What Lies Beneath

cнapтer 22 - 'ι мυѕт noт ғall ғor тнe lιeѕ.'

<><><><><>

Well, hello. :) It has been waaaaaaay too long since I've "shown my face" and I sincerely apologize. BUT here's a little Christmas present for all of you lovely people out there who read this story of mine. FINALLY, Chapter 22 is here. If y'all like it... you guys should comment and vote... so that my soul can swell with joy... and so that I can cry tears of exhulatation... and also so that I can hug my dog super tightly while rocking back and forth, thanking Jesus for such wonderful support. ;) (Y'all missed me and my weirdness; don't deny it). 

SO ENJOY! PIC up top was here from before the re-write and I kinda like it (though I'm really biased because Niall is bae). But yeah... it actually works with the chapter so WOOP.

VIDEO is the song that sums up this WHOLE chapter. It fits pretty much perfectly so that mokes meh hoppy.

This chapter is dedicated to EVERYONE! You heard me! Every single person who has ever read this story, voted, commented; this is for you guys. Your support has been absolutely incredible! I never imagined getting any type of response, much less an over 16K response, for this story and I owe it all to you guys. I hope, with all my heart,  y'all have a very Merry Christmas. Love you guys to the moon and back <3

~✻S✻~

<><><><><>

~Isabelle~

Time is irrelevant. So, when my eyes drag open and glimpse the sun, I only blink in response.

After a few more blinks and trying to awaken my slumbering brain, some neurons begin firing. Unfortunately, this means I'm faced with the past events... yet again.

Though, it's not so much of a shock this time; it's more of a- a suffocating weight gradually pressing in on my chest, until the ache is unbearable.

The urge to cry surfaces; however after last night, I don't think I have any tears left. I close my eyes, forcing myself to breathe steadily and soak up some comfort from the warm body beside me.

Correction: not just beside me, I realize, opening my eyes... entangled by me. My limbs spindle their way around masculine arms and legs in ways I never knew were possible. I tilt my head up, the chest that's my pillow only slightly moving, and stare at Liam's blissfully unconscious features.

It sends a pang of grief through me. I remember being that happy, that ignorant. I close my eyes and slowly peel myself off of him. Now, why would I be detangling myself from the one person who seems to be able to offer me comfort, the one person who I strangely trust?

Well, just that. Comfort and trust. They are not welcome in any social interaction. Not anymore. They are the gateways to pain and betrayal and I refuse to breed those monstrous emotions.

I must not fall for the lies.

Not again.

So, I slowly back away from my bed, watching Liam warily as I try and organize my emotions. Once a safe distance away, I just stare. Weird, trust me, I know. But it helps. It helps to stand there and watch him, telling myself over and over again that he is a stranger. I force memories of last night away; how gentle he was, how compassionate. Instead I focus on his features, blurring them in my mind, alienating him altogether. He IS a stranger, I repeat to myself.

He is a stranger who will hurt me; more than I already have been.

And he needs to leave.