26

Ψ 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐦 Ψ

𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝; I was confused too. I mean why defend Clarisse when I could just go with it.

But even I knew after our small talk in the woods, in my heart from what my mom had told me is when to trust people. Out of all the bullies I met, where girls did it for fun or for jokes, but then there were ones like Clarisse, where they did it out of spite of something in their own lives. Unlike Clarisse many of the girls continued but after we spoke, we were okay.

We're not best girl friends.

In the future we are.

But...she couldn't have. The way she even acknowledged her dad in the way she did...no she couldn't have.

"Why do you think that? Are you guys' friends now?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"Luke, I know girls like her. They are bullies but not for no reason. I mean yes, it's still horrible to pick on people but Clarisse, the way she talks about her dad-she wouldn't do it. I trust her. That's coming from me." I pointed to myself looking at him as he stared at me.

He let out a long sigh and licked his bottom lip and turned his head away, contemplating whether to take my side.

"I get your friends believe she could do this. But I can't think like that."

He shrugged and said "fine. But then who else?" He asked me while approaching me closer and that was the one question I couldn't answer straight.

Trying to find my words I just shrugged "I really can't answer that. But I know for a fact that they need to keep searching for whoever worked with Ares, because if I'm right Clarisse isn't her dad. Just like I'm not like mine and neither are you."

He stared at me, and a smirk appeared on his face.

"I like when you take charge, prove your smarts." He said approaching me closer and I placed my hands on his chest quickly to give us some space.

Why! Why! Do you not want him to kiss you or hold you!?

I gulped and he looked at me and sighed and held both my hands and pulled them off his chest only to pull my body closer to him and I looked up at him.

He smiled down at me and asked "so...why did you come looking for me again?"

Finding my words to try and speak and blurted out, "it happened again...the nightmare, it was that voice again. It told me that I was a danger to the people I love. This can't be a coincidence anymore, r-right?"

Luke stared at me looking worried when the words left my mouth and he turned away to think and I rubbed my arms nervously as ever. He looked back my way and quickly grabbed my hand as we left.

I gasped as he dragged me out and I shouted "hey! Could've given me a warning!"

We continued walking as he told me "Remember when I told you about my dad? About my mom?"

Remembering that moment we had I nodded quickly and said "yeah of course but what's wrong? What about it?"

We arrived back at the cabin with still no one inside and I was confused and shouted "Luke!"

He looked at me and I crossed my arms saying, "okay I know we kissed once but you just dragged me over here and I know there's probably about to be a whole speech like in the movies and shows I watch so tell me the probably bad news now before I freak out!"

Luke stood still for a moment ignoring my words.

"Don't lie to me. I've been lied to my whole life by a man that I don't even know! I don't wanna get screwed over like my mom. Please don't do that to me either, please..." I begged him and reached to take hold of his hand.

His look was black, he seemed to be here but also somewhere else while staring at me "you have to trust me with whatever happens. I can't explain it right now. But I'm doing this for people like us. For those who have been wronged, manipulated, lied to. Tormented with the hope of a happy childhood and life only for it to be taken away in one single second."

I looked at him and he shook his head "none of this is meant to hurt you. Or anyone. All I want...I want to protect you. Think about it."

I looked at his eyes and my breath hitched as I muttered "Luke..."

I felt his hand hold my left cheek; I felt his thumb soothingly stroke one part of my face.

This feeling was so different.

I tried to think of other times where I felt this emotion.

I tried to think of my mom but even then, I couldn't.

This feeling wasn't like a love from a mother.

I don't even know if it was love but that's how I could at best describe it even if I didn't understand the concept of love.

My mom hasn't felt that, even with the man she had me with, she didn't think love was real.

But here I am, a 17-year-old kid, major anxiety, and so many other issues wrong with her.

Whose life went a complete 180 and now I'm here with a boy.

And this boy made me feel like...I mattered.

I'm not my mom's little girl. A nobody.

Crazy or Insane. To him...what was I?

"What am I to you Luke?" I asked softly and he stared down at me.

I saw him look hesitant still and his hand didn't move from my face.

"Honestly...all I care about right now..." he started, "is to protect and defend you." He claimed and I pulled his hand from my face.

"I need to know if I can trust you." Explaining to him as a long sigh left him.

Both of us stood there as he shrugged and said "I can't make you trust me. Do you feel the same about Clarisse as you do with me? Do you feel the same way?" He finished asking.

My brain and heart were telling me both the same thing, which was rare. Most of the time my intuition was right. So, I hoped that this time was right too.

"Luke. I trust you."

His face turned bright, and he smiled at me and pulled me into a hug, I felt the butterflies again and I wrapped my arms around his neck and shut my eyes.

I had hoped my mind and heart were right.

I trust Luke.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Hayley trusts him.

Is Luke manipulating her? Or is he using her?

Cause if he was using her? Whats the point? She's just another normal Demi-God...

Maybe...his feelings are true?