Just Us


Twenty-Ninth Meeting

I swallowed, took in a breath, and turned off the car. Okay. Just...relax. You can tell Loke anything...right?

Right.

I opened the car door, took my purse, and began walking to Loke's front door. I stopped in front of it, and I started re-thinking this.

No, I should tell him. He would give me good advice, like how he always has. Loke is my best friend.

But why do I feel like I can't trust him all of sudden?

I interrupted my thoughts by pushing the doorbell.

"Coming!" I heard him call from the other side of the door. I smoothed down my dress and put a lock of hair behind my ear. Then, the door opened. Loke had a smile on his face until he saw me. The smile was replaced with a bit of a shocked and confused expression. "Lucy!...You're here…" His eyes darted a few places before locking them with mine again. "Why?"

I sighed. "Sorry if this is a bit sudden...I should've texted you first or-"

"No, no...i-it's fine. You can visit whenever you want, really. Uhm…" He looked over his shoulder. "Come in." He moved out the way and gestured to his large and tidy living room.

"Thanks," I said with a smile.

I've only been in Loke's house once, and that was when I had to talk to him about a problem I had a few years ago. Since then, he's got new furniture and his walls are newly painted.

I nodded, "Nice place."

He let out a breath. "Thanks...I was worried it was messy."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh yes. Because it's so messy, Loke."

He laughed a bit. "Do you...want some tea?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that'll be nice."

"Okay. Just wait here for a few minutes."

"Right," I responded.

When he disappeared into the kitchen, I looked around the room. There are various pictures of him, his family, or of me and him. I smiled, taking a picture that we took in high school together. He had his arm around me and his hand was nuzzling my hair. I had a happy expression on as I held him close to me. I remember that day as if it was yesterday. I used to have a small crush on Loke back in our high school days, but he never liked me back. So, that's when I fell in love with the boy who took my first kiss and left, as if he's never met me before. Sometimes, I wish I can go back and never make those mistakes again.

"Lucy?"

I got out of my reverie when I heard my name. I looked up and saw Loke with two cups of tea in his hands.

I blinked. "Oh. Sorry. I was just looking at your old pictures," I said, putting the frame back where it was originally.

Loke walked over and sat next to me, handing me the cup. I thanked him with a smile. "Oh yeah. I remember that. I also remember that you had the biggest crush on me." He snickered.

I groaned. "Oh my God, don't bring that up!" I pushed him over.

"You confessed your love for me-"

"Once! And that was it, you jerk!" I said, my face getting hotter at the second.

Loke laughed, and soon, I found myself laughing with him.

"So, tell me, what's up?" he asked after a while.

I bite my lips and sip at my tea.

"Come on, you can tell me. I'll always be here for you." He put his hand on my knee.

I smiled. "Thanks, Loke...You're there when I need you. You're such a great friend, really."

He looked a bit uncomfortable when I said that. But, he quickly changed it by smiling back. "Of course. Now...What's on your mind?"

"So...Levy hasn't told you?"

He blinked, confused. "Told me what…?"

"About my miscarriage?" My heart panged once I said the M-word.

His eyes widened. "Oh, God...You...Are you okay?"

I sighed. "Yes, I'm fine...I was in the hospital for two weeks. It was...devastating," I muttered, looking to the side.

Loke slumped his shoulders. "Lucy...You don't know how sorry I am. I...If I can do anything, just tell me."

It's not like you can do anything. But, thanks anyway.

I nodded with a tired smile. "Yeah." I swallowed. "I've also been...having a lot of nightmares lately."

He tilted his head. "Nightmares? About what?"

"About Natsu...leaving me. I wake up shaking or crying or screaming because it seems so real, but…" I shake my head. "...I just want them to stop so much."

Loke chewed at his bottom lip. "Well...Do you think he's going to leave you or something?"

I became alert. "No, of course not! Natsu will never leave me."

He raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure?"

I furrowed my brow. "I'm...positive. Why?"

Loke sighed. "Look, I just…"

"You just what?" My voice was sharp as I narrowed my eyes.

Loke took my hands. "I just think...he's not the right guy for you."

My blood began to boil. "Not the right guy…? Loke, what are you saying?"

"You know his past. He'll end up breaking your heart."

