Intertwined

Chapter 29: Oblivious

Lucas's P.o.V.-

I had no other choice but to go to the cops. Of course when we get to her house she is there safe and sound. The officer quickly leaves annoyed that I wasted his time. I study An, and notice how awful she looks. She obviously doesn't look literally awful, she just looks so broken. She tells me that nothing happened, but I know her well enough now to know that she is lying. I dont question her anymore, because she seems so fragile. On my walk home I try to piece together what I think really happened. Last night at the party, I remember her telling me that Matt was back. I can almost guarentee it has everything to do with him. Only thing I can't understand is her supposed boyfriend. We had both previously announced how we felt to one another and even exchanged a small peck on the lips. How could all of that mean nothing to her? I ask myself this question repeatedly but my mind still comes to a blank. When I get home I bypass my dad and head straight for my room. I sling my bag into the corner next to my small wooden desk. I crash down on my bed staring up at my ceiling. I put my headphones on and drown out all my worries and cares. My phones dings just as I begin to relax. It's a message from An:

An ;) :  can you hold me? just for tonight. i can't sleep. :(

I automatically shoot up from my bed, and put on my hoodie and backpack. Its is 1:30 in the morning but I don't care. I slide open my window and slip through the opening. I half sprint to her house, in need of seeing her as much as she needs me to hold her. I pant as I get close to her house, pausing frequently to catch my breath. Her house is pitch black except for the small lamp in Anastasia's bedroom, which is illuminating her vivid walls. The closer I get the more details I can see. Anastasia is sitting with her petite body balled up in the oblong mini hammock chair. Her hair is pulled back into to a messy ponytail and her face is pale with bruising around the frame. I climb up the side of her house onto the balcony where she sits. I sit down beside her, careful not to tip the hammock over. She leans her head on my shoulder and lets out a shudder.

"An, I like you. And I can't be just friends with you. I mean I don't want to be, just friends, I want something more. Do you?" I ask.

She lifts her head off my shoulder and looks at my face. Her eyes have deep circles under them and the look on her face breaks my heart. All I see is emptiness.

"Lucas. I would love nothing more than that. But right now I just need you to hold me. In this moment that is all I want." She says emotionless.

So I swoop her whole body up bridal style and carry her to her bed. She winces as I place her down upon the bed. I ask no more questions, I just do as she asks. I hold her. After around 20 minutes of keeping her in my arms, the tenseness in her body begins to fade. My phone dings loudly, causing Anastasia to almost jump off the bed. Tears spark in her eyes and she buries her head into my chest.

"Hey it's me. It's just me." I whisper to her.

I grab my phone whispering that it's okay into her little ears. The alert on my phone was just a Instagram notification so I sit it back down on her nightstand, switching on silent mode. Shortly after that she falls into a deep sleep. I slyly move away from her trying to escape her grasp without waking her. But it fails.

"Where are you going? No don't leave me here alone! Please Lucas." She begins to plead in a sleepy voice.

In response I just crawl back into the bed with her, placing her now warm body back into my arms. I fall asleep next to the most radiant girl I've ever seen, and I couldn't be happier. But I can't help but be perplexed and upset by her emotions she is showing. I want to protect her, but I don't know how. I mean I'm not exactly perfect myself. And this girl that I am holding, deserves perfection. My eyes begin to fall asleep and I give into the heaviness of sleep that I much need. I wake to the bright golden rays of the sun glistening through the blinds. Anastasia is yet to wake, so I carefully get up trying not to disturb her. I dig through my bag and find a toothbrush. I make my way to her bathroom and brush my teeth with her toothpaste and my toothbrush. I cup my hands and splash some water onto my face, before applying some deodorant that was also found in my bag. I keep my hoodie on and put my shoes on. There is 20 minutes until school so An has only a couple of minutes to get ready, but I am sure she will appreciate me letting her get extra sleep. I shake her on the shoulder, causing her to jump. Her eyes look around the room wildly before meeting mine.

"An, I let you sleep a while but we only have a couple minutes before we need to leave for school." I advised.

She lifts her body up and sits there for a minute, staring blankly. Then as if pulling herself together, she swiftly kicks her bare legs out from under the sheet, lightly jumping down onto the carpet. She grabs a plain white crop top and jeans from her dresser. She goes into the bathroom and returns within minutes, completely dressed and ready. I hand her, her phone off of the night stand and the car keys. She grabs them silently and we head out the room and down the stairs in unison. We get into the car and leave her empty house. The ride is silent for the first few minutes, until I decide to break the silence.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

I then decide that, that is probably the most idiotic question I couldve ever asked her.

"Yeah." She chokes.

I give her a sad look and then think of the perfect plan. I plug my phone to the aux and play Fleetwood Mac. I start singing and dancing overly dramatic. I sing the lyrics half wrong and pretend to drum on her head. Finally she cracks a smile and giggles at me. Mission Accomplished. She eventually sings along quietly with me. We arrive at school and jog up to the building, the weather has become pretty cold compared to the beginning of the year. Her face which is covered with makeup on the bruised spots, is now a blush pink from the cold. When we enter the warm building all the color drains from her face, and my eyes follow the direction of hers. The tall buff guy from the picture in her room approaches her. I grab her hand softly and for a second she leaves it, but the closer he gets the more she pulls away until our hands are completely apart. He gives me a glare and swoops his arm around her shoulder.

"Morning Baby." Matt says with emphasize on the word baby.

Anastasia plasters on a smile and nods. I cant believe what I am hearing right now, how could she get back with him?!  I look at her confused and she blankly shrugs her shoulders and turns back to him smiling. I walk off to my class with feelings of betrayal. I sit next to ,my only other friend, Morgan. I rant to her openly about how Anastasia rejected me last night, and now is with her shitty ex boyfriend. She comforts me and assures me that Anastasia is stupid for not being with a guy like me. I find myself blushing when she says this. Maybe I have been so distracted by Anastasia, that I have missed a great person, aka Morgan. I try to hide my blush by giving her a warm smile, which only causes her to blush in return. Thats when a light bulb goes off in my head. Our homecoming dance is coming up and I have yet to ask anyone, since I assumed Anastasia, and I would be going together. Morgan and I have always been close friends since the beginning of the semester and I enjoy her company so I plan on asking her to attend it with me. I just need to think of a cute way to ask her. So during biology instead of working on my project during free time, I look up ideas. Meanwhile Anastasia stays glued to her phone. I assume she is texting Matt, which makes me want to barf. I find the perfect subtle way to ask Morgan to homecoming. I take a few markers and create the phrase now all I need is a teddy bear. After biology I try and avoid Anastasia and Matt at all cost until the day is over. She texts me asking if I can get another ride home and I just send her the thumbs up emoticon. I walk to the gas station for my afternoon shift and stop by the store for a bear. Then my shift begins and time slows.