Chapter 16 — Guilty as charged

Jane's POV:

I opened my eyes weakly and tried to adjust them to the brightness of the room I was in. Looking out the window, I noticed that the sun has already set and the darkness ruled instead.

After a while, I was able to get them fully opened. I groaned as I tried to sit upright.

Looking around, I noticed that I was back in my room at home.

When did I get back?

I was about to hop out of bed and leave the room, when my bedroom door opened and a worried-looking Luca strode inside.

My eyes widened as he came towards me. "Luca? What the hell are you doing here?" I gasped out in panic.

Wasn't he afraid that someone might see him? We'd both be in trouble if his parents caught us.

"Is that what you say to the one who saved you?" He said with narrowed eyebrows as he sat next to me and placed his hand over my forehead.

"What?"

"You fainted in the hallway but I was quick to grab before you hit the ground. I took you to the hospital then brought you back home." He replied with a shrug as he pulled his hand back.

"Oh God!" I groaned. "That means that people saw you and your parents already know." I stated more than asked.

Luca said nothing and just stared into my eyes for a moment.

"Say something." I pleaded.

"Well, for one, Sarah threw a fit about how I was cheating on her and how I should just let you die for all she cared." Luca replied.

"Great." I muttered under my breath.

"Will it be safe for you to go home?" I asked in worry.

Luca shrugged. "I don't know." He answered casually. I knew that it wasn't safe and that even though he was trying to hide it, there was slight fear tugging inside of him.

"This won't do. You're staying over." I said as I got out of bed and started making my way outside to ask my parents for permission.

"No, Jane wait." Luca called after me but I ignored him.

I was about to enter the kitchen when I heard my mom's muffled sobs.

I hid behind the wall and listened to what she and father were saying.

"Ssh...pumpkin, it's okay. I'll solve this." My father cooed softly.

"H-how are you going to solve it? You're a forty-year-old man and getting a new job after being fired won't be easy for you. What are we going to do?" My mother said between sobs.

I gasped as her words registered in my head.

Fired? Why was he fired?

And then it all clicked. I had my doubts but I wanted to confirm what I had first.

I was about to enter the kitchen when Luca grabbed my hand from behind and stopped me.

"Let's go." He said as he pulled me back to my room.

"Is it how I think it is?" I asked wearily.

Luca sighed deeply. "I don't think we can stay together anymore."

My head snapped to him, my eyes wide.

"W-what?" I stuttered.

"Staying with me will bring you nothing but trouble. You shouldn't have got involved with my matters. It's all my fault."

"Don't say that." I told him sternly. "I got involved because I wanted to and you're not getting me out of it after all this. Your parents got my father fired and I have to get back at them." I spat at him angrily.

"If you got involved more, it'll only turn to the worst for your family." Luca retorted with frustration.

"We're already deeply involved." I replied back with equal frustration.

"Don't make this hard Jane. You were supposed to just keep to yourself and not mind my business." Luca muttered.

I scoffed. "Oh, so it's my fault now? That I cared?"

"Yes!" Luca snapped. "You should've just kept to yourself!"

I felt as if someone stabbed me in the heart.

"Yeah, I guess I should've never cared." I said in a low tone as I felt my eyes glaze over. I lowered my head so he won't see my tears.

"Leave." I mumbled.

"What?"

"Leave!" I screamed loudly.

Luca was shocked for a couple of seconds before turning on his poker face and without another word, left my room.

My anger was clouding my thoughts and as my ears heard the shutting of the front door downstairs, my senses came back to me.

What have I just done?

In an instant, I was out of my room and running towards the door.

I quickly opened it and ran outside.

"Luca!" I called into the night. However, I got no response back.

I looked around me trying to search for him but nada.

"Luca!" I called again, louder and more desperate but still no reply.

I felt the tears wetting my cheeks as they trailed down my face. At the same moment, rain started pouring down and I could no longer differentiate between the raindrops and my tears.

My parents rushed out of the house, looking at my state with worry. I didn't bat an eyelash though as my eyes scanned the area.

"Jane please, let's just go back inside. See him in school or something." My mother told me as she and my father held my shaking form.

I ignored them and tried to get out of their hold.

"No! I have to find him. Luca!" I screamed in sobs.

"We'll call him cupcake, please just come inside." My father pleaded.

He and my mother had a broken expression on their faces and in return my heart broke for them.

"Please, I have to see him." I begged in a whisper.

"Let's just go inside for now." My father said in a low tone as he and my mom dragged me I side the house.

I didn't fight against them as I sobbed silently. I felt my body go numb and I felt dizzy. Regret was the only thing I felt as we entered the house again, all three of us drenched from the rain.

* * *

Luca's POV:

I fought against myself to not come out of my hiding place behind the building near Jane's house.

I watched as she called my name, her tears falling and mixing with the pouring rain.

Thankfully, her parents were there so she wasn't alone.

I hated myself for what I said earlier, for yelling and fighting with her but it was for the best.

If only she knew how madly in love I am with her. However, being apart will save her from whatever trouble my parents would throw her way.

Her father got fired because of them, because of me and there's no saying what my parents might do next. And if saving her would mean that I'll have to let go, I'd just continue loving her and watch over her from a distance.

I hope you have a wonderful life Janey. I love you.