••• 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒯𝓌𝑒𝓁𝓋𝑒 •••

Luke

{{Lies, Lies, Lies ~ Morgan Wallen}}

    It felt like someone had punched me in the chest and all the air had been sucked out of my lungs as I stared at Aria in complete disbelief. We had a daughter and she had passed away. I felt a tear escape my eye as it slid down my cheek and I placed my head in my hands as I tried to wrap my head around this heartbreaking news.

    My body shook lightly as I silently sobbed into my hands and I heard Aria scoot back in her chair. I felt Aria wrap her arms around me and I let out a ragged breath as I dropped my hands then wrapped my arms tightly around her waist. We cried together as she stroked my hair gently and I hated that she was comforting me.

    Aria had to go through finding out she was pregnant then losing our baby all alone and here she was, trying to console me when she should hate me. If I don't already hate myself, I definitely would now.

    I slowly stood up and her hands moved from my shoulders down to my waist. I cupped her face in my hands and she closed her eyes as she leaned into my touch. "Aria, I am so unbelievably sorry." I whispered and her lip wobbled as she slowly opened her eyes to stare up at me. Her beautiful caramel eyes were filled with tears and I was suddenly so angry with myself for causing her so much pain that I wanted to just leave and never bother her again.

  "I'm sorry too, Lucas." She apologized and my eyebrows knitted together in confusion as I stroked her cheek with my thumb.

  "What're you sorry for? You have nothing to apologize for." I said sternly and she shook her head as she let out a sob.

  "I do have to apologize. I lost our baby! It's all my fault-"

  "Stop it right now, Aria." I quickly cut her off and she tried to argue with me, but I pressed a finger to her soft lips. "What happened to our daughter was an accident. You were eighteen years old and I know you loved our little girl more than anything in this world. If you can't forgive me for all the pain and suffering I caused you then please stop blaming yourself for what happened to her." I begged and a tear escaped her eye but I quickly wiped it away.

    We stared at each other silently and I didn't realize until now how much I had missed holding her in my arms. It felt like no time had passed between us and it felt like I was right where I belonged. I gently ran my thumb along her bottom lip as she let out a shaky breath and stared at my mouth. If I leaned down just slightly I could kiss her, but I knew she wasn't ready for that.

    I could kiss her. I wanted to. I really wanted to. But would that undo the past or just make it hurt more?  I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and Aria shivered under my touch. She stared up at me, waiting to see what I was about to do, but I just gave her a soft smile and decided that I shouldn't kiss her. I didn't deserve the right to kiss her after all the pain I've caused her.

    I started to slowly pull away, when Aria's grip tightened on my waist and stopped me from moving. "Lucas, I-" She froze, suddenly tensing in my arms as she noticed something behind me.

  "Aria!" Someone called from down the street and we both turned to see Calvin storming up to us.

  "Oh no." She mumbled under her breath as she pulled away from me. "I'm sorry, Luke." She said quickly. I shook my head in confusion and was about to ask her what she was apologizing for again, but Calvin shoved me so hard that I stumbled back into the table behind me.

  "What the Hell do you think you're doing here, Lucas?" Calvin demanded angrily and I held up my hands to show him that I came in peace.

  "I was just trying to talk to Aria and apologize for everything that happened between us. I've actually been trying to find you and talk to you as well." He scoffed as he glared at us both and shook his head.

  "My ass, that's all you were trying to do. I have nothing to say to you, Lucas, so don't waste your time and from where I was standing it looked like you were about to kiss my girl!" He yelled and Aria flinched next to me as she squeezed her eyes shut.

  "Your girl? What the Hell are you...?" I trailed off as Aria slowly opened her eyes to stare up at me apologetically and my confusion slowly turned into betrayal. "You're dating Calvin? My best friend?" I snapped and Aria blinked as her mouth opened and closed a few times, but said nothing.

  "Yes, asshole, and I'm not your best friend! We've been dating for over a year now and are in love." Calvin hissed and then wrapped his arm around Aria's waist. I glared down at his arm and wanted nothing more than to rip her out of his hold, but I clenched my fist painfully at my sides to stop myself.

  "Calvin, what are you even doing here? Were you spying on me?" Aria demanded angrily and stepped away from him.

  "Hell yeah I was spying on you! If I hadn't you would've made the second worst mistake of your life and kissed him!" He roared and Aria glared at him with so much anger that even I was scared of her.

  "I was not going to kiss him! You had no right to spy on me, Calvin! I don't know how many times I have to say it, but I can take care of myself!"

