"It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being." — John Joseph Powell

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Chapter 15
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Luke

I stared at the clock, nearly tearing the skin along my lip off with my teeth. 7:58. 7:59.

I blinked, and then it happened. 8:00.

Shit. Maggie was supposed to be here an hour ago.

I cursed as the wound along my lip reopened. Despite the metallic taste, I wouldn't have even noticed. I didn't bother to fix it.

Instead, my mind was on one thing, and a million others at once. Why the fuck wasn't she here? No call, no text, nothing but my fucking nerves on edge.

Jesus. I sounded insane.

I didn't care about her not being here for the work. Yesterday was supposed to be spent painting, but since we fucked that up, it didn't happen. So, it'd have to be today, but if she wasn't going to show up, it'd have to wait.

But, that still wasn't it.

I couldn't help it. My thoughts went to the worst possible situation. The one that'd been burned into my head ever since she saw me. She didn't want to be around my shit; it scared her or I scared her or—

Fuck.

I wasn't sure why it was irking me as badly as it was. I didn't give two fucks what anyone thought of me, genuinely. At least I thought I didn't. But, Maggie, the girl who hated my fucking guts, saw a part of my life no one ever had before.

It was humiliating, and shameful and everything in between. I didn't want to be seen as a victim or abused. I wasn't. My dad had been beating my ass ever since I stepped foot into his house; it was nothing to feel bad over. It was just what was destined for me; there wasn't shit I could do to change it.

But, the way Maggie looked at me yesterday...it was strange, to be exact. It looked like she cared, like she was actually concerned. I'd confused it for sympathy, to which she debunked with just as much malice as I needed.

The oddest thing, though? Her promise to be there for me. I had said the same, and even though I played it cool, I knew I'd meant it. I didn't go back on my promises ever, and it wouldn't change now. The girl was a fucking brat, but I could bare to listen to her shit if she could mine.

I sure as hell couldn't give advice, though. My answer to everything was to punch the problem away, and that obviously didn't help. But, I'd found out from Kade and Levi that some people just needed to talk, and to have someone else listen. To get their shit out, no judgment or response necessary. I supposed I could do that for the girl.

I glanced over to the bathroom where she had hid from my father. I hadn't expected him to visit, shit, it was the last thing I expected, honestly. I should have known Vance would tell him; he loved to cry victim the moment he got what he was looking for. I bet the moment he left my house with a fucked face, he ran straight to home to daddy, who probably assigned one of his security to follow me back to the shop.

Despite it all though, no one had ever witnessed it outside of the family. Not directly, anyway. If they did, no one cared to ask questions or to help other than Walter. Maggie had no shame in asking, well, demanding me for answers.

Now, I wondered, though...had I scared her away?

I did. I must have. What other reason would she have for not showing today?

I felt my face heat with shame, the skin brewing and brewing until I felt like I was practically shifting into a damn werewolf. I tugged at my shirt; why was it as hot as satans' balls in here all of a sudden?

Think, fucker. Think.

I huffed, leaning further back into the chair. I could call her. I'd never admit it out loud, but I had her number, already. I was sure she thought Kade gave me a heads up about her call, but I'd asked him for it when we first started the cleanup.

I glanced over her contact, tapping my finger harder than necessary over the water bottle.

What the fuck do I even say? Maybe I should text her first.

No, no. She could easily ignore me, or if she overslept, she wouldn't see it.

I cursed under my breath. Why was I so concerned about this? Who cares what she thought about what she'd seen? I knew she already hated me, this sure as hell wouldn't hurt my ego any.

Except it had. My agitation had grown since the moment I pushed her in the bathroom to conceal her from my dad.

I wasn't sure what he would have done had he caught her. If I'd been a second too late, the day would have turned out differently.

Regardless of how I felt about Norris, there was no way in hell I was letting that man lay a hand on the girl. I was sure he would have been up for the fight of his life with her, as well. The girl packed a cool, hard right hook.

