"Trusting our intuition often saves us from disaster." — Anne Wilson Schaef
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Chapter 19
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Maggie

My fingers stroked through Xanders' curls as I attempted, "I'll get you that back massager I saw you eyeing the other day."

Xander continued to glare at the steering wheel, arms crossed and tucked against his chest.

I drew out a sigh. Men. "I'll make your favorite cheesecake, I'll..." I paused, nearly slamming my head into the window with frustration.

Maybe I was wrong for waiting until today to tell him about the event. I let it slip during our spent lunch together, and he'd been in a sour mood ever since.

I could understand why he was mad; no one in their right mind would be okay with seeing their significant other attend a ball with someone else. But, this was far more complex. I'd rather eat crickets than go with Luke tomorrow, but I literally had no other choice.

Xander didn't have any idea of how psychotic Luke truly was. The son of a bitch would burn the world down with himself in it if the idea popped in his head.

He was a maniac. A controlling, narcissistic, rolling bowl of hot fury. Of course, he just so happened to be my boss for the next year, too.

I couldn't do anything to change it, and arguing about it wouldn't change a thing. I was still going to have to go, regardless of Xander's jealousy. He didn't even have anything to be jealous over, though, truly.

"Babe," I smiled, my voice softening as I undid my seatbelt. "I'm sorry." One hand remained on his neck while the other ran down his chest. It continued to fall until I reached his belt. "I really am."

His hooded eyes met mine. "You're so unfair, Maggie."

I shrugged, lifting my bottom from the seat to kiss him. His hand instinctively went to my ass, squeezing a little too roughly. I shrugged it off, using my free hand to fumble with his belt.

We were right outside Luke's shop. He had told me to take the week off so that I wouldn't get him sick, but I'd already wasted two days. The more time I spent away, the longer I'd have to be here in the long run. I wanted to dwindle my days as much as possible.

"I've missed you," I muttered against the corner of Xander's lips. "I've missed you," he repeated back.

I chuckled against his sample of a groan. I didn't give a damn about respecting Luke's building. If I wanted a reliever, I deserved to have it.

Xander chuckled, glancing down to his pants. "I'm not the only one who missed you," he teased. His sheepish smile made my own grow. "It's been so long ever since I've taken you out." I knew he didn't just mean our date-nights.

"You know I'm in." I nodded, but right now, I was solely focused on one thing. "Text me your schedule, and we'll make a date."

Well, at least I'd try. Between granny, school, work, and Luke, my schedule seemed to never be free.

"Now," I smiled, my fingers dragging along his jaw. "Quit talking, and show me how much you missed me." Xander shook his head with a grin before he broke it against my lips in a kiss.

He wasn't amazing in bed, but kissing, I found, he could do. He was sloppy at first, simply focused on swapping spit. I'd taught him to take it slow, and thankfully, he was a fast learner.

Xander swept a hand down my chest, one hand cupping my tit through my bra. I willed myself to moan, but nothing came out so instead, I focused on the kissing.

Just as his hand dove past the button of my jeans, a cool gush of wind crossed through my side of the car. I jerked around with a gasp.

Luke was standing there, a scowl on his lips. "Well aren't you two kids adorable?"

"What the—" I released a mix between a curse and a groan. "You're a creep, you know that?"

Instead of focusing on my comment, he demanded, "Come on, we have work to do." His voice was much tighter than normal.

I buttoned my pants back up, fully expecting him to be glaring at me, but he wasn't. His attention was trained on Xander.

From his expression, he didn't look impressed.

Xander, being the sane and respectable man he is, nodded at him, anyway. "What's up, man?" He offered a hand, to which Luke scoffed at.

His attention swung to me, instead. "Let's go. Now."

Xander caught hold of Luke's distaste, but he looked to me with a sweet smile, anyway. "I'll walk you to the door, babe." An uneasy glance at Luke had him reaching for his handle.

Luke would probably take the chance to trip him on the concrete. "It's fine. I'll call you later, okay?"

His brows drew in with uncertainty. "Maggie, I—"

"Listen, Xander," Luke drew his name out with extra boredom. He released a long, exaggerated sigh. "If you step even an inch on my property, I'm going to shoot you."

I swung my gaze to Luke in shock. What the fuck was his problem?

I returned to Xander, who had gone ghost white at the threat. "I'm sorry, he just...really sucks at jokes." That was the best I could offer.

"It wasn't a joke, though," Luke stated, calmly.

