Chapter 4

"Hi Liam."

He glares at her. Turning, he starts to walk away from her.

"We're not doing the project today so why are you talking to me?"

"I just wanted to ask how your day is going-" he cuts her off.

"I told you that we are not friends so don't talk to me." He snaps. "Just because I offered to help you doesn't mean you have to be rude to me."

He stops walking making Reneè almost slam into his back. Then he turns sharply, facing her.

"You are not any different from the others. So stop thinking that you are special 'cause you're not." Finally he walks away.

She sighs

What have I gotten my self into?

~

She was about walking out of the school's gate when a familiar voice stops her.

"Where do you think you're going?" She turns meeting the stern gaze of Liam. "Um... I-i thought-"

"Just get in the fucking car."

She quickly enters the passengers seat, getting comfortable.

She looks at Liam to already find him looking at her.

Glaring to be exact.

Seconds passed and he still kept glaring at her. "For fuck's sake." He leans closer to Reneè, his nose almost touching her neck. "W-what are you doing?"

"You can't even put your fucking seatbelt on." He says as he drags the seatbelt safely securing it in its lock. He moves his face a little so that they were now staring at each other.

They were so close their nose were almost touching. She could even see some specks of yellow dancing in his green orbs. The glare on his face slowly subsided as he looked at her with softer eyes.

They didn't know how long they sat there staring at each other but Liam was the first to break eye contact as he blinks returning back to his original position.

She clears her throat, her hand goes to her cheek feeling the heat. She turns her head away as he starts the car preventing him from seeing her blazing cheeks.

There was one question she asked herself.

Why was she feeling like this?

"Can you please drive with two hands?"

"It's my fucking car, I drive it the way I want." She noticed he cursed a lot.

"Um, I think that in order for me to help you with your... um, stuff we should ask each other questions about ourselves to improve your conversation skills and get you comfortable with talking to someone. Maybe you could come over to my house?"

He didn't answer her. Less than five minutes later they were home.

He locks his car and enters his house without giving her an answer.

She unlocks her door, stepping into her house. She already knew her mom was still at work. Walking into the kitchen she see a note on the counter.

There's some Mac and cheese in the fridge if you're hungry. I maybe back late so don't wait up for me.

PS.

Don't even think of watching Chicago Med without me or I will disown you. And remember that I love you...

"To the moon and back." She whispers to herself. Smiling she places the note on its original spot before going upstairs.

She comes downstairs after changing into comfortable clothes. She hears a knock on her door.

I don't remember inviting Carlos or Lucy.

She opens the door to see Liam standing there.

"Oh,.um Liam what are you doing here?"

He narrows his eyes, "You told me to come here. I shouldn't have even bothered myself." He turns to go but she stops him. "Wait, come in please."

He steps into her house and she shuts the door behind him. "You can sit down. Can I get you anything?" She asks and like always he ignores her.

They sit beside each other. "Let's get this over with."

She clears her throat. "So I will ask you a question and you will answer then you ask me and I will answer, okay?"

"What's your favourite colour?"

"I don't have one." He replies

"You have to answer. Think of something."

He was quiet for a while before he says, "Black. What's yours?"

She smiles, "I like yellow and green."

"Why do you like black?"

He was quiet again.

"It defines me. Dark, empty, sofisticated, mysterious."

She was speechless. There was something else except for his disorder that made him the way he is. She didn't know whether she wanted to find out what. "Okay."

"Why do you like those colours." He was just repeating her questions. At least it was better than him cursing all the time.

"I like green because it signifies life and growth. I mean if a tree isn't growing, it won't be green, maybe brown. But if it's green that means its healthy and growing. I also like yellow because it's just makes me happy. It signifies happiness. The brightness of the colour will just make anyone smile."

Except you.

She asked him what his favourite book was and his answer shocked her. "Wuthering Heights." He replied.

She didn't imagine him reading that kind of book. It's not like she expected him to read Diary of a wimpy kid but she was surprised.

Immediately her lips curve upwards till they were covered in a full blown grin. "Mine's Wuthering Heights too." She says without him asking her the question.

"That wasn't the question I wanted to ask you."

"Oh, what did you want to ask?"

"Tell me the truth. Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?" His eyes narrow slightly, suspecting her.

"I... " She takes a deep breath, "I was told to by your mom but..." He didn't let her finish, he was up on his feet in seconds.

"I knew it, I fucking knew it. You weren't doing because you wanted to help me you were doing it because she told you to." His hands were clenched.

"No, Liam listen- " She shakes her head, trying to explain but again he doesn't let her.

"I knew you were just like the other. Plastic fake. Fuck you." He snaps before walking out of the door slamming it shut.