My eyes ran over her contact for the umpteenth time. I'd named it Beware of the Deranged: Maggie Norris. It seemed quite fitting for her. I could only imagine my name in hers.

I rolled my eyes at the tightness in my stomach. I wasn't a fucking hormonal teenage boy; I knew how to talk to women like it was nothing. I didn't get nervous.

Except when my finger hit the call button.

I put the phone on speaker, glaring down at it as it rung. The tightness remained, except it continued to build. I swiped at my forehead with the back of my head, muttering so many curses, it burned the back of my throat.

It happened so quick, I nearly missed it. My legs kicked off the table as I looked to the screen for confirmation. She declined. She rejected my call.

This little...

A mix of rage and embarrassment roared throughout every inch of my body. The fuck was her problem?

I stood, nearly knocking the chair over with the force of it. This wasn't some type of coincidence; why did she suddenly not show up? The only reason was because she didn't like me any longer. Not that she had in the first place. Not that I cared whether she did or not.

I huffed, nearly fisting my hair as I shoved a hand through it. It did nothing to soothe my growing frustration.

I should have never gotten too comfortable here. I should have known my dad would find out about this place. I thought I was being careful, though. The only thing that even barely reassured me was that he couldn't take it away, not financially, anyway.

The only hold my father had on me was my mother. I could easily afford her medical bills on my own, but my father's name was everywhere, and on everything. Whatever he said went. If he didn't, I would have left this town a long time ago.

I'd been trying, though. I had a plan, and as fucked as it might turn out one day, it might be the very thing to set me free. I pushed it to the back of my head before I could sink too deep, though. If I thought about it too long, my mind would shrink.

Instead, I focused on Maggie fucking Norris. And, the fact that she rejected my call, which meant that she was avoiding me. I didn't know what she was trying to do, but I sure as hell wasn't chasing after anyone.

I didn't know if she'd take what she saw, and run with it. It'd definitely make her a couple bucks if she reported it to one of the news articles. Maybe she would go and tell the world, just to spite me.

I glared down at the phone, and the screen bounced right back at me. It was tempting to try the call, again, but no way. No way was I making her think she was on my mind.

I nearly burned holes into the floor as I stormed around. I finally stopped at the ruined wall. It was smudged now, but I still remembered what Maggie wrote on each and every wall.

Fuck you. Je t'emmerde. Que te jodan. Leck mich am Arsch.

I wasn't a translator, but the moment I saw it, I found myself looking it up. She wrote fuck you in four different languages. I had shown Kade and Levi over FaceTime, and the little pricks didn't stop laughing until I hung up on them.

It was aggravating, really. Why was I putting up with her shit when she was the one at fault? Why was she making me feel guilty about her shit?

Yesterday, at the diner, was the most unnerving shit I'd witnessed. We were cracking jokes one minute, and she was cackling the other. I wanted to compare her laugh to a witch, but I'd found myself stuck in silence the longer she laughed. A witches laugh was supposed to be unnerving, ugly, and annoying. Hers was annoying, but not the type that made me want to shove a sock in her mouth. It was the kind that made me want to laugh with her.

I wasn't sure what it was. I think I enjoyed having someone argue back with me. Having someone call me out on my bullshit, and return it tenfold. She didn't care that I was the mayor's son, she didn't care that I was a Vaudest or that I could have her arrested. As much as she annoyed me, I found her funny. Aggravatingly funny, but funny.

But, I guess it'd been a lie. My mind was hurting the longer I thought about her ignoring my call, and not showing up. I knew I wouldn't be able to work on this place alone today.

I massaged my temples, blowing out a breath. I didn't have it in my mind to call the cops, or any of that shit like I'd threatened. Instead, I wanted to confront her. I didn't do buddy buddy, fake shit. I wanted the truth and only the truth, no matter how rude it would be, coming from her.

Fuck this.

I shoved my phone into my pocket, striding over to the door. I shut the lights down, then made sure to lock the door behind me. Maggie had taught me my lesson about just leaving the door unlocked. I didn't think she'd wreck it again, but more of my father or his goons.

