The Silhouette of a Girl

Chapter 18

      After we parted, his eyes were held open. We continued to stay in each other's presence for a while and walked around for a few minutes. He held my hand the whole time, and just wanted to stay next to me for as long as he could have me. "Rose, you are the most beautiful and most special girl in my world and I love you with all of my heart," he said to me, "you don't have to say it back, if you don't want to. I just wanted you to know that you are the most important person in my life, and I don't know what I would do if our parents never became friends." My eyes started to swell up with tears. "I love you, too Liam. You are the constant that I see in my life besides Tootsie, and I am hopelessly head over heels for you." I told him.

     After a few short minutes of talking, he dropped me off at my house and held me really close when I had to leave. I went inside and my parents welcomed me, I also found Tootsie rolled up in my blankets reading a book on my bed. I told her of the day's events and how everything played out. She told me that she was proud of me and also happy that I finally grew a pair in order to get out of my comfort zone of letting the guy do everything. I eventually told her that I wished she found the same love that I think I found. Her reply was that she wasn't looking forward to the future, but working on what is happening now.

     We took quite a few more months and we were counting the days until Liam graduated. It was now closer to Spring, it was actually the first of March about a week ago. Our families both hosted a few parties for everyone to hang out. Liam and I both sang a song each time. We spent a lot of time together and helped each other on work that we had. It wasn't until a few more months before he told me he got a job and that he would have to spend less time with me. As we walked around the halls of the high school, I would always notice that Cindy is looking at Liam with a sad look in her eyes. This brought up a couple of questions on my part.

     "Liam?" I asked him on one day that we were together. "Yes, Baby Girl?" he said. "Um... I gotta ask... What is your relationship with... Cinderella?" I asked him, kind of unsure. He stopped for a second as I held my breath waiting for the answer. "Well... we used to date back in junior high to freshman year, before she was part of her popular group. That's why I was her last target and why I wasn't counted as her 'prey' either." He said while choosing his words carefully. It didn't really matter, I was still kind of hurt by his words. Even though I shouldn't be upset, I just feel like there is more to the story that he doesn't want to tell me quite yet. Liam started to watch me carefully, and kind of looked like he was deciding if he wanted to tell me something or not. "Is that all?" I asked him, feeling a pit in my stomach, knowing full well that there was something else at one point. "Well... we, um... we did... sleep together, towards the middle of this summer. It was just the one time, though. Neither of us were dating anyone at the time either, so it's not like we were cheating." He said, cautiously. "O-oh" was all I had said in reply. I started to walk a couple of paces ahead of him so he wouldn't see my thoughts swirling in my eyes, all my anxiety surfacing with my sense of depression. "H-hey, are you okay? Beautiful?" he asked as he tugged on my arm, I forgot he was holding my hand. "Ye-Yeah, I'm fine." No I'm not. I heard the lie in my voice and I heard the pain in my voice, even though there isn't quite a valid reason for them. "Hey, you're my one and only, Baby Girl. Forever and Always." He said as he snatched me into a bear hug full of emotion.

     "I'm sorry, I just... I feel extremely insecure when it comes to Cindy and the way she looks at you in the halls. I know she's more beautiful and she's extremely fit, and I'm nothing like that. If you really wanted, you could find someone better in a heartbeat." I said as a couple of tears rolled their way down my face. "But I don't even want to try to find someone better, you are my best and in my eyes, you are the most beautiful girl in the world, not even Aphrodite herself can compare." He said, trying to bring a smile to my face. He knew that I loved greek mythology and I noticed his efforts to try and cheer me up a bit, but it was in vain. I did basically a pity laugh at his joke, but didn't feel an ounce better. Although I wasn't extremely happy with him at the moment, I basked in his warmth and the smell of his woodsy cologne. His heart was pounding next to my ears as I just held him closer. He gently moved his hand up and down my back, knowing that I was hurting and that he was what caused it. The only reason he didn't give me space is because I'm partially trapping him in my embrace, as well. "Rose, I love you. I have loved you ever since you had that costume on in the halls being the silhouette of my soulmate. You are my first true love," he lifted my chin so that he could look me in the eyes, "You will always be one of the most important people in my life. I think of you and your wellbeing every second of the day. I am completely dedicated to only you, Rose. Baby Girl, you are my forever." He said. I could tell that he was telling the truth, and meaning these words with all of his heart, but my insecurities would not dissipate. "I-I love you too, Mon Ange." That's his nickname in French, it means "My angel." I wasn't completely over this, but it's not like he was cheating on me or anything, so I could drop it for now.