Alone • Liam Dunbar

Eight

From two failed dates to a girl supposedly murdering her own father, last night had fallen into utter chaos. After Lydia revealed that Tracy was one of her mother's patients, Stilinski confirmed she was really Donovan's lawyer's daughter. He sent deputies to their house in hopes of finding her as she became the lead suspect, but when they arrived she was nowhere to be seen.

Even after we searched for her all of last night to early this morning, the Stewart girl was in the wind. I had wanted to keep looking for her, but Scott was adamant that we would do it after school today. He didn't want us to skip when it wasn't necessary as Stilinski already had plenty of men on the case. However, he also said that we would meet up before classes, that way we could have a finalized idea of what our intentions would be if we were actually able to find Tracy.

I paced beneath the bleachers of the field, dry grass crunching under my boots, waiting for Liam to arrive. The two of us agreed to meet here before we had to deal with the rest of the pack and a missing alleged murderer. My hands kept flexing over and over again, guilt coursing through me as I remember our almost-disaster yesterday. It only worsens when Liam finally shows up, effortlessly crossing the field to join me behind the cover of bleachers.

"I'm sorry," I say right away when he reaches me.

Liam's too decent to hold a grudge and simply leans forward, pressing a light kiss to my forehead. I close my eyes as he does so.

"I made you jump off a building," I mutter shamefully.

He chuckles lightly as he pulls away from me.

"You suggested I climb down a few floors," he clarifies, as if that makes it any better.

"Did Brett hit you?" I ask him, thinking back to the punching motion he had made when we talked yesterday.

He and Liam already didn't get along, and I could only imagine this would make the situation worse. Neither of them ever told me what happened between them at Devenford but I could tell by the occasional anger Liam would direct at Brett, and the sincere guilt Brett would direct at Liam, that it wasn't anything good. I'd asked each of them about it but they both refused to tell me, one of the few things they agreed on, and I definitely wasn't someone who could judge another person for wanting to keep their past to themselves, so I didn't press.

"Lori," Liam corrects me. "You'll be happy to know your training worked, she's got a clean right hook." 

I cringe at his words, a low whine coming out of the back of my throat as I picture the scenario of Lori's dainty fist connecting with his face, both of them surprised at the action beyond belief for two separate reasons. My idea had been absolutely stupid and undeniably selfish. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. It was becoming complicated, and complications always led to worse problems if not dealt with, but I didn't know how to fix any of this.

"I'm sorry," I repeat myself, trying to cope with the guilt. Unfortunately for me, those two measly words don't feel like enough.

Liam's hands come up to gently cup my face, his thumbs moving back and forth to tenderly coax my nerves into submission under his touch.

"Stop saying that," he urges me, but my embarrassment is unwilling to fade.

"I'm so-"

He cuts me off with a kiss. My breath falls short because of the action and my lungs beg me to pull away to take in air, but I don't. I fall into his lips without caution, finding peace. 

When we do separate, my unease has settled and all I care to think about is the boy smiling at me. His hands fall to my waist as I begin to lean against him, using his body to support me as my exhaustion creeps in now that I don't have any anxiety to distract me.