"Yes, in his past. He's changed now. Why don't you see that?" I say, retrieving my hands back.

He gave me a hurt look. "I just don't want you to get hurt, that's all."

"Unbelievable…," I mutter. "You say that now?! You think now is a good time?!"

"Lucy, calm down. Please…" he said, taking my shoulders.

I let out a breath. "I'm sorry...It's just such a difficult time right now." I put my face in my opened palms. "I don't know what to do…" I wanted to cry again, but I was afraid I'll end up never being able to stop. I've held it all in, and now...I'm going to erupt it all up.

"You shouldn't be sorry…" He sighed. "I should."

I looked up. "Why?..."

Loke swallowed visibly. "Lucy...I have...to tell you something." He rubbed his hands on his pants.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Lucy...I just...I don't want you to hate me, or stop talking to me, okay?" he said urgently.

"You're kinda scaring me, Loke," I answered.

He took a few moments to speak. "Okay...I'll just go ahead and say it."

I nodded slowly, unsurely.

"Lucy...I...President Shizuki knows about the child." I widened my eyes. "Because...I told him." I stared at him in disbelief. "That's why he was so lenient about Natsu coming back early. He...knew what was going on...because of me. So...He told me to get rid of the baby…"

I narrowed my eyes again. "So you did?"

He was choking on words. "I...I was risking my job if I didn't do it, Lucy. I'm sorry - I just...I didn't want to get fired."

I stared at him some more. I didn't want to believe him. Loke is my friend. My dear, precious friend who would always be here for me, thin and thick. He was here to comfort me and make me happy and make me feel safe. Loke would never do that. Never.

"So...Those supplements for your pregnancy I gave you...They had...p-poison in them," he coughed out, not even bothering to look me in the eye.

I scoffed. "You're kidding, right?"

Loke finally looked at me. "Lucy...I am so sorry. You don't know how sorry I am."

I slowly stood from the couch. His beady eyes watched me. "Loke, you...you were supposed to be my friend. My best friend. Why...did you do that…?" I started to shake. Anger was building inside of me as the seconds counted down.

"Lucy, please...Please. Don't tell Natsu. Please don't! I did it because I love you! I love you so much! Please!" he begged.

I gritted my teeth and threw the glass cup at him. He missed it just in time and it crashed against the wall behind him.

"Oh God, Lucy! Stop it!"

"You...you...traitor! I told you everything! I trusted you - so much! It was your fault for all of this, you back-stabbing, ass-kissing betrayer! I could've had a child, if it wasn't for you! Fuck you! Just fuck you!" I screamed, pushing him so hard that he fell off the couch and landed on the floor with a loud thud.

"Lucy, please calm down!"

"Stop telling me to calm down! I have no reason to do what you say anymore," I seethed. Then, I turned around and saw the picture that I was looking at earlier. I grabbed it and threw it to the wall. It smashed and landed right next to the broken cup.

Loke had tears in his eyes and he pleaded for me to stop. His shaking and weak form made me feel so good. I feel no guilt, no regret.

I took in a rough breath. "Let me ask you one thing."

He didn't say anything.

"How long were you planning on keeping that from me?" I said with a raging tone.

"U-u-until you...left him."

I gasped. "So, that's why you were trying to convince me that he's a bad person…"

"I'm so sorry, Lucy."

"No. You're not sorry. If you were...you wouldn't have ever done this to me. Don't worry, Loke. You got me really good. You made me suffer through this. So...I'm going to make you suffer too."

Loke gulped. "Lucy...don't tell him. Don't tell him. Don't tell anyone! Please!"

I laughed bitterly. "You better fucking enjoy your last few days, Loke...I'm leaving."

"Lucy...wait…"

I grabbed my things and headed to the door.

"I love you, Lucy! Don't go!"

I closed the door right on him.

He said he doesn't want me to tell Natsu?

Okay.

I'm going to betray him as much as he betrayed me.


A/N: Goddammit Loke! I thought you were the good guy :(((

See? I updated just on time! I'm so proud of myself :'D

Thank you so much for reading! I'm sorry to say that this story is coming to an end in a couple more chapters. I know, I know...it's that dreaded time again. This story has such a precious spot in my heart…

But I shouldn't be saying that stuff now! The story's not done yet!

Look forward to the next chapter coming up very soon~! :D