The Nice Guy {#Wattys2017}

Forgiven Not Forgotten

When we pulled into the driveway the nervousness I remembered always having in my stomach came back, it was my old house. "Um, Addy what are we doing here?" Liam asked not even unbuckling. "This is my mom's house" I put on an anxious grin. "Okay" he extended the word, "Well what are we doing here?" he repeated. "Just come on" I tugged on his hand before exiting the car. When we walked to the porch I immediately picked up the small flower pot next to the door and grabbed the extra key. "Typical mom, never changing." I muttered to myself before unlocking and going inside the house. "Hello?" I yelled but no one answered, perfect. "This seems kind of shady, are you sure that we're allowed in here?" he asked. "Nope but who cares" I smirked dragging him up the stairs to my room. "I normally don't like to take a girl upstairs on the first date" he said smirking cockily and I rolled my eyes. "Well, this is my room" I said pushing the door open to reveal a white room with a twin sized bed in it. There was only a few drawings that I had made on the wall. The room was still the same as I left it. I sucked in a deep breath as I stared at everything. "Nice" he gave a comforting smile and I nodded slightly motioning for him to sit on the bed next to me. I didn't know how to tell him, it wasn't like I could just blurt it out or anything. I guess that he saw that I was having trouble because he placed a hand on the small of my back to calm me down, I think it only made my heartbeat faster. "Okay so it all started when I was like 7 or 8.." I trailed off and he nodded wanting me to continue. I started to tell him about the man who raped me, how I begged my mother to help me but she wouldn't believe me. I even ended up telling him about Greyson and how he was abusive. By the end of it I felt a lot of weight come off of my chest but when I looked at Liam I realized that I probably sounded like some damaged freak. "I-I'm so sorry, I shouldn't ha--" I was cut off by him pulling me into a tight hug. "Liam.....can't.....breathe" I squeaked out and he loosed his hold. "I can't believe that happened to you, you're so strong" he said muffled by my shoulder. I almost barked out a laugh, "I am no where near strong, I'm just broken" I muttered but he heard me. Pulling me back to look at him he stared straight into my eyes, "I think you're the strongest person I know Addy" his minty breath sent a chill down my spine. I needed to stop, this couldn't happen. "I can't" I said pleadingly but he leaned in. I should've moved but I didn't. I thought that he was going to kiss me but he simply kissed my cheek. I could literally feel the emotion coming from both of us, I wanted him so badly but I couldn't, I just couldn't. "I need to go" I sighed resting my forehead on his. "You don't have to run from me, I won't hurt you" he whispered softly and I laughed silently, "That's what they all say". I pulled away and looked into his eyes shocked because I didn't mean to say that, it just came out. Instead of telling me that it was okay like I thought he would he became upset, angry even. "Ugh, don't you realize Addy! You're not alone okay? If you want to sit around feel sorry for yourself then okay fine. If you want to call yourself broken then guess what? I'm broken too!" He cried out with emotion pouring out in every word. I knew that he wasn't angry with me, he was angry at the people who hurt me, he was angry at the people that hurt him. I was angry at them too.

It was probably a crazy thing to do but I fell into his arms hugging him tightly. "Thank you" I said into his ear not breaking the hug for a second. "What are you thanking me for?" He asked wrapping his arms around me, "For not treating me like I'm made out of glass" I said and he chuckled lightly making his chest vibrate against me and I smiled because it made me happy for some reason. I know that I shouldn't get too attatched but he's making it a little hard, scratch that, really  hard. We lied there holding each other for a while until I heard a door open and close. "Did you hear that?" I whispered and Liam nodded looking a little bit pale. "Don't worry, we can sneak out of the window" I whispered and he looked at me wide eyed. "Are you crazy?" he asked in a whisper-yell voice which almost made me laugh but I went over and opened the window. "Come on" I smiled and he hesitantly walked over to me. "I'll go first so you can see how to do it" I said and he nodded watching me as I carefully walked down the side of the house and onto the ground. "It's your turn" I mouthed and he nodded nervously walking down the house. He got about mid way and someone barged into my room looking out of the window, it was my mom. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" she yelled at us and I shrugged feeling a bit sarcastic, "Just felt like coming home mommy" I faked an innocent smile and she looked at me with pure hatred, "This wasn't, and never will be your home Anna" she spewed. "My name's Adelaide" I muttered sadly to myself. "What did I tell you about mumbling?! Oh forget it, just get off of my property!" she yelled and Liam walked over toward me putting his arm around me protectively, "Gladly you sad old woman" he said clearly walking me out and to his car. "Are you okay?" he said rubbing my shoulder. I looked at him with a sad smile, "I will be" he nodded. "I appreciate you calling her a sad old woman though" I gave a small laughed and he grinned, "Anything for you fireball". "Fireball?" I looked at him confused but he explained, "When we first met you were drinking the life out of a bottle of fireball" he smiled and I couldn't believe that he remembered that small detail. "How did you remember that?" I gasped but he looked at me sincerely, "I could never forget anything about you silly". I just wanted to reach over and kiss him but I stopped myself. Addy, get over yourself and stop being such a hormonal teenage girl  thats what my head screamed but my heart knew the truth, I wasn't just being boy crazy. It was still way too soon to ever think about being in a relationship again.