All Over You

No Solution

Thankfully, when I get to the office, Keira is the only one in the frosty room. I tenderly pull my arms out of my coat and wriggle into my seat opposite her, I owe her an explanation. My heart thuds a little but it's the perfect time without Geoff. I know she won't take this well, but I just hope that our close bond means something to her so that she will be able to understand why I have allowed this to happen. 

"We need to talk!" I mutter, my stomach churning. 

She wheels her seat up to mine so that our knees are almost touching, her eyes full of worry. I can tell she knew this was coming. She is so observant, especially with me. I can almost guess the next words out of her mouth. She knows. 

"It's Liam, isn't it?" She sighs. 

"He's back. He showed up at my door the night of the halloween party." 

I notice her fingers clench a little at the mention of him. I have always been grateful for Keira taking my side and fighting my corner but I do sometimes wish she'd be a little more understanding. Her face is tense and her lips press into a grim line. I close my eyes and wait for her reaction. 

"Don't tell me you let him stay with you." She pleads. 

"He has nowhere else to go! He needs me right now, it doesn't mean we are going to get back together!" 

She pulls her hands up to her head and buries her hands into her palms dismissively. My heart sinks as I get the feeling I am disappointing the one who means the most to me. I can only hope she'll eventually come round. Surely she has to see my side of this?

"I saw you talking to Jenifer at the party, when you rushed off so quickly I went to find her as I thought she'd upset you. She told me about the fight and asking for your help with Liam. I wanted to knock her out for reopening that wound after everything he did. You were finally getting better." Keira explains. 

Little does she know, I wasn't. I was so ripped up over Liam cheating on me. I only ever felt like I could breathe again when he was near me. When he hugged me in the board room that day, It felt as if the pressure in my chest was dissolved only for a moment. Him disappearing didn't make me better. It made me feel further from Liam, therefore it shattered me all over again. She wasn't to know that during the entirety of our split, my heart was knocking against my ribs as if it wanted to escape my body. Only Liam calmed that down. The one who broke me was the only one who could fix me. 

"I didn't know he'd just show up unannounced." 

"I thought you skipped lunch on Saturday because you were upset about it and needed time to process everything, I thought you'd talk to me when you were ready but I didn't expect this!" She waves her arms about crazily as she speaks and I can tell she's frustrated. 

The room falls silent as tears pool in my eyes, but I know I can't cry because Keira will misconstrue the tears and think I am upset over Liam. He hasn't done anything wrong and he doesn't need enemies right now. I am so glad that underneath it all, he has come back for me. I can't tell her that and it does feel wrong hiding things from my best friend. Still, she hasn't made it easy when she hates his guts and I am so deeply in love. 

"I wish he'd just leave you alone. Is he okay?" Keira asks, her tone softening as she senses me getting upset. 

"He's struggling. I know he deserves it for getting in a fight but he's lost everything. I want to help him through this." My voice cracks as I speak. 

Keira grabs my hands into hers and soothes me gently. "You are so kindhearted, I don't want to see you get hurt again. I trust you to do what you think is best. Just don't let him take advantage of your good nature."