A Way to Yesterday

Chapter 22- Lost then Found

Cara's POV:

Past.

The world around me was starting to fade. I was waking up and my dream was dissolving. I tried to stay asleep longer but I register an annoying ringing in the back of my mind. I realize that it must be my alarm clock. My movements are sluggish but I feel for the off button on my alarm. I press it but the ringing doesn't stop. I open on eye and check the time.

It was 6:30 in the morning. My alarm wasn't set to go off until 7:15. So then where was that ringing coming from? I sit up and look around the room. My eyes zero in on the source of the awful sound. It's Liam's phone. I look at him and debate if I should wake him or not. He looks like hell but he was sleeping soundly.

I lean over him and check the name on the screen. It was his mom. I shake him slightly and he groans and rolls over. I shake him again.

"Liam. Your phone is ringing. It's your mom," I say. The phone stops right when I say that and he ignores me. Unfortunately it starts back up a second later and he groans again and throws the blanket off of him. He sits up and reaches for his phone.

"Hello?" he asks as soon as he hits answer. I sit and watch him. His eyes snap open and becomes more alert. "Are you serious..okay...I don't know...I can try...three days...okay...I will...I love you too...Bye," he says a sting of replies and then hangs up. He drops the phone and sighs.

"Everything okay?" I ask quietly.

"They found my dad," he mumbles.

"What? That's great. But why do you seem upset about it?"

"He's in the hospital with alcohol poisoning," he says in a grim tone. I'm not sure how to respond to that.

"Is he going to be okay?" He shrugs and lies back on the bed.

"I don't know. I hope so. My mom wanted me to go home today but there's only three days left this semester until Christmas break so I'm going to wait," he explains.

"Everything will be okay Li," I try to reassure him. He smiles weakly at me.

"I wish you could come with me," he grumbles.

"To New York?" I ask. He nods.

"Yeah. I know it wouldn't be the best time to meet my parents but I would love to just have you there for support," he says. I heard everything that he said but all my brain could register was "meet my parents". He wanted me to meet his parents? I didn't know much about how this thing worked but isn't that a pretty big step?

"Well maybe some other time when your dad is home and everything has calmed down," I say. He looks at me and nods.

"Cara. I can't thank you enough. You've been here for me ever since I told you and I can't think of any way to repay you," he says. I shake my head.

"There's no need for that. Besides it's enough for me just being with you," I say and look down at my hand that's entwined with his. He lifts my chin so that I'm looking at him again.

"I think...No... I know....I'm in love with you," he says quietly. My heart starts racing and I can't think of anything to say. This is the first time he's actually said he's in love with me. Instead of saying anything I lean forward and press my lips to his. He lets go of my hand and moves it behind my neck and pulls me closer. I'm laying in an awkward position so I move. My legs rest on either side of his waist and my chest is pressed against his.

His free hand travels slowly down my back and I shiver slightly from his touch. My body is on fire and there's a weird feeling inside of me. My heart is beating even faster now and I feel like he can feel it. If he can he doesn't show it. He wraps both arms around me and sits up with me straddling him. Our kiss still hasn't been broken.

Until his fingers run over my stomach and under my shirt. My body tenses and I panic. I pull away and he removes his hand from my heated skin.

"What's wrong?" he asks, slightly out of breath.

"I'm sorry. I panicked," I apologize. My face turns bright red and I cover it with my hands. I climb off of him and I hear him laugh. He tries to remove my hands from my face but I turn away from him.

"Cara. It's okay. I get it you're not ready," he whispers quietly in my ear. His words say it's okay but the husky tone in his voice says the opposite. I sigh and uncover my face. I turn to face him.

"But that's the thing. I think I am but I just panicked," I say.

"If you panicked then you're not ready. But it's okay. We can wait. I'm in no hurry," he assures me. I notice that he still seems flustered from our little make out session. I try and hold back a laugh.

"Are you sure about that?" I ask and very subtly gesture to below his waist. He chuckles and looks at me clearly embarrassed.

"I can probably take care of that myself," he says and I laugh.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a tease," I say. He shakes his head.

"It's fine. We can wait," he says again. He lies back on the bed and sighs. I lay next to him and he pulls me to him. I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes.

"We have about an hour until my alarm goes off. I'm going back to sleep," I say. He laughs and sits up.

"Well you do that. I'll be back in about ten minutes," he says and I look away and nod. He disappears down the hall and I hear my bathroom door shut. I fall back on my bed and close my eyes. So many thoughts are flowing in my head that sleep is impossible. Instead I get that half asleep, half awake feeling. The one where you can dream but also hear everything outside of your own thoughts.

Liam returns and I get up and find us something to eat. I wish I was good at cooking but unfortunately my talents were reserved for helping people only. So I find us some cereal and we eat in the living room.

"Would you even want to meet my parents?" he asks suddenly. I stop mid bite and stare at him. I return the spoon to the bowl and nod.

"Yeah. Eventually. Why?" I ask.

"I'm just wondering. I want to introduce you. I think they would love you," he smiles.

"I hope so," I mumble. We finish eating in silence and then he leaves to go get ready at his dorm. He gives me a quick kiss then leaves. I sit on my bed for a moment before getting ready. I wouldn't see him for a few weeks and I didn't know how I felt about that. It would probably be very lonely going back home to my many friends. This vacation was going to suck.