In the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a metal glare. When I turned to face Luke, I saw the flash of the gun, tucked comfortably in his waistband. My eyes jerked up to him in shock, to which a half-grin hung across his lips before he pulled the ends of his shirt back down.

Sweet sanity.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the beginning of a headache to still. And to think, I'd have to be with him all tomorrow night. Maybe I should take that gun he was flashing, and knock some sense into that big head of his with it.

Finally, I grew the sense to get Xander out of here before Luke gave him a heart attack. "I'll see you later."

His expression, stricken with shock, broke so that he could nod. I practically jumped from the car, waiting until he pulled away to continue on.

A drawl of a chuckle came from behind me.

I jerked around to Luke, and with every ounce of hatred I had, knocked my hand into his chest so hard, he stumbled. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

His grin fell, immediately. "Me?" he scowled. "I wasn't the one trying to get fucked on a public road."

I scoffed. "Oh, don't tell me you care about my reputation, now."

He snorted at that. "I don't give a single flying fuck about you, and you can bet shit I never will, either."

My palms itched, but I kept them to my side. "Yeah, well don't expect me to take any bullets for you anytime soon, either, pretty boy." I shoved past him before he could say anything else. If he did, I didn't bother to stick around to hear it.

Inside the building, equipment was already laid out, and the furniture was scattered. Disappointment settled in my tummy at the thought that so many days were wasted, and only added to my sentencing.

I couldn't relish in my self pity, though. I made the hole, and I'd have to dig my own self out. The harder I worked to get this place done, the sooner I could get the hell out of here.

I picked up the paint roller, nearly drawing blood from my lip from how hard I was biting down on it. At least I could focus on this instead of the prick I'd have to share the room with for the next couple of hours.

I stopped myself from turning at the sound of his footsteps. They grew closer until they finally stopped, right behind me.

I cast a glance over my shoulder to see him picking up a roller of his own, much to my shock. I didn't think he'd help with anything since I was the one who had made the mess.

Luke stepped up to my side, far too close to my liking. With an eye roll, I took a couple steps to my left to distance us.

I saw him glance at me from the corner of his eye, then press his lips together. I paid it no mind. Fuck him.

Apparently, he actually did research about this this time instead of just diving in. He'd already done the boxing for the paint from what I could tell, as well as the edges of the wall, but we needed to get the ceiling, then the walls, and finally the trim.

We were silent the entire time we painted. Since the roller was long, there was no need for a ladder. Luke got one half of the ceiling while I got the other. The label on the can said that it only took an hour to dry, so while it did, I worked on sweeping the floors in the other rooms.

After this shit, I never wanted to see glitter, again.

We did another layer of paint on the ceiling, and while waiting, he helped me mop and scrub the floor, which I found strange. I never expected a rich boy to know how to clean anything, but he wasn't too bad at it.

The ceiling hadn't dried completely, so I took Luke's keys to the Mercedes—the car that he claimed was beyond fixing. It was definitely fucked, but it wasn't entirely gone. I guessed he had it towed here.

I didn't know how long I'd been here, but my feet ached, and so did everything above and below that. The sky was beginning to darken, so I knew evening was near. As badly as I wanted to go home, I held off. I needed to catch up on my shit.

Luke was still inside the building, doing god knows what. Probably staring at himself in the mirror, knowing him.

I was under the hood of the car with my earbuds in, and my cap on. Because of the wind, I could barely even feel my fingers, but I pushed past it, and continued on. The end goal would be worth it.

I wouldn't lie though, this car was nice. It was a Mercedes-AMG Project One. It was expensive as shit, and Luke had given up on it like it was trash.

A part of me couldn't wait to fix it just to see it come back to life. I could claim I wanted to test drive it for mistakes, hop in, and never come back.

I shook the tempting thought away. I had had enough of meddling with Luke's things for a lifetime. After I was finished with the building and his car, then I would be rid of him, as well. 

I picked up the wrench, nearly diving my entire body under the hood. Before I could get a grip, though, a hand latched onto my wrist from my behind.

I gasped, tightening my grip around the wrench, and jerking around. I swung my wrist so hard, I thought the bone disconnected.

"Shit!" Panic caught up to Luke before he caught the wrist that had the wrench. "Chill the hell out, Maggie!"

I stared back at him in shock, my pulse slamming against my neck. I willed my heart to slow before my wrist fell to my side.

His eyes bounced cautiously between me and the wrench. "You nearly took my fucking head off."

