Deception

Chapter: Three

Chapter: Three

"You're really not going to talk to them?" Max asked me softly as I cut fruit, careful not to cut my hand.

She was sitting at the kitchen table, arms crossed as she observed me. Being at Victor's was unnerving for us all, but we didn't want to go back to the dorms yet and we didn't want to go back to Markan's just yet. When the guys had arrived last night, I'd gone into Mom's room just to avoid talking with them. She could tell something was wrong, but I figured she chalked it up to what she knew had already happened. I just couldn't talk to them yet, no matter what. They tasked poor Max with keeping me company. Both the guys and Victor had also spoken to her.

"I can't, not right now."

"They asked me to talk to you," she admitted.

"Did they?" I turned to look at her sad face.

"Especially Niles. It's killing him that you aren't speaking to him and he just wants to explain everything to you. He doesn't want to see you upset like you were, and he knows he hurt you. He doesn't want to rush you, but he wanted me to tell him how you are. So does Liam."

"I might talk to Niles when I'm ready, but I just can't talk to Liam. I don't know when I'll be able to."

"I know you know this more than me, but Liam won't wait forever. He's trying to give you space, but he gets impatient and it might not last long. He's going to come to find you, eventually."

"I know, and I have to be ready for that. I just hope it's when I'm stronger, because right now I don't think I can handle it."

"I did text Lily and she should be back later today."

"Really? I'm glad."

"She's coming back, but she asked that Zeke's not here."

"Do you think he'll listen?"

"Who knows, but he should." She sighed.

"Well, we'll see."

I returned to cutting up the fruit in front of me and silently prayed Zeke would respect Lily's wishes, as I wished Liam and even Niles would leave me alone. Why had this happened? Why had any of this happened to any of us? We'd lost so much and when we were supposed to come together and support each other, we didn't. Instead, I was hiding away from all of them, as was Lily from Zeke, and Tamron never left his room. We were all broken, and I was afraid there might not be any coming back from this.

I mean, how could we? Greg and Susan were dead. Gone, leaving Aubrey and Tamron alone without parents. Abel was gone, leaving Megan and Henry without a child. I'd found out the truth and now felt as if I'd lost my father all over again. I'd forgiven him for so much, but now? Could I forgive him for this? Not now, but possibly later in the future? I couldn't answer that now and as things were, I couldn't think about it either. I didn't want to. I felt as if I'd betray Dad if I forgave Liam for his actions, but hadn't Dad told me to always forgive others? Hadn't he said Liam loved me himself?

Liam was forced by Victor but that didn't change that he killed the father of the girl he claimed to love at her Birthday party. It also didn't change the fact I'm sure Liam justified it by being selfish. Telling himself my father would only get in his way. No, I wasn't forgiving him right now. 

"Britt, are you okay?" I blinked, turning as Max was suddenly beside me, reaching for the knife in my hand.

"What?" I asked, shaking my head.

"Britt, let go of the knife."

It was then that I noticed I was shaking, my knuckles white from gripping the handle of the knife so tightly. I didn't move at first and she put her hand over mine. "Britt, let it go," she tried again.