer story."

I glanced over to him to see him smirking. I chuckled slightly at his interest in my life.

"How did a girl from Michigan end up in California?"

"Well, I ended up getting a scholarship here, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity," I replied truthfully.

"Scholarship? Pretty fancy," he responded.

"I just... I love visual and literary arts. I love the study, I love the culture that they both bring and the whole human experience, just all wrapped up into one. Anger, sadness love, passion, acceptance, history." As I ended, I felt his hand rest upon my thigh, and he caressed the skin through my jeans. I felt his burning gaze at the side of my head, and I kept wondering what he was thinking about.

"What about you? Tell me about you. What's your story?" I asked hesitantly.

When he didn't answer I felt guilty for even trying. I was about to apologise when I heard the croak of his normally husky voice.

"Mine's pretty simple. I got some making up to do. I hurt a few people last year," was his reply.

"What do you mean you hurt a few people last year?" I furrowed my eyebrow.

He shrugged. "I just did."

I shook my head. "I don't understand you, Lucien. You want me to open up, but you won't? Healthy relationships don't work one sided."

His grip tightened on my thigh, and he winced as he realised he was putting too much force on his wounded hand. "I'm going to do my best, don't worry about me."

The night was thrilling, and the wind blew rapidly behind us. Glimpsing to the side of the road, my eyes widened, and I howl, almost making Lucien swivel into a tree.

"Qué diablos?!" He yelped in alarm. My eyes were too fixated on the fire glaring through my irises.

(What the hell in Spanish)

"A car's on fire Lucien. Someone could be in there!" I yelled at him and reached for the door handle.

"Don't fucking think you could survive through all that smoke Amara. Stay here and let me go check it out," Lucien stopped me and rushed out of the car and into the blare. Rain started to fall as soon as I noticed little droplets of water spluttering on the windscreen. Lucien then came back with a bloodied elderly, hands draped around his waist to steady him.

I rushed out of the car and into the rain and opened the back door in allowance of Lucien to lay the man across the seat.

"Is he alive?" I asked, frantically shuffling to stand next to Lucien.

"Necklace. The necklace, hanging on the rearview mirror," the man says out of breath.

"What did he say?" I yelled over the rain.

"I have it sir, I have it!" Lucien told him and went around to the driver's side and yelled for me to get in. We sped into the rain, and I turned in my seat to face the man, reaching out to place a hand over his.

I started to silently cry as I saw the open wound on his head and arms, a gush of blood pulping out and running down his face and body.

Pulling up in front of STANFORD HOSPITAL at 300 Pasteur Drive, Lucien cut off the engine with me already being outside. grabbing ahold of the stranger's arm.

"Please someone help him," I cried out. Two nurses and a doctor emerged and immediately placed the man on a stretcher. Lucien and I were told to stay out in the waiting room until they got any news.

My hands were covered in blood, and my hair was soaked. My head reeled and I inhaled with small motions. Just as I was about to tumble to the ground, powerful arms grabbed me before I made it to the cold floor.

"Princess," Lucien wrapped his arms around my waist to steady me and rocked me back and forth.

He kissed my earlobe to try and soothe me, but the tears kept streaming down my face.

"I think you just saved that man's life," I croaked.

"We both did," he confessed and moved the lengthy wet hair out of my face.

"Come on, I held the door open," I joked, wiping my nose.

"You were amazing," he whispered against my ear.

I tilted my head upwards. I parted my lips slightly and on cue, he connected our lips together for a moment. Our lips stayed molded against each other for a moment, just savouring each other's wraith.

"I just hope that he will be okay," I said with a throaty sigh.

"I'll take you home," he offered but I declined.

"I think I'm going to stay."

His eyes softened. I felt like I knew how he was feeling.

 "Really?"

"Yes, at least until we get any updates," I shot him a weak smile.

"Then I'll wait with you," he returned the smile.

He placed a long kiss to my forehead and that was the only reassurance I needed to end my night.

***

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