"You built a city all in your head. Built high walls so no one could break them down. I'm here to tell you that I'm breaking them down because I love you, Emile."
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Luke and Emile were still in the hallway as she looked up at him.
"The whole story?" Emile was intrigued and that scared her. Se was afraid of knowing the truth about him.
"Let's skip today and I'll tell you the whole story," Luke suggested.
"Are you crazy? You're asking a girl whose never skipped a day in her life, let alone one class, to skip an entire day with you?" She looked at him as if he was the craziest person in the world.
"That's exactly what I'm asking." His small smile was turning into a full blown grin.
"No. I can't! What if someone catches us?" She was paranoid just thinking about it."
"They won't! But if they do, I'll tell them it was all my idea and I'll take the blame. Look, there's still some things I need to tell you... about me."
"You actually want to talk?" Emile was surprised it was going to be that easy. She wasn't expecting it to be.
"There's things you need to know. Things I should have told you instead of my sister."
"Let me go get my work for the day and then we can go okay? I want to listen to what you have to say," He simply nodded his head but his mind was racing with thoughts. She turned on the balls of her feet and rushed down the hallway to retrieve today's work.
Luke stood in the empty hallway, patiently waiting.
"Hey, why aren't you in class?" Leah's voice echoed thought the walls. Luke turned his head to face his little sister.
"Because you opened your big mouth, I now have to explain myself to the person I care about most. I wasn't ready to tell her, Leah! Why did you have to say anything?"
"She was going to find out sooner or later Luke. I saved you the trouble of explaining yourself," He rolled his eyes and leaned on the lockers with his arms crossed. His army green long sleeve wrinkled itself perfectly on his crossed muscular arms.
"You can't stand to stay out of things can you? This doesn't involve you Leah. I didn't ask for your help and I sure as hell don't need it."
"Ouch big bro. In case you haven't noticed, our moms and I have tried to help you since the first incident. You're too blind with your inner rage to see that we love you and all we want for you is to be happy. If you would just tell us what's going on with you-"
Luke had slid down onto the floor by now. His head was burried in his hands which were rested on his knee caps.
Emile came rushing down the hallway with paper rustling in her skinny hands.
"Luke, I got the work for today. Ready to go- oh god. What happened? Are you okay?" Emile looked up from going through the paper to see Luke on the floor.
Leah had left him to get back to class after their dispute. She knew not to bother him when he got like this.
"Luke?" She spoke softly as she slowly approached him. Emile wasn't sure what to do since she hadn't dealt with anything like this before.
She said nothing after. All she did was sit down next to him with the papers on her right side. Laying her head on his shaking shoulder, made it stop. Her touch seemed to calm him.
"I'm okay," His sudden response startled her out of a daydream. He wiped a few tears from his red, blotchy face.
"We should go before someone sees us, Luke," She turned her head to look around the empty hallways. They were both hoping a teacher or a faculty member wouldn't catch them.
"I've got a perfect spot. I'll drive and then I'll tell you everything. When I do... I don't want you to look at me differently Em. I care about you too much to let you go," His eyes filled up with tears again and soon they were walking out with their hands interlocked.
----
"Okay close your eyes Em," Emile trusted Luke with her life but the one thing she hated was surprises.
"Luke. You know I hate these kind of things."
"I do know. But trust me, it'll be worth it. All you have to do is trust me," She couldn't help but give in to his emotional blue eyes.
Luke led her forward and because she was blindfolded she almost tripped and fell on her face.
Emile gripped onto Luke's hands, that were covering her eyes, very tightly.
"I won't let you fall, I promise," Luke whispered softly into her right ear.
Emile shivered in just the slightest bit as he spoke. His voice was musical and she loved the sound of it. When he spoke, his voice cracked every few words and it sounded absolutely amazing to her.
Soon Emile was growing impatient with Luke. She wiggled and tried to work her way out of his grasp. This made him hold on tighter.
"Are we there yet Luke?" She felt his body behind hers as he vibrated with laughter.
"Getting impatient are we?" He teased. She was unable to see him but she could tell he had a huge smirk on his face.
"C'mon Luke. Give it up. Are we there yet?" She felt him release his hands from her eyes and soon she was met with bright lights and rushing water.
A huge waterfall stood before the two as it flowed downward into the pool below it.
"Came across this when I was hiking one day. Made me think of you with how beautiful it is. But it could never compare to you Em," He had never spoke like this before and it took Emile by surprise.
"Thanks, Luke."
"Ready to hear the real story about me?" He looked at her expectantly.
She took and deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come next.