"Yeah, well..." I attempted to steady my shaky voice. "That's what you get for sneaking up on people."

"I guess now I know," he replied, his chuckle sincere despite nearly getting his head knocked off of his shoulders. 

My eyes fell to the hold he still held on my wrist. Luke caught it then, yanking his hands back as if I burned him.

I turned, placing the wrench down with much more force than necessary. "What do you want?"

His eyes wandered over me, and I didn't like it. It looked as if he were trying to find a place for me in a puzzle.

Finally, he cleared his throat, "I have to go."

"Okay?" I returned with a raised brow.

"You can leave early," he added. "Don't worry about marks, or any of that shit."

Leaning against the car, I threw a nod at him. "My brother doesn't get off until midnight, and Xander doesn't, either. So, I guess I'm stuck here." If I hadn't been so wrapped up in trying to get Xander to forgive me, I would have been smart enough to drive my own car to work today.

Luke crossed his arms this time, his head tilting at me. "Well, there's no way in hell I'm leaving you here alone."

"I know you have trust issues, but trust me on this: I'm not interested in damaging anymore of your shit." I turned to get the towel to wipe my hands with a chuckle. "I've learned my lesson."

"That's not why," he corrected. I cast an odd glance at him to which he paid no mind to, so I added, "Then what is?"

He stared at me for a moment, eerily still. Finally, he shook his head. "It doesn't matter." Leaning up from his own car, he flicked his head back at it. "Come on, I'll take you home."

I scoffed, turning to shut the hood of the Mercedes. "I'd rather walk than go anywhere with you." I didn't forget about him being a complete ass to Xander, and I didn't plan to.

"I'm not letting you walk alone at night."

I jerked around with a glare. "You're not letting me?"

Luke ignored my statement, approaching his car, which was right in front of the Mercedes. "Get in."

"Absolutely not," I argued, crossing my arms.

Luke ran a frustrated hand down his face, cursing under his breath. "Maggie, get in the damn car."

"No can do, pretty boy." I pulled my lips into a dry smile before I jerked around, again. "Have a terrible night, Luke."

"Maggie, you either get in the car or I put your ass in."

I chuckled, focusing on the mark of oil along my finger. It was a stingy one. "I'd like to see you try, bitch." Giving up on the oil, I threw the rag atop the Mercedes, before I continued on toward the building to get my things.

As soon as I had my bag, I returned outside, where Luke was still standing. I rolled my eyes, and started my route out.

Just as I saw the lining of a stop sign in my vision, everything turned upside down. I turned upside down. I was swept right up by the back of my knees.

I knew, but that didn't stop the shock. I gasped as Luke swung me across his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Agitation, or the cold, or both bit right at my ass. I balled my hand into fists, my face hot to the touch. "You little—"

"Can't say I didn't warn you, Norris," Luke mumbled, tightening an arm around my backside. He carried me as if I weighed nothing, just casually dangling me over his shoulder.

I swung and swung until I couldn't. Even then, I continued on. I knew by his curses I had hit him where it hurt, and if he wouldn't have been so successful in getting me to the car, I would have actually taken pride in that.

Luke lowered his body to put me inside, despite the many insults and curses I threw at him. He was swift, placing a hand against my stomach to hold me still as he latched the seatbelt around my body.

Immediately, I went for the door, but he was even quicker. Every time I tried to unlock it, he'd lock the car right back up. It was no use.

With a huff, I threw a glare at him. "I'm getting you back for that."

Luke rolled his eyes, pulling his seatbelt across himself before he started the car. "I'd like to see you try, Norris."

Rolling my eyes, I sunk back into the seat. "Where are we even going?"

His hands worked around the wheel smoothly. "You were supposed to be going home, but after that little incident, we're out of time," he responded, the agitation in his voice evident. "So, we're going to the hospital."

Fuck. I groaned, thumping my head against the headrest. "And, now I have to be with you even longer. What a joy."

"I hate it just as much as you do, Norris, trust me."

Casting a glare his way, I caught sight of the fresh nail marks along his neck. A snarky smile grazed my lips. "Make sure you remember to get those checked out."

Luke rolled his eyes, pressed his lips together, and remained quiet. I did the same, casting my glare out of the window. If I didn't know of the consequences, I'd gladly lock, drop, and roll my ass out of the car. Anything to get me home, and away from him.

What reason would he have to go to the hospital, anyway?

I paused, racking my mind until it landed on the only possible answer. His mother.

