The Stream will Cease

Chapter 4

I wake up to an empty bed. The sheets still smell like Liam so I know it wasn't a dream. I should have never asked him to stay and I should have never gone along with Emma's plan. Slowly, I get up and walk to the bathroom. I peel off my sweatpants and the sweatshirt and turn to take a shower, but something catches my eye in the mirror. All along my body are bruises. There are finger prints embedded in my hips and hand marks trail across my stomach. I look broken. I sigh again and get into the shower.

After I get out I brush my hair and put Liam's sweatshirt back on. I walk into my room for a pair of underwear and I also put on a pair of spandex shorts.
I make my way out of my room to get some breakfast and hear yelling from across the hall. Tyler seems to be shouting at someone.

"You don't get it man! She asked me to stay! She was fucking scared and asked me to! It's not my fault!" Another deep voice shouts. I immediately recognize it as Liam's. And then I find myself walking closer to the door. I'm eavesdropping yet again.

"She's my sister! You fucking douchebag! Why do we always have to have this conversation?! I don't want you to date her!" Tyler shouts.
"Oh my God! I would never date her! Are you serious? She's nothing to me!Don't you understand? I don't like her!" When I hear Liam's words it feels like the wind has been knocked out of my chest. I start to back away so I don't have to hear anymore but then the door opens. Out walks an infuriated Liam. His eyes stop at me and a look of guilt washes over him. I look away and can't help but feel crushed at his words. I quickly back into my room.

"Olivia wai--" He starts to call out to me but I cut him off with the slam of my door. The sound of his breathing comes from the other side of my door. I look around my room to distract myself. My room has always been a sanctuary for me. It had all off white carved furniture and a window that took up the whole wall with a seat at the bottom of it. My canopy bed sat in one corner and my dresser was on the opposite wall. My bathroom door was next to my nightstand and inside the bathroom was my closet. The walls were adorned with artwork and pictures of the four of us.

My wandering eyes land on my nightstand where my phone rests. I️ quickly grab hold of it and dial Emma. She picks up on the second ring.

"Hey. What up?" I can hear the grogginess in her voice and assume that I woke her up.

"Can we do something today? I need to get away from the house." I said in a hushed tone.

"Sure! What did you have in mind? Maybe we could go shopping? Or, Oh my gosh! Let's go to the beach! I know it's only March but I checked the weather and it's supposed to be like 80 degrees today!" I laugh at her chirpy tone and make plans to meet her there. When she hangs up I sigh and make my way to my closet to find a swimsuit to wear. I throw on a pink bikini and a sundress and quickly grab my bag and a towel.

I open my door to leave and see a startled Liam sitting in front of it. He scrambles to his feet and tries to talk, but I don't want to hear any of it.

"Excuse me," I mumble as I brush past him. I walk downstairs and out of the door.

••••

I jolt out of bed to the sound of my alarm. Who thought alarms were a good idea? Monday's have always been a curse to human kind, but it's worse for me. School is a war zone. Except i'm the only one on my side and everyone else is against me. Of course I have Emma and she's always there for me. And there's Tyler and Liam too but they're more popular than us so we don't converse much in school.

After my shower I dry my hair and pin half of it back. I quickly throw on my uniform and brush some mascara onto my lashes. I run downstairs for breakfast and see Liam and Emma sitting at our counter. They usually come over before school so we can all drive together.

"Hey Emma." I groan. It's too early for this. She laughs at my fatigue and continues eating the pancakes my mom made for us. Liam just looks at me with hope but looks down when I️ don't acknowledge him. All of a sudden we hear footsteps pounding down the stairs. Tyler bolts into the kitchen and rounds us all up.

"Guys we gotta go. It's our last week of school before spring break, so we gotta make it count. Let's go we're gonna be late!" Tyler shouts at us as he pulls us towards the door. I wedge myself out of his grasp to put on my shoes and grab my bag. I rush to my Mom to say goodbye.

"Bye Momma! I love ya." I say after hastily kissing her cheek.

"Bye baby! Have fun today!" She shouts as I shut the door. I rush to the Jeep and slide into the back seat next to Liam.

"Hey Livy." He mutters while trying to scoot closer to me. I know he doesn't care, so why is he trying to hard to make up for what he said? I send him a glare and return to looking out the window. I hear him sigh and momentarily feel guilty for treating him this way, but he's the one that should feel guilty. Not me.

I meet Emma's curious glance in the mirror. "Later." I mouth to her. She apprehensively nods and hastily turns on the radio to fill the awkward silence.

We pull into the school parking lot. I take a breath to prepare myself for the torture that will surely come from Amberley and her posse today. The boys bolt out of the car and Tyler tosses me his keys so I can drive home while they have spring training.

"Come on Livia! Let's go!" Emma shouts at me. I get out and lock the car.

•••••

Hey Everyone!
So if you're actually reading this story you have no idea how much I love you! I'm taking inspiration from people in my life and it really means a lot to me. Obviously there are some grammar mistakes and stuff like that and it's not edited yet but i'm working hard in school right now so i'm planning on just publishing chapters as they come to me and then editing the book later! I love you guys so much and thanks for everything!
-K