Chapter Ten: Reality

I woke up and Jude was gone, first thing I did was wonder if I had dreamed everything that happened last night. Then I checked my phone and saw a message from Jude.

Jude: hey, sorry i left but i needed to go for a walk thanks for being there for me, ur the best

I smiled a little, but then it faded when I saw a message from Luke. I remember what happened between us last night, for a second I actually forgot. I still don't know how to feel, I mean it's not every day a guy like Luke tells you he has feelings for you.

Luke: hey i'm sorry about last night, can we talk?

Me: time & place?

Luke: park at noon?

Me: sure

I look at the clock and see it's barely 10 so I had time. I walked downstairs and saw my dad was making breakfast, eggs with ham and bacon, my favorite. I greet him good morning and give him a kiss on the cheek as I grab my plate and sit down in my usual spot at the table.

"Jude slept over?" He questioned.

"Yeah, that's okay right?"

"What does Sabrina think of that?"

"They broke up last night and Jude was devastated so I let him crash here last night," I admitted and he looked at me with concern in his eyes.

"Aly..." He drifted off.

"Dad, it's okay. We are just friends and I'm not going to let him get to me or hurt me."

"Okay, don't get too attached again remember what happened last time? You came home crying."

"Yes dad, I remember, and please stop reminding me."

"Alright, and what about that one guy," he stampers with names, "Liam, is it?"

"It's Luke dad, and we are just friends," I laugh thinking about last night.

"Well I think he has a thing for you," he laughs.

"He does not," I sound pathetic with my lying voice and I can't help but notice I crinkled my nose a little. One of the reasons Luke likes me I thought to myself.

I'm waiting for Luke at the park near the little lake, Jude hasn't texted me back or came by to say anything. I need to stop thinking about Jude and start thinking about Luke and what he said last night. I just still cannot put my finger around it, I still cannot believe he likes me of all people. He could have any girl but he chose to have an interest on me. He walked up to me on my first day next to my locker, a little freshman was approached by a HOT sophomore.

"Hey," I was interrupted in my thoughts when Luke tapped my shoulder.

"Hi," I stood up to give him a hug, "what's up? Is everything okay?"

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry," he paused, "about last night and how I blurted everything out."

"You don't have to apologize, you just caught me by surprise," I admitted.

"When I heard Jude broke up with Sabrina, I just needed to tell you."

"Why though? Why did you feel the need?" I was very curious.

"Jordyn started talking and saying that now you and he can be together and all that, but the truth is I want to be with you. I didn't want to see you try to go after Jude and get hurt, I-"

"I wasn't planning on throwing myself at him," I cut him off. What was he suggesting?

"That's not what I meant, I meant-"

"What exactly did you mean then?" I jumped in.

"I didn't want to see you have hope for something that probably wasn't going to happen."

"I can protect myself, thank you very much." I shot back at him. He was making me sound like I couldn't take care of myself, well he was wrong, I am a big girl.

"Look Aly, I have liked you since the first day of school. He has known you practically his whole life and he hasn't expressed any romantic feelings towards you so why would he now? I'm not trying to be mean, but the only reason he would now is that you are there for him, because you are showing love and care and he will take advantage of that. Then he will tell you that he likes you and he couldn't think of you that way before because he was with another girl. You'll believe him, but it's not true. He will realize he likes you because he is vulnerable and needs someone and you will be there."

I took in everything he said, and he was right. I can't expect Jude to just fall in love with me now. It's just not going to happen and I won't force it to. I don't want to be someone's rebound girl, I deserve better than that.

"I see," is all I could get out of my mouth.

"All I am asking for is a chance Aly," he puts my hands in his and looks me in the eyes, "a chance to show you that I am worthy of you."

"Okay," is all I say as I embrace him in a hug and he lifts me up off the ground. When he puts me down I see Jude is watching us from over Luke's shoulder. He was just standing there, wide-eyed, looking like he saw a ghost or something. How am I ever going to explain this to him?