It was the only thing that made sense. The only person he'd mention to be there that he cared to visit was his mother. And, if he had had a planned session with her today, I wouldn't have came, which had to mean that it was an emergency.

I moved my gaze from the glass, and let them fall to my hands. The tension seemed to thicken as soon as I pieced it, together.

I pushed the words out before I could stop myself, "Is your mom okay?"

He didn't respond for so long, I thought my words had went unheard. Or, maybe he didn't want to hear it.

I parted my lips, before shutting them. It wasn't my place to intervene in that part of his life.

"I don't know," he finally responded. He tried to sugar his tone with icy detachment, but all I got was exhaustion. He was tired.

I nodded, daring my gaze to leave my hands. "She will be." I didn't know the extent of her cancer, but that was all I could offer. I'd heard it so many times with my grandmother, and up to the present, it had worked.

I saw his expression fall before he built it back up. Brick by brick, cool stone by hard stone. "Thanks."

The ride remained silent. I wanted to say something but what could I say? I didn't think he wanted to talk about it, and I didn't think he thought I was trustworthy enough to hear about it.

We were at the hospital before I knew it. It was where everything first started. It was strange now, knowing that the frail-voiced woman he had spoken to had been his mother all along.

I glanced at the time on his radio screen. 6:50. My grandmother should be getting to sleep by now, so I'd go in and say goodnight.

"Are you staying in the car?" Luke asked, his gaze trained ahead. "I'll leave it on if you are."

"I'm going to go, and say goodnight to my grandmother. She used to be a couple rooms from your mother, but they moved her a floor down."

Luke nodded slowly, tugging at his bottom lip. He appeared...nervous? Why would he be nervous? Perhaps he didn't want me to see his mother or the way he acted around his mother. Or, maybe it wasn't me. Maybe he was nervous about what he'd see, or had already seen from his mother.

Once we got out, Luke locked the car after us, then turned to me. "We'll meet back here in forty, okay?"

I nodded in agreement, and he turned, despite the uncomfortable edge across his expression. If I didn't know any better, it looked like he wanted to say something else.

I glanced up to the sky, willing myself to get the words out. I couldn't help it. They'd probably do nothing but...oh, fuck it.

"Luke."

He stopped in step, but he didn't turn around.

"Would you..." I trailed off at my shaky voice. Now why the fuck was I nervous? "Would you like me to come with you?"

His entire body stilled, his back tensing up as he attempted to steady himself. His voice was so quiet, I barely caught it. "I'm used to doing it alone. I'll be fine."

I nodded, biting back the burning of my skin. I shouldn't have asked.

"But..." His voice seemed to sink into a deeper pool. "Thank you for asking." He let his hands fall to either side of him, before he walked into the building.

I stared at the spot he'd been in for so long, my eyes began to burn. Finally, I managed to stumble forward to avoid getting hit by one of the cars, or ambulances.

My mind raced as I carried on through the hospital. Even in the elevator, I found myself thumping my head against the wall. There was too much going on up there.

Luke was independent, I knew that, but I found myself wondering if he knew to be anything else. I'd only seen the worst of his father, and he rarely spoke of his mother. He never mentioned his half-brother or stepmother, either. I only even knew they existed from the website articles. Other than that, I'd never heard him even acknowledge his family as a whole.

Maybe it was because he didn't have one.

Maybe that was why he stuck with Kade and Levi so long. The three had always been together, but now they were both gone, as well.

Sometimes, I thought I was alone in this shit too, but realistically, I wasn't. I had Jax, Kimberly, Raven, Xander, Quinn, and granny. They were all there for me unconditionally, even though I'd been lying to them for the majority of our time spent together.

But, Luke. I didn't think he had anyone, other than Kade and Levi, but as I said, they were gone, too. Sure, he had money, and an abundance of women in line willing to join the Vaudest legacy, but that wasn't the same as genuine love.

The longer I thought on it, the deeper my heart fell. It made me frown. I didn't know why it was so disheartening. Luke was an ass, but so was I, at times. I'd admit it without shame.

But, I think a part of me knew he had good intentions. He usually went about them in the wrong way, but they were there, nonetheless.

Jax told me what he'd done, paying for our gas bill. And, even though I'd doubted it to Kimberly and Raven, he had taken care of me. He bought a heater to help my cold, as well as my pills and food.

And, he hadn't asked for anything in return this entire time.

I tried to pretend that the event was the exchange, but it wasn't. When he told me about it, he didn't use the 'I did this for you so you have to do this for me' stance. Of course, the one he did use made me want to run him over, but nonetheless, he hadn't asked for anything in exchange for his actions.

