Luann's POV:
Secrets are something dirty. No matter how bad, if it's something everyone can't know...it's your hearts burden. Secrets lead to lying, lies leads to more lies, lies leads to sins, and sins leads to totally screwing your life up. What's worse than secrets is lying about them. It adds to the burden and makes everything much worse.
It's so hard to walk down the street...or in the grocery store...with Luke and try and act like we are a newly wed couple in love. When I know, and he knows we aren't. But, our neighbors believe it. Everyone believes it. Although, I have to give myself credit. I've put on a pretty good act. But I shouldn't have to. I should be able to be who I want, love who I want, do what I want. But every since Luke Oken came into the picture….it hasn't been about what I want. It's been about what Luke chooses. And I'm sick of it. But….what can I do? Nothing that's what. All I can do is sit back and let him do whatever. I wonder when he is going to strike…..or if he even will. Oh what am I saying of course he will! He is still holding a grudge. I know what he wants…..and he's not going to let her be until he gets it. And I don't even know what he has planned.
Suddenly, the front door opened and I jumped from my seat at the kitchen table. Luke strolled in and said,
"What?"
"What what?" I asked.
"What do you want to ask me?" He asked.
"Um….Well….I was just wondering….about….about your plan." I stuttered. He raised his eyesbrows and said,
"Plan? I don't have a plan." This shocked me. Perfectly evil Luke didn't have a plan!
"What do you mean no plan?" I asked. He looked up and said,
"I don't have a plan."
"Well….then are you never going after Miley and Oliver and Jake again?" I asked. He let out a short laugh,
"Of course I am. I'm just bidding my time."
"Until what?" I whispered. He grinned and said,
"Until she's settled…I want to rip the floor out from under her and her little Jake. She got lucky last time, but this time….she wont be."
I shivered…and thought to myself 'I won't let that happen' but at the same time I knew I couldn't do anything about it. Once Luke Oken made up his mind, there's no changing it. He will destroy anything in his way. What had me worried was how many people were going to be destroyed. This was going to be like to Battle of Shiloh, TN during the Civil War. More than 3,000 died in less than two days. It was a massive bloody battle. And I really hoped this one didn't turn out that way.
Until then, we will call it…..the Battle of Broken Hearts.
MILEY'S POV:
"…yes I understand….Ye-…bu-….oka-…..Bye." I slammed the phone down and screamed,
"JAKE CODY RYAN GET IN HERE!" I got a muffled,
"Chill…" Then Jake appeared with half a sandwich shoved in his mouth.
"You screamed?" He asked while eating his sandwich. I folded my arms over my chest and said,
"The funniest thing just happened…..I got a call from someone at Beach Side Apartments? Saying you were looking at an apartment a week ago and that they needed you to get back to them today or they were giving it up to someone else." He looked guilty then said,
"Oh yea….about that."
"You're leaving me…? Why? I mean, I know my family isn't exactly normal…but they aren't that bad! I mean sure, Jackson may steal your toothbrush every once and a while and use your robe but other than that he's relatively normal!" I exclaimed. Jake shook his head and said,
"No I wasn't looking at it for me….I was looking at it for us." Oh.
"Us?" I asked uncertain. He nodded. I thought for a second and said,
"It would be really nice to get out of my house….But I really don't think my dad would let me….I'm only 17 after all." I said recalling my latest birthday that was celebrated when I was still in South Carolina.
"Dad wouldn't let you do what?" My Dad asked as he came down the stairs. I froze and said,
"Oh um…..Hi Dad! Didn't see you there!" he raised his eyebrows.
"What wont I let you do?" I took a deep breath and said,
"letmemoveoutofhereandintoanapartmentdownthestreetwithJakebutidon'tthinkyou'llletmeeventhoughi'm17andJakeis18." I said with one breath. My Dad laughed and said to Jake,
"You know the sad thing is I actually understood every word of that." Jake nodded in agreement and I said…
"So….Can I." I saw Dad's eyes have a shadow of sorrow pass over them. He looked down for a second and said,
"I-I guess….I mean…I can't exactly say no…you guys lived together all that time in that RV and South Carolina. So if you want to leave…then I guess I can't stop you." Dad said sadly.
"Wait, you don't mind?" I asked confused.
