Purpose ❆ Benny Rodriguez

25 | soft

02/14/2016

chapter twenty-five ;
SOFT

♡

VALENTINE'S DAY. THE one time of year I had come to, in the last month, dread. The idea had not truly occurred to me that I might spend this Valentine's Day alone.

　Being single had never bothered me. Now, however, I viewed the word "single" differently. Now it just meant that I was not with Benny. That bothered me.

　The fact that Benny could no longer be called mine was odd, after how close we had become. He had become my greatest friend, not just my boyfriend. Losing him meant losing a piece of my soul, and after Lynn, my soul was already no longer intact.

　But a month had passed, and I was learning to use my old tactics and numb myself to my feelings. The depression no longer held me down, although I had my ways in helping that along. Not all of them were bad. Either way, I no longer felt completely lost – and that was all right with me.

　To everyone's surprise, Ivy had agreed to go out to dinner with Bertram. Today would be the day. Kenny was doing something – I just had no clue as to what, and he would not spill. Luke had plans with Skylar (ugh), and I had nothing to do but stay at home and read the next book of The Mortal Instruments. Only that reminded me of Benny, because had had been the one to buy the books for me.

　Being alone for Valentine's Day had never bothered me so much.

　

L U K E
point of view.

　

Skylar's car rested in the driveway, pristine silver, but hers was not the only one. Her brother must have been visiting again.

　Flowers in hand, I went to the door, and knocked. I must have knocked half a dozen times, but no one ever came to the door. So, because I was familiar enough with Skylar's family, I simply twisted the doorknob – unlocked – and went inside.

　The house was quiet, except for the faint tune of a song, drifting downstairs. Before following the music, I searched the downstairs area, but it was empty. No one was in the backyard either, so, finally, I journeyed upstairs.

　The music seemed to be coming from Skylar's room; her bedroom door was cracked, and I saw her in the bed before I came inside. She was wrapped in her white bedsheets, blonde hair in dissaray. When she saw me, her eyes went wide with surprise.

　"Luke!" she exclaimed, sitting up. The bedsheets hugged her body closely – Was she naked? "I didn't know you were going to be here so early."

　I couldn't hold back my frown. "Is that a problem?"

　"No, no." Her eyes flickered downward. "Oh, you got me flowers. Thank you! They're so pretty. Um, I have an empty vase downstairs – it's in the kitchen. Could you go put them in it?"

　"Yeah, but . . ." I searched her with my eyes, heart speeding. "Why are you naked?"

　Skylar seemed to be getting frantic now. Her chest rose and fell quickly, and her eyes darted around the room nonstop. "I was just . . . about to get in the shower."

　"So you took your clothes off and laid in bed."

　Even still standing at the door, I noticed the way Skylar's eyes grew glossy. She opened her mouth, but no words left. And she didn't have to say anything, because a moment later, the bathroom door opened, and when I turned my head, I found a familiar face. A football player, his dark skin shining with water, a white towel wrapped around his waist. I didn't know his name, but that was sort of irrelevant.