Shit.

Did I dare say it? Luke Vaudest had a heart. A deadly, violent one, but still one, nonetheless.

"I need a drink," I murmured to myself, running a hand down my face. And, a shower. The paint from the ceiling had dripped some, so I knew I didn't look too great.

Once the elevator stopped, my stomach fell as it had done so many times. No matter how many times I'd been inside of a hospital, the feeling never got any better.

Most of the doctors and nurses recognized me from the amount of time I'd visited granny. We exchanged quick hellos and goodbyes, before I finally got to her door.

I blew out a tough breath, wrapping my fingers around the handle. It opened with a creak, a click sounding out the moment I shut the door behind me. "How are you doing tonight, pretty lady?"

A smile pinched her cheeks. Her hair was spread out along the pillow, her warm eyes finding mine. "I'm always doing good when you're here, sunshine. Come here." She tried to lift her upper body, but I was in her space before she had to do too much.

We exchanged hugs, and I found myself concentrating on the elderly, floral scent of her. It was so warm and comforting, and it reminded me that things would be okay. It was a lie, but she always made me believe it in her arms.

She was the first to pull back, but her eyebrow was raised high. I tried to smooth over my expression, but the woman could read anyone like a book.

Right now, though, I needed everything but that.

"How have you been, baby?" At her soft voice, I had to refrain from breaking down in her lap right there and then.

There was so much to tell, so much that she didn't know, and probably never would. I knew I couldn't tell her about my dad's release, I couldn't tell her about what was going on with Luke, I just...couldn't tell her.

When she was granted custody of me, I'd caused her so much trouble, so much stress, so much money, and just, so much. I wasn't a child anymore, though. Her and Jax couldn't fix my mistakes, and they couldn't and wouldn't fix me. I had to do it myself, or at least pretend I could.

"I'm fine," I responded, painting on a smile. "I just wanted to see you before you checked out for the night, though."

Her nose crinkled as it always did when she didn't believe me. I kept my expression neutral until she let her own fall.

"It's only seven. Who the hell goes to sleep that early?" she joked, despite herself being the answer. Jax and I had always teased her about it since she always claimed it to be false.

"Definitely not you."

"Damn straight," she responded with a chuckle.

I took a seat to her left, the same one I always did. "Time for the drama. Give me all the details."

Her eyes lit up, so I knew I had her. "You know that nurse I told you about? Miss Mary Shenkins? Well, apparently, her and Dr. Wilburn were caught in the break room, scrubs barely even hanging on."

I clasped my hands together in my lap, letting my eyes widen. "What? I thought he was married."

Granny loved to gossip, and apparently there was plenty of it to listen to and spread around the hospital. Somehow, someway, I knew exactly who was cheating on who now.

Granny nodded, her eyes widening with excitement. "Because, he is, and to a beautiful young nurse named Sherry, I believe. But, that's not the icing on the cake. Mary Skenkins? She was seen by one of the nurses with Sherry!" She threw her arms into the air with exaggeration, and I matched it.

She lasted all, but twenty more minutes. I stayed with her, listening to her details of the affair.

When her eyes shut, I pulled the blanket over her shoulders, and told her sleeping figure goodnight. She was knocked out for the night.

I shut the door to her room, cringing at the click that came. I hated that thing; I never know if it'd wake granny up or not, but the woman could sleep through a tornado if you let her.

I said goodbye to the nurses and doctors who acknowledged me, then returned to the elevator. Once I was in, my fingers hovered over the white numbers that indicated the floor levels. The ground level would lead me to Luke's car, the other would lead me to Luke himself.

I nibbled on the inside of my cheek, my finger waiting above the button. I knew that Luke said he usually did this alone, but when I thought of it, I felt my insides shrink. No one should handle that shit alone; it'd drive them mad before they knew it.

Fuckitfuckit—

"Don't think," I mumbled to myself. "Just don't fucking think, Maggie."

That same encouragement coerced past my lips as I pressed his mother's floor number. Every second that passed nearly felt like my last.

"Breathe, Maggie. Breathe." That knot in my stomach still remained no matter the time that passed. And, even that didn't last because before I knew it, the elevator had stopped, and the doors were opening.

My legs forced me out before I could stop them. They continued on, in spite of every nerve in my body telling me to turn around and go to his car. I glanced past the numbers.

307. 308. 309. His mother was in 310.

