Forgetting Peyton

-Chapter 5-

*TW: MENTIONS OF ABUSE*

I climb up the ladder and meet Liam in the treehouse, it has been two days since he saw me frantically leave. I decided it was best if I told him more about my past. I also decided with much thinking that it is probably best if I don't act on my feelings for him as we just met, no matter how strongly I like him. I can't trust my judgement, I am still new at adjusting to life. He was more than eager to see me and talk, I hope I don't let him down. I hope this isn't the end to me being friends with him, Dustin and James either. 

"Hey Peyton" he smiles at me, he almost seems as though he is trying to pretend nothing happened the other day. 

"Hey Liam" I sit down across from him, keeping my distance and watch and he gulps while looking at his feet. 

"I don't want to act as if what happened the other day wasn't serious, because it was." I look into his eyes, "Up until a month or so ago I wasn't able to leave the house really, my Dad was awful to me. Every time a storm would come through I would be in our basement and he would abuse me.." my voice cracks and I look away. 

Liam looks at me with a concerned look on his face, "Pey.. you don't have to-" I cut him off. 

"No I do have to let you know Liam. When I ran off I was experiencing distress which is normal for people who have dealt with what I have but you need to know why. I thought that I could pretend to act normal and you wouldn't have to find out so I could be your friend but I have realized that can't happen. So all I am asking is that you listen, okay?" he nods and gives me a subtle forced smile, I take a deep breathe and continue. 

"I am sure that what he did was because my Mom died when she was coming to get me after I had an emergency at school, my Dad was so in love with her. He changed the moment she died. In his eyes, I had to be punished for what I did.", My eyes shift to my hands, eyebrows furrowed. "He was very creative with how he hurt me, he had a lot of time to think of ways to do so, it began when I was 8, Im 19 now. It started with a belt, then it went to physical harm, then it went to leaving scars, he left me in the basement with gas, he tried to drown me. Sometimes he filmed it and he told me if I ever tried to leave and get help that he would post them to show other men and they would find me and kill me. I had no idea that if I got help that I would actually be safe, he was great at what he did."

Liam looks at me, his face full of emotion and his eyes holding back obvious tears, "I am so sorry that happened to you... I don't know why he would do that. Peyton you-" he stops and rubs his face, "You are so strong, to have gone through that and even be willing to talk about it. I know that it caused damage to you, I know that you have a lot to handle from now and until who knows when. What you are telling me though, it doesn't make me think of you any differently. Even if this wouldn't have been your past I would have felt the need to protect you and help you experience new things. I-" He stops talking once I start shaking my head. 

"Liam you don't know me, I hardly know you. We just met. I would be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued by you. I do have feelings for you, I think, but for me to take on that, is a lot to add to what I am dealing with now and-" I look at Liam and stop. 

Liam has made his way over to me and I look up at him, still sitting in the chair I have been since I got here. 

"This doesn't have to be anything Peyton. I like you too but we can be just friends. I am willing to help you and be whatever you need me to be so you can be the version of yourself that you have always wanted." He sits next to me and takes my hand, "That is what a friend does. They take the other friend's faults and they make them better. Okay? So don't sit here and tell me you want me to back away when I can tell that you want to be next to me."