Breaking Barriers - S.R.

29

I woke up the next morning with the worst headache I've ever had and my mouth was so dry I could barely open it. I reached for my phone on the nightstand and glanced at the screen, seeing several missed calls and texts. Deciding to check them later, I stumbled to the kitchen, desperately trying to shield my eyes from the sun streaming in through the windows as I emerged from my room. I chugged a bottle of water and downed a couple of aspirin before collapsing on the couch again, too hungover to make breakfast.  There was a knock on my door a few minutes later but I didn't bother to acknowledge it until I heard the distinct sound of a lock clicking and the door opening.

"Liv?"

I recognized Dean's voice immediately, followed by what sounded like crunching paper and approaching footsteps. A fast food bag was placed on the coffee table in front of me and I finally looked up at the man who had brought it.

"I came to make sure you were still alive." He said.

I groaned. "Barely."

"Eat. You'll feel better." He replied, digging around in the bag and pulling out a breakfast sandwich for himself.

We sat in silence for a few minutes as we ate, the only sound coming from the both of us quietly chewing. I finally spoke up as I tossed my wrapper into the empty bag. "I'm sorry."

He looked up at me, an amused grin stretching across his lips. "For trying to hook up with Miles or for implying that I wanted to hook up with you?"

"Both." I mumbled.

He chuckled lightly, tossing his wrapper into the bag as well. "You were wasted. I won't hold it against you."

I nodded uncomfortably. "Thanks...for stopping me from going home with him. I would've regretted it."

"I know. That's why I didn't let you." He smirked.

"And I know you don't have feelings for me." I blushed. "I was just trying to piss you off for cock blocking me."

Dean laughed. "Oh, I know. It's fine, really."

"This is why I don't drink." I sighed. "I'm an idiot."

"You're heartbroken." He corrected. "We've all been there."

I nodded in understanding, but it didn't make me feel much better. "I should probably talk to Miles, maybe apologize for jumping him."

"Wouldn't hurt, although I doubt he feels the need for an apology for that." He chuckled. "Listen, things will get better. I promise."

He reached out to squeeze my knee comfortingly before standing up. "I have to get going, but I'll check in later."

"See ya." I said simply, giving him a short wave as he slipped out the door.

I sat on the couch in silence for a few minutes after that, thinking back to everything that happened yesterday. I texted Sophia, vaguely filling her in and she asked to meet me for coffee in a little while. I agreed before scrolling down to Miles' number and tapping the 'call' button. He answered after two rings.

"Liv, hey." He said.

"Hi." I replied.

"How are you?" He asked.

"Hungover." I scoffed. "I just called to apologize for last night. I definitely wasn't myself and I shouldn't have come onto you like that. Especially considering everything that's happened between us. I'm really sorry."

"Oh." He said, a short pause following. "That's okay. You did have a lot to drink, and I know you had a rough day. I probably shouldn't have confessed all of that to you. We were both pretty drunk."

"It's not your fault. So...are we okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, we're okay." He replied.

"Cool. Well, I have to get going, I'm meeting up with Sophia soon, but I'll talk to you later."

"Sounds good, Liv." I could hear him smiling through his words and I smiled softly to myself too. At least I had resolved the problems of yesterday. Everything except Spencer, at least.

As I prepared to go meet up with Sophia, I strongly contemplated going by the prison to see him again. He couldn't have meant it. I knew he was stressed and in an unimaginable position, but I just couldn't believe that this is what he really wanted. Maybe I was just selfishly missing him, and going back to talk to him again would cause even more problems. Maybe I could talk to JJ and get her take on it? It was all I thought about as I walked down the sidewalk towards a nearby coffee shop that my friends and I frequented. Being walking distance from so many places was one nice thing about living in the city. There were fewer people out today than normal and I was enjoying the peacefulness of it until I felt an arm loop through my own. A striking brunette was walking beside me, matching my pace and she gave me a smile as she continued to urge us forward. I was so stunned that it took me a moment to say or do anything.

"Do I know you?" I asked.

"No, but I know you." She replied, smiling widely at me as if we were best friends.

She led me to a car, opening the door and telling me to get in.

"I think you have the wrong person." I asked anxiously, looking around for anyone to notice us, but there were only a couple of people in the area and they were too far away to pay us any attention. "I don't--"

I froze, my words falling from my lips as she pulled her coat to the side, revealing a pistol. "Don't cause a scene, Olivia. Get in or Spencer dies."

"S-Spencer?" I stuttered, and she nodded before giving me a gentle nudge towards the car. I slid into the backseat hesitantly and she rushed to the driver's seat, closing the door quickly and whirling around to look at me. She pointed the gun at me and my stomach dropped as she threw a roll of duct tape at me.

"Put it around your ankles." She demanded, shoving the gun closer to me and I obliged, my hands shaking intensely.

Once I was finished, she took the tape from me and instructed me to hold out my wrists while she taped them together.

"Who are you?" I asked quietly. "Where is Spencer? There's no way you could get to him in--"

"No talking." She snapped. "Do what you're told and I'll consider letting you live."

I had no idea what was going on, but after all the conversations I've had with Spencer about situations like this, one thing I was sure of. She was not considering anything.