Liam
October 8th, 2016 | 9:00 pm
Liam had hoped he would find Rachel before she and her friends found him talking to Lexi. Unfortunately, Lexi spotted them first and her expression changed. Liam turned and saw them too, Rachel had a funny look on her face. Almost as if she knew what her friends were about to do and felt bad about it, however they both knew she wouldn't do anything about it.
"Aw Lexi I think it's so cute you showed up tonight," one of Rachel's friends said.
Lexi didn't respond, she was just staring at them.
"Did you think you could really pull Rachel's boyfriend?" she said mockingly.
Lexi's face had yet to change, even as the other girls laughed at her. Liam looked over at Rachel who was looking anywhere but at him. She didn't want this to happen, Liam could see that clearly.
"You better stay away from her, Liam, bad things happen to the people she hangs around, I mean just ask Austin, or her parents."
No one laughed at that. All the other girls knew that comment had gone too far. Liam glanced over at Lexi. She had stood up and her face was turned away from them. She didn't even bother to respond. Lexi just quickly wiped at her cheek to clean the tears and walked away. Liam stood up. He didn't even bother getting mad at the girl who had said it. He stormed over to Rachel and pulled her to the side of the gym, she didn't even try to pull away.
"Why did you let her say that stuff, Rachel?"
She bit her lip. "What was I supposed to do?" Rachel asked. "They saw you two hanging out and thought it would be funny."
"You thought what they said was funny?" Liam asked angrily.
"I'm sorry, you know I don't care that you're trying to ease your guilt through Lexi, but they don't see it that way."
"Yeah, because they're idiots. Rachel, she has no one," Liam said quietly. "Her parents are gone, the love of her life ditched her, and everyone at school avoids her like the plague. How can you think kicking a person when they're down is okay?"
"I don't," Rachel protested exasperatedly.
Liam frowned. "What you let happen makes me think differently."
"Liam, I do feel bad for her," Rachel insisted.
"Really? Do you?" he asked. "Because I would never expose your problems like your friends just did to Lexi. Should I tell them what kind of crap your mom says and does to you? Should I tell them their fearless leader cried herself to sleep in my arms last week?"
"Liam," Rachel said angrily. "Don't go there."
Liam shook his head. "You care so much about what others think you forget you can make your own choices," Liam said quietly. "You are a good person Rachel. I know who you are deep down, but this," he said pointing to her friends. "This isn't you, and God only knows why you try so hard to pretend you are someone you aren't."
Rachel crossed her arms. "Maybe I am just like them," she said defensively.
Liam took a deep breath and shook his head again. "We both know you aren't." He turned and started to walk in the direction Lexi had gone.
"Where are you going?" she called after him.
"To go make sure she is okay, then I'm going home."
"You were supposed to come over," she said. "My mom-"
Liam gave her a pitiful look and she stopped mid sentence. "I'm sick of defending the person you're trying to be. Stop being what you think everyone wants you to be and decide what you want. Find me when you're ready to be your own person, Rach."
With that, Liam left Rachel at the dance. It didn't take Liam long to find Lexi. She hadn't gone far, not that she could. Maeve had brought her and she was off getting high somewhere. She was sitting on a bench outside. She had taken off her heels and her bare feet were just touching the blades of grass. She was trying to take even breaths when he approached her. Lexi noticed his presence, but didn't speak as he took a seat on the bench as well. They sat in silence for a while. Liam didn't want to hurt her more by saying anything so he sat quietly until she spoke.
"I didn't do anything," Lexi whispered. She turned and looked at him. "I got practically orphaned and dumped but somehow it's my fault."
"I know," he said. He wanted to comfort her but he didn't know how. Lexi shivered and it made Liam want to comfort her even more, but he wasn't even wearing a jacket to give her.
"Come on, I'll take you home," he offered.
Lexi glanced over at him. "It's okay," she said. "I don't want to bother you."
Liam smiled softly. "You really don't like asking for help, huh?"
Lexi looked embarrassed. "I don't know, I guess I don't trust many people."
"Look, it's no problem, and I kind of owe you for what happened back there."
Lexi studied Liam for a moment. "Okay," she whispered.
Liam and Lexi walked side by side to his car. Liam noticed Lexi struggling with the sports car door handle and opened it for her.
"Thanks," she mumbled as she got in.
Liam went to other side and got in the driver seat. Lexi gave quiet directions as Liam drove. They got to her house and Lexi stared into the window.
"My dad's not home yet," she mumbled more to herself than him.
She glanced over at Liam.
"You know how earlier you said I don't like to ask for help?"
"Yeah?"
"Well I am about to ask you to do something for me that is really stupid and I hope you don't mind."
"It's fine, what is it?" Liam said kindly.
"Can you come in with me?" she asked nervously. "It freaks me out when my dad isn't home and normally I don't come home so late."
"Yeah, of course," Liam said immediately.