I needed to get my frustration out. A brunette with big tits was calling my name for the night.

I didn't even bother to call; I could show up and be fine. Whichever girl I chose for the night would be just as willing, so why the fuck not.

I drove, but my mind remained just as clouded. I didn't feel the excitement or the adrenaline when I imaged one of the brunettes riding my cock, or sucking me off. I felt nothing but agitation. 

I slowed the car, finally allowing my mind to open. When it did, I nearly sent the car into a tree.

I was at Maggie's fucking house.

My foot edged off the gas, and instead laid on the brake so hard, whatever I had in the back slammed straight into the back of my seats. My mouth fell open at the sight of her driveway, her mailbox, her house.

I sighed, glaring at the freshly prepped garden that marked either side of her house. The black door that had a hanging Hogwarts crest on the front. The old, beat up car that I was currently sitting behind.

What the fuck was I doing here?

I didn't plan it, nor did I want it. One minute, I'd been on the highway, on the way to a night full of pleasure, and the next, I'd been pulling into the driveway of the witch herself.

I huffed, placing my hand on the gear stick. I felt myself pause, my eyes falling back to her door. Something was holding me back from getting the hell out of here.

It was the thought of her not liking me because of what she saw last night.

I didn't care if she hated me for being an ass. I didn't care if she hated me for sleeping around. I didn't care if she hated me for being selfish and self-centered. But, something about her hating me for this didn't sit right with me.

I knew that my dad hitting me was my fault. I was the thing that could cripple his career; I wasn't even meant to be created. I was a bastard, and for that, his anger was technically my fault. He had a right to hate me, and I had a right to hate him. But that wasn't Maggie's business. She couldn't just act like she cared one day then do this shit. No way.

I pulled my door open with extra force, slamming it close. I wasn't even sure if I turned the car off, honestly. My sole focus was getting to the bottom of this shit.

My skin began to crawl with goosebumps as I walked to her door. I felt my steps slow the closer I got. Without warning, the skin along my palms began to grow clammy.

Fuck me. I was nervous. Why was I nervous?

I scowled at myself, and at my physical reaction. It was simply shock, it had to be. I never got nervous.

I shoved my sweaty hands down the fabric of my hoodie, fully breathing in a patch of winter's strength. It was freezing out here but I barely took notice to it.

I knocked, and waited. Again, even harder, this time. My agitation grew. My fingers wrapped around the doorknob, twisting. It was locked.

I cursed under my breath, glancing over the house. I suppose I could break the door down, or break a window but I didn't plan on coming to fight. Norris would probably stab me before I even got through the doorway.

My eyes ran over the door again, before falling to the mat. Leave was what it read. Maggie probably chose it. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from chuckling, and instead kneeled to retrieve what I was looking for.

My lips pulled into a smirk at the metal key. It took some time to push some of the dirt around, but there it was. Who the hell hides a key under a doormat nowadays? Idiot.

Again, it had to be Maggie's idea.

After I unlocked the door, I pushed it open just enough to get in. I dropped the key back under the mat, fully covering it with dirt again. To a strangers' eyes, I might look like a maniac. To my own, I was simply persevering.

I stepped inside the freezing house. I had expected warmth, but not this. The inside smelled of cinnamon and vanilla, sweet and calming, but fuck me. It was cold as shit.

I rubbed my hands together to help, but nothing did. I shoved the chill aside, walking past the kitchen. I wouldn't be here for long.

I made it past the walls, which were lined and decorated with so many pictures it made me want to barf, before a noise stopped me. I paused, peering around the space before I heard it, again.

Snoring. Loud snoring.

It was so loud, it bounced right off the walls. The television volume was on silent in the living room, so that made it even louder.

There were two doors, either one facing the other. One was decorated with splattered paint and pictures, the other was black and had a single picture of Maggie, her brother, and an elderly woman. I craned my neck, my eyes remaining on that door in particular. Another snore rang from it.

I tilted my head, stepping closer. I didn't bother to knock. Why the hell was she sleeping?

