Saving Liam

Heartache

We spent a week with these troubled families. Jack's mother passed and Jack was sent to live with a family he was not familiar with. On our last day there, I spent the entire day with Jack. I even took him to the city to experience a normal life. I then had to return him to his new family which was waiting for their house to be completed. It was almost there, they are so close to having a regular home that will keep them safe. Then the time came. We had to say goodbye. I formed such a strong connection with Jack, it felt as if I was his mother. He even once accidentally called me mom. I had to excuse myself and cry in Claire's arms. I made sure to keep in touch with Jack though, I gave the head master who runs their now new city, my contact information. Jack was devastated to see me go but I told him that I would also be in his heart just like his mother is.

"We should hang out, just me and you now that we are home. You avoided me the whole trip." Colin swung our interlocked hands as we walked on the pier.

"Doesn't this count?" I asked, stopping to stand against the railing.

"Well yeah but I meant like a date." He stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Sometimes it felt as if Colin was crossing the limits with all the hand holding and touching. I told him my rules on day one and how I want to be treated but sometimes it felt like he ignored those rules.

"Colin, no." I turned around and put his hands at his side.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asked.

"I can't do this anymore." I ignored his question and just got to the real problem here.

"Can't do what?" He asked. Man, he sure can't take a hint.

"You and I." It was almost a whisper.

"Melody Eva Grace, why?" He put his hands onto my wrists, pain running through my veins.

"COLIN! Let go! You're hurting me!" I yelled, trying to shake my arms from his strong grip. I could see my wrists getting red and my veins bulging.

"COLIN!" I screamed before I hit the deck.

I sat there for a moment as I looked up at Colin. He pushed me to the ground with bystanders everywhere. People rushed over concerned for me. I shooed them away and stood up on my own.

"You promised you wouldn't leave me again!" He shouted, people stepping in front of him to stop him from hurting me again.

"Look it man, just go." One of the men said, shooing him away.

"But she loves me and I love her!" He shouted, as he gradually became farther away.

"No man, she doesn't and you wouldn't do that to her if you did." The man finally removed him from my sight and I sighed of relief.

"Hey.. Melody, is that you?" The boy I met before I left for Haiti, came over from the ice cream stand and stood by me.

"Yes. Hi Liam." I smiled and waved.

"Was, was that your boyfriend?" He asked, squinting because of the sun.

"Yeah well my ex-boyfriend." I put emphasis on the ex part.

"Ah yeah, that was a jerk move." Liam rubbed the back of his neck with his hands. Gosh Melody, don't you dare start thinking such inappropriate things about this boy. He looks so incredibly cute when he does that.

"So uh, what's new?" He asked. Thank goodness he said something because I was caught in a daze I probably wouldn't of left.

"Um, I just returned from Haiti with my youth group. And now I'm just back to doing town stuff. What about you, you just moved here. Any interests in anything?" I asked. Wow, never expected myself to be so outgoing with the new kid in town.

"Uh yeah actually. I thought maybe joining youth group and I play piano. I don't know if you saw it while we were moving my stuff in but it's like my baby. I love it." He blushed a little and I couldn't help but join in.

"That's great. Maybe you can show me sometime?" I asked and man, was I on fire today! Church girl get cute hunky boy, lets go!

"Yeah, I would love to." He smiled, doing that neck thing again.

"Well, I hope to see you around. Stop by the church at anytime. You'll need to speak to Claire about joining, she's the director of activities. I'm leader of the group." I said, wrapping things up. I need to go home and tell mom, like everything.

"Yeah. I will get to that. And um Melody, are you okay?" He asked, gently taking my bruised wrists into his hands.

"Yeah, I'll be okay." I whispered softly, smiling.

"See you soon, please?" He almost begged and I felt my insides light up.

"Yes! Of course." I said back, almost a little too enthusiastic.

I almost ran back to my house, with a feeling of heartache and excitement. What a great day it is to be me, minus the whole Colin thing. I walked through the front door, slowly shutting the door behind me.

"Mom." I called. She was sitting on the back deck, reading a book and sipping lemonade.

I walked out the back sliding door and onto the deck. She looked so peaceful. Dad was doing something in the garden and mom was reading, just relaxing soaking up the UV rays.

"Something wrong dear?" She noticed my presence and set down her book.

"Melody, your wrists!" She stood up immediately and took my wrists into her hands. She rubbed his fingers across them and I twitched.

"Melody, what happened? Marvin, come here please!" She said worriedly.

"What is it?" Dad asked as he came onto the deck, his hands muddy from the garden.

"I broke up with Colin." I said before the instant tears came. Dad looked down at my wrists and gasped.

"He did this to you?" Mom asked, her voice shaky.

"Yes. He then pushed me to the ground." A sob escaped my throat and I couldn't help but think of all our good times which made me cry harder.

"Should we talk to his parents?" Dad asked, throwing his gloves to the ground.

"NO!" I shouted.

"Melody, look at yourself! He abused you. You can't let him get away. He needs help." Mom cried, literally.

"Okay." I gave in and sighed. Colin is going to give me hell in school. I never say that word but it's true. That boy is going to continue to hurt me no matter it be physically or mentally, mom and dad are going to make it worse. They are going to wish they never butt in.

"Honey, I just got off the phone with Colin's mom. They are sending him to rehab." Mom sat down on the couch next to me.

"Rehab? For anger management?" I asked.

"Yes. Everything is going to be fine." She rubbed my shoulders. I shrugged her off.

"Honey, what's wrong?" She asked as I stood up, pacing.

"He's going to kill me mom!" I paced even faster now, probably freaking out now only my mom but myself.

"No one is going to do such thing, Melody!" She stood up from the couch, now angry with my choice of words.

"Why can't you and dad just butt out!" I yelled, stopped my pacing and looked her dead in the eye.

"This is for your safety Melody. I know you're angry but in a few days this will all blow over and you won't have to worry about boys. You can go back to the church and spend time with the ones who truly care about you." She said more calmly.

It was like something shocked my body because I have had enough. I stormed into the kitchen and yanked my purse off the coat rack.

"And where do you think you're going?" Mom yelled. So much for trying to kill the mood.

"Where someone won't argue with me on this." I said before slamming the door shut.

Liam Aiden Gates, I hope you're ready boy.