LIBERTY

Chapter XXIV

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!! SENDING YOU ALL MY LOVE AND BEST WISHES ❤️❤️❤️

Before they knew it, both girls were clutching each other in a bone crushing hug. Chloe buried her face in her friend's shoulder, stifling her own sobs. Libby's body quivered against hers as she burst out in tears. Chloe clung onto her best friend with all the power she could muster.

"It's okay, Libby. Shh, it's okay," she consoled as she gently rocked them back and forth.

"I m-m-missed you so m-much," she stammered in between shaky breaths.

"I missed you, too." Chloe closed her eyes, letting her tears wet Libby's jacket. "You have no idea."

They held onto eachother for dear life, losing track of time.

When all of a sudden, the next few seconds happened in a flash and before Chloe could react she suddenly felt a stinging pain on her left cheek. Her hand flew up to her hot, pulsing skin. She stared at her friend, shocked. "What the hell was that for?"

"You left me," Libby accused, sniffing. "You left without an explanation, without a goodbye. I was all alone, going through the worst part of my life. Why the fuck would you do that to me, I thought you had my back! I thought I could trust you. You were supposed to stay, you promised me."

Chloe reached for her hands, holding them tight. "I'm sorry, Libby. I had no choice."

"I don't give a fuck Chloe! Do you have any idea what you put me through? The day you left everything went downhill. I've seen things I can't – I can't even go a minute without reliving all these horrible memories. Everyone keeps lying to me. I can't trust anyone, I don't even know if people truly are who they say they are. Everybody's trying to fuck with my head and I don't even know what's real anymore."

"That's why I'm here, Libby." Chloe pulled her back in a hug. "I promise everything will make sense once you let us explain."

"I don't wanna stay here. I wanna go home," she cried.

"Libby, listen to me." Chloe cupped her damp cheeks, swiping her thumb under her eyes. "This is the only opportunity you'll ever get to finally get all the answers you need. If you go home now, I can't guarantee you'll ever see me again. I don't wanna go, I really don't but my hands are tied. I'm already risking my life being here. Please, give us a chance to explain."

Libby gazed into her best friend's trusting eyes. It had been a while since she had ever felt safe like this. Chloe's presence was part of her true home, her safe space. She desperately held onto the familiarity and refused to let go.

Chloe intertwined their hands and offered an encouraging smile. She looked behind Libby's back and nodded at Leon.

The three of them made their way back to the living room. Ava looked up, still sniffling into her handkerchief. She searched Libby's face but the girl was still too overwhelmed to meet her eye.

Libby stayed close to Chloe, almost glued to her, as they sat down on the opposite couch. Leon sat on the arm of the other couch. Together they formed a triangle with the coffee table in the center. The tension was palpable, heavy and looming over them like a dark cloud. Either a lighting was going to strike any second or the sun would poke through. Libby couldn't tell.

"I should probably start," Chloe cleared her throat, her clammy hand still interlocked with Libby's. "It all started when I decided to look for my biological parents. Kelly claimed she didn't have my birth certificate or the adoption papers. I didn't believe her so I went back to the adoption center where my dad used to work. They couldn't find any records either so I figured that they must've lost it or something. Until one day, I was searching for a lightbulb in the basement and I stumbled over something and crashed into the wall. A drywall. And I could tell someone had put it there to hide something."