Chapter 3

She tried.

She'd talk to him but he would just ignore her.

Her grade meant a lot to her but he didn't care about hers or his.

Her head was hung low, looking at her feet as she walked to her house. Before she could open her door she spots Jennifer struggling to get some boxes out of her car.

She walks over to her, "Let me help you." Reneè says taking some boxes out of Jennifer's hand. "Thank you."

They both walk into Jennifer's house. "You can put it over there." Reneè places the box on the coffee table.

She turns to go but stops midway. "Um Jennifer can I ask you something?", Jennifer nods.

"Why doesn't Liam like me? I mean did I do something to him because if I did, I need him to know that I'm sorry."

Jennifer sighs, "You did nothing Reneè. It's just that..." she pauses "He won't want me to tell you this but Liam, Liam is bipolar."

Realization hits her.

Jennifer takes a seat on the couch with Reneè beside her. "We found out when he was nine. Before that he had been showing some signs like anger issues, mood swings and some other symptoms. The doctor said he also has PTSD. It wasn't easy for him. He also didn't have a lot of friends because of it and those he thought were his friends ended up bullying him and then leaving."

"He shut people out because of it, he felt that there was no need to have friends that they will always end up betraying you. Something happened that made everything worse. I tried taking him to a therapist, but he never said a word to any of them. He also stop taking his medication. He became worse."

There were unshed tears in Jennifer's eyes. Reneè could feel her pain. She takes a napkin and dabs her eyes.

"Now he doesn't even talk to anybody. He just locks himself in his room all day. It hurts to see him like that. I just wish that there is something we can do."

"I'm so sorry. Is there any way I can help?" She asks.

"Please don't give up on him. He just needs someone to care about him. If you can do that for me I will be forever in your dept."

It was much to ask for. But Reneè was determined. She nods.

"You're a good person Reneè. Thank you. Would you like to have lunch?" Jennifer asks, hope in her eyes

"No thank you... I have to get home before my mom gets back." She smiles at her before walking out of the house.

~

He was at the bleachers again... alone.

The cigarette between his lips. He takes it out, smoke escaping from his nose and mouth. She clears her throat alerting him.

He looks up at her and rolls his eyes before discarding the cigarette under his shoe.

He gets up and walks away. "I know." He stops midway then turns back to her. "You know what?"

"I know you're bipolar." She clarifies. A shocked look cross his face before turn back to neutral.

"How?"

"It doesn't matter." She takes deep breath "I understand why you are pushing me away. I know how it feels for people to pretend to like you but instead they just want something from you or they just betray you at the end."

His features soften, he looks away. "I understand you, Liam. We are not that different."

He glares at me, "I don't need your pity."

"I'm not pitying you, I want to help you work this out. I may not be able to do much but at least I can do something."

He stares at her, "You can't help me. I can't be helped."

"That's not true Liam, I can try. We don't have to be friends just let me." She looks at him expectantly.

"What do you want from this?" He cocks an eyebrow. She shakes her head, "Nothing. I mean we still get to do the project together while we are doing that I can still help."

He stares at her. Slowly, with calculated movements he walks towards her, peering down at her small figure.

I wonder how tall he is.

She gulps at how close that are. She could feel the heat coming from his body. "If you try anything, I won't care if you're a girl or not, I won't hesitate to do anything."

He won't hurt me, right?

"Meet me at the parking lot after school. Ten minutes is all you have, do not be late. Or you forget about this." He walks away without looking back.

She couldn't help the grin that covered her lips.

She was walking out with Lucy and Carlos by her side.

"I wanted to ask whether I can come over. Maddie is coming over and I don't want to be there."

Maddie is Carlos' little sister's baby sitter. And she has a huge crush on Carlos.

"It's not like you can come over either, we know why." Maddie doesn't like Reneè, she thinks that she's trying to steal Carlos away from her. No matter how many times Reneè confirms that they are just best friend she doesn't want to hear it.

"I have to do a project with Liam today so I'll be busy."

"Isn't Liam that new hot guy?" Lucy adds and she nods. "The guy from the cafeteria that was a dick. Are you sure you want to be doing a project with him?"

