Seeing Double

Chapter 9

A/N: brief mention of sexual assault & swearing

Theo had witnessed what Asher did, he didn't hesitate to push past the crowd of people and jump into the water. While everyone was distracted cheering on Asher who was doing a row of shots, Theo cupped Liam's face.

"Let me get you out of here," Theo whispered, Liam was too shaken up and cold to even reply. But he didn't object, he allowed Theo to lead him up the stairs in the pool until they were on the grass again.

Theo ignored other people's comments as Liam bowed his head down, his cheeks red with embarrassment as they made their way out the front. Except this time Theo wasn't willing to risk Asher seeing them again, so he led Liam towards his truck instead.

Liam was shaking, his jaw jittering as the cold night air hit his skin. Being wet only seemed to make it worse as he shook, "here," Theo said, gently removing the denim jacket from Liam's body and tossing it into the boot of his car. "You're shaking," he observed, quickly grabbing his keys and putting them into the ignition to turn the heater on.

Liam let out a shaky breath, his eyes scanning the car. "I-I'm sorry," he said through gritted teeth, his body slowly warming up despite his clothes being wet. "I'm going to wet your seats," he said, reaching for the handle only for Theo to grab his wrist.

"I don't care," Theo replied, "I want to make sure you're okay." He retracted his hand, "I'm sorry for getting in between you both... I wish I realised earlier how shitty he was treating you."

"No it's fine, it's not that and. He's just stressed with finals and-"

"No." Theo shook his head, "he's hurting you Liam. That's not love, that's abuse."

"He doesn't hit me," Liam replied confused.

Theo sighed, "abuse comes in many forms Liam, it's not just violence." His thumb stroked Liam's cheek, "Asher hurts you... my brother hurts you..." his voice trailed off.

"I don't want to ruin your relationship with your brother, I never meant to hurt either of you," Liam sniffled, his nose and cheeks still a flushed pink colour from the cold. "I should go back out there before he gets mad," Liam said softly, despite his fear.

"You don't have to," Theo said, his brow raising. "I mean, you don't have to go back to him..." Liam paused, his hand hovering over the door handle before he retracted and turned back to Theo.

"I love him," Liam said, his voice breaking. "But... I don't think he loves me..." he sniffled as a tear slid down his cheek, "does he?"

Theo bit his tongue, he didn't want to be the one to crush Liam's dreams. "I don't know..." he found himself saying, "but I do know he doesn't treat you right and he doesn't respect you."

Liam wiped his face, "I tried," his voice wavered. "I have tried so many different things to make it work Theo, I've done everything he asked. I've let him do whatever he wants to me and it's not working... He doesn't love me."

Theo hated this, he hated watching Liam break down like this. Especially because of his brother, "I'm sorry Liam," he said. "It's up to you where you go from here... you were upset earlier too, weren't you?"

Liam shrugged, "I guess?" he wasn't sure if he wanted to tell Theo everything, especially right now. "But it wasn't all Asher's fault..." he turned to the window, "have you met Brett?"

Theo nodded, "unfortunately," he said making Liam laugh. He wished he could keep that smile on the younger boy's face, what he would give to make him happy everyday for the rest of their lives.

"We used to date..." Liam admitted, much to Theo's surprised. It seems that Liam had a type, complete insensitive selfish assholes. "On our anniversary he forgot and got really drunk, like really drunk. He came home and was angry cause some guy at the bar stole his drink," Liam shrugged, "he wanted to have sex—I said no but..."

Theo nodded, "you don't have to continue," he said. He didn't want Liam to feel pressure to tell him, especially since he could tell where this was going. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, does Asher know?"

Liam scoffed, "yes he does, and he still made me come tonight." His voice was now snappier than before, it appeared to have struck a nerve inside of Liam. "I didn't want to come, I told him I didn't want to drink, and he made me come here, he made me take a stupid shot—I don't drink! I don't like to drink; I don't like to be vulnerable like that... not again."

"He's such a fucking-" Theo cut himself off, placing his finger between his teeth. "Do you want to stay with Asher?"

"I don't know..." Liam replied.

"Why?"

Liam was taken back, that seemed like a much more loaded question than it really was. "I love him," he found himself saying, although Theo didn't full believe him.

"Why?"

"I-I don't know?" Liam ran a hand through his wet hair, "I just do?"

"No," Theo said, shaking his head. "You don't think you deserve better."

Liam bit his bottom lip, "so what if I do?"

"You deserve more than better," you deserve better than me too. "You don't have to be with someone who hurts you Liam, I can help you leave him if you want?"

"I'm scared..."

"To be alone?"

"To leave him..." Liam looked down, "I don't like when he gets mad, I'm not a fighter Theo. I don't fight, I won't hurt him... I'm scared he'll hurt himself if I leave him—or he'll hurt me..."

"I wouldn't let him do either of those things, he's a prick... but he's still my brother," Theo admitted, "I won't let him hurt you or himself, I promise."

"Thank you..." Liam replied, "I'll let you know... I have your number now so," Liam gave a little crook of his neck. "Thank you for everything Theo," he said softly, leaning closer "I appreciate you."

Published: 23rd April 2024
Word count: 1033