War of hearts // Thiam

Caitlyn

It was late that night that I went out. Scott and Isaac were asleep, Melissa was on a night shift so it was easy to sneak out. I didn't take my key with me, in case I got kidnapped or something. Instead I posted them back through the letter box when I'd locked the door and left, Scott or Isaac could let me back in, in the morning.

I'd walked for a while. When the sunlight started to peak through the trees I knew I would have to go back. It was then that I recognised the neighbourhood. I often did that, let my feet carry me somewhere, anywhere without any knowledge of where I was going.

I'd recognised the old block of flats that loomed over the neighbouring houses and the little park opposite, abandoned and sectioned off. I walked towards it lifting up the tape and going underneath walking towards that same swing set. There were flowers and gifts lay on the dirt by one of the posts. Most of them were dirty and the flowers were all dead, her parents had put up a picture sticking it to the pole.

"Caitlyn." I said brushing a finger over the sheet of paper. I couldn't help myself, I ripped the paper off the post shoving it into my pocket. A way to remember her, I knew it was bad, taking her picture away but maybe she'd stop haunting me. If I acknowledged her.

My phone started to ring as I ducked under the tape again setting off in the direction of Scott's house again.

I answered it.

"WHERE ARE YOU!" Allison's voice came screeching from the other end of the phone.

"Jeez relax I just went for a walk."

"WE'VE BEEN CALLING YOU SINCE LAST NIGHT!"

"What?" I said putting her on loud speaker, though she didn't really need it to be heard, and scrolling down to my missed calls. She was right, they had all called me at some point.

"Shit! I don't know how I missed them."

"WELL YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE SOON! LIAMS WORRIED HIMSELF SICK!"

She hung up and I cursed myself, they knew I went out last night. That meant questions.

I turned into Scott's road about thirty minutes later and saw all the cars parked outside his house, I don't know how our neighbours dealt with us.

I knocked on the door once and it swung open. Liam practically jumped on me wrapping his arms around my neck and his legs around my waist.

"Well hello to you too." I said chuckling.

"Where have you been!" I could see the redness of his eyes and the tear stains on his cheeks. He'd been crying. I sighed.

"I just went for a walk Li, to clear my head that's all."

"Without telling anyone! I thought you were dead!" He said his voice quivering.

"I'm sorry okay, it won't happen again." I brushed a fresh tear off his face.

"Okay..." he said but I could tell he was still hurt. I let him drop to the floor.

"Let's go inside." I said and he nodded. We walked inside where everyone was scattered around the room. Scott looked pale, he sat in the corner as Isaac rubbed circles on his back.

"Hello?" I said and his head jolted up. He sighed with relief walking over and hugging me.

"Thank god." He whispered. I smiled until he pulled back and hit me.

"Hey what was that for!"

"Don't ever do that again!" He scolded. "You scared us all half to death!"

"I'm sorry okay! I just went out to clear my head."

"Clear it of what?" Jackson piped up confused.

"None of your business lizard." I snarled at him. He put his hands up in defence.

"I was just asking." He said and I rolled my eyes.

"Theo." Liam said softly, "What's going on."

"Nothing okay! I'm fine!" I said my voice squeaky. I could feel my heart rate increasing with every lie I told, it seemed Liam had weakened that part of me that was able to lie.

"That's why you're sweating and your heart rate is off the charts." Derek said crossing his arms. I didn't say anything contemplating my choices. I could lie again, I could run away, lock myself upstairs? Or I could tell the truth.

"Please." I whispered, "Please don't make me talk about it..."

"About what?" I turned to Liam his expression worried.

"Please." I said on the verge of breaking down right then and there.

"Okay. We won't." Liam wrapped his arms around me and I breathed in deeply, his sweet scent filling my nostrils, "We won't."

They left me alone after that. I've never told a living soul about Caitlyn and I wanted to continue doing just that but I knew it wasn't going to be that easy. Everyone else had left, Scott and Isaac were in Scott's room doing god knows what and I sat on the edge of my bed. Caitlyn's picture in my hand.

The door opened slowly and I shoved the picture into my pocket. Liam came in slowly.

"You okay?" He said shutting the door behind him.

"Great." I smiled unconvincingly. Liam sighed sitting down opposite me.

"Theo." Liam said staring down at the bedsheets, "Are you cheating on me..."

"What! God no!" I half shouted in surprise, "Where did you get that from!" Liam shrugged and I stared at him for a moment.

"Liam you think I'm cheating on you?" I breathed and he shrugged again. "That's what you think of me?"

"Well what do you expect when you leave the house in the middle of the night with no explanation. Then refuse to explain yourself and get really nervous when you're asked about it." He said looking up at me. I stared at him in disbelief.

"Well I'm not." I said coldly. "Are you cheating on me?"

"What?" Liam said confused.

"You heard me! Are you cheating on me Liam?"

"No! What the hell!"

"Well what do you expect when you call me names and hurt my feelings."

"What?"

"Yesterday, you called me a hypocrite. You're being mean are you cheating on me?" Liam glared at me.

"Fine." He got up, "I'm not arguing with you. Do whatever the fuck you want." Liam left and I stared at the spot in the bed where he had just sat until the front door slammed downstairs.