Man...my brain is whizzed out. I am so tired right now and I'm sorry that this chapter is short and terrible. :(
I promise the next chapter I'm able to get in(we'll just see how long that one takes...again) I promise it'll be much longer and better.
Please comment, vote, and enjoy? hehe :)
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Recap
I leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to his lips again, loving the way our lips molded together perfectly. I pulled back to give him a sweet smile. "I love you, too."
I heard someone clear their throat and turned my eyes over to see the four of them giving us looks of happiness, playful-disgust, and tenderness. Liam quickly ducked his head and buried it once again into my chest, pulling me against him so my body hid his. I chuckled quietly at his bashfulness and placed a kiss in his hair.
"You two are adorable." Danielle cooed, smiling sweetly at our reunited moment. I felt a light blush pool in my cheeks but only ignored it and used my hand to cup Liam's face again and lift it so we were face-to face once more.
"Let's get started on this road, shall we?"
End of Recap
** ** **
I wasn't looking forward to seeing Brayden. You'd think that, because we were friends two months ago, I'd be all happy and excited to go see him. Bouncing on the balls of my feet with impatience, yeah?
Well, no. Not anymore.
I don't know what happened, don't know where my kindess for him disappeared. But now that it did, I wasn't planning on letting it come back. I mean, his cousin might have been the one to hire that asshole to do his dirty work. You think I'm just going to forget all about that and become his best friend forever? Think I'm just going to waltz right away from the problem and let him off the hook?
Think again. I was going to make sure that bastard got put into prison to rot in there for eternity. Or...at least until he died.
I kept my eyes fixated on the road, holding Liam close to my body while his head leaned on my shoulder. My fingers absentmindedly ran themselves through his hair while I observed where we were going. Louis had told me that we were meeting Brayden at the coffeehouse and I was going to make sure he wasn't lying.
The car ride was silent, save for the gentle hum coming from the engine. Harry and Louis kept giving each other knowing looks and Zayn kept fidgeting next to me. I was about having it with all his squirming and would have knocked him senseless over the head if Danielle hadn't kept shooting me a look of warning. It was like she could read my mind.
Instead, I channeled my irritation into admiration for my boyfriend, watching the way he curled up next to me and the way his eyes fluttered when he blinked. Never had I seen Liam so vulnerable in the two years since that I've known him. He'd always been the strong leader of our group, the one we would go to if we had worries, the one who pulled everything together.
Up until his courage was robbed from him.
Now he was like an innocent little puppy--or as the fans liked to call him. He was always looking up at me or the others now with wide eyes that shined with innocence. I couldn't leave him for a second without tears spilling down his cheeks from anything he dropped or recurring memories. He'd also become a bit more clumsy and jumpy. It was understandable. Or, at least to me it was. Other than Danielle, I was the only person who still had patience with him. And that ticked me off.
I felt Liam move a bit when he let out a sigh and brought his eyes out towards the window. Biting my lip, I turned away to bring my own eyes over to Louis.
"Are we there yet?" I asked, feeling a bit edgy. Louis shot me an annoyed look, considering this was my fourth time asking, and shook his head.
"About five minutes. Now are you quite finished?" He replied, a bit of sass in the words. I rolled my eyes and didn't answer, grinding my teeth together while playing with Liam's hair. I heard Harry let out a sigh of his own before he turned around in his seat to give me and Liam a quick glance.
Our eyes met for a brief moment but he turned around quickly before I could even utter a word. I used my free hand to run it through my own hair and threw my head back, trying to relax.
A few minutes more of silence passed through each of us when the car finally halted and I brought my head up to find that we had arrived. The tiny snaps of all the seat belts brought me to attention and I pulled my hand away from Liam to reach down and unbuckle my own. When it came undone, I looked to see Liam watching me, already having undone his buckle. He held the door open with one hand while sitting halfway between it, his gaze looking unsure.
I shot him a comforting smile and slid over next to him to place my hand on his lower back. A sigh of relief left his lips and he brought his eyes towards the ground as he got out. I followed after him, never removing my hand, and shut the door. As we both walked in after the others, I couldn't help but take notice of Brayden's familiar car. I scowled as my eyes roamed over it and wrapped my arm around Liam's waist as we entered the coffee-house.
The smell of coffee beans entered my nostrils and I took in a big whiff, smiling to myself. Liam noticed this and gave me a tiny smile as well. I leaned into him to place a gentle kiss behind his hear, whispering gently.
"I'll be right here with you."