The door wasn't shut all the way. Nearly every sound could be heard from behind it. So, when I caught the first one, I nearly burst with shock.

A feminine scream, and, a mix of voices attempting to console it.

I approached the door, my hand pressing against the cool wood until it fully opened. What awaited me on the other side was preposterous.

There were at least two nurses, and three doctors to either side of the hospital bed. They were sounding a woman who was laying, or fighting in the bed.

Either nurse was by her head, trying to calm her down. One doctor held her by the arm, the other had her other, and the last held a needle.

The woman was thrashing and fighting against their hold. She was quite petite, but by the bloody nose the doctor with the needle had, she definitely knew how to use her weight. Her screams were of bloody murder, tears slipping down either side of her face. Her eyes were trained in the corner, to which Luke stood.

Luke.

Luke was watching me, his expression startled and taken aback. His skin had gone ghost white, and I was sure mine did, as well.

His long legs marched over to me so quickly, I got whiplash. "You have to leave." Either hand grasped my shoulders to push me back out of the room. "Now." My mind scrambled for a response, but the scream from behind us interrupted.

"Help me!" his mother screeched. "Help me! Please." Her voice was so loud, so full of panic, and confusion, and everything in between. They obviously weren't hurting her, but her mind was convincing her that they were.

"Miss Palce," one of the nurses consoled, her voice desperate. "Please, honey. We're trying to give you your medicine."

Luke had regained his natural skin tone, but it had darkened with a flush. His eyes swept over to me, the plead in them evident. "Maggie, get out."

The nurses' attempt went right out the door asLuke's mother released a sob so loud, I flinched. "Luke, please! Help me, please!"

Luke had his back to her, but was facing me. He flinched at her tone, his throat bobbing. He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head once before he left me in my spot, jerking around to tend to his mother.

He knelt to his mother, gripping her hand, his expression softening only by the tiniest fraction. She found his eyes, her chest heaving as she cried.

"Mom," he said, his voice slow and low. "They're not trying to hurt you, okay? No one is going to—"

"Get off of me!" she screamed as the doctor tried to maneuver the shot into her skin. She tried to yank her hand away from Luke, but he held on. "Get off!"

My heart ached the longer I watched it unfold. Both for Luke, and for his mother.

My feet led me closer before I could stop them. Luke's head snapped up, his eyes pleading with me to leave, to not intervene, but I couldn't help myself.

The doctors' eyed me carefully. With a wave of my hand, I motioned for them to lower their needles. They weren't making it any easier on themselves by waving it around.

"Maggie," Luke spoke so low, only I could hear it. "Please leave. Please."

I focused on the woman in front of me, not stopping until I was too her side. Her frantic eyes found mine, both the confusion and fear tumbling over one another.

I willed my mind to still as I wandered into that part of my memories. The one that I thought had long left. Apparently, it hadn't. I conjured those memories, all of the trips and delusions with my mother, and held on.

Breathing in, I forced a smile along my face. His mother had stopped the screams, but soft pleas continued to slip from her lips like mumbled prayers.

I felt every pair of eyes in the room draw to me, but paid them no mind. I kept my attention on his mother, only.

She was stunning, nearly ethereal really. Long, dirty-blonde hair that reached the curve of her neck, and brown eyes that were as sweet as chocolate. Long, dark eyelashes framed the jewels, leading to a narrow nose. Like her son, her skin was fair, but I noted small specks of freckles kissing the spots around her nose, a little bit of her cheeks. Her cheekbones were high and angled, but I wasn't sure if that was from the illness, or just her genes. Either way, she was so beautiful.

"Hi, Miss Palce," I started, my voice steady and cool. I didn't want her to think I had ill intentions. "How are you, beautiful?"

"Who..." She blinked, the arm that she had used to clock a doctor in the nose sinking down. "Who are you?"

I offered a smile. "I'm Maggie," I told her. "I'm Luke's friend." Her head turned to Luke for confirmation. He gave a small nod in return, his gaze jumping between the both of us cautiously.

Her eyes skipped back to me, slowly widening again. "They're trying to kill me."

"I know." I stepped closer, waving a hand over the doctors. "Fuck them." I shot them an apologetic look, but they were too focused on the needle than my comment.

Traces of skepticism remained in her expression for a lingering second until her head bobbed in a slow nod.

I tilted a smile at her. "Can you tell me something, hun?" Her head fell as a yes. "Tell me something you like to do. It can be anything. Cooking, reading, skiing, a show or movie."

