I don't need a Caretaker

"Midnight snack!"

I kinda froze as Scott locked eyes with Luke. He held up a bag filled with god knows what.

"What are you doing here, Henderson?" He slammed the door shut.

"Same thing you came to do Daniels, keeping her company."

"What did you bring?" I reached up to the bag Scott was holding. "I am starving."

"You just had a box of pizza," Luke accused.

"I only had two pieces. You ate six."

"I thought that since Ivy left, you might miss girl night, movie night or whatever stuff you girls do, so I came to fill that space. But I can see that you are doing fine. You now allow strangers into your house at night? Cool."

"You guys used to date right?" Luke looked at me then at Scott.

"What do you mean?"

"He's not ready to let you go,"Luke stood up, dusted his trousers and bumped shoulders with Scott just to piss him off as he left.

"Goodnight," He also turned .

"Why are you both leaving? I'm not even dating either of you two!"

I woke to an annoying caller.

Ryder.

"What do you want, motherfucker? It's 6:30 in the morning."

"Good morning to you too," his deep voice said back. "We need to talk. Call me when you're less busy." He hung up.

"I am gonna cut your balls!" I flung the phone across the room.

He called me just to say that?

I prepared my bath and freshened up as I got ready for school. As I stood on my porch after locking the door, I saw two problems.

Scott was standing by his car asking me to get in and Luke was also doing the same. Truly, I didn't feel like driving but I can't go with either of them. I got my old bike out of the garage, dusted it and cycled to school. I locked my bike and continued on my way to class receiving way more stares than I usually did.

I saw Alessia and her minions rushing out of the restroom. They looked guilty. Something smelt fishy.

No, really, I actually smell fish.

I was eager to enter the restroom. My gut tells me that they had done something wrong. I sighed as I took a step into the ladies bathroom. What I saw was beyond horrifying and shocking.

Blood was gushing out of Ivy's head and her white hoodie was soaked.

I struggled and carried her on my back, her blood warming up my neck. I rushed out of the bathroom and bumped into Scott.

"Why didn't you.... who's on your back?" He looked curiously. His eyes went to the blood on my neck and Ivy's face.

"Tess, did you......." His shocked expression completed the sentence.

"I didn't do it. I swear!"

"Let's get her to a hospital!" He ran towards the entrance and I followed with people staring at Ivy.

Luke was just about to get down from his van.

"Start the engine! Start the car!" Scott screamed as he helped me position Ivy into the van.

"Ivy, Ivy!" Scott continuously slapped her cheeks as we pushed her on a stretcher towards the ER. The doctor and nurses took her from us as we sat in the waiting area.

"What happened?" Luke faced Scott as he shifted his gaze.

"She's the one who can answer that question. She's the one who knows why and how Ivy's head split open."

"I didn't do it."

"Yeah, like I'll believe you."

"Scott, I swear I didn't!"

"Even if you guys had some issues to settle between each other, did you have to go that far?"

"Scott, you have to believe me, I didn't do it."

He brushed his hair back with one hand while he kept the other on his hip.

"Okay, let's assume that you didn't do it. What were you doing in the girls bathroom? You've never gone in there before."

"I....I....I..I just wanted to..to...."

"Keep the details to yourself!" He yelled and stalked off.

I lost my balance, staggered and almost fell as Luke caught me.

"Hey, you okay?"

Tears trickled down my face. I had lost Scott too. No one even believes my actions. No one trusts me anymore. Ivy and I had issues but why would I ever hurt her?

"I believe you."

I looked up at Luke as he kept smiling at me.

"No matter what anyone says, I know you're innocent."

These words brought more tears to my eyes as I struggled to hold it back. He led me through the entrance of the hospital towards his van. Scott was on the phone with someone as he saw us.

"You're leaving? After all this? After putting her in that condition?"

"I said I didn't do it!" I screamed at him.

"You took out your frustration on her! You just wanted to get back at her for leaving you!"

I threw a fist at his face without thinking twice. I punched him until his lip started to bleed. Luke didn't make any effort to stop me either.

"You know what?" I stood up dusting my clothes as he spat out blood. "I'm tired of proving myself to everyone. If you want, fucking believe me and if you don't, that's your problem."

"You can go in. I'll drive us home," Luke shooed me into his tiny abode. A bed with a fixed bookshelf and a large box stared at me. I kicked off my shoes and relaxed on his bed. Is all of this my fate or is the universe trying to tell me something?

The cold wind that blew was what awoke me from my slumber. It felt like I was in a freezer. How does Luke manage to survive here?

I looked around in the van and Luke was nowhere to be found. I picked up my phone to check the time and it was 7:15.

Wow.

I walked into my house and heard clattering sounds coming from my kitchen. I walked towards it and saw Luke dressed in that funny looking pink apron that Ryder wore the last time he was here. He was whistling as he cooked.

"Hey." I said after observing him for a while.

His head shot up as he heard my greeting.

"Theresa! You're up." He walked towards me placed his palm against my forehead. "Thank God."

"Did I run a fever?"

"Yeah, you scared me to death. You didn't even open your eyes once. You were out for so long. Dinner is gonna be ready soon."

"What are you making?" I leaned on the kitchen counter.

"Pasta."

.