Breathe

Chapter 7- Falling For His Game

I was anxious the whole day as I waited for Liam to come and pick me up.

I woke up surpringly early, around eight o'clock to find myself alone in my father's home. Of course, I had grown used to being alone with my mother always being at work while she was alive, but this felt like a different kind of alone. All I wanted was for my mother to be back so I could at least have someone to talk to.

I cautiously walked down the main staircase in my house as the cold wood floor sent chills up my legs. My father had left the air conditioning on and I wasn't sure on how to turn it off, so I had been living in Antarctica for the past few days. Thankfully, my father was returning home Monday while I would be at school.

It seemed as though this whole week had flown by. Somehow, it hurt me to think that this week was filled with more arguments with Alex then we've had the whole time we've been best friends. Guilt was taking over my system for even agreeing to go on this "date" that Liam was planning for us.

I couldn't tell if he really wanted to go on a date with me or if he was doing it to hurt Alex. Either way,  I was confused on why he had decided to do this so soon.

As thoughts ran through my head at one-hundred miles per hour my phone vibrated on the kitchen counter.

I could feel a small smile light across my face as a text from Alex came.

Alex: I'm calling you now.

The next thirty seconds felt like agony as I waited to hear my best friends voice. I was relieved when my ringtone starting playing the all familiar tune of "Maybe."

"Hello?" I asked anxiously.

"Hey it's me. I wanted to talk to you about something," Alex said shyly.

"Shoot," I said, wanting him to get to his point. Alex wasn't aware of how calming it felt to hear his voice.

"Alright to start I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you yesterday at my house. I was just kind of shocked and taken off guard when I walked into my house and saw you and Liam together. Two, I really don't want you going on this date or whatever it is with Liam tonight," he said, making sure I heard the second part clearly.

"Okay, your apology is accepted. But why don't you want me to go on this date?" I asked, curious.

"Kate," Alex began. "It's Liam. I know him. He's either doing this just to make me mad or because he just wants what every other guy in our high school wants."

"Maybe he's different though Alex. Maybe you should try to figure out your brother a little more before you judge," I said, not thinking about what Alex's reaction would be.

"Kate, don't you even say that. I know what my brother is like...you want to know how I know that he is just playing you along?" Alex said with intensity rising in his voice.

"How?"

"He texted Mandy this morning telling her that he wanted to get back together with her and that he was idiot for breaking it off in the first place."

I was frozen. I was broken. I was confused. I was silent. Alex's words left me speechless as I felt some of my heart beats skip.

"How..do I know you're telling me the truth?" My voice was shaking and I'm sure Alex could tell I was about to cry.

"Because Mandy broke off the date between me and her tonight because she's going out with Liam," he said, getting quiet suddenly.

I couldn't say anything to Alex after that. I was so filled with anger and upset that I didn't want to speak to anyone. I hung up the phone on Alex, which I'm sure he wouldn't be too happy about later. I just couldn't believe Liam would do something like that to me and not even make me aware of it. He was player, and I had fallen for his stupid game.