Dark Promises

Chapter Eight

I jolt awake with sweat glistening on my forehead. I wipe my face and look at my phone. The time reading 3:37 am.

A groan leaves my lips before I climb out of Liam's bed. I see a winodow with a set of stairs leading to a fire escape.

I open the window and sit outside for a bit. The wind hitting my skin, causing goosebumps to rise. I hug myself with my knees to my chest. The city is busy below. It never truly sleeps. It gets slow at night, but there are still cars driving all over the place.

The moon hangs high in the sky. The beautiful night sky.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. The only sound around me is the cars below. It's so peaceful.

I'm startled by the sound of a lighter flicking. I'm looking over to see Liam coming from the room. He sits on the edge, a little bit away from me. Sticking a lit cigarette into his mouth, he takes a long drag of it. Allowing the smoke to leave his lungs, he looks at me. "You okay?" He asks, his groggy sleepy voice echos in my ears.

It's the hottest voice I've ever heard.

"I'm okay. I just had a nightmare and needed some air," I say softly.

I allow my feet to dangle from the edge before he rests his hand on my knee. We sit quietly as he smokes his cigarette slowly.

"Whyd you ghost me?" I ask softly.

He finishes his cigarette and tosses it over the railing. He coughs softly before saying, "I got scared. I felt like I was going to get too close because I couldn't stop thinking about you."

"So you ghosted me?"

Liam nods, "I know it's stupid. And I'm really sorry. I just got scared, and I wasn't trying to hurt you. I'm bad at relationships and I feel like I fuck them all up. So I don't try them, ya know?"

I nod, "I understand where you're coming from."

"I'm sorry."

"I forgive you." I take a deep breath, "it didn't make me sad or anything when you didn't text me again. It just pissed me off. I felt lied to, ya know? It felt like you told me one thing and did the exact opposite."

Liam sighs, "I hate knowing I hurt your feelings. I never meant to. I was trying to protect not only you but myself too."

I laugh softly, "I was doing the same thing. I was going to call, but I told you I wouldn't, so I decided against it."

"Start over in the morning? I'll call and you'll call when you want to?" Liam questions softly looking over to me.

I smirk and let a quiet chuckle leave my lips. "Fine," I say giving him a fake attitude.

"I will warn you, I'm kind of hard to get rid of once I'm around," he smirks back at me.

"Me too."

We both laugh before I say, "I'm not ready for a relationship though ok? I don't want to jump in while Aero is still lerking around me. He's dangerous and I don't want to get you hurt."

"Hey, don't worry about me, love! I'm not trying to jump into a relationship either. I just want us to be friends for now! I'm going to talk to Aero and figure out his deal. You don't worry about me or him ok?" Liam says as he rubs his thumb against my knee.

"You're gonna talk to him?"

His brown eyes darken. An almost scary look flashes over his face. "Just talk," he says.

I yawn loudly as my eyes grow heavier. Sleep wanting to take over as we sit quietly.

"Let's go back to bed ok?"

We go lay back down and Liam holds me close to him. His arms wrap around me before I allow sleep to take over my mind.

~~~

I get home to find Juliette cleaning up the glass from the floor. "Oh! Julie you don't have to do that!" I say as I start to help her.

"What happened last night? Why did you text me saying you wouldn't be home this morning?" She asks as she sits on the floor looking at me. "What happened to your cheek? Raelynn what happened?"

I sit across from her on the floor. Tears prick the back of my eyes.

"Aero showed up here last night," I sigh.

"What! Why didn't you call me? Raelynn! What the fuck?" Juliette hasn't really gotten this upset with me before.

I sigh again, "I thought it was you! I didn't know he would come here. He beat the shit out of me and he...he r-" I stop as I fight the tears. I take a minute before speaking again, "Aero raped me, Julie!"

Her face goes pale and she gasps. Within seconds she wrapped her body around mine. Holding me tightly before a sob leaves my lips. My heart sinks as I hear her sniffle.

"Babe! I'm so sorry!"

"Liam called right after Aero left. I couldn't stop crying and Liam asked what was wrong. He kept being so sweet and telling me it's okay to talk to him." I sniffle, "when I cried for him to help me he raced over here. He cleaned me up and helped me through the night!"

Julie runs her hand through my hair and says, "I'm so sorry honey! I'm glad Liam was there for you. Did you go to the hospital?"

I shake my head, "fuck no! I'm not going to a hospital! Liam says he's going to take care of Aero."

"Do you need me to do anything right now?"

I shrug, "I don't know. I just want to go about our lives like Aero was never here."

Julie pulls away and faces me. "Okay. If you need anything else let me know okay?"

I nod slowly as I allow my eyes to close for a moment.