"Of course I mind, but I can't stop you just because I'm not ready for you to grow up. Dang, I knew it was going to happen one day. I just kinda figured your brother would have driven me so insane by then I wouldn't have cared." I walked up and hugged him and he hugged me back and whispered,
"I don't care what you say; you will always be my little girl in pig tails and overalls." I laughed and said,
"Oh Daddy, I'll always be your little girl. Just…without the piggy tails…" He laughed and I said,
"Dad, are you sure this is okay with you? I mean, If you don't want me to go, I'll stay here without any complaints." He smiled sadly and said,
"Although I would like nothing more than to scream, 'No stay here!' You have to grow up sometimes. I just wish you would help your brother grow up…"
"HEY!" Jackson shouted from the other room. "I HEARD THAT!"
"GOOD! THEN MAYBE YOU'LL STOP STEALIN MY CHANGE OFF THE COUNTER!" Robbie Ray screamed back.
Silence.
"Ha…I won." He said smugly.
"Dad….don't be a hypocrite….." I warned as he started acting as immature as Jackson. He clapped his hands together and said,
"Well, better get to apartment hunting! I'm not lettin' my baby girl sleep in some rat hole apartment with cockroaches." I laughed and Jake said,
"How about I show you the apartment I like??" Dad looked at him apprehensively before saying,
"Does it have any rats?" Jake shuddered and said,
"I really hope not."
"I second that." I said.
LUANN'S POV:
Peace and quiet. They are ALWAYS used together in sentences. People usually say, "I want peace and quiet!"…. But, peace and quiet don't always come together. A lot of times, when things are quiet there is no peace. And usually when things are peaceful and happy, it's loud. Like our house. It is anything but loud. A Q-tip falling on the ground would sound like an entertainment center falling down on a glass table. But it was anything but peaceful. Then tension in the air was so thick you could cut through it with a knife.
But, slowly I was beginning to get used to Luke. It's like being exposed to a deadly epidemic. It's spreading around, affecting everyone. But everyone else runs away from it….but you stay and face it and earn immunity for it.
So in the end, the pain and suffering paid off. But, I couldn't seem to relate to the last one. How could all this pain and suffering EVER be worth it?? Its not like child birth. They say you go through unbearable pain….but then its all worth it when you hold a new life in your arms. But…I was getting about the same amount of pain…but no reward. I wasn't useful to my family, or Luke. I just sort of hover places. People move and rearrange me to fit their needs. But what about mine?
I used to be jealous of Miley. She had the looks, the talent, the great friends, and the hott boyfriend….and what did I have? I didn't have the looks, all I could do was call pigs and churn butter, I didn't have any friends at all, and a murderer for a boyfriend. But now….I realized our lives sucked about the same.
And I knew I had to do whatever I could to keep Luke's plan from working. I knew it was going to be a hard fight.
It's the Battle of Broken Hearts.
And its gonna be worse than any bloody battle. Because this time we are dealing with a far more delicate matter than physical pain….Heartbreak.
MILEY'S POV:
"Jake….Jake….Where are you?" I called as I ran through the large house. Every time I opened a door I saw mirrors, reflecting me….everywhere I looked that's what I saw. Finally, at the end of the long corridor I saw a door that was ajar…I pushed it open to see Luke Oken standing in the middle of the room-
JAKE'S POV:
I was sleeping soundly when I heard something from the other room.
"No….NO! GO AWAY!" Miley screamed. I bolted upright and ran to her room. I flew open the door to see….nothing but her tossing and turning in her bed screaming bloody murder. Her fist were clenched around the sides of her pillow and her face was red from screaming. All the sudden the door opened again.
"What the hell is going on in here?" A very sleepy Mr. Stewart asked.
"Really bad dreams…again." I muttered sleepily. I dragged my feet over and sat down tiredly on the floor and took her hand. This was the third night this had happened. We learned the first night that trying to wake her up only made it worse. It was horrible to sit beside her and have to listen to her scream in fear and pain and not being able to do anything. I had sat up most of the night holding her hand for three nights straight. This night was different though. After Mr. Stewart made sure she wasn't getting murdered and went back to bed, she actually woke up.
"Jake….?" She muttered, tears running down her cheeks. I lifted my head and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze and said,
"Hmm?" She just laid her head on our linked hands and said,
"I did it again didn't I?"
"Yea..." I whispered.
"It's the same dream every night." She whispered suddenly. I sat up and said,
"Do you want to talk about it?" She just shook her head and said,
"No…just come up here please…." I climbed up beside her and put my arms around her waist before pulling her closer.
"Don't worry….it was only a dream. Everything is okay now." She turned around so she was facing me and said,
"Do you know what's even worse than having him in the house with me?" I shook my head and I felt her tremble….
"Whats worse….it not knowing where he is…."
