The Styles Triplets

Chapter 15

By the time I got home, it was nearly midnight, and sleep felt impossible.
I lay awake staring at the ceiling, replaying the night over and over in my head.
Marcel's broken expression. Edward waiting in the hallway. Liam disappearing back into the woods.

Poor Marcel.
I understood that feeling far too well — the crushing weight of believing the world might be better without you in it. Growing up, I'd thought about running away more times than I could count.

Liam never let me.
He had always pulled me back when I started drifting too far into the dark.

I don't think I ever thanked him for that.

Before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed my phone and dialed his number.
He answered almost immediately.

"Alex? Is everything okay?" His voice was thick with sleep.

"Y-Yeah," I said softly. "Sorry for waking you."

"It's fine," he murmured. "What's wrong, love?"
I hesitated, suddenly embarrassed.

"I was just thinking," I said. "And... I wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"For being there after my dad died." My voice cracked despite my efforts to stay composed. "You saved me, Liam."

A quiet chuckle came through the phone.
"You saved me too, you know."

I wiped my eyes and frowned.
God I'm such a girl!
"You're welcome. I love you Liam."

"I love you too."

"Liam, when are you leaving?" I asked.

"I'm leaving in a few days." he answered.
I started crying again. I couldn't hold it in!!!
"Alex are you sure you're okay? I'm worried."

"Yes, I'm fine! I'm just freakin hormonal okay?!" I sniffled.

"Oh, I see." he laughed.

"Yep, I'll just let you go to sleep. I just wanted to let you know that." I laughed through my tears.

"Ok, goodnight babe."

"Goodnight."

---

"Alex."
A voice pulled me from sleep.
"Alex!"

"Hmmm?" I groaned and sat up.

"Good morning, princess." Liam stood beside my bed, smiling like he'd never left town.

"Liam?!" I nearly fell out of bed. "How did you get in here?"

"I have my ways." he smirked.

"Oh yeah, I forgot you're a delinquent!"

"Your mom let me in." he laughed, "Now get up, I'm taking you to school today."
Getting out of bed, I stumbled a bit to find my balance.
"Been drinking again?"

"I'm exhausted," I shot back, grabbing clothes. "Out. I need to change."

"I've seen you naked before."

"That was when I was sixteen," I said dryly. "Different era."

He laughed as I shoved him toward the door.
"Fine, fine." he replied and walked out of my room.

Downstairs, my mom introduced Liam to Dave, who greeted him politely before returning to his newspaper.

When we walked outside, I stopped short when I saw the car.
"This is nice," I said. "Where did you get it?"

"I borrowed it."

"You stole it didn't you?"

"Yep."