Not A Word

Chapter Twenty Eight

"Where are you taking me Tara? I'm not sick!" Liam insisted as I drug him along the hall.

"I told you we need to talk and we are damn well going to talk." I nearly growled in response.

"Did you ever think that maybe I don't want to talk with you?" he snapped.

I froze mid-stride an turned to face him. "What happened to loyalty Liam? What happened to having each other's backs? Where the hell did that all go?"

He glared down at me, "In case you forgot I feel obligated to remind you that I was loyal to Zayn at one time as well. Loyalty means nothing to me." he took a step back from me, yanking his hand away in the process. "Welcome to hell princess."

With a snap of his fingers I saw Zayn step out from an empty classroom followed by Louis. My eyes widened as I retreated a few steps. My back hit something and I turned my head to see Niall and Harry advancing on me as well.

"Liam? What is this?" I choked out.

"This is life Tara, survival of the fittest. The thing with that saying is that it means the weak must be eliminated. Just in case you haven't put it together yet, that means you," a feral and emotionless smile formed on his lips.

Not even a day ago those lips were speaking to me with such softness an were pressed up against my own lips. Where had this sudden change come from? Just yesterday Liam was sweet and caring. He had been fun with me not having fun at my expense.

"Liam, please don't! What happens to yesterday? What happened to the nice Liam, the one that cared?" I insisted back up even more away from the five of them.

"All fake sweetheart. Don't take it too harshly now. You've never felt love so you should be used to rejection. From us, your own parents, friends." the feral smile was back and sending chills of fear down my spine.

I turned and ran down the hall, trying to get to a door before they caught me. I wasn't fast enough though, I never was. Hands latched onto my arm and pulled me down to the ground. I was dragged along the hall kicking at them the entire time, just attempting to get free.

They tossed me into the men's room and then they were on me. Shoes hit me in the side, head, arms, everywhere. They left nowhere untouched. I just closed my eyes an waited for it all to end.

Once the kicking died down I finally allowed myself to breathe again. They weren't finished though. Multiple hands clasped my arms and held me to the ground. I knew they would beat me more but I was wrong. Instead, when I opened my eyes I saw Zayn standing over me and undoing his pants.

Behind him stood my father with a rope. He walked over to me and wrapped it around my throat and tightened it. Zayn pulled his pants down an moved toward me. I began kicking and screaming. There was no way I would allow them to do this to me.

My screaming continued but a voice broke through the sound. "Tara? Tara, wake up!" It was Greg. He was shouting at me but I couldn't see him. I couldn't move my head to search for him either. my eyes were glued to Zayn trying to prevent him from getting to me.

Finally I felt my whole body shake and my eyes flew open to reveal Greg and Denise standing at my bedside. They both had worried looks in their faces and they looked down at me. I threw my arms around Greg and sobbed into his shoulder.

After all this time an living a nightmare, they had never penetrated my dreams. Why now that things were finally looking up?

Greg was murmuring soft consoling words into my ear. "Tara will you please tell us what scared you so much?" he pled once I calmed down.

"It was just a dream, a nightmare really."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

I shook my head, "May I please just get ready for school. It was terrible and I don't want to relive it." I felt a single year trail down my cheek

"Alright sweetheart." Greg kissed my cheek and stood. "Please tell me when you're ready."

Denise and him left the room with a few worried glances thrown back at me over their shoulders. Once they were gone I let my fake smile drop. Last night I had made myself a promise to talk to Liam, but today I couldn't get that dream out of my head. What if it wasn't just a dream, but a warning?

Standing up, I slowly dressed in a pair of jeans and a hoodie for the day. I may have built up my confidence but I wasn't quite ready to be comfortable with myself at school. There were too many people in that school who would love to put me down for every little thing.

I pulled my hair back into a pony and walked down the stairs to grab something to eat. When I got down there Liam was standing in the kitchen having an animated conversation with Greg. It may have been bad manners but I felt the need to know what they were talking about. I sat on the floor around the corner and strained my ears to hear their voices.

"I told you not to come here. I don't want them finding her and I don't believe that you've completely changed either." Greg's voice boomed.

"I'm not here to hurt her Greg. I want to protect her. Zayn could do much worse to her and I don't want that to happen. I... care for her." Liam sounded strained to say the words. Was he faking like in my dream.

A gasp sounded and then Greg spoke again, "You don't just care for her. You honestly like her." he chuckled darkly. "Isn't that a little backwards? Doesn't the bullied usually fall for the bully and not the other way around?"

"Laugh it up Greg but I'm serious. We both want to protect her so it makes sense that we would work together in doing that."

"Alright, but if you hurt her I will, kill you." Greg's voice was dark and threatening, so much so that I felt tendrils of fear shimmy their way up my spine.

Their voices lapsed into a deafening silence and I stood. Walking into the kitchen I offered Greg a small smile, "Morning."

He smiled brightly and wrapped his arms around me, "Good morning love. How are you feeling?"

I hugged him back, "Better, what is Liam doing here though." I forced any fear I held from his name out of my voice.

Greg pulled back and looked into my eyes, "Do you want him to leave?" he asked.

I shook my head, "No I was just curious because I've never seen anyone except Denise come over here." It was the truth. I don't want Liam to leave but I was frightened by his prescience and a little wary.

Liam stood and offered my a shy smile that made my heart melt, "I came to offer you a lift to school."

I nodded, "It sounds like a good idea." I gave Greg a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll come home right after school. Bye." I called and headed out the door.

I would have turned down Liam's offer but I had to speak with him. No way was I going to torture myself even more by not confronting this.

When we were both situated in the car I turned to Liam. "We need to talk."