She hadn't even locked the door, so when I pushed it, it came right open with a loud creak. My eyes ran over the room before falling to the bed, and the sleeping girl in it.

Her black hair that she usually never let down, was now spread out along the pillow. Her face was clear of any makeup, eyes squeezed shut and body in a ball under her blanket. Her pretty, pink lips were half-open, bouncing between both quiet and obnoxiously loud snores.

Shit.

The girl was sexy as shit, I'd give her that. Her beauty was mesmerizing, draining me in until I didn't have a choice, but to stumble.

I stared at her face for so long, my eyes burned. I blinked so hard, it hurt. I remained still in my spot for a moment before I finally took a step toward her.

My glare fell across her form. She missed work to sleep. She didn't understand how lucky she truly was that I hadn't went back on our deal, and pressed charges.

With a scowl, I moved closer until I was in her space. With a heavy hand, I snatched the blanket right off of her, fully intending to scare her ass awake.

Except she was the one to spook the shit out of me.

She wasn't wearing anything other than a tank top, and a pair of burgundy panties. Her lower legs, smooth and long, were curled against one another, but that wasn't the thing that got me. My eyes ran up past the silky underwear, and went to her tank top. I could see her nipples through the fabric, hard and tight.

I felt my face whiten before I pulled the blanket back on her entirely. Shit. That was a bad idea. I covered her entire body with the blanket, and took a step back.

I waited a couple of minutes for my rager to settle, casually sliding my eyes over anything, but her. I focused on the walls, the floor, the cold ass temper, and slowly, I felt my body return to normal. Just enough.

I stepped closer to her, again, narrowing my eyes. The closer I got, the more I saw the sweats along her forehead. Her snores had stopped and instead, was replaced with silence. Her body had nearly stilled to a statue, as well.

I froze, craning my head until my face was above hers. Her face was too still.

Shit. Was she dead?

I placed one finger under her nose, but that was stupid as shit of me. It did nothing to answer my question. I remembered she mentioned that she was sick yesterday, maybe it had transpired into something worse overnight.

I racked my mind for a solution. Damn it. I didn't do good with this shit. I didn't know how to take care of someone other than myself.

"Think, fucker," I hissed at myself, staring closely at the still girl in front of me. "Think."

I placed two fingers against her neck, nearly stalling my own breathing to process it. Her pulse was still there, so she was alive. I blew out a sigh of relief, but it didn't last long. Something was still up with the brat.

Medicine, she might need medicine. And, water. And, heat. It was way too cold in here to be considered normal.

I left her door open after me, and ventured the small house until I found the bathroom. On the way there, I passed so many pictures of her brother and that same elderly lady, I was nearly drowning in irritation. Maybe it was because I didn't have any of my own.

I shook my head, and instead focused on the cabinet in front of me. I grabbed at any medicine I could, quickly scanning over the backs. Yesterday, it sounded like she had a cold, and a sore throat so that's what I searched for.

I shoved the ones I couldn't hold in my hoodie pocket, then shut the cabinet. My body ran with shivers for the umpteenth time; I was going to freeze my balls off in here.

I shut the bathroom door after me, then walked to the kitchen. I half-expected Maggie to be waiting with a gun in hand, fully ready to kill me for coming to her house. Except she wasn't. It was an odd feeling to not hear her curses, or her insults behind me.

I had bumped into so many corners and drawers, it felt like I was one more bump away from breaking something in my body. This place was small as shit. Regardless of the size though, something felt warm. It felt connected and calming, and it wasn't just the soothing scent of vanilla.

They were a family. Her and her brother, and who I could guess was the grandmother she'd mentioned. The only pictures I'd seen hanging were of those three. The others contained Kimberly, Raven, and Maggie, and sometimes her brother. They were all a family, and they all looked happy. It must be nice to have that.

I rolled my eyes at myself. Fuck that. Family was overrated. I couldn't miss something I never had in the first place.

After I filled the glass with water, I turned the knob until the stream stopped. I paused, training my ears to hint for any sign of the brats' snores. There were none.