"I loved a cartoon," she said, slowly. "When I was a girl."

"Which one? There's like a million." I exaggerated my response with a hand wave.

"I-I can't pick," she mumbled, her attention falling to her gown.

"Well," I said, my voice softening. "Personally, I loved Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, The Flinestones..." I nodded at her to continue for me.

Luke was watching me so intensely, I had to force myself to keep my attention on his mother.

Her face tightened with concentration, and for a moment, I could have sworn I saw Luke in that simple act. "There was one with a cat and a mouse. I can't remember the name." Her eyes fell in disappointment as she attempted to conjure the memory.

"Tom and Jerry," I covered for her. "The one where the mouse was always beating the cat's ass."

Her eyes lit up at me as she nodded. "I always used to tell people they were friends. No one believed me..." Her gaze jerked up to mine. "You believe me, don't you?"

I nodded eagerly. "Hell yeah I do. They only pretend to hate each other so that the owner believed it. A theatrical masterpiece, as I right?"

Her lips slowly raised into a smile, and I matched it with my own in return. I let my fingers stroke through the softness of her blonde locks until her expression grew calm.

"I tell you what..." I shrugged. "If you want, we can watch it right here, right now."

Her expression lit up. "You'd do that?"

"Are you kidding me?" I grinned. "Heck yeah I would."

Her lips lifted with excitement, before it fell into a line. "It's never playing on the television here, though."

"That won't be a problem." I pulled my phone from my back pocket; I was glad as shit I charged it beforehand. "We can watch it right here. There's so many episodes, we'll never run out. Would you like that?"

Her smile stuck this time as she nodded eagerly. "Please." I quickly searched for the show, then directed the screen to her.

Laughter fell from her as she watched. I studied over her with a smile, before I flicked my head at the doctor with the needle. It was subtle, but when I heard the shuffling of feet, I knew they caught it. Miss Palce was so dedicated to the show, she never even realized that the needle had pierced her arm.

Everyone in the room held their breath until the doctor finished. Thankfully, she was too indulged in the video to care. The doctors and nurses rushed out as soon as they were finished.

Miss Palces' eyes moved to mine, a yawn following. "I've missed this so very much," she awed, a finger lifting to stroke the back of my hand. "Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you so much."

My smile softened. "It was no problem at all, ma'am."

Her eyes drifted for a moment before they fluttered shut, entirely. I waited a couple of minutes just to be sure, but when her soft snores started up, I slipped the phone back into my pocket. She was asleep, and now it was just Luke and I.

Luke. Shit.

I raised my eyes to meet his. His own were already on me, as they had been for the past couple of minutes. My breath caught in my throat the longer we held eye contact.

I made it past the lump in my throat to rush out, "I'll be in the car."

Without waiting for a response, I rushed out of the room, nearly forgetting to close it behind me.

I wasn't sure how I made it to the car without collapsing. I pulled the chill handle, slamming the door after me. With a shaky breath, I plastered my head against the headrest.

A pain tore through me mentally. I cupped either side of my face, moving to my mouth with a heavy sigh. It was draining even thinking about it.

"What the hell did you do, Maggie?" I cursed myself in a mutter. "What the hell did you do?"

I didn't even know if it'd work on his mother, or not. All I did was use my own experiences, and hoped for the best. I was glad that it calmed her down enough to get her medicine, but shit.

Luke would ask questions. He would wonder where I learned to do such a thing, why it had sounded so personal , and why it had worked. He would try to piece it together, because it'd be ammunition against me.

With his questions would come more lies, and on top of those lies, would come betrayal. It'd get back to Luke and Kade, which of course would get back to Raven and Kimberly. They'd hate me, they wouldn't trust me, and they'd leave.

Shit. Shit. Shit—

The driver's door was pulled open, the cold seeping right through the car. I nearly turned my head on instinct, but kept my gaze trained ahead for my own good. My blood flow ceased to be just that as time carried on.

I expected him to bombarde his questions on me any minute now. Except he didn't.

Luke started the car, and pulled off without a word. The entire ride was accompanied with silence.

I let either hand grip my thighs to stop them from shaking. It did nothing, in fact, my entire body was going through it the longer I stayed in this car. I was sure he could hear my bones rattling from here.

Okay, I thought. Think of something.

He'd definitely ask, and I needed to be ready. I'd lied so much, it wasn't a problem to do it, again.

I could say that I'd read about it when I was a kid. That I'd learned it from my psych. class. Something.

