The Stars We Can't See

20. Hope

Luke's POV

I prepared myself, telling myself to man up and just ask her already. I had been delaying it for so long. Almost seven years. Honestly, I couldn't believe it. I didn't understand how she didn't notice my constant staring and smiling at her cute self. For five damn years. Five because I had spent two of them pretending to be dead.

She was right in front of me, a dazzling smile on her face. I felt protective over her, and didn't want any harm to come to her. I knew full well that she was capable of taking care of herself. More than capable actually. She had broken my nose two times in the past, accidentally. However, I still felt the need to protect her with my my life.

I wondered how many guys at school had seen her gorgeous smile and were lusting after her. I hated those assholes. In tenth grade, an idiotic jock had the nerve to talk about how hot she was and how badly he wanted her in his bed. I broke his jaw.

I took a deep breath in, and like an idiot, I blurted out the question.

"Can I ask you to be my girlfriend? And to go on a date with me?", I questioned hopefully, awaiting her answer with my heart beating faster than Eminem's rapping.

She looked at me for a few seconds, no emotion on her face, but suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she pulled me into a hug.

"Yes to both of those.", she whispered, making me smile in relief and happiness.

It would've been plain awkward if she had said no, after all that kissing. She pulled away and rushed up, grabbing my hand and taking me to her house. I thought I saw her whispering something at the sky for a second, but I quickly wiped the thought away when I saw her running towards her house.

I chuckled, running after her. But when I saw her father, Noah and Reyna standing by the fence that separated the house from the beach, I stopped dead in my tracks. Bullets? I could take them. Bruises and cuts? That too. But an angry dad, brother and best friend? Hell nah!

I gulped nervously, walking towards the fence, slower this time. Lissy continued to run up to them,  as if seeing them there was a simply fantastic. I loved her father, Reyna and Noah, but they could be really scary sometimes. Scratch that, they could be terrifying sometimes.

I walked up to them, clenching my fists to prepare myself for the inevitable word slaughtering that I was about to receive. For a few seconds, they did nothing, just staring at me with no emotion on their faces. I could really tell that Lissy was born into this family. 

Finally, her dad cleared his throat and said, "Don't hurt her, or you're dead."

I could tell that he was exhausted. The poor guy had already said the exact same words to me too many times. Noah, however, came up with... more creative threats every single time. So, naturally, I was waiting for him to start with his threats with my breath held.

To my complete surprise, he only said, "And I'll chop you to pieces and feed you to the sharks."

This was completely different from his usual threats. He probably still felt like he had to be careful around me because of Stella. He was right. I hadn't gotten over it. Definitely not. But I could see that I would have to live my life without her, as painful as that was. It hurt me beyond belief, but I knew that I had to do it.

I just hoped that Mom, Dad and I would be okay soon. I still couldn't believe it. I still couldn't believe that my own twin, Stella, was no more. She would never come back. The thought that she was gone forever broke my heart into thousands of pieces, nothing in the world being able to fix it. But it was the sad reality that all of us had to live with.

Thinking about the pain that I was going through made me feel so guilty. I had left Lissy in the dark, pretending that I had died. She spent two years mourning, and I couldn't forget that, no matter how hard I tried. I had told myself countless times that I had done it for her own safety, but the guilt was still inside me, slowly crawling up through my throat and choking me.

I just hoped that she would forgive me. Not only for the horrible experience that I had put her through, but also the other things that I had hidden from her. It pained me to keep things away from her, but it was all for her own benefit. She didn't deserve to fight my horrific battles with me. She deserved a happy and peaceful life, especially after the intense depression that she had just gone through.

I also hoped that the results would come back soon. So that I could be sure that I really was experiencing what I thought I was going through. I had to be sure of it before telling anyone else. Other than Mom and Dad, no one knew. The one person who did was dead. I was going to make sure that no one else ever found out. 

I just needed the results, and I was going to be okay. It would all be okay, and I wouldn't have to tell anyone anyway. I would be okay. 

That was the mantra that I repeated countless times. The thing that always slipped off my tongue every time something was wrong.

I sighed, breaking out of my thoughts, and nodded, saying, "Of course. Not a hair on her head will be harmed."

I could see the smile on her face out of the corner of my eyes. I just hoped that nothing would ruin my plans, and that the smile on her face would stay there forever.

I just hoped. 

Doneee! What do you think the test are for? Is your suspense building up? Well, you're not getting answers right now, bestie! XD I feel so evil... Anywho, make sure to comment, vote and share! Love you guys! Peace out!