I cursed, moving across the space so quickly, the cool water splashed across my skin on the way there. I didn't pay it any mind, only focusing on the door, and the possibly dead girl behind it.

I pushed it open with my knuckles, then stepped inside. Her stance had remained the sale, body too still to be considered alive.

I blinked down at her, placing the water and pills on the bed stand. She would kill me for this if she was awake, but I wanted to check for anything else.

I rolled back my disgust, and inched forward enough to be in her space. Placing a hand against her sweaty forehead, I frowned. She didn't have a fever, but her skin was ice cold.

I rocked back on my heels, frowning at her. Why the hell hadn't she gone to the doctor? Or maybe she had.

Either way, I felt myself growing more and more agitated the longer she remained quiet.

I contemplated calling Kade or Levi to tell me what the fuck to do. I knew Kade had a brother before, and he'd taken care of him. He'd know what to do. Levi had sisters, so I hoped that'd offer some help. If they couldn't, they'd be with Kimberly and Raven, and surely they'd know what to do for their friend.

I blew out a breath. I didn't want to bother them though; this could be nothing. I could be overreacting.

I nibbled on the inside of my cheek before I pulled out my phone. I typed something along the lines of sweats and faint pulse, and the results that appeared nearly made me throw up. Most of them were saying that she could have a fatal disease, or some other shit. I pushed those results back, and instead looked up colds or maybe allergies.

I glanced down at Maggie while the page loaded. I leant down to feel for a pulse again, but this time, it was much more faint. For a minute, I thought it wasn't there. Maybe it wasn't.

Shit, shit.

I jerked back, my mind racing and bouncing between the possibilities. I didn't even really know how to check for a pulse, I just always lied and said I felt one. I didn't know shit though, not really. So, I did the only thing I knew.

I thumped her in the forehead, so hard I felt the pain reflect back through my middle finger.

Maggie shot up so quick, we nearly bumped heard. Her chest rose, and fell in frantic beats. Her eyes ran over the room, wide and alert, before they fell to me. "Luke?!"

My lips parted for a response, but none came. Green eyes narrowed at me in accusation. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

Finally, I managed to edge past the near crashing of my heart to say, "I was trying to check if you were dead or not."

Her brows scrunched at me before she rubbed the spot I had hit. It was growing red. "You couldn't have done literally anything else?"

"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" I scowled, motioning toward her form. "Okay, sleeping beauty. Now, tell me what's wrong with you."

As she prepared a response, it was cut short. Her sickly pale body shook, and shuddered from under her. I picked the glass of water up, all but shoving it into her hands. She eyed it; then me with caution.

I rolled my eyes. "The day that I take you out, it's gonna be way more epic than poison, angel." She offered a stale smile before raising the glass to her lips. I watched her throat bob as she drunk, and before I could attest, I felt my chest fall with a breath I never even knew I was holding.

Some slipped down her chin, to which she wiped with the back of her hand. One hand swept through her black strands as she spoke, "Nothing's wrong. I told you I was sick. I didn't miss today on purpose or to spite you, I swear. I haven't been awake since yesterday evening."

I frowned, my eyes scanning her face for any sign of mistrust. When I didn't find any, my confusion only deepened.

"You didn't reject my call?" I asked slowly.

Her brow raised before she placed the glass down. "You called me?"

"Answer the question."

"Careful, pretty boy," she spoke in a sigh. "I might think you like me."

"Maggie," I snapped.

Her eyes danced with humor before moving to the door. "How did you get in? Jax is at work."

"You guys didn't make it particularly hard to find the key," I responded even though she hadn't even answered my question. "I tossed it. Way back in the trees."

Her eyes widened. "You did not."

I shrugged. "I was paying a kind gesture. Wouldn't want any break-ins at my employee's home." She'd figure out that I'd placed it back to its original spot, but not right now.

"Luke," she hissed, either hand falling to the blanket. "Where is it?"

I balanced either arm over my chest. "Did you reject my call?" I repeated my question.

