Dangerously in Love

Chapter 5: Ignored

Liam now has about 12 hours before his time expires. I haven't talked to him since he put me in the care of Nick. I don't know where he is or what he is doing. Nick knows though, he just won't tell me no matter how much I pester him.

I was wide awake. I couldn't sleep, not without knowing what is going on with Liam. There's about four hours until school and I haven't gotten one wink of sleep. I've just been staring at my ceiling all night. Nick is sound asleep downstairs on the couch. He had passed out way before I even went to lie down.

I had texted Liam a few times throughout the night but haven't heard anything back. Even though I barely know him and he can be an ass sometimes, I'm worried about him. What will happen if he doesn't get the money in time? Is what Nick said true? Will they really come after me? I don't understand why, Liam and I aren't even friends. Or are we?

~~~~

It was now lunchtime and I still haven't heard back from Liam. I'm beyond tired but I can't even think of sleep until I talk to Liam. I was sitting at my usual table with my friends plus Nick. Nobody seemed to care that he was sitting here. I had no idea what my friends were talking about as I was to busy thinking about Liam. I could barely get through my classes this morning.

Why am I so worried about him? I hardly know the guy. I didn't realize lunch had ended until Nick brought me out of my thinking bubble. We headed to my locker and to my next class. Nick doesn't have this class with me but he's been standing outside of my classes.

My last few classes went by agonizingly slow. When the final bell rang Nick followed me to my locker and then we headed to his car. I pestered him some more about Liam but still got no answers. The car ride to my house consisted of me asking too many questions and receiving zero answers.

When he pulled into my driveway there was a motorcycle occupying a tiny portion of the driveway. But not just anybody's motorcycle, Liam's. I eagerly got out of the car and headed up to my porch steps where Liam was sitting. I took in his appearance and all I could see were bruises on his face. He stood up when I approached him. I don't know what got into me but I hugged him. And not just a 'good to see you friend' hug. More like a 'I'm so glad you're alive' hug.

"Are you okay?" It surprised me when he asked this. I was under the watch of Nick the whole time and I know that they have been talking these past 48 hours. So shouldn't he know if I'm okay? Maybe he just needed me to confirm what he already knows.

"Yes I'm fine, but the question is, are you?"

"For now." I gave him a questioning look and he suggested that we talk inside. All of us headed into my living room and took a seat around the room.

"I could only get them half the money I owed." Well that wasn't something he should have started with because now I'm freaking out on the inside thinking about what Nick said. "I got them to back off for a while but they will be back. I don't know when though."

"So what do we do now?" I wasn't really listening to what the two boys were saying. I'm starting to regret asking Nick to tell me why he was watching over me. Now I'm incredibly worried about my safety. Is there anyway that Nick was wrong? There's no way that they could be after me, I'm nobody important.

"You okay there kitten?" Both boys were looking at me like I had grown another head. I was so wrapped up in my thinking that I didn't realize they stopped talking.

"Yeah, I'm fine." That didn't trick Liam at all because he gave me a look and I knew I had to tell the truth. "No, I'm actually not."

"Care to elaborate?" I can't tell him. I'm sure he wouldn't want me to know what I know and I can't risk getting Nick in trouble. So instead of answering him I just shook my head.