I pulled back to see him nod slightly before we both headed straight towards the table where the others had sat down, Brayden sitting casually in a chair across from Zayn and Danielle. Louis and Harry had both decided to take the seats next to Brayden to save me or Liam from having to sit there. I shot them a grateful smile and they both returned it with a nod.
When my eyes trailed over Brayden, the smile left my face and was replaced with a cruel frown. He brought his blue-green eyes up to meet mine but flinched when he saw the look on my face. I felt no remorse when I took in the nervous expression on his own face. I brought Liam over to a chair on the end before pulling up a chair from another table and sitting next to him.
Once I was seated, Liam automatically scooted his chair closer to mine so he could grasp my hand and lean as far as the chair would let him. I ran my thumb over his knuckles to calm him and it seemed to work when he sat back in his chair. With that, I brought my eyes over to Brayden and gave him a glare.
"We're here. Now what do you want?" I growled. Usually I wasn't this forward but if you were in my shoes, you'd understand why I wasn't going to leave in any room for some ridiculous trying-to-avoid-the-subject chit chat.
Louis shot me a warning look. "Niall--"
"No, no it's alright." Brayden stopped Louis, biting his lip nervously. "I understand that you're mad and you have a reason--"
"Oh so you admit I do, huh?" I interrupted him, grounding out the words angrily. Brayden flinched and opened his mouth to speak when I stopped him again.
"Tell me, Brayden, why exactly I have a reason. Because if I didn't have a reason then you would have been offended by now. You wouldn't be all squirming and nervous. Why are you nervous anyway? Do you have something to hide?" I spat out, almost reaching over to grip his wrist painfully when Liam prevented me.
"Niall!" Harry exclaimed, shooting me an appalled look. I huffed out in irritation, allowing my burning gaze to roam over Brayden's quivering form. He had a very guilty look on his face and that only made me angrier.
"Answer my question." I snarled. I felt Liam squirm next to me and brought my eyes over to see him watching me with a fearful look. I softened my gaze and he relaxed a bit. I looked back over at Brayden.
"U-um...look Niall. I didn't ask you guys here to fight, okay? I only wanted to talk." He licked his lips and spoke without meeting my gaze. Hm. I wonder why.
I scoffed. "Well then talk."
This time he did look into my eyes and I raised a brow at him. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, thinking quietly to himself before speaking.
"He didn't do it..." Brayden whispered, leaning over the table. Quickly, his eyes darted around at each of us before they landed back on me. I gave him a confused look.
"Who didn't do what?" I whispered right back, not even realizing it. Liam squeezed my hand and I squeezed back comfortingly.
Brayden blinked. "Kale."
The moment that one name left his lips I had no control over my arm. Without even thinking twice, I reached over to grasp Brayden's wrist that lay idly on the table before crushing it under my grip. He let out a little yelp of pain and tried to pull back. I only tightened my hold and brought him closer to me so our eyes were locked. His were filled with fear and pain while I was positive mine were bristling with rage.
"He didn't do it?" I growled out, digging my fingers into the skin. "He didn't do it, Brayden? Are you sure? Because if he didn't do it...who did?"
I was now digging my fingers so tightly around his wrist that it was turning white. Brayden let out a tiny gasp but I only watched him with malice. Around me, I was sure the others were looking at me like I'd lost my mind but I was to angry to give a shit.
"ANSWER me." I hissed, digging deeper into his skin until a dot of blood popped to the surface. Brayden winced this time and gave me a pleading look.
"Fuck--I don't know, alright? I don't--argh--I d-don't know..." He whimpered, trying futilely to release my hold on his wrist. I watched him for a moment before releasing it and sitting back in my chair. His hand flew immediately to his chest and he clutched it for dear life, eyes scrunched in pain.
When I looked around the area, I noticed an old couple a few tables down watching us--or rather me--with shocked expressions. I only rolled my eyes at them before looking back at Brayden. He refused to meet my gaze when he spoke.
"I don't k-know who did it, Niall. I don't know who...hired the guy, okay? But please believe me when I tell you this." He brought his eyes up to mine, practically begging me. "He didn't do it. Kale had nothing to do with it."
I studied him for a moment before looking over to scan Liam. He was sitting back in his chair, one hand wrapped tightly around his torso while the other clutched tightly to me right hand. His eyes were glued to the edge of the table but I could see the way they were filled with conflicting emotions. My heart squeezed as I watched him, wanting so desperately to find out who and why the person did this to him. Why Liam? Why my Liam?
