Hearing him say that almost made me want to laugh, "Do you really think that you can beat me up?"

Lucas almost smiled- almost, "That depends. I'm angry enough that I think I can take down an entire platoon if I wanted to. You're just one tall giant."

"Are you really angry at me though?"

He paused for a few seconds, obviously trying to hold on to his earlier moments of irritation he brought to my front door not even thirty seconds ago. His frown slowly turned into a cutesy pout, "Maybe. It all depends on whatever files of excuse you're flippin' through your brain right now."

"I'm not sure you'd be too crazy to hear all about it though. Things around here have kind of been a bit of a disaster."

"Good thing I'm a whore for catastrophe. Now, talk."

I wanted to keep what happened that night at the school a secret from him, I really did. I had spent two days trying to. Lucas didn't know how to take a hint though. Well actually, he did, depending on what was going on. But he has this annoying called caring too fucking much and always wanted to know what was going on with me.

It didn't matter if we were best friends or not, it wasn't like I was obligated to tell him every single detail about my life, mistakes, sins, and misfortunes, right? I wasn't obligated to tell anyone about all that.

But I'm clearly lying to myself. Though it's true that I wasn't obligated when it came to everybody else. . . telling these things to Lucas Bryant was different. He just had a way of getting shit out of you.

When I hesitated too long, Lucas sighed and dropped his pouts and narrowed eyes. Instead, he stared back at me with kind, penetrating eyes that made me feel a little weird inside, though it was hard to explain. He put a large pasty hand on my shoulder and leaned forwards in concern.

"Hey, it's okay. Talk to me. That's what I'm here for. Please tell me what happened, I'm worried about you Ky."

I sighed, "I know, and I'm sorry. It's just. . ."

Lucas waited, "It's just what?"

"It's just I'm afraid you'll be like disappointed me or something."

He laughed a little at that, "Jeez, Ky. You make it sound like I'm your mom or something. Nothing you do will ever make me feel disappointed in you or look at you differently, all right? It's a judge-free zone here."

"We'll see about that."

After I invited him inside and lead him to my couch, I spilled everything that happened that night. The text I got from Sky, breaking into the school, trashing Mr. Holden's classroom, running and eventually getting caught and arrested by the cops, Sky and Dylan ditching us, being thrown in jail for seven long hours, and finally, my uncle's fury. While I explained everything to him his face remained neutral. It was the face he made when he wanted to say something but didn't know if it might piss the other party off.

When I was finished, we sat in silence for a little while. The anxiety was eating me up and I really thought that he was searching for something positive to say to lift up my spirits, as he usually did. But this kind of situation really didn't have too many positives, and I think he knew that because he sure was taking his sweet time to respond.

After another minute passed of him staying silent, I decided to be the first one to speak to save him the trouble of sparing my feelings, "You know, it's okay. I know I did something pretty stupid and if I didn't have an attorney as an uncle, things could have been more serious. I'm sorry if you're mad at me or anything-"

"I'm not mad at you, Kyrie," he spoke quickly, "Not at all. Was it a little dumb? Sure, but I have no reason to be mad at you."

I gulped, "Then. . . what are you thinking about?"

I bit my lip in anticipation as I watched Lucas ponder his response. Eventually, he finally spoke.

"I've been thinking about how more handsome Skylar's face would look once I rearranged it with my foot on Monday."

Yeah, I definitely wasn't expecting that response.

"Lucas, his dad is a boxer."

He didn't seem to be impressed nor intimidated by that fact, "Okay? I don't think you understand that I have the power of God and anime on my side. One quick punch to the throat and it's over. Besides, just because his dad is a boxer doesn't mean that he's one too."

"Yeah, but what if he is?"

"I don't think you're getting it. I don't care if he's a boxer, a Taekwondo master, or a third-degree black belt. I will literally feed him his goddamn heart."

I smiled at him. It was only during times like this when I remembered that between the two of us, Lucas was a pretty violent piece of shit when he wanted to be, and if you ever got him mad it was best to stay at least three feet away because things could get ugly quick. He swore up and down that he was some sort of pacifist, but whenever it came to me, all that peacemaker and appeaser talk flew out the fucking window.

And I'd be lying if I said that I didn't love that son of a bitch for it.

