Love Without Arms

Chapter 4: The Past Should Stay The Past (Geoff)

Geoff Bishop

"Are you fucking insane?" I asked Elizabeth the next day as we worked on a project for World Cultures. Elizabeth glared at me, smacking me across the back of the head for my blatant use of profanity, and I guess I deserved it because the teacher, who had seen and heard what I said, did nothing once my "punishment" was dealt.

"For your information Geo, I'm not." she said as she turned back to the model of the Notre Dame.

"Then why are you planning on doing what you're gonna do?" I asked with a bewildered look on my face. Her words struck a chord in my heart and my head, but I still wasn't sure why.

"I told you, I'm going to get Jake wrapped around my finger then crush his cold heart like he did mine." Elizabeth said nonchalantly, but the look on her face gave away her true intentions. There was a problem with that in my mind. Liz was smart if not devious when she needed to be, the look on her face was one that wanted revenge, and I hated that look on someone like Liz.

If anyone was getting revenge it would be me, but I digress. If she was to do this that would mean dating him again, giving the bastard the satisfaction of having 'his loving girlfriend back'. Mr. Popular would get the girl and I'd be stuck in the friend zone for who knows how long until she decided to break his heart.

"I know but I just don't think it's a good idea, what if he cheats on you again with Amanda or some other senior or junior?" Liz looked down and I quickly realized my mistake. I wrapped my arm around her, the same thing I did when Jake cheated on her the first time. "Hey Liz, I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought it up, but I'm still against this." A tear came from her eye as she wiped her face.

"It's not that, it's just that today is Dylan's Birthday." I stopped when I heard that. How could have I forgotten his birthday, especially after what had happened. It was how I lost my arm after all. Liz noticing me spacing out, snuggled up against me, cuddling her smaller frame up to my body. "You don't have to go you know, Dylan would understand." I shook my head and leaned it against hers, the previous situation gone from my mind. I always loved it when we could be close, however our moment was ruined when the bell rang and we had to get to 8th hour.

We walked down the hallway, hand in hand, our fingers intertwined. Elizabeth knew how much it helped with my PTSD, while not as serious as some, still killed me inside. Ashley had a class only a few doors down and greeted us as she did. Liz being the only person not there when the accident happened, she had nothing to show for it. Ashley and myself both had things to show for it. My missing limb and PTSD, and a large but concealable burn going down Ashley's back and leg.

As we held each other for comfort while also figuring out when we were gonna leave together, I saw Jake in the corner of my eye walking to his class, which was a few doors down in the opposite direction. For a split second our eyes met, and I pulled Liz's body closer to mine and glared. Hudson's eye's narrowed at the unspoken challenge and he angrily walked into his class. Even if Liz was going to enact this plan of hers, I was the closest person she had, and nothing would change that.

The final bell went off as normal, our little trio walking through the halls and towards my car. We quickly left the parking lot and began the drive towards the local cemetery, where we had buried Dylan Cooper. The drive and walk to the grave were quiet as both Ashley and Elizabeth held onto me for support. "Here lies Dylan Cooper, friend, brother, loving man with a great life that was unfortunately taken away from him. Happy Birthday buddy." I said out loud as Ashley cried on the decorated tomb stone of her deceased boyfriend. Liz held my left arm, stroking her fingers over my artificial hand and fingers.

"You know they always had wanted to marry at a Gazebo in weather like this, have a kid as soon as the marriage was over too." We both smiled and sighed, watching our best friend cry her eyes out for the love of her life. "At least I didn't lose you." Liz mumbled to herself, but with my expert hearing it was as loud as conversation. I smiled and held her hand turning her around so that she was in a hug.

"Thank god you didn't." I whispered to her as we stood there for a few more minutes. Ashley got up, wiping her eyes, and walked into our hug. "We should get home, it's getting late." the women nodded and we walked to my car, not noticing the man sitting on the bench only a few feet away from my car. What I didn't know was that the next few months would be a trip I didn't want to go on.

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Hey guys Camden here with another finished chapter. Who's the man on the bench, no one knows, except for us because you know we're the ones writing it. Anyway Kylie should have another up soon so yeah hope you enjoyed this emotional chapter! - CB

Hey in the update I included a picture of Jake Hudson :)
-KR