The Fighter

Chapter Twenty-Five

Liam’s P.O.V

“Liam, wake up. You said you’d take me to my dorm. Vanessa’s voice cuts off my dreams. I almost forgot she stayed the night, but I’m surprised she didn’t sneak out in the middle of the night while I was sleeping. 

“It’s too early Nessa.” I grunted, my eyes remain shut. I saw her shadow walk off. I began to continue my dream, but I head a crash, making me instantly get up to scrutinize the problem.

“What the hell happened?” My eyes notice the glass dispersed across the floor before they reach Vanessa, who’s sitting on top on the counter with her feet drooping above the glass, her face full of dread. 

“Please don’t hurt me.” I looked at her glossy eyes, tears daring to fall out. It took me a few minutes to process what was happening. I felt a lump in my throat and I felt as if I was about to cry with her. She actually thinks I’m going to hurt her? I’d never hurt her. Physically anyways. I’ve said things and done things that have hurt her, but I’d never leave marks on her body.

“Don’t move.” I finally speak as I walk around the glass to get her. I carefully take her into my arms and carry her bridal style into the living room. “Did you get cut?” I look up at her eyes that are no longer full of fear or tears. She quickly shakes her head. Before leaving to clean up the glass I kiss her on her forehead.

“I’ll help you clean it.” She speaks before I step foot in the kitchen. 

“It’s okay, I got it. You might step on glass.” Vanessa has brought out my soft side in the last two months. If it were someone else that broke my bowls I would’ve made them clean it up and then kick them out of my house. I wouldn’t give a fuck if they‘d stepped on glass.

I grab the broom from the pantry, along with the dustpan and began to sweep the glass in a pile. By the time I turn around with the glass in the dustpan, Vanessa is standing behind me leaning on the doorframe. 

“I’m sorry Liam.” She says as I throw the glass away. I walk over to her and lift her chin up so she’s looking at me. I lean down slowly and kiss her for a few seconds before breaking off the kiss.

“It’s okay. I should’ve waked up.” I smile at her, and she returns it. I leaned back down to kiss her, this time I lifted her up and carried her back to the couch, not removing our lips. I sat her at the end of the couch and lay on top of her.

“Wait, Liam.” She caught her breath before continuing, “We can’t keep doing this.” I raised my eyebrows, baffled of her words. “This. I don’t even know whatwe are. I don’t even know if we’re friends. One day we’re all over each other and stuff, but then the next day we’re yelling at each other and I’m leaving you. We keep going back and forth. And I’m still mad at you about ‘you know what.” I shouldn’t even be here with you.” She laughs. “You’ve hurt me so much in so little time. Forcing me to be with you, lying to me for my virginity, Emily, Melissa. Is there anything else that you’ve done and I don’t know about?”

“Why the hell is this so random? Everything would’ve been perfect if you wouldn’t have brought this up! Do you want to leave me or something?” I couldn’t help but shout louder than I intended. It took her a few seconds to think about her answer before she responded.

“I didn’t even know we were together. I was trying to work things out so I could know where we stand.” She coolly responds without making eye contact.

 “I don’t know what the hell we are Nessa. And no, I’m not hiding anything from you. But it shouldn’t matter to you what I do. We do not date, and you have no business looking through my phone.” I abolish myself from on top of her and stare straight ahead at the plain white wall with chippings.