Pretend

Chapter 37

Torrey's POV:

Why is she helping me? She doesn't even like me, and my brain hurts even thinking about it.

I barely remember what happened. All I could remember is what I felt and what I needed to do.

Anger and protecting Shawn. I need to protect him. From this world and our dad. I always protected him. He is one of the reasons why I stayed at that house.

Leaving him with dad unoccupied scares me to death. I can't leave him. He needs me.

And I fucking threatened Nick if he ever went near Shawn again after last summer, that I would hurt him. He may have gotten the upper hand this night but this fight won't be our last.

I'll make sure of that.  "Stay still" Liv whispers still cleaning my wound. It hurts like a bitch and she's probably enjoying my misery right now.

"You could have gotten badly hurt, or even worse. What the hell is wrong with you?" She asked throwing the dirty wipe on the side as she grabs another.

What's wrong with me? No what's wrong with her. If I weren't so worried about her, I would have saw him grab that bottle.

"I told you to stay in the car"

She places patch on my head and scoffs. "You should know by now that I don't take demands" she said before leaning back. I touch the patch and it feels... nice.

"Your good at this" my compliment makes her smile. But just a little bit. I get up, still a little but dizzy.

I couldn't help but think of the moments before the fight. The conversation me and her had. 

She's mine

"What did... you mean um when you said that Maddy was yours?" I look over at her as she packs up the kits barley making eye contact with me but I can tell I hit a nerve.

"I don't want... start this rivalry or whatever tonight okay? Rain check?" She said looking at me with a serious tone.

Why so serious? It's cute. That she thinks what this is. A rivalry. There's no war.

"Neither of us can claim her even if we wanted to" I said as I walked past her down the hall. I expected her to just drop it and let me have the final words but she's Liv.

"That's when your wrong, Torrey. I'm not you" those words so meaningless but it spiked me in a way I didn't anticipate.

I look back at her looking in her eyes, and I could feel the weight of her words. It was clear that she wasn't backing down.

I couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and intrigue as I locked eyes with her. There was something about her determination that both intrigued and challenged me in a way that will make me wonder if she's my friend or my enemy.

I took a step closer, the hall way was darker then outside but the light in living room gave me enough view then I needed.

"We're the same"

She laughs. "Oh please explain to me how we are the same" she pats her palms together intrigued.

"We have no value"

She laughs again.

"Wow.. got my heart racing!" She smiled as I took a step closer to her but she stood her ground eyeing me.

"Your own mother barley bats an eye when you go missing for 2 days or is it 4. Sorry I get confused by how many times you beg for Maddy to fuck yo-

Before I could finish, I get pushed against the wall, as she stepped closer to me filling the air around me.

There she is.

Her grew dark as i can tell I was right.
"Your lucky you were already knocked out once but try me again and I make sure you get a round 2" She breathed out and added "What the fuck is wrong with you? Any time I ever try to do anything nice, you always mess it up" she said angrily.

"I mess it up? We were good. Until you got together with the love of my life"

Her eyes softened as I cleared my throat not expecting those words to come out.

"It doesn't matter now anyway. I break things and people. That's what I'm known for after all. I see it your eyes every time you look at me. You always see me... Which is all the worst parts" I whispered feeling my heart slow down unexpectedly.

"Did you break Chris?" She said and I felt like someone had told my darkest secret. How does she know about him? Who the fuck told her?

"There it is again. Any mention of Chris makes your body tense. Who is he?" She asked

"Torrey" I hear Isaiah call out from the room on the right as I walk to him.

I look into the room and see Shawn puking in a bucket as he was on the bed leaning against the floor.

I walk into the room and crotch near Shawn as he laid back on the bed. His entire face was flushed and he was burning up. "What the fuck did you take?" I grab his chin trying to make him open his eyes but he doesn't have the strength to do it.

"Open your eyes" I pat his cheek but he just murmurs and pukes again in the bucket.

I lean back and get up. "Let's take it easy. All of you guys just need some rest" Isaiah says coming near me as I shook my head.

"I'm not leaving him alone"

"I will be with him the entire night" Isaiah said placing his hand on my shoulder. "Relax.. his going to be okay" he whispered as I trusted his every word.

I look back at Shawn and lean close to him "I'll deal with you in the morning" i move his dirty blond hair strings from his eyes before getting up.