Song on the side: "Runabout" by Little Dragon
chapter four: *’Cause I Can’t Let Go*
“Hey Liam, long time no see,” Sam waved in acknowledgement as she trudged up the path to the main entrance. From where she was she could only see his back since Liam had started making his way back into the mansion.
He stopped and turned around. Leslie averted her eyes trying to make sure he didn’t notice she had been ogling him just a few seconds ago.
“Is it really?” He shrugged almost mockingly, “I wouldn’t know.”
Sam grinned sickeningly sweet. In the old days Sam and Liam had gotten along well. In fact, Sam had been one of the people on his side way before Leslie even gave in. And although she did understand what he must be going through, she still couldn’t help but feel some resentment towards him. It wasn’t even truly his fault, but she didn’t understand why he didn’t just try to stop being such a dick.
If someone tells you they love you and tries to help you, the least you could do is try to be considerate. At least you could smile and stop being sarcastic or mocking…or an asshole.
Leslie had been going through a lot lately and Sam knew more than anyone how Liam’s unreasonable attitude had been making things just a lot worse.
And if Leslie wasn’t going to do anything about it, then Sam sure was.
“Of course you would. You don’t exactly need to remember me to know that we haven’t seen in each other in over three months.”
“Well,” he dragged out the word looking annoyed, “okay.” Then he turned back around and still with some effort walked up the stairs.
“You should really let me help you,” Leslie croaked watching as Liam took some of the steps with effort. Although, he had healed nicely and he hadn’t severely injured or broken anything in his legs, they were still stiff from not using them in so long.
“I’m not paralyzed. I can walk on my own.” Liam responded curtly and Leslie couldn’t help but notice how he clenched his fully working hand until his knuckles turned white.
Suddenly, as she stood awkwardly in the oversized entrance hall, she felt truly hated and repulsive. She shook her head from the negative thoughts, but that didn’t stop her from muttering the words that had been swimming through her head lately.
“What am I doing?”
Sam looked over at her and offered a small smile.
***
“Look you don’t have to stay here. Leo’s here and Jonah’s probably going to come stay for a while too. So you’re free to leave.”
Liam greeted Leslie with the same words he had been muttering every morning for the past four days. Every opportunity he got he ended up reminding her she could just leave.
It would be that simple. She could just head out the door and forget everything that had happened in the last year. She could forget him and the terrible aching in her heart…and the constant rejection.
But then a small voice would creep into her head and snake its way into all her thoughts. It would remind her why she was doing this, but most of all it would tell her to fight. It couldn’t be that hard, could it?
If he didn’t give up for months on end when things were flipped around, surely she could survive a week?
Surely, she could make someone she knew everything about already fall in love with her again?
But that was just it, she felt like she didn’t know this Liam- so angry all the damn time-and so she didn’t know how to start.
How could she get him to do anything at all, if everything she did he immediately shut down?
“Oh and I don’t like blueberry pancakes either,” He said going over to the kitchen pantry and pulling out a box of cereal. She went ahead and grabbed the milk for him and poured it into a bowl. Like always, he grudgingly took it without a word and poured cheerios into it.
Leslie then put two pancakes on a plate, poured honey over them, and placed a small pad of butter in the center. She knew he’d eat it when she left. He had for the past three mornings. She would make something, and he would say he didn’t like it, and then she’d leave it on the counter, and it would be gone by the time she came to do the dishes.
At first she thought he had thrown it out, but the garbage had been empty when she checked. Besides, she knew for a fact that her old Liam had been a sucker for breakfast foods and he couldn’t have changed that much. At least she hoped.
This morning was different.
“Seriously, don’t bother. I’m not going to eat it.” He replied putting a spoonful of cereal in his mouth.
Leslie sighed, “Sure you will, you have been.”
Liam chuckled sarcastically, “No. Jonah has. For some reason he thinks your horrible cooking is good.”
Leslie flinched.
Sam slammed her hand down on the counter.
“You fucking little prick! That was just-just uncalled for!”
“Sam!” Leslie managed.
But besides the initial shock that had quickly passed through his features Liam merely grinned.
“Now, maybe you’ll take me up on my offer and leave.”
Leslie sighed.
The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.” She said knowing it was Leo and Jonah. Usually she would send Sam to get it and then she’d hurry upstairs to her room.
She had been avoiding them because even though it wasn’t Leo’s fault she still felt she wouldn’t be able to contain her anger for edging Liam into going on that dreadful motorcycle ride.
