leaked (l.h.)

44

Eleven fifty nine PM. That fucker barely made it.

I unlock the door, much quicker than I wanted to. I feel my heart race in my chest as I look to see him standing in front of me. Like a dream, like one of the many dreams I have of him coming home to take me away. But it's not a dream. Because he stands in front of me, his eyes red and tired holding a bouquet of roses, a gift bag, and his phone in his hands.

"You're breaking up with me?" He frowns, tears in his eyes. "You're really breaking up with me?"

"Where were you?" I manage to choke out as I stand in front of him. My face hardens as his softens. There's no denying that I'm holding myself back from jumping into his arms right now. But it's hard to stay mad with him right in front of me. I mean, this is all I wanted for longer than he'd ever know. "I thought you had forgotten."

"I stole my boss' car and I drove all the way from Detroit," he looks down at me. "They wouldn't let me leave. So I stole a car and I drove here. And you're breaking up with me?"

I see that he's defeated, tired. He's grown since the last time I saw him. But when I see the pain in his eyes when he sees that I just tried to end it, there's no denying that he loves me just as much as I love him.

"Luke," I shake my head. "You didn't call. You... you were quiet all day!" I frown, feeling tears in my eyes as I feel the cold air rush inside of my warm home. But it's my turn to look defeated and tired. Because that's exactly what I am. "You didn't come to my show."

"I tried," he says quietly. "I tried to come. But I made a wrong turn and I..." he frowns, and as I turn to walk up the stairs I feel his voice grow quiet. "I'm sorry, Grace."

I pull his hoodie up over my head as I turn to him. I nod towards the door, motioning for him to close and lock it behind him. I don't have the energy to fight right now, to defend my text as if I still feel the same way now that he's in front of me.

I walk up first, climbing on my bed as I feel how cold my feet are. I shiver softly as I bring my knees to my chest, listening to Luke's heavy footsteps as they follow me. And when I turn towards the door, I watch him stop in his tracks when he sees the fairy lights that have not stopped glowing since he left.

"Wow," he shakes his head after a moment or two of silence. "These... brought me back."

"Yeah," I say quietly, pulling my sleeves over my hands. I don't know what I am feeling. The anger has taken me over, but as I feel how much warmer the room has gotten now that he's in it is changing my mind.

His eyes move back down to mine, his eyebrows knitting together as he moves to sit on the edge of my bed. He wears a leather jacket, a black and white striped shirt underneath it. He lays my gifts, things to help win me back on the bed. The roses are real, and I get a hint of their fragrance.

"So..." I look at him as he stares at the post cards that I taped to my wall. Right beside the poster of him snd his band. Signed. "You stole a car?"

"I stole a car," he scoffs, looking at me. "And it was stupid. But I don't regret it."

"You're not, like, wanted or anything?" I let out a playful, yet semi-serious chuckle. "Because, Luke, I love you but if you go to jail I can't bail you out or anything."

"No, no," he shakes his head. "He'll have it back if he wants it. He just has to come here to get it."

"You're crazy." I smile as I shake my head. "How long was the drive?"

"I left, or escaped, around ten PM last night," he thinks out loud, climbing up on the mattress beside me. "I've been driving ever since. That's kind of why I didn't text you," he looks at me. "Because I was scared drive in cities that I am not familiar with. That, and the boys where blowing up my phone."

"Are you going to lose your job?" I frown, reaching over to take his hand from where it rests between me and him. I watch how his breath catches as I touch him for the first time in years, and as he gives my hand a gentle squeeze I see how he slowly remembers to breathe. "I don't want you losing your job because of me."

"No, no," he turns to me. No wonder he looks so tired. "And even if I did, it'd be worth it."

"Luke," I look at him. "No it wouldn't."

"Why?" He sits up. I can tell that he's getting upset, too. I wish he understood where I was coming from. "Why not?"

"That's your dream," I clench my jaw as I try to keep my voice from shaking, my mouth from stuttering. "And people would kill to be in your position."

"But somehow," he responds after a pause. "Somehow, I still would rather be here. Right here, with you," Luke turns to me, showing me the blue eyes that had hooked me in the first place. FaceTime just... didn't make them blue enough. "But I'm afraid that you don't feel the same way. Not anymore."

"No, I feel the same way," I look down at his lips. "I've felt this way for months. But, your promises Luke." I gulp, moving my eyes back up to meet his. "Why did I think you'd break it before I thought you'd keep it?"

"I know," he says softly. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Me, too."

"I came here to win you back," he sits up as he grabs the bag that he had came inside with. I turn to him as he pulls out gifts. So many gifts, things I'd never be able to afford.

"You didn't have to buy me things to win me back," I look up at him as he holds out items, various souvenirs from countries he had visited. "You just had to bring yourself, Luke."

"It's also your birthday," he looks up at me, smiling softly as he holds out a plushie. From Japan. But his gentle grin turns to a frown as he turns to the alarm clock. "Well, was. I'm sorry."

"Shh," I whisper, bringing myself on my knees as I reach forward. I take his face in my hands, watching how his pupils dilate when he sees how incredibly close I am. I look down at his lips, and slowly I press a gentle kiss to his lips. A careful kiss, enough to get a taste of the sweetness I had missed and craved for so long. "You're here now. And that's all that matters."

"Grace," he whispers, reaching up to hold my face. "I just want one more chance. That's all I want, and I promise you won't regret it. And I mean it."

"I know I won't regret it, you don't have to tell me that." I say softly, leaning forward to peck his lips again. And I move backwards, watching how he sets the roses on my dresser.

He beams at me as he pulls his shirt off over his head, exposing his fuller figure and hairier body. He pulls his pants down to his ankles, and when I pull my covers down I can't be mad at him anymore. He may have missed my show, but I'll have more. And he might have missed my birthday, but this is the first of so many with him. And as he finds his way to me on my bed, as he leans down to cover my neck in kisses I can't help but forget why I was angry in the first place.

"God," he whispers, listening to my soft moan as his lips dance against mine. I give into his kiss, the butterflies filling my stomach as I wrap my legs around his waist. My hands run down his body as I feel how soft his skin is. "They're going to have to drag me back by my wrist."

"Ha," I laugh as I hold his face, running my tongue over his bottom lip as his hand slides up my shirt. And with a soft moan against his lips, I whisper as I feel how heavy his breaths are. "They're going to have to take me with you."