Leah's POV:
"Let's get you in the car, okay?", I said softly as Liv just nodded her head.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have walked out on you earlier, you were right", she slurred as I reached the car and opened the passenger seat.
"We'll talk about that tomorrow okay? I just want to make sure you're alright", I said as I helped her in the car and put her seatbelt on. I used my thumbs to dry her cheeks before placing a kiss on her forehead and closing the door.
"What the hell happened?", I asked, lowering my voice as Liv was half sleeping against the window and I didn't want to disturb her.
"She called Alessia's phone thinking she called you, I could tell she was drunk, I mean she was laughing and giggling to herself and she told me her mum has a wife and daughter-"
"What?", I said shocked as I glanced back to Liv in the car, that couldn't have been easy for her to hear. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and seen it was Ingrid calling me.
"It's Ingrid", I said to the 2 girls before picking up.
"Leah, Liv called Mapi earlier and she sounded really drunk-"
"Don't worry, Ingrid, I have her", I said, cutting off her panicked rant.
"Did she tell you about her mum?"
"Oh that she has a wife and a daughter? Katie and Less told me", I scoffed as I heard Ingrid let out a sigh.
"What she said to Mapi over the phone earlier- when she told us about it, how her mum left and started a new family, she asked us if that was all she's worth, she'll be okay Leah, but something like that is hard for anyone to take", the more Ingrid spoke, the more I felt my heart break for the sleeping girl in the car.
"I've got her, Ingrid, she's got a massive support system here, we've got her", I emphasised.
"I know, thank you, Leah", she said softly as we said our goodbyes and ended the call.
"Thank you both for finding her, I better get her home", I said giving them both a hug.
"Text us tomorrow and let us know she's okay", Less said.
"Of course", I said before getting in the car. I looked over to Liv, she had her head against the window and some hair had fallen over her face. I noticed she was shivering slightly so I reached into the back seat and grabbed my jacket and placed it over her.
—
Liv's POV:
When I woke up, I felt myself being lifted out of the car. My head was spinning and I felt dizzy.
"Leah", I mumbled out as I rested my head on her shoulder and she stroked her hand through my hair.
"Shhh, go back to sleep, okay baby?", she whispered as I let her carry me the rest of the way into the house and to our room. I felt my eyes drooping as Leah climbed in beside me and wrapped her arms around me.
—
Waking up the next morning, I felt rough. I drank the water and took the painkillers Leah left out for me. The memories of the night before hit me like a train, my mums wife, their daughter, why I drank so much, everything's a mess. I got out of bed and made my way downstairs and seen Leah in the kitchen cooking breakfast.
"Hi", I said quietly to let her know I was there.
"Hey, how you feeling?", she asked softly as she handed me a cup of coffee and I thanked her.
"As good as anyone can be after finding out their mum abandoned them and got married and had a kid", I said taking a sip of the coffee as Leah looked at me sympathetically. Before she could speak, someone knocked on the door as Leah walked over to open it. I could hear muffled voices as Leah came back with whoever was at the door.
"Jess?", I said confused as to why the detective on my dad's case was here.
"Hi, Olivia, sorry to come unannounced like this, but we got some news from HM Prison Belmarsh this morning", she said as my heart rate started to pick up. Leah came beside me and held my hand as we wait for what Jess is about to say.
"Luis Castillo was murdered last night, from what I've heard a few prisoners figured out who he was", she said as I felt Leah squeeze my hand. I felt the wind being knocked out of me from her sentence but I wasn't sad, I was relieved.
"He's dead? L-like he's actually gone?", I said for confirmation as Jess nodded and I let out a breathy laugh. I could feel Leah side eyeing me, not expecting my reaction to be quite as relieved and laid back.
"Would you like to make funeral arrangements-"
"No, I'm not paying for anything, speak to my mother, this can be her burden considering he was mine for most of my life", I said cutting her off as she nodded in understanding.
"Would you like some coffee or tea?", Leah offered politely.
"No, thank you, I need to get back to work", she said as we walked her to the door.
"Thank you for stopping by and letting me know", I said as she nodded.
"Of course, and for the record, don't feel guilty for feeling relieved because your monster is dead, I don't. He may have been your father but he was your monster, Olivia", she said softly as I nodded in understanding.
"You've been through something similar, haven't you?", I asked as she nodded.
"I have, that's how I know how you're feeling", she said as we gave each other a smile and she walked out the door. I closed the door and leaned against it as Leah watched me, not sure how to approach the situation.
"I'm okay, Leah, I promise, he was dead to me a long time ago", I said reassuringly.
"I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about how you feel about your mum", she said softly as I avoided her gaze because the truth is, it's killing me. I heard her take steps towards me as she cupped my face and turned me to face her.
"Oh, Liv", she whispered softly as she seen the tears brimming my eyes. Her soft words broke the dam as I started to sob into her chest while she stroked my hair and my back and whispered sweet nothings into my hair.
"Why didn't she try harder for me, Leah? Why did she leave me with that fucking monster, h-how could she do that?", I sobbed as Leah cupped my cheeks and looked at me with determination.
"I want you to listen to me, and I need you to hear me, okay?", she said as I nodded and she wiped my cheeks with her thumb. "You are the most amazing woman I have ever met, Liv. You're passionate, honest, kind, funny, fucking beautiful, protective over the people you love, and sometimes a little bit stubborn", she said making me let out a teary laugh, "our friends absolutely adore you, and most importantly, I love you. I'm sorry about what you've been through, I don't know why she found it so easy to leave you, but it was nothing to do with you, okay?", Leah said softly, nothing but adoration in her voice as I started to cry again.
"I love you, Leah", I sniffled as she kissed my forehead.
We were broken out of our moment when my phone started to ring and I seen it was my mum calling.
