Fighting Liliana

Chapter Eleven

I get in my car and drive to my apartment, but not before stopping at Ora's and getting a lemonade. "Hi, Mr. Hamilton.", I say to my old boss. He quickly looks up and comes over to give me a hug. "Liliana, how are you? I've been so worried about you. ", he says. "I'm okay I guess. How are you?", I ask. "I've been okay too, this place has been hard to keep up with since you've left. ", he says. I look around and see how busy they are, then look behind the cash register to see that Mr. Hamilton is the only one working. "Where are all of the other employees?", I ask.

"They all take advantage of the fact that I'm getting older Liliana, they don't care about this place.", he says sadly. I feel bad for Mr. Hamilton. He's always been here since I was 17, even though he fired me. I went in the back to wash my hands, put on an apron and started taking people's orders. "Liliana what are you doing?", Mr. Hamilton asks. "I'm helping!", I say smiling. He smiles and goes to take other people's orders. I hear someone walk in and I say "Hi welcome to Ora's, can I take your order." "Hey Liliana", I look up to see Parker's friend Nathan. "Hi.", I say back. "I thought Parker said you got fired from this place.", he said.

"I did, but it's a long story. Can I get you something?", I ask him. "Well, my friend wants to know if you'll at least listen to me.", he says. I look up to see that everyone has been taken care of and that we'll be closing soon, so I walk over to a table to listen. "Parker likes you a lot, Liliana. He's not even the slightest bit interested in Mya anymore.", Nathan says. "Anymore?", I ask. "They used to date. About 3 years ago.", he replies. "For how long?", I wonder aloud. "Two years.", he sighs. Two years? He dated Mya for two years and didn't think to tell me that. "How could he date her for two years and not tell me?", I ask.

"Liliana, he was scared. He didn't want to push you away. ", he says. "That's why he wanted me to forfeit. Not so I wouldn't get hurt, but because he didn't want her to.", I say. "What? Liliana, you're joking right?", Nathan asks. "No.", I say and get up. I help Mr. Hamilton clean up and then I walk outside to my car. I drive back to my apartment and notice that my light is on in the living room. "There's no way I left this on.", I say to myself. I unlock the door and walk in. "Liliana", I hear someone say.

I turn around and punch whoever it is straight in the face without even thinking. "What the hell Lil!", Parker yells. "Why the hell are you in my apartment?", I yell back. "Charlie let me in so I could wait for you.", he says. I look around to see Charlie, Scott, and a laughing Nathan walking in behind me. "Dude you just got knocked the hell out by your girlfriend.", Nathan says. Parker quickly looks at him and rolls his eyes, sticking his middle finger up. "I'm going to bed.", I say and walk back to my bedroom. I walk in and turn around to close the door, but Parker already did it.

"Parker, you're persistent. I have to give you that.", I say laughing. "Liliana, I'm sorry I didn't tell you I dated Mya.", he says. "Why didn't you?", I ask. "I was scared, Lil. You're the best thing that's happened to me, and I didn't want to risk that. My dad left when I was a baby and my mom overdosed on heroin when I was 13. I was in and out of foster care until I grew up and they kicked me out. I was on the streets until I was 18 years old and that was when I met Mya. She saw me sitting outside the same boxing gym that I work at now, asking for money. Mya is the one that introduced me to boxing and helped me get rid of so much of my anger. I told myself that I would forever be grateful for what Mya did, and I am. I'm grateful that she got me off of the streets and introduced me to boxing, but I've realized how awful of a person she truly is since then. Mya started to use me once we started to date. She would make me help her sabotage anyone who she had to box and I knew it wasn't right, but she saved my life. I hate lying to you, Lil. I really do care about you so much. You make me feel way more than Mya ever did. You're beautiful, you have these hypnotizing deep brown eyes, the cutest freckles, gorgeous curly hair, and a beautiful smile. Most importantly, you're a fighter. ", he says.

By the time Parker was done saying all of that, I was crying. I hugged him tighter than I've ever hugged anyone in my entire life. "Thank you.", I smile. "You're the light at the end of the tunnel, Liliana Johnson.", he says pulling me closer. I pull away from the hug and ask "Wait why did you throw the towel in tonight?" "Lil, I truly was worried about you tonight. I don't want you fighting Mya anymore. She could've hurt you badly. You were out of breath and probably dizzy too and we'll definitely be working on that", he says.

I nod my head and get ready for bed. "Goodnight Lil.", Parker says and starts to leave. "Parker!", I yell. "Yes ma'am", he says and pops his head back in my room. "Will you stay?", I ask him. He looks extremely shocked but quickly obliges. He takes his shirt off and he catches me staring at him, so I turn away. "Like what you see Lil?", he asks me. "I do", I say and go over to kiss him. Our kiss starts to heat up and we end up on my bed. "Wait", I say. Parker stops and immediately jumps up. "Goodness Lil, I'm so sorry. I don't want you to think that I'm forcing you, I'm totally okay with waiting.", he rambles. "Parker, it's okay. It's just a little hard because of Josh.", I say and look down.

Parker lifts my chin and kisses me. "We only have to do this if you're okay with it Lil. We have all the time in the world.", he says sweetly. "I want to do it now though.", I say quickly. He looks taken aback but nods his head. "We'll take it slow though alright?", he says. "Alright.", I reply back. Parker starts kissing me again and everything tonight turned out to be perfect.