The Whisper Seekers

Caught

It takes me about fifteen minutes to run to Liam's house, and I'm barely breathing when I stumble up the familiar driveway. I knew I couldn't go home like this, there is no way I could talk about any of this to my mom with alcohol still in my system. After Piper's party, I'm aware that I'm on thin ice. 

My throat burns, and my heart hasn't slowed since I was lying flat on Derek's bed. I knew he wasn't perfect, but I never thought he'd do that. He's never pressured me before. I'm still stunned. I already knew I wanted to end things with him, but what a shitty, gut-wrenching way to end a year-long relationship.

I see Liam's car is parked in its usual spot and I am thankful that he's home. We haven't been talking, but I feel like he'll help me calm down and sober up. Lily is with Adam and I don't want to admit any of this to Harper yet, so I feel like Liam's is the only place I could turn to.

My face burns as I wipe away any wetness. I re-pull up my hair and check my reflection in his side-view mirror. It's obvious that I have been crying. I'm in a baggy men's shirt with bare legs and tennis shoes. My hair is half wet and curly, and I am sunburned all over. I'm a mess both emotionally and physically.

I try not to think about my appearance as I catch my breath and move up towards the door. I knock and take a deep breath as I wait. I don't hear him inside the house, but I see his bedroom light is on. I wonder if he's playing video games with his headset on, so he can't hear the door. I quickly text him, I'm at your house, can I come in? 

I stare at my phone, but it doesn't show that he's read my message. I push on the heavy glass door to see if it's unlocked and am glad it opens. I hear movement upstairs and decide to check his room. I try to get my breathing together as I slowly walk up the stairs. I see a sliver of light in the hallway coming from his room and butterflies flood my stomach. I realize he has absolutely no clue I was coming and I'm just about to barge into his room unannounced. I pause before I rap my knuckles lightly on his door.

"Liam? It's Ellie, I tried texting you," I call out as I push into his room, but then I freeze as I stand there in shock.

Harper is straddling Liam on his bed, her face pressed against his. His hands are on her shoulders, not pulling her closer, but holding her back. She's kissing him, but his eyes are wide open. Then his gaze locks with mine. In an instant, he shoves Harper off him like she's on fire.

"Oh..." I whisper as he tries to get around her and over to me before she even realizes I'm standing there. "I'm...wow. Sorry!" I start to back away from the door, completely gobsmacked to find them alone together. 

"Ellie, hold on," he says, panicking while I head towards the front door. "Wait. Stop." Liam begs, but I am already leaping down the staircase.

"Ellie?" I hear Harper say back in his room, suddenly figuring out I'm there.

"I should not have come here," I tell him with a wave of my hand. "I'm sorry, you clearly didn't answer me for a reason."

"No, wait...I can tell you're upset, talk to me," Liam says behind me, closing the distance between us. 

"It's fine, Liam, I'll be fine. You can do or kiss whoever you want. I'm not your girlfriend. Have fun with Harper." I ramble breathlessly as I make it back to the foyer. I am about to reach the front door when the handle turns and the door opens, making me stop short. 

A busty woman strides into the foyer, her brassy, bleach-blonde hair catching the light from upstairs. Her outfit is a chaotic clash of bright colors and loud patterns, mismatched at first glance, but there's something deliberate about it, like every piece was chosen on purpose.

"Who the hell are you?" She asks me as I stand there, confused. She's lacking a Texan twang, so I know she's not a local.

"Mom... I...I wasn't expecting you home," Liam stutters out, apparently just as confused as I am. This woman is Liam's mother? There is no resemblance. 

I spot Harper from the corner of my eye coming around the corner of the hallway and she pauses at the top of the stairs.

"What is going on?" Harper asks, conveying that she is clearly annoyed. Then she catches Liam's mom standing in the foyer. She looks at Harper and then fully takes me in. I was caught alone with her son wearing nothing but a teenage boy's shirt. It doesn't look good.

"Liam, I think it's time for your little girlfriends to go home. There are some things we need to discuss," she says, frowning. I dart past her and escape outside before she can say anything else. I notice a sleek silver Porsche is parked next to Liam's car and I now know what the driveway looks like when someone else is here. I hear Harper right behind me.

"Ellie, what are you doing here? How did you know where I was?" She asks me, still surprised by the sudden turn of events. "Where are your pants?" She adds, but I ignore her as I continue to walk down the driveway without looking back. I can't stop and talk to her right now, or I might actually rip her hair out. 

I hear Liam seconds later with his keys in his hands, but I don't turn to look at him.

"Do you need a ride, Ellie?" Harper calls out as I'm just about to reach the gate.

"Nope! I'm good," I curtly shout back to her. I hear two car doors open as I pick up my feet and break into a jog back home. This has turned out to be one of the worst days of my life and I have no idea who I can confide in. 

I just broke up with my boyfriend, my best friend was kissing my crush, and I can't fully admit to anyone why my heart just broke into a thousand pieces.