"We're hanging out too much because I think I'm starting to rub off on you," I said, amused.

Lucas jokingly rolled his eyes, "Oh please. I'm an angel."

I laughed, "Yeah, in disguise."

He shook his head, "Seriously though, Sky is a piece of shit, and you're a dumbass for hanging around him all the time. Why do you think he invited you guys all out that night? He wanted you guys to take the fall if something went weary and you took the bait."

"I didn't think he'd ever do something like that to me. He's always be so loyal," I mumbled.

"Yeah, to himself! Skylar Anderson has only ever cared about himself and what others could do for him. He may like having you around for now, but as soon as you stop benefiting him he's gonna throw you under the bus any chance he can get, like he did that night. Come on, everyone who has ever been associated with him in the past knows that much. You know the rep he has around school. Whenever people aren't trying to get into his pants,  they know better than to actually trust the guy."

I knew the lecture was coming soon, it always did right after I did something stupid. Lucas didn't tell a lie though, I already knew that Sky couldn't be trusted ever. You couldn't even trust that guy to take care of a goldfish because he'd probably somehow end up setting it on fire.

It wasn't like this was the first time he's screwed me over, there were plenty of other times too. But the next day, he'd always flash me an attractive grin that was easy enough to make you no longer want to punch him in the face and say "sorry", and that was that. Then he'd be your buddy for a few more weeks until he screw you over again and the cycle would continue. Me and all the guys knew how he was, we just never really acknowledged it or cared.

Lucas sighed, "I honestly don't know why you continue to be his friend. He's horrible and you know it."

"I know he's trash, Lu. But. . . hanging around him and the other guys. . . I don't know. They're just people I can never seem to let go of," I admitted to him. "It might because they helped pulled me out of that awful depression I was in after everything that happened and they were. and continue to be, a good distraction. Going around town with them causing trouble and being misfits helps in an odd way."

"Sure, maybe it does. But they're toxic for you, Ky. There are better people out there that can you help you."

I raised a brow, "Like who?"

He rolled his eyes in annoyance for real this time, "You're looking at him, genius. And there's also PJ, and Angie, and Chris even though he's a pain in my ass, and also Charlie! Remember him? Your close friend since like the tenth grade? You haven't talked to him in months. He always asks about you and I have to keep telling him that you're just busy, when we both know that's hardly true. There's also your uncle. You have good people around you, people that genuinely love you. I wish you could see that."

I turned my eyes away from him in shame. Over these past few months, I had distance myself from all of them in some way, shape, or form, even Lucas somewhat. As understanding as he was, he just didn't get it. It's easy to disappoint people who clearly didn't give a shit about you. The people that did matter though? Disappointing and hurting them all the time made me want to kill myself. I'd rather be a complete fuck up from afar than near, that way they didn't have to expect so much from anymore. Hell, maybe they just might give up on me. As sad as if would be if they did, it honestly would have made everyone's lives easier.

But I would never dare tell Lucas that.

When I failed to say anything for the umpteenth time this night, Lucas let out a long inhale of breath. It wasn't an exasperated breath, but more like a breath that told me he'd let it go for tonight since I wasn't going to budge.

Lucas scooted over closer to me on the couch and went in for an intimate hug. I allowed him to pull me closer into his chest and wrap his arms around my neck. I instinctively sniffed and breathed in his signature scent- his favorite coconut lotion and his honey and lemon shampoo and conditioner. I wrapped my arms around his lower half and squeezed tight. His hugs were always so warm and comforting.

Lucas spoke in a hushed whisper, "I know things are hard and difficult for you right now, but I just want you to know that you are loved. Your uncle loves you. Your friends love you. And. . ."

"And what?" I asked him, my voice muffled in his chest.

I felt him take a deep intake of breath, "And I love you too, Kyrie Wilson. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

I knew whenever Lucas said my full name he wanted me to know that whatever he was saying, he was serious and meant it. Hearing him say he loves me made me for some reason want to cry. His voice was so tender and soft, it almost felt like he was kissing me with his words.

Right now, I couldn't help but think how lucky I was to have a Lucas Bryant in my life at this very moment. I didn't deserve him, I knew that. But damn, would I fight tooth and nail to keep him here by my side forever.

I permitted myself to let him hear me sniffle, "I know Lucas, I know."