  "Clearly, you can't, Aria! I've been there for you for the last five years and you were about to throw our entire relationship away for this loser!" I let out a humorless chuckle as they continued fighting and decided I needed to get away before I beat the shit out of him. I noticed the photo album sitting on the table and grabbed it quickly while they weren't looking.

    I took a step back, desperately needing to get out of there but Aria noticed and quickly stopped me by placing her hand on my arm. "Lucas, please don't leave it like this." She whispered, tears filling her eyes and I took another step back. Her hand fell and I clenched my jaw tightly as I stopped myself from yelling at her.

  "I've said everything I needed to say and it's clear you've moved on with your life." I shrugged and she tried to say something but I held up my hand to stop her. "It's fine, Aria. I didn't expect you to still be here waiting around for me and I'm glad you're happy. I'm sorry again for all the pain I've caused you both. I'll see you around." I put my sunglasses back on and started to make my way towards my car.

  "Lucas, wait!" Aria called after me and it took all the strength I had in me not to turn around and run back to her, but I couldn't hurt her. I've already done enough damage. I just wished she wasn't with my fucking best friend.

    I climbed inside my truck and slammed the door shut as I took in slow deep breaths to stop myself from freaking out. I glanced in the rear view mirror to see Aria yelling at Calvin and I shook my head angrily as I turned on my truck and sped out of there. I headed straight for Corinna's house and wanted answers. Why hadn't Corinna told me about our daughter or that Aria was now dating Calvin and was in love with him? I gripped the steering wheel tighter as his voice repeated the words 'we're in love' over and over again inside my head and grew angrier by the second.

    I was an idiot to think Aria might have waited for me and I had no right to be angry that she moved on. But why did it have to be Calvin? I parked my car in front of Corinna's apartment and headed straight to her unit. I knocked on her door and tried to keep the hurt I was feeling hidden deep inside, but the second she opened the door and saw that it was me I lost it.

  "Luke? What happened?" Corinna asked worriedly as I pushed past her into her apartment and started to pace her living room.

  "When I left here five years ago, you and Calvin were dating. When the fuck did that change?" I asked and Corinna bit her lip nervously.

  "Around the time Aria found out she was pregnant. He told me that he had always had feelings for her, but never said anything because of you. He said that he wanted to be there for her throughout her pregnancy and even offered to help Aria raise your daughter." She whispered as she rolled her eyes and I felt anger start to bubble up inside me.

    Calvin was a fucking snake. The second I left, he jumped at the opportunity to be with Aria and I cursed angrily at myself for not coming home sooner. If I had shown up last year maybe everything would be different, but now I was too late. "Lucas, I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you about Everleigh and Calvin, but it wasn't my place." Corinna apologized as I collapsed onto her couch and held my head in my hands.

  "I'm not mad at you, cousin. I was just blindsided by everything." I admitted, completely overwhelmed. Corinna sat down next to me and sighed.

  "I understand, but it's been five years, Luke. We had to move on with our lives and from what Aria and I have seen you definitely had moved on with multiple different girls." She pointed out and I nodded as I lifted my head to stare at her.

  "Does it make it any better if I told y'all that I was completely shit faced every time I hooked up with a girl? I couldn't do it sober because every time I tried Aria's face appeared in my head and I just couldn't do it." I admitted and Corinna shook her head.

  "That's awful, Luke." Corinna said and stared at me with so much pity that I wanted to run away and hide from the world. After a few moments of silence, Corinna sighed and shook her head. "I know I shouldn't say this, but even though Calvin and Aria have been dating for a while now, she hasn't been with anyone since... you." My eyes widened in surprise as I stared at her in disbelief.

    My head started swimming with questions as I let Corinna's words sink in. Had she actually been waiting for me all this time? Did that mean she still had feelings for me? I quickly shook those questions out of my mind as I reminded myself that she was now with Calvin and that she was finally happy again. I instantly felt guilt wash over me as I realized that she probably was too scared to be intimate with anyone else after the Hell I had put her through.

    Aria has only had sex one time and mind you we were both virgins so it probably wasn't the most amazing experience for her like it was for me then she got pregnant and unfortunately lost our daughter. I felt even worse as my chest grew tighter as I realized how much damage I've done to Aria and knew that I definitely did not deserve her and never will.

  "I-I gotta go," I said standing up and Corinna tried to stop me but I gave her a hug then quickly headed towards her door. "I'm sorry that I just barged in here, but thanks for taking care of Aria when I wasn't here. I'll text you later." I then exited the apartment and ignored Corinna calling after me.

    I needed to just get away and clear my head where no one would be able to bother me and the only place I could think of was the pond behind my parents' house. The only place I could think of where I might be alone. Where no one could see me fall apart.