"It's not like I have a choice. Go ask Miss Kimberly." She shrugs. Just then Andrew, Lucy's boyfriend walk over to us, placing a kiss on his girlfriend's lips.

"Hey beautiful." Lucy giggles. "Sup man." He greets Carlos, he nods back at him.

"Hey Reneè." He smiles at her, "Hi Andrew. How are you?"

"I'm great." He turns to his girlfriend, "Ready to go babe." Lucy nods. "Bye guys." They wave at her as she goes.

She sees Liam leaning against his car. He checks his watch frowning. "Um hi." She approaches him. "You're one minute late." He glares at her. She mumbles an apology getting into the passengers seat.

The ride was quiet. she kept glancing at him, he had a permanent scowl on his lips but it did nothing to ruin his handsome features. His knuckles were white from gripping the wheel too tight. She frowns wondering what is on his mind.

"Stop staring." He snaps and she quickly looks away.

He parks in his driveway and they get out of the car. They enter the house. She takes a seat on the couch and he disappears upstairs.

He comes down later wearing sweatpants and a tank top which show of his muscles. "Here." He places two bottles of coke on the table. "Um I don't really want anything." He glares taking away one of them.

"Can we start?" She asks as he takes the seat beside her, he nods.

"So we were told to write an article on famous women that have excelled in what they do. The woman we were given is Leanne Smith."

"She is a world renowned skier..." She trails of when she noticed Liam is not listening.

"Liam?"

He eyes glazed, staring into space. His breathing kept increasing ever passing second, she could see him shaking.

"Liam." She calls again, panicked.

No answer.

She grips his shoulders, shaking him, "Liam, Liam listen to me, focus on my voice okay?"

"I need you to breathe. Breathe Liam. Focus on me, forget about everything else, just me. Breathe." He takes a deep breath, blinking a few time. He finally stops shaking then looks at her.

He just had a panic attack and something caused it... the question is what did?

"Liam?" She looks at him, concern swimming in her eyes.

He stares at his clenched fist, "leave."

"What?"

"Leave." He yells grabbing the bottle on the table before throwing it against the wall, glass shards flying everywhere.

She quickly stands up, looking back at him before waking out of the house.

Liam

He stares a the broken glass, I sigh leaving his lips.

Cleaning up the mess, he goes to take a long shower.

After his shower, he goes to get something to eat but something on the table catches his eye.

A phone.

Her phone.

His picks it up. Putting it on, he sees a picture of her and her mother on the lock screen, they are both smiling.

If it was that easy to be happy.

Walking out of the door with her phone in his hand he stops at her door. He could hear voices inside, not just one.

He knocks, waiting for a response. The door opens revealing Reneè. There was a shocked look on her face before she masks it with a smile.

"Oh Liam, what are you doing here?"

He opens his mouth to answer but stops when a guy comes to the door.

It was the guy at the cafeteria that day. 'What is he doing here?" He thinks.

"Oh um... Carlos this is Liam my neighbour, Liam this is Carlos my best..."

"Boyfriend." Carlos cuts in.

Liam narrows his eyes at him, while Reneè slaps his arm.

"He's my best friend not boyfriend."

"That's what I said best friend that is a boy. Best boy friend." Reneè rolls her eyes at him.

Wordlessly Liam hands her the phone.

"Thanks I was looking for it." She smiles at him.

"How are we sure you didn't go through it?" Carlos buts in. "Why would I do that?" Liam raises an eyebrow at him.

"We don't know who you were before you moved, well it's not like we know who you are now but for all we know you could be a stalker."

Liam looks at Reneè and she looks away.

"Or a creep, or a robber, anything dangerous. You must be one of those though."

His hands balls up into a fist, "You should learn how to control your mouth before someone does it for you." He steps towards Carlos but before anything could happen Reneè steps between them.

"Liam no, don't do it." She shakes her head at him, slowly pleading with him. His eyes move from her to Carlos who has a smirk on his lips.

How he wish he could just wipe it off.

"Please." His eyes move back to Reneè. He sighs stepping back.

She turns to her friend, "Stop it Carlos." Carlos mumbles an apology.

She smiles at Liam, "Thank you for returning my phone. Do you want to come inside?" She asks.

He shakes his head. "No." He glances at her for a last time before walking away.