Going Down

Chapter 23

I wake up the next morning without the fear of Rachel hating me for eternity. Yet, I still feel incredibly guilty.

I lie on my back, and look over to Rachel who is also starring blankly at the sealing.

"I'm still mad," She whispers, " But I'll look past what you've done because I need my best friend right now." I sit up and look at her, who still hasn't switched positions.

"Would you rather me not have said anything?" She turns and looks at me.

"No, you did the right thing. I would've done what you did too." I let go of my breath, which was lingering for her answer.

"Just know that hurting you is the last on the list." I say standing up.

"Hurting you didn't even make it on my list." She whispers as I turn and exit the bedroom.

<<<<<

{9:26am}

Rachel follows me down the stairs.

"Good mornin-" On the fifth step from the top, Rach and I stop in our tracks.

"..What's going on?" Rachel says it like it came out of my mouth first.

Liam is busily moving around the kitchen. Flour blotched on his face and aprin, while Clay rushed in with bags of groceries in each hand. They both look exhausted.

We reach the bottom of the stairs, and Rachel throws a pillow at Clay's back, finally making them notice us.

"Shit guys go back upstairs!" Liam shouts as he turns on the blender.

"What r u doing!" I yell over the loud stirring noise.

"You'll find out when we call you downn" Clay jestures us to leave when he drops all his bags.

"Crapp" He says.

"Don't break the eggs!" Liam rushes over to collect the unbroken remains and runs them back to the sink.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry gosh."

I accidentally let out a giggle "I'll go grab and broom," I say. "Liam." I nod my head towards the garage door and he gets the clue in the follow me.

"I'm gonna go and uhm find a new apron."

Horrible excuse, but he leaves anyways and no one notices.

We turn the corner and enter the garage, which is cold on my feet.

I turn to him

"You wanna maybe tell me what happening??" I stare at him with my arms on my hips.

"Don't give me that look."

I don't even flinch

"Fine okay Clay felt horrible for u guys yesterday so he thought that maybe if you woke up to a new day and a fresh thought that things would go down easier."

I can't help but think that's sweet.

"Oh."

"Exactly and he asked me to go chip in so if you'll excuse me can I please go find another apron so I don't look like an idiot going back wearing the same one?" He turns when I grab his arm.

"Just don't be mad at me for doing the right thing." Then I grad the broom and walk out. Leaving him behind.

<<<<<<

"I gotta have it to u guys, that breakfast was amazing." Rachel wipes her mouth and leans back in her chair.

Clay and I snap glares at each other because we both saw it happen.

It's like she was talking directly to Liam and me and Clay weren't even there.

You can tell they wanna forgive each other. Deep down. But they're both to stubborn to admit it.

"Well uh don't thank me," Liam notices, and speaks up. "Thank Clay. He came up with it."

"I try." He smiles at me and relax a bit.

We sit in awkward silence for a moment. When Rachel comes up with the cleaver idea to suggest cleaning

"I'll help-"

"No! Uh no u guys made it so Rach and I can clean." I say interrupting Clay.

"I insist," he puts his hand gently on my upper arm.

"No, I insist." I smile and he sits down.

Rachel and I finish cleaning the kitchen, them I confront her.

"What was that back there" I say washing a plate.

"What was what." She asked

"Don't act like you don't know you just starred at Liam like you're in love with him." I smile at her and she blushes.

"Don't be stupid."

"Yeah yea, alright," I put my arms up and pretend to surrender. "Just make sure you know what you're doing." I put the plate on the shelf and shut my mouth.

>>>

"You saw how she talked to me back there, right. Like I'm not crazy or anything." I sit down on the couch and Liam starts talking instantly.

"Either that happened, or we're both crazy because I saw it too." I laugh but he only smiles a little.

"What's wrong." I say.

"How'd you know.."

"The end of your lip curls down when you're upset." I say. He probably thinks I'm crazy for noticing this, but I've seen him do it a lot lately, and whatever followed that was usually some sort of sad deep talk or dramatic scene. It's like I study his facial features instead of the actual problem at hand.

"Do you always study my facial features like it's a hobby?" He smirks.

"..no."

"Yeah you do, c'mon, what else do you notice."

I don't respond, only blush.

"I'm not scared of your opinion."

"I never said you were." I say it without thinking. He gives me another look. Like a "ok sure" look with his right eyebrow.

"Well?"

I sigh. "You have really big dimples, and when you smile big, your whole face grows with your mouth. When you're mad, your jaw clenches and you mouth forms a straight line. Kinda like you're thinking really hard." I push my hair out of my face, then continue on; positioning myself to face Liam, my knee touching his. " When you're-"

"-you're beautiful." He states.

"W-what."

"You're crazy beautiful." Then he stands up, carasses my cheeck, and leaves the room.

I stay seated in silence, not even looking at him as he walks away.

Because he just blew my breath away.

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Sorry I haven't posted in a zillion years. I've decided to make this a tester story, just for practice. So I'll probably wrap it up soon. So I apologise it might be finishing in sucha rush.

-Abbie