Forgotten Memories

Chapter 18: Traitorous People

-Luke-

We've been laying on this bed since I walked off during my argument with the others downstairs. She fell asleep in the crook of my arm, and I've been looking at her, not like the creepy-stalker way, but as in trying-to-see-all-the things-I've never-noticed kind of stare.

Her hair isn't naturally black. I can tell she dyed it, because her roots are brown.

She mumbles something in her sleep and I smile. I lean closer and hear it clearer: Luke.

I laugh softly and she opens her eyes. She sees me staring and sighs, but says nothing, and looks straight ahead again.

That's what I like about her. She leaves you alone when you want to be left alone, and talks when you need someone, unless you're mad at her. In that case, she bothers you.

Suddenly, she gets up and pulls me with her. We walk out the door, down the hall, and out the back door.

She lays down on the little bench with me and gestures for me to do so too.

She looks up at me from where she's laying. "What were you thinking about?"

"Why?"

She shrugs. "You always get that deep, concentrated look when you're lost in thought. I mean, n-not that I stare at you or something."

I laugh, then blush. "I was thinking of Aria's situation. I was thinking of how I should be strong before I fall apart to the point of no repair."

She frowns slightly. "Oh. I guess that's true."

I smile. "And you."

She looks at me through half-lidded eyes, because of the sun. "What about me?"

I smile. "Everything. Your way of handling things, your smile, the way you're always there for me, your hair, your personality. . . Everything, really. I lo-" I falter.

I love you.

I've never said that to anyone but Aria. At least, any girl that I'm not related to.

And she notices. She smiles sadly. "Yeah, I get it."

I close my eyes. Great. I freaked out, and now she got the wrong idea. "No, it's not-"

I'm silenced when she sits up and kisses me on the cheek softly; briefly.

She backs away and sighs softly. "I just had to."

I smile. "We all have to do things in our lives, and sometimes we can't control them." I sit up and cup her cheek with my hand. "Like me, where I can't control anything I do," I lean closer, "such as this."

My lips meet hers softly and she gasps, then pushes me away. Slightly hurt (not physically), I back away. "Sorry," I mutter, dropping my gaze.

I back away too much and stumble off the bench head-first, dropping to the ground with a dull thud. "Agh," I groan, and Hope rushes to help me.

"Luke!" She runs around the bench and kneels beside me. "Why are you so freaking clumsy?"

I smile painfully. "Why are you so freaking beautiful?"

She blushes. "As much as I'd like to accept your not-so-subtle requests, I can't."

I frown. "Why?"

She sighs, then grabs my hand. "Aria. I can't betray her."

I close my eyes. "You don't actually think I'm gonna give up on her, do you?"

She shakes her head. "God, no. I meant that she's gonna feel betrayed by me. I'll end up being one of her friends who took her boyfriend."