I sighed. "I'm sorry but...I just don't believe you."
Brayden's eyes widened and this time I found him to be the one to reach over and grab my upper arm. I gave him a surprised look when he pleaded with me.
"You've gotta believe me, Niall. Kale didn't do it. Why would he hire someone to...to rape Liam?" He whispered, tears brimming his eyes. I almost felt sorry for being so cruel to him. But then I reminded myself of what happened to my boyfriend and I couldn't find it anywhere in me to be nice.
I glared icily at him. "Well, let's see. Before it even happened, Kale and Liam weren't exactly on 'good' terms. In fact, they hated each other. So why wouldn't he hire someone to do it?"
The most exasperated and desperate look flashed over Brayden's face and I was about to grow some balls and apologize when his eyes went past me and widened. I found Louis and Harry, who had been watching us, follow Brayden's gaze before they both became tense. Harry met my eyes and I gave him a confused look. It wasn't until Liam let out a sharp whimper and jumped into my arms that I turned around to see what was up.
Every fiber in me grew ice-cold, every muscle growing hard with tension, every limb becoming iron-tight. I held Liam protectively to my body, holding onto him so tight that even I couldn't breathe. But that was better than letting him breathe any of the same air that he was breathing.
"So this is why you didn't want me to come with you." Kale said, chuckling harshly. Liam shuddered in my arms and I narrowed my eyes at newcomer.
"Kale," I spat out bitterly, "what are you doing here?"
He brought his hand up to the spot above his heart in mock-hurt. "Why, Niall, I thought you'd be happy to see me? After all, aren't we friends?" He gave me a Cheshire-cat-smile and I about lost it right there.
"Friends? With you?" I scoffed. "You're delusional."
He laughed, a cruel laugh, that had me flinching in annoyance. Liam buried himself deeper into my arms and I ran my hand up and down his back to soothe him. Kale, finally noticing Liam's prescence, brought his eyes around our wrapped up bodies, and couldn't help but smirk a little.
"Awe, hi there little guy." He cooed tauntingly. "How are you?"
Liam shivered in my arms and I looked down to see tear tracks covering his cheeks. That was enough for me to almost jump him. Though, Zayn beat me to it.
"Watch your mouth, ye bastard." He hissed at Kale, getting ready to stand up. Danielle brought a hand out to touch his arm and he hesitated but didn't removed his icy gaze from the older man.
Kale snorted. "And if I don't?"
A worried look flashed across Brayden's face. "Kale, please--"
"Please what, Bray?" Kale turned to look a his cousin, an exasperated look on his face. "It's because of these little fuckers that I had to go down to the station only to find out I'm a potential 'suspect'. I didn't even fucking do anything!" He growled, shooting Liam a vicious look.
"And how the hell are we supposed to believe you?!" I roared at him. "You're the only other person we know that would actually have a motive to hurt him!"
Kale pinched the bridge of his nose and turned around to compose himself. As he did this, Brayden shot up out of his seat and stood next to him, giving all of us a look of despair.
"Guys, he didn't do it." Brayden whispered, looking intensely at me. I sighed and narrowed my eyes at him, willing my voice to calm down. I could feel the shakiness and anger tremble throughout my body. I had to control myself for the sake of Liam who was shaking much harder than me.
"Brayden, how exactly well do you know your cousin?" I started, giving him a gentle look. "You didn't even realize he had a dark side until now so how can you know?"
Brayden opened his mouth to say something but hesitated, a strange emotion flickering through his eyes. He looked up at his cousin in confusion, a strange emotion running across his face. Kale looked over to stare at him, a look on his own face that said 'you're seriously considering what he said?'
I sighed and looking down at Liam again to place a small kiss to his forehead. He mewed quietly and I could literally feel my heart swell with love. Though, it wasn't until a second later that I felt him tense up sharply in my embrace, his breathing becoming shallow, and his eyes widening with fear. He clutched tightly to me, tight enough to leave bruises, and whispered to me.
"N-Ni-Niall..."
I froze, taking note of the fear and anxiety in his voice. I stroked a hand through his hair to calm him but it didn't seem to work. His eyes were trained hard on a figure somewhere behind us and I took the courage to look back to see what it was.
I wish I hadn't.
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This chapter sucks....really bad. I don't like it but it's all I've got right now. I need to sleep otherwise I'm gonna pass out right now so thanks for reading :)
Please vote comment and enjoy :)) also goodnight
♥♥♥Lots of love♥♥♥
November 4, 2012