She just stood there, staring at the door. She could feel an ache in her chest, something no medication could cure.

What have I done?

That night, she could hear yelling all the way from Liam's house, it kept her awake. The yelling stopped after a while. She heard Liam's door open.

There was an urge she had to go to her window to talk to him.

At first, the reason the talked to him after she was told about his disorder was because his mother told her to. But then she realised that he just needed someone to stay with him, care for him and not give up on him, she wanted to be that person. She also felt like that once and Carlos was there for her and now she wanted to be there for him but now everything was ruined.

She sighs looking at the window one more time before closing her eyes and forcing herself to sleep.

Morning came like a flash. "Morning mom." Reneè says as she comes down stairs, refreshed from her shower.

"Hey honey." There were some pancakes on the table. She loved the way her mom could find time despite her time consuming and stressful job.

She sat with her mom eating as they talked. "Bye mom, I love you." She places a kiss on her cheek before waking outside of the door. She noticed Liam's car was still parked in his drive way, she frowns, heading to school.

~

"Reneè."

"What?" She snaps out of her thoughts, Turning to look at Carlos who has a confused and concerned look on his face. "I've called your name like three times now, you were zoned out. Are you okay?" He asks

She forces a fake smile to her lips, "I'm okay, just a lot on my mind. Don't worry about it." Just then the bell rang, without waiting she stood up getting her books and walking out of the class.

For the first time ever she was the first to leave the class.

She spots Liam walking towards her direction. Hands in his pockets, black hoodie over his head, eyes down. He looks up, their eyes meeting. His lips immediately curl upwards into a snarl, his eyes narrowed into a deadly glare.

She didn't say anything as he walks pass her. She opened her her mouth to say something but nothing came out.

Carlos offered to wait for Reneè but she refused practically pushing him out of the school. She had to tutor Sebastian Larsson, A junior who had an upcoming test.

"If you have any more problems feel free to come to me." She says to him, "T-thanks Reneè." He gives her a shy smile before walking away.

The school was practically empty except for the football team who should be about done with their practice.

She quickly puts her books in her locker, wanting to leave before the football team are done. She had already started walking towards the door when the football team rowdily walks in making her stop in her tracks.

One of the guys sees her nudging Austin with his elbow.

Austin's eyes meet hers, A slow smirk creeping on his lips. "So we meet again, Reneè."

She moves, trying to walk away from him but he grabs her hand pushing her against a locker. "Let me go." She tries to push him but he uses one of his hand pinning her two hands above her head, while his other hand rested on her waist.

She didn't like the contact at all.

"I won't lie, I do like it when girls resist but I think yours is enough. You want me like every girl does, I can see it in your eyes. The feelings mutual 'cause I want you too." Some of the football guys already left, it was just remaining three guys and they just stood there watching, without doing anything to stop Austin.

"You have a girlfriend." She reminds him but he just scoffs. "Who cares, I'm pretty sure Hadassah is cheating on me too, plus she doesn't have to know about this. It'll be between me and you."

"Go to hell." She spits at him. Austin's eyes darken, "I don't like hurting girls but it seems that's what you want me to do. And I'm not talking about physical hurting."

Austin's hand was on her and then the next minute he was tackled to the floor. The first thing she saw was a mop of brown hair. "Get the fuck off her."

With the help of his 'friends', Austin gets up. "I don't see how any of this is your business. If your looking for a fight you're outnumbered."

"Trust me, I don't fight fair. And I only pick a fight with people that have a life, not those that take advantage of girls even when they want nothing to do with them." Liam says, she watches as Austin's hand ball up into a fist. "And if you think about throwing that first punch I'll make sure the principal knows that you and your... fellow assholes tried to use someone when they specifically told you to go to hell. Now the question is, are you going to try and fight me or are you going to do what she says." He glares at them.

That was the longest sentence she had ever heard him say

They stood there contemplating their next move, "You may have won this round but you're not always going to be there. See you later Reneè." They walk off leaving just two of them.

"Thank..." He had already started walking away but this time she wasn't just going to stand there. She walks ahead and stands in front of him.

"Get out of my way."

"You didn't let me finish what I was saying."

"I don't give a shit, move before I do it myself."

"No." His eyes widened as she said that, "I admit that the first time I talked to you was because of your mom but I realised that you just needed someone to be there for you and care for you and I still want to be that person."

He was quiet. He stares at her looking for any trace of lies and he found only sincerity

"I didn't mean to hurt you. Let me still help you Liam, please." She sees his jaw clench contemplating her request.

He sighs, "Fine but this is your last chance. Don't fuck it up."

She smiles.

He starts to walk away with her trying to catch up with him.

"So... we can continue the questions, right?" He looks at her but doesn't say anything.

And again she smiles.