A Way to Yesterday

Chapter 20- Restless Nights

Liam's POV:

Past.

I froze. I didn't expect Cara to be there when I opened the door. How much of the conversation did she hear? Enough. She heard enough to know that my dad was missing. Nobody said anything for about a good minute. We just stared at each other. I knew she was waiting for answer.

"Uh," I say.

"What's going on?" she asks.

"Nothing," I finally say.

"Liam," she says and Ethan clears his throat. I turn to look at him and he silently urges me to explain. But I can't. Well actually won't. I sigh and walk over to Ethan.

"It was nice seeing you Ethan but we really gotta go," I say. He nods and gives me a quick hug.

"Don't be such a stranger," he says. I grab Cara's hand and pull her out of the small office. "And nice meeting you Cara," he calls. She turns and waves. Once we make it outside she pulls her hand from mine and stops. I turn to her but she looks furious.

"What the hell is going on Liam?" she asks.

"Nothing," I answer again.

"Bullshit. I heard what you said in there," she says. We're literally standing in the middle of Times Square with hundreds of people walking into us.

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with. Now can we do this in the car please?" I ask. She nods slowly and I take her hand again and we go back to the car. The ride back is eerily quiet. I don't speak because I don't know what to say but I don't know the reason behind her silence.

It's not that I couldn't tell her, it's just I didn't want her to worry. Sure when I heard my dad was missing I freaked out but I was sure that he was okay. Something was telling me he was okay. He had to be. Something like that only certain people should know.

A few hours later we're stopping in front of her apartment building. She gets out of the car before I can even shut off the engine. She slams the door and walks away. I quickly follow her.

"Cara," I call but she ignores me. "Cara wait," I shout but she keeps walking. I finally catch up with her and grab her hand. She turns to me with irritation written on her face. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," she says and pulls away from me again.

"This is not nothing," I say and gesture to her.

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with," she repeats my words from earlier and then it clicks.

"That's what this is about?" I ask. She glares at me.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she snaps.

"Nothing. I was just asking," I try and defend myself. Maybe I'd gotten the wrong idea.

"Whatever," she says and starts walking away again.

"Cara. Seriously. What's wrong?" I follow her again. She turns on me again.

"You wanna know what's wrong? The fact that you can't tell me anything. The fact that you don't trust me enough to talk to me. I've always made it clear that I'm here and you don't even trust me enough to tell me that your dad is missing."

"I..." I start but she shakes her head.

"I understand it's none of my business but I thought that's what a relationship was. Trusting and confiding in each other. And it pisses me off that that's all I seem to do with you is trust and confide in you. And I can feel myself falling in love with you but you don't seem to see it," she shouts. She's crying now. Now I understand her outburst. She thought I didn't trust her. She thought that what she was feeling for me wasn't mutual.

"That's not true," I say. I close the space between us and place my hands on either side of her face and bring my lips down on hers. I kiss her long and hard. Trying to make her see that she's not the only one falling. I pull away but don't release her face. I use my thumbs to wipe away the few stray tears. She looks up at me slowly.

"You're not the only one falling," I whisper. She looks down and I wrap my arms around her. She buries her head in my chest.

"I'm sorry. I get really emotional sometimes," she mumbles. I laugh and kiss the top of her head.

"So did you mean it?" I ask.

"Yes," she simply says. She pulls away and sighs.

"Well apart from the last few hours, did you enjoy today?" I ask.

"Yes. I did," she smiles. "But I'm serious Liam. You can talk to me about anything," she reminds me. I nod and kiss her forehead.

"I know," I say.

* * *

It had been three weeks since Cara found out my dad was missing. She had been extremely helpful throughout this time. Always on standby if I needed her. Even if it was in the middle of the night. Like tonight.

I woke up in panic from a bad dream again. Ever since my mom decided to go to the police and they talked to us, I'd been having a reoccurring dream of my dad being beaten to death and my having to watch. And no matter what I can never change the outcome.

I grab my phone off the charger and dial Cara. She answers groggily on the third ring.

"Hey babe," she mumbled.

"You were sleeping," I state.

"No," she yawns. "I'm wide awake." I smile at the sound of her voice and instantly feel better. "You know, I don't know why you don't just stay at my place."

"Because I don't want to be a burden," I explain to her again.

"Well not to complain but I think it would be easier then calling in the middle of the night," she says.

"You're probably right," I say. "Can I come over?"

"Of course," she says. "I'll see you in ten." the line clicks and I climb out of bed. Zayn shuffles in his bed and groans.

"You know if you're trying to make a booty call in the middle of the night you could be quieter," he mumbles.

"I remember that for next time," I say but he didn't hear me. He's already snoring lightly again. I get dressed and head out, leaving a note for Zayn. He wasn't entirely aware of what was going on but he knew something was.

The night is peaceful as I drive to Cara's. I love this time. Few people were out and it was calm. I remember sneaking out when I was younger to take walks in the middle of the night. I only did it when I needed to clear my mind. But it always helped me. The habit died down when I left for college.

I park the car and get out. Instead of going inside right away and decide to take a short walk. I shove my hands in my sweater pocket and start along the sidewalk.

It was cold out but I didn't seem to notice. I was too absorbed in my own thoughts. I wanted to know where my dad was. I wanted everything to be okay. I wanted to know why all of a sudden my parents perfect marriage has gone to shit. I needed to know. These are the type of thought that cloud my mind now. Also the fact that next week I was going home for Christmas break. I had to deal with all this from my mothers point of view. I would feel this all first hand instead of like an outsider. And Cara wouldn't be with me. For two whole weeks I would be alone with my mother and the rest of my family. Oh joy.

My walk lasts as long as it takes to go around the block twice then I finally saunter inside. I knock on her door and wait but there's no answer. I try the knob and push the door open. I step inside and look around the small apartment for her. I hear the faint sounds of her TV and follow that into her room.

Just like I suspected she's passed out on the bed with the remote in her hands. I shut of the TV and she stirs.

"Li?" she mumbles.

"Yeah it's me," I answer.

"What took you so long?"

"I took a walk," I tell her. She doesn't respond after that. I remove my sweater and shoes and climb into the bed with her. She snuggles up to me and I wrap my arms around her. I close my eyes and let sleep take me.