I waited for her as she took another sip of water. I knew she was taking longer than necessary just to spite me, and it was working. She didn't understand how badly it was working.

I didn't care about her rejecting my call in particular; I was curious about whether or not she cared about that part of my life, me.

Finally, she placed the glass down. Her gaze met mine. "I know that you're an idiot who doesn't understand context clues, but no, I didn't. I was asleep, dingus."

My frown deepened, but not at her insult. "I don't get it."

Maggie groaned, then swept one hand under the blanket. When she pulled it out, she held a phone. Her phone.

She shook it at me, her expression hung with curiosity. "It's dead. Phone's automatically decline a call if they're dead."

Oh.

Maggie was oblivious, her eyes jumping back to the now empty glass. "You know...I may be hallucinating a bit, but I didn't put that medicine there, and I sure as hell didn't go and get water."

Her attention skipped back to me. I could see the wheels turning in her annoying ass head, slowly putting the pieces together.

I shook my head at whatever she was thinking, and instead threw my own question at her, "Why is it so cold in here?"

She shrugged, fully wrapping her body under the blanket until only her head was emerged. Her lips parted to release a yawn. "Jax probably forgot to pay the gas bill. Who knows?"

I scowled. I didn't know Jax personally but if anything, I thought he'd be the responsible twin. His sister was freezing her ass off in here, and it wasn't helping her cold.

And, fucking shit, why did I care?

I laid my attention to the drifting girl in front of me. "You're freezing," I attempted to keep my voice steady, and neutral so that there was no confusion. Because there wasn't. I didn't care.

"I'm fine," the soft shudder of her body told me differently. "Listen, I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt, and pass this off as another hallucination. If it's not, then I suggest you be gone by the time I wake up again, yeah?" Before I could attest, she had drifted back into a mountain of sleep, her chin deeply woven into the thick blanket.

The longer I stared at her, the more agitated I grew. She was so stubborn, always ready and willing to argue just for the sake of it. This wasn't an arguable point though; this house was so cold, it was probably considered dangerous. But, she wouldn't listen.

Fuck this.

I huffed, stepping away from her. If she wanted to freeze, then so damn be it. I was going to get a good blowjob, and a good drink.

My eyes raked over her for a moment before I sighed. This would be the last thing I did, simply because it'd get her back to the shop even sooner.

I grabbed her glass, then went to the kitchen to refill it. After I brought it back to her room, I laid out one of each pill that seemed right and left them so close to her bed, all she'd have to do is reach.

I found myself pausing as I laid the last pill down. This was crazy. What was I doing, and why was I doing it?

I didn't care for or about her; I didn't even slightly like the girl. I hoped she knew that this didn't change that. I was only trying to get my employee back because at the end of the day, I still had a business to run.

Once I stepped outside, it didn't even compare to the inside. I couldn't even tell the difference from the way the cold hit my skin. Despite the weather, I felt my steps slowing the farther I grew away from Maggie's doorstep.

I jerked back around with a glare. With a curse, I flipped off the house, and everyone and everything in it before getting in my car. I never wanted, and I never planned to see it, again.

It took me a moment before I turned the heat on full blast. I didn't even wait for the glass to defrost before I tore out of the driveway. My sole focus was getting the fuck away from here.

At least I knew now, though. Unless she had lied, but I didn't think Norris was a liar. She was like me in that sense, we both told the truth no matter how badly it'd hurt. If she had deliberately planned to ghost me, she would have admitted it without a second thought.

So she hadn't went back on what she said yesterday. She still hated me for me, and my arrogance alone, not for my burden of a father and his rage.

Regardless, the embarrassment still remained. I didn't let anyone see that side of my life, hell, I didn't let anyone see me. People saw what I wanted them to see and anything else would be of their imagination or by accident. This was an accident. I thought I had mastered the art of not giving a fuck, but when Maggie had looked at me with such something after witnessing it, I knew I hadn't.

It almost made me feel as if I didn't deserve what my father did to me.