Except it didn't feel right. None of this did. Luke had been honest with me the entire time, despite how rude or blunt it was. I'd told so many lies over the years, I thought I'd settled the guilt that followed. But, right now, even though I had yet to say the words, I still felt that guilt crush me.

It wasn't fair that I had to lie. It was so unfair that it should have turned me bitter had I not accepted that there was nothing I could do about it. If everyone were to find out...

No. I shook my head, glaring out the window. No one would.

"Thank you for that."

My eyes jumped over to the driver's side. Luke had one hand on the wheel, using his knees to direct it. His hands were in his lap, clenched, and white-knuckled.

"It was no problem at all," I responded, my voice coming out much softer than intended.

"The brain tumor," he cleared his throat, gaze ahead. "It makes her hallucinate sometimes. It's rare when it ever gets that bad, though, and you know..." he trailed off, rolling his lips.

I nodded in understanding. He didn't even have to explain it to me, really.

The car kicked under the gravel as it came to a stop. I recognized the street as my own. I nearly wept with joy at being able to save this mental torment for another day.

"Can I ask you something?"

Shitfuckshitfuckshitfuck. My face went ghost white at the request. Here it comes.

I beat him to the punch by rushing out, "I read about it in psych. class."

He casted an odd glance over me. "What?"

I blinked back at him. "Isn't that what you wanted to know? How I knew what to do?" Either that, or I just fucked myself.

His head tilted at me, brows drawing in. "No, I was going to ask..." he paused, running his eyes over me before he shook his head. "Nothing. It's not that important."

My face went red, an awkward nod loosening my neck up. I threw myself under the bus for nothing, then.

At least I had a perfect escape, though. "Alright, well—"

"You're lying."

I paused, my mouth half-open.

Luke crossed his arms, pressing his back against the drivers' door. "You're lying about the psych. class."

My eyes lowered to avoid his. "I'm not lying." I mentally cringed at myself. It definitely sounded like I was.

Luke pressed his lips together, eyeing me over. "You are. Your voice dips when you lie."

Shit. I drew in a breath of shock, dragging my eyes away from him. If he looked at me too long, he might see the bullshit underneath.

I picked my voice back up, "Luke—"

"Norris," he cut me off, shaking his head. "You don't have to tell me shit. Don't make yourself uncomfortable for anyone, especially me. I don't need to know if you don't want to tell me. It's none of my business...but I do appreciate it."

I waited an extra moment for a snide comment ,or a joke from his side, but none came. At least he was respective of it. My chest fell in relief before I nodded. It was a breath of fresh air.

Not too many people understood that they couldn't force others to open such a dark place in their mind. Especially myself. If I went back too long, I'd get stuck.

Luke was watching me, patiently waiting for a response. "Thanks..." I let a breath flow from my lips before I offered a smile. "Prick."

"Do something for me, angel."

A teasing scoff slipped from me. "I'd rather die."

Luke chuckled, nodding. "Take that thanks, and shove it up your ass for me."

I flipped him off with a stale smile. He returned it without wasting a second, mimicking my smile. I never thought I'd see the day I was okay with Luke flipping me off, but right now, it brought more relief than I could have ever thought.

My hand fell to the handle. "Keep that up," I began, pulling the door open. "And, you'll be alone tomorrow night, pretty boy."

As soon as I was out, I heard him roll his window down.

"I'd like to see you try that shit," he threatened from behind me.

I walked backwards, shrugging my shoulders at him with a grin. "Who knows? You should know better than anyone else that I love my little impulses."

His scowl grew before he narrowed his eyes at me. "Do it, and I'll impulse your ass right into a jail cell."

Either arm wrapped around my stomach as I feigned an ill look. "You know, I think I'm coming back down with something. I might need—"

He rolled his eyes at my performance. "I don't give two fucks if you're coming down, up, left, right, or sideways with something," he warned. "All I know is that you're going to be ready tomorrow. Four P.M. sharp. No five or three minute late arrivals."

"That was only once," I replied with an eye roll. "Get over it already. If you wanna talk about—"

"Don't you dare bring that fucking paintbrush up," he cut in, pointing to me. "Don't. You. Dare."

Despite my mischievous smile, I lifted my hands in surrender. "I'm just saying: there's a thin line between common sense, and just bare sense. You, apparently, have neither."

Luke drew out a sigh, palming his forehead. He shook his head with annoyance. "Norris."

I made it to my doorstep. "Mhm?" I had to raise my voice a bit to be heard.

"I hate you."