Not A Word

Chapter Twenty Four

Tara

Liam's sister was very nice as she helped him cleaned the scrapes on my hands and knees. Her touch was tender, making extra sure to brush the sterile pad gently across my wounds. I had the feeling that she had done the same for Liam many times when he was younger.

Liam on the other hand wasn't very good at cleaning wounds. It didn't take long for him to simply allow his sister to take over and clean me up. His touch was always a bit too hard and rough. Every time he touches the pad to my skin I would wince as the pain radiated across my hand.

He looked a bit sad standing off to the side all by himself. He reminded me of a puppy that had been out outside as punishment. It was a heartbreaking sight to see. "How does that feel?" Nicola asked me.

I smiled lightly at her, "Much better, thank you."

Liam stood and walked over to me, "Sorry." he muttered sadly.

"For what? You didn't do anything."

"Exactly. I couldn't help you because I kept hurting you. I promised not to hurt you again, but I still did." he look miserable.

He actually cares, what a strange feeling. It definitely felt strange knowing that there were people out there who cared what happened to me. First Greg and now Liam. Was Zayn going to join this party next? I put my finger under his chin to lift his gaze up to meet mine, "Don't worry Liam. You didn't mean to hurt me. You just lack the gentle touch your sister has. You aren't used to being gentle with people, but you'll become gentler I know you will. Besides girls always have gentler touches."

He smiled slightly.

"So you're Tara huh?" Nicola asked from behind Liam.

I nodded, "It's nice to meet you. I have a feeling you're Nicola." I teased.

She smiled and shook my outstretched hand. "I've heard quite a bit about you Tara but you are nothing like I expected."

"How so?" I was confused. What did she expect me to be like.

"When I was told what happens to you so often I expected a very reserved girl. Maybe a girl that tried to keep others at a distance yet the moment we speak you are open and friendly. You don't act like a girl who has seen the worst people can do to a person, yet you have."

I shrugged, "I don't see it as me having seen the worst in people. I may seen a side of them others don't but I know every person has good in them. I try not to hold grudges because they prevent you from moving on with your life and, the thing is that I know somewhere there is a person who is suffering more than me. They might be younger, older, or the same age but there are thousands of people who suffer in the world. Who am I to say that I have it the worst?"

Nicola looked at me with a shocked expression on her face for a long time. When she finally recovered she smiled and looked to Liam, "Keep this one," was all she said before walking out of the room.

I saw a faint pink color his cheeks. He was blushing, how cute. I hopped off the stool and motion for him to get on. "Your turn big boy."

He shook his head with widened eyes, "I'm fine, really I am." he held his hands out in front of him and backed away.

I placed my hands in my hips, careful of the scrapes, and glared. "I allowed you and Nicola to treat my wounds now it's time I return the favor. Now sit."

He sighed and sat on the stool. "Well, when you put it that way."

I grabbed the kit and check out his injuries. One of his eyes were blackened and swollen shut. His bottom lip looked twice its size and was split on the left side. The right side of his jaw was a sickly purple mixed with green. That was only his face.

I grimaced, understanding the pain he was feeling. Sympathy shines in my eyes as I went to his freezer to make an ice pack. I grabbed a kitchen towel and wrapped it around a pile of ice cubes. "Put that on your lip, it will bring down the swelling. I can't give you anything for the eye because ice would only freeze it."

I searched through the kit to try an find some pain medication. Thankfully there were a few packets of Tylenol. Pulling out one I opened it to discover two little pills. Smiling I filled a glass with water I handed him both. "Here you are. Take them both it will help with the pain."

He smiled and down them. "How do you know what to do?"

"I've had a lot of practice with healing myself. Don't blame it on yourself. The thing with my parents had been going on we'll before I ever saw the five of you." I replied before he could feel guilty.

Still a sheen drew over his eyes that showed my words hasn't worked. I bit my lip trying to think of something. "How about we go finish that project. I may have been out a while but Mr. Hanson won't extend the deadline for us." I smiled.

A small smile lit his face up, or the part of his face that wasn't swollen. "Alright let's go!" he grabbed my Han and dragged me down the hall.

At his touch I felt a weird lightness fill my stomach. Butterflies?