They got out of the car, and he walked a few steps behind her. She unlocked the door and they walked in together. Liam was surprised by how the house looked. The door opened into the living room where a television had clearly been smashed, the pieces had been organized and sorted next to the television stand with the biggest chunk of the television sitting back on top of the stand. The couch was pushed in a weird direction so you could watch television and see out the window. It was clear at some point there were two couches and one was missing. There was a small kitchen to the side and a small hallway leading to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Liam wondered what the house looked like when Lexi's mom was here.
"I would offer you something to drink," she said walking into the kitchen. "But we only have expired milk and tap water."
"It's okay," he said, coming into the kitchen as well. He noticed a wipe board on the fridge. On it was written: Lexi at dance home at ten.
"It's how we communicate," Lexi said when he caught her looking at the wipe board. She wiped off the words and stared at the blank board. "My dad doesn't really speak much, a word or two. Sometimes I think he knows what I am saying, but I don't really know. Sometimes I ask things and I know I asked too much because it frustrates him when he can't reply."
Liam didn't really know how to respond to that. "Is there anything that can be done for him?" What Liam really wanted to know was why they hadn't undergone more treatment for him.
Lexi nodded. "Yeah, but we couldn't afford it," she said softly. "Even before, my mom worked at a restaurant and my dad was a manager of a store. When the accident happened, it's not like they were bouncing with excitement to give him his job back."
"You couldn't take a loan out or something?" he asked.
Lexi grimaced. "Not to be rude Liam, but aren't your parents doctors? I don't think you understand how hard the financial burden is."
Liam's cheeks flushed. "Sorry, I just-"
"I know," she said, cutting him off. "I know you feel bad."
"I'm sorry."
Lexi looked up at him. "I don't blame you or your father," she said quietly. "I know I may act like it and I know it seems like it, but I don't."
Liam took a deep breath. Again, he didn't know what to say. Thankfully, he didn't have to answer. Lexi's phone rang. She stepped away from him to answer it.
Liam looked around while he waited for Lexi to come back. There were drawings on the fridge, Liam could only assume Lexi had made them when she was younger. He also saw pictures of them as a family before the accident. They were happy. No matter what Lexi said, he would always feel guilty. Lexi walked back into the kitchen and stood across from Liam.
"That was Maeve, she just wanted to make sure I got home okay," Lexi explained.
Liam nodded. They stood there awkwardly before Liam realized she meant he had done what she had asked and he could go.
"When does your dad get home?" he asked.
Lexi shrugged. "He works the night shift cleaning an office building, it just depends when he gets done."
Somehow knowing that made him feel worse, how was he just supposed to leave her here all by herself?
"Aren't you nervous about being here all alone?" he asked, voicing his thoughts aloud.
Lexi sighed. "Yeah, but what am I supposed to do? It's not like I can just ask Austin to sleep in my room with me again."
Liam once again felt bad. "I could stay if you want," he offered.
Lexi's face flushed red. "Um thanks for the offer, but I don't think we're there in our relationship."
Liam smiled. "I meant I could sleep on the floor or something I don't mind."
Lexi bit her nervously. "Won't Rachel be mad?" she asked.
"I'm not talking to her at the moment, besides she said she was fine with us being friends."
"And your parents aren't going to wonder where you are?" she asked.
"They'll think I am at Rachel's," he said. "If they even notice I'm gone," he mumbled under his breath.
If Lexi heard him, she didn't comment on it. "Okay," she said finally. "There's a couch in my room, so you don't have to sleep on the floor. Do you want me to get you something to sleep in? You would probably fit in my dad's clothes."
"Yeah, okay."
Lexi came back with a pair of black sweatpants and a Metallica shirt in one hand and a blanket in the other. He followed Lexi into her bedroom. Liam wasn't sure what he was expecting but her room caught him by surprise. It was messy and chaotic in the most organized way possible. The queen bed had been pushed into the corner and it was clear she preferred one side. The bed set was a dark maroon color and her walls were covered in posters and magazine pages. It gave the room a dark feel even though the light was on. There was no desk or any other furniture but the bed, couch, and small table in front of the couch. The couch was opposite of the bed and looked like the one in the living room. Liam wondered if Lexi had dragged in here after her mom died. There were piles of things everywhere. One of her shoes, one of her schoolwork, one of her makeup, one of her books; it was organized yet disorganized as well.
Lexi handed him the clothes and pointed to the bathroom door in the hall. Liam quickly changed and when he came back in, he found that Lexi had taken off her dress and was in sweatpants and a hoodie. She was still taking off her makeup. Liam sat down on the couch and noticed the pile of school assignments on the floor. On the other side of the couch, was a pile of school supplies.
"Sorry the room is so messy," she said half-heartedly when she saw Liam staring at the mess.
"It's okay," he said.
"You sure you don't mind staying here?" she asked one more time as if giving him a way out.
Liam chuckled. "You really don't like relying on people."
"Just not used to it yet," she mumbled.