Luke’s POV

I was beginning to think that Skylar was mad at me. As we stood in line for our usual morning coffee she stood a body length away from me, her arms crossed, sneaking worrying glance at me whenever she thought I wasn’t looking. She ended up like this every time that she went and hung out with her supposed friends. I was beginning to think that something fishy going on.

I’d known that Skylar was out of my league the second I met her. I still didn’t know how I’d managed to beat Harry, but I had and now she was mine. But times like this after she’d been hanging out with her friends for too long Skylar was just straight up moody.

“What would you two like?” The barita asked sending a greasy smile mostly in Skylar’s direction causing me to take a step closer to her side.

“A single flat white for me,” I stated before looking down at Skylar prompting her order.

“Oh gosh! There’s so many choices.” Skylar stated biting her lip and sending a smile in the direction of the barista.

“That’s fine take your time babe.” He stated with a wink that had me seeing red and glancing worriedly between Skylar and the barista.

Was she flirting?

“Yeah she can never seem to make a decision, you know artists.” I joked trying to break the odd eye contact by slipping my arm around her waist.

Instead of snuggling into my side like she usually did I felt Skylar stiffen and as subtly as she could step out of my arms. There was something definitely going on. However, instead of dealing with it now I just paid for the coffees as Skylar had finally ordered and made my way over to our usual booth.

“So where do you want to eat before the ball?” I asked knowing that I needed make reservations since the ball was a scant 72 hours away and the restaurants would be filling quickly.

“The group was thinking of getting together at Megianno’s for dinner beforehand?” She suggested paying more attention to her coffee than me.

“That might work.” I offered half-heartedly, “Well where do you want to take our pictures?”

“We were thinking the park down by the river right before diner time.” Skylar stated finally meeting my gaze, “Harry thought that the sunset light would work perfectly with the snow and the river.”

“Harry thought?” I asked trying not to be too snarky.

I was trying to figure out when Skylar and I going to the ball, turned into Skyler, all of her friends and I going to the ball. It was a notion that I wasn’t entirely sure that I was comfortable with. Her friends didn’t seem to like me that much and Harry just straight up make me uncomfortable. I also didn’t know when Skylar had had time to make all these plans as far as I knew she’d been locked in her studio for the last month and a half or so, or out with me when I had mandated that she take a break.

“Yes Harry, and I mean, I think it’s a good idea.” Skylar said a slight tone of annoyance in her words.

“But I thought that it was going to be the two of us?” I asked, “I mean you’re always with them, I feel like I never see you anymore.” I stated pleading with her to actually listen to me.

Instead Skylar’s back went ramrod straight, her expression souring as she obviously fought over what to say, “What are you talking about Luke? Last night was the first time that I’d seen my friends in over a month. If I’m not with you I’m in the studio trying to get through my art classes this semester. But of course you’d know that since you text me every hour wanting to know where I am.” Her tone was spiteful and arrogant and I didn’t know where this was coming from.

“Well maybe if you picked an easier course or one you could actually do you wouldn’t have to spend so much time in the studio.” The words were out of my mouth before I could even think about what I was saying. I regretted them the second that I saw the look across Skylar’s hurt expression.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean it.” I quickly apologized trying to get the hurt expression off of her face.

“Then why did you say it?” Skylar asked her gaze searching mine, “You know that I’m having problems with inspiration this semester. Even Harry’s experiments haven’t helped.”

I was about to answer when her words finally came crashing into my mind. Harry, Harry, Harry, Harry had been in her studio, Harry had been helping her with her art. It had taken her months to confide in me about her inspiration problems and she still wouldn’t let me in her studio, but yet, he was.

“Harry has been in your studio?” I asked all the confusion showing through my voice.

Skylar must have realized what she said because she sunk down into her seat looking at me with wary eyes that to me just looked guilty.

“You have been blowing all of our hangouts, dates and everything else for studio time with Harry? I didn’t even know you two still hung out.” I said, “I could have helped you in the studio. Why didn’t you even ask?”

“Because I didn’t want you to see me as a failure.” Skylar admitted just loud enough for me to lean across the small table and hear her. I was sure that we were beginning to make a scene in the café but I didn’t care.

“But you let Harry in.” I stated more than asked. “Why?”

With my question Skylar seemed to zoom out slightly with an expression that I didn’t like at all. As she stared at the blustery winter day I was beginning to think that I was losing her. It filled my gut with a wrenching tangle of emotion that I didn’t want to deal with.

“Because I don’t have to walk on eggshells around him.” Skylar finally stated not taking her eyes off the window.

Her admittance cracked something in me. I had no idea when we had become like this. When we were together we were fighting and when we weren’t I struggled to get Skylar to text me, or apparently be truthful about who she was with. I knew the core of our problems and it was a boy with curly hair and green eyes that had my fists clenching under the table.

“So instead of trying to fix this and confide in me you go running to him.” I spat out, “It’s like I’m not good enough for you Sky, like all of a sudden you’re above me. The girl who can’t even finish a painting would rather sneak around behind her boyfriend’s back instead of dealing with her own problems. I don’t deserve this Skylar.”

“Is that really what you think?” Skylar stated her voice and expression suddenly going stony, “Don’t you trust me anymore?”

“Around Harry?” I let out a cold laugh, “not at all. Especially since he’s never respected our relationship.”

“What do you mean?” Skylar stated in disbelief, “He’s done nothing but be helpful and respectful and supportive.”

“Yeah because he’s in love with you.” I said off handedly.

“That’s crazy Luke, we talked about it we’re just friends.” Skylar admitted.

“You guys talked about your feelings?”

“Yeah this summer.”

It took me back for a second and had a stab of fear going through me. Apparently this summer while Skylar was with me, meeting my family, she had been having feeling talks with him. While I had been considering our future going as far as putting a ring on hold for winter break, she had been catching feelings for him.

“Sounds like you guys are as good as dating to me,” Came out my angry, biting reply.

“You know what Luke,” Skylar said grabbing her purse and pushing out of the booth in a hurry. “I don’t think I can do this. It sounds to me like you can’t trust me anymore and I can’t do this.”

Shaking her head Skylar turned to leave. It was in the moment that it hit me, this was it, I was really losing her. So acting more on primal urge than thought I flew out of the booth and grabbed Skylar’s wrist pulling her back to me.

“Please don’t do this.” I said my tone more even than I felt.

Skylar just looked shocked between me and my hand clasped around her wrist. It was like she couldn’t believe that I was finally going to fight for her.

“Do what?” Skylar almost whispered but before I could answer a steely statement distracted me.

“Let go.” The voice was foreign and invaded my thoughts until I looked around and saw the whole café with their eyes on us and Delia standing hands on her hips rage blazing from her eyes.

It was that moment that I realized that Skylar’s skin was red under my tight grip and I let go in horror. I gaped probably looking like a fish before I guiltily met Skylar’s vision again.


“I’m sorry,” My words came out shaky and unsure, “I thought that you, you were breaking up with me.”

“I’m not…” Skylar’s voice was hesitant before stopping her mouth opening and closing like she didn’t know what to think. All I could do was hope and pray that I hadn’t screwed this up too much. But as Skylar bit her lips the beginnings of tears forming in her eyes I knew that that would have been a miracle. With steely determination Skylar managed to meet my gaze through her tears.

“You know what Luke, I think we need a break. I need some space.”

After getting through her words Skylar instantly dropped her gaze obviously not wanting to see my heart crack into two. And with a sniffle and a sigh she let Delia lead her out of the doors not once bothering to look back. Leaving me, standing alone in a café, watching my heart walk out the door.

Notes