She needed someone to blame for all her mishaps and pinning them on a perfect stranger made her feel better…even if it was wrong.
Sam followed behind her still steaming, but she didn’t say anything.
“Why doesn’t he just get a key to his own house?” Leslie wondered out loud.
“He has one, he just always forgets it,” Sam replies and just then Leslie realizes something.
“You guys talk a lot don’t you?”
“Kind of. I mean we talk before he goes off to see Liam, but I mean what do you expect me to do? I feel like I’m under house arrest or something. It’s been four days and we’ve done literally nothing.”
Suddenly Leslie felt bad…again.
She didn’t reply and instead opened the door. It was only then that her anger towards Leo vanished completely. She took one look at his face and her jaw almost dropped.
He looked so much like Liam. She knew they were cousins and all, but this was unreal. Besides the fact that Leo had blonde hair and was a few inches shorter than Liam (which still made him rather tall) they shared so much. He had a sharp jaw line, the same high cheek bones, and those incredibly striking blue eyes although she wasn’t certain if his changed like Liam’s did.
Still she could pick out everything that was wrong with him. He didn’t have the ever so slightest flickering of freckles on the bridge of his nose, his teeth were straight, but not as white, and unlike Liam’s eyes that had grown sharp, accusing, and cold Leo’s danced brightly and curiously. It brought on a feeling of such great longing she almost burst into sobs.
There not as vivid. No one’s eyes are as vivid as Liam’s.
He seemed startled at first but then a charming smile broke through his lips.
“So you’re the famous Leslie whose been avoiding me all week?” He said as he gave her a glance over.
Leslie blushed despite herself.
“I- I wasn’t, uh, avoiding you.” She said.
What she wouldn’t do to have Liam walk in and tell her she was always a bad liar… like he used to…like if he remembered.
“Sure,” He answered, “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you finally. You’re as beautiful as Liam used to say.”
Used to.
“Um, thanks.” She said looking down at the ground.
He was more muscular than Liam. A little too muscular. She like Liam’s build- the perfect combination between muscular and slender.
“Hey Sam, you look great as always,” Leo smiled at Sam. From the corner of her eye Leslie watched as Sam rolled her eyes, “And you look…well I shouldn’t be mean.” Sam gave him a coy smile and then asked about Jonah.
“He forgot his phone in his car and had to go back and get it. You know, with this unbelievably long driveway and everything it takes a while.”
Sam laughed.
“Hey guys- what’re we all still doing outside?” Jonah suddenly appeared from behind Leo as if some cue that he should be there had gone off.
“Oh, so you’re the famous Leslie, who’s a magician in the kitchen. Seriously, I’ve never had better French toast than yesterday morning,” Jonah grinned in greeting.
He was tall, maybe just a half inch or so less than Liam, and his hair was as black as the night sky. It hung over his forehead a little and he had dazzling light green eyes. He was the type of guy you consider muscular, but not overly so.
For as smart as he was made out to be, he definitely didn’t fit any stereotypes. There was nothing geeky about him. In fact, he seemed simple, yet somehow liked he’d walked off a photo shoot in his black v-neck shirt and dark wash jeans.
If only Leslie wasn’t so in love with Liam, she would have ogled over Jonah. Would have.
“Oh, so he was telling the truth.” Some part of her had hoped Liam was just lying to her.
Jonah frowned a little in confusion before shrugging at himself and then offering her a dazzling, white smile. “Well, pleasure to see you ladies, but someone has to teach the dimwit in the next room how to do Calculus.”
“I heard that you bastard,” Liam called somewhat jokingly from the kitchen where he was undoubtedly finishing his cereal.
Leslie’s heart lurched. So he was capable of making a joke still. So he wasn’t completely gone.
Then why all the hostility specifically towards her?
“So, that Jonah’s quite the looker, huh?” Sam teased as she started heading towards the stairs.
Leslie followed suit. “Really? I didn’t notice.” She replied making light of a situation for the first time in four days. All she knew is that she couldn’t act like the helpless little girl she’d been acting like so far. She had to figure things out like a mature person and that meant less moping.
Sam seemed happy about her little change of heart. “You sure? I don’t know, the way Liam’s been acting, I think he could rival him.”
Instead of making a defensive comment like she felt compelled to do, Leslie just grinned and rolled her eyes.
But truth be told, Leslie had noticed Jonah was ‘quite the looker.’ Or at least kind of.
Evelyn's Note: So, finally we're getting into the fun stuff (I know, it's taken a while). Anyways, please VOTE and COMMENT!! Thank you (: