No Filter

Chapter LXXII (72)

Liam's POV

I cringe at the brightness and cover my eyes, moaning. I swing my arm to the empty space and realize that Ally was absent. I groan and rub my eyes. I open my eyes and see it sadly true.

Last night, she was having another panic attack sleeping in the dark. I came into her room because I was sure I heard something, and I was correct. When I found her, she was covering herself with her blanket, sobbing. I turned on the lights, and she revealed herself. I rushed to her and held her in my arms. She told me she had another nightmare in the dark again. I calmed her down and invited her to stay in my room. I carried her to my room and laid her down on my bed. I turn on the lamp on my nightstand, and we got under the sheets. She wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my chest. I embraced her warmth, and we soon fell asleep.

We've been sharing the same bed together for a while now. But nothing consummating has happened, other than a few kisses and cuddling. I know Ally wasn't ready yet, and I'll wait until she is. I am not going to rush her because she needs her time. But I don't want to speculate because I don't know when she'll join me again. I want to share a room together. She already has some of her stuff here, and she hasn't touched them yet. I think I should ask her that when I tell her that I want her to stay with me after Bear leaves. I want her close to me.

I sit up on my bed and uncover the sheets. I set my feet on the ground and grab a new set of clothes. I walk into the bathroom and take a shower. I let the warm water distract my mind for a moment. Once I got out, I dry myself and put on the new set of clothes. I exit the bathroom and head out of my room. I trot down the stairs and am hit with the sweet smell of pancakes. I moan and walk through the dining room and into the kitchen.

I thought I would find Mabel and Lizzie making the pancakes, but instead, it was Ally. She stood in front of the stove, watching the pan. I wrap my arms around her waist, causing her to flinch. I rest my head on her shoulder and greet, "Morning, sweetheart."

She turns her head an angle and smiles. "Good morning," she greets. I bury my lips into her shoulders and nibble her skin. She giggles, jerking her shoulder forward. "Liam," She mumbles. "Bear might walk in on us."

"That was your excuse last time," I recall. "You shouldn't have left the bed so early then."

"I just wanted to help Mabel and Lizzie because Lizzie has the flu and Mabel is watching over her," she answers.

"Fine," I said. "I'll get you later the next time." I peck her on her cheek. Our eyes lock for a moment. Her beautiful brown eyes were the most glorious thing I have ever witness. Just one look in her eyes, and I see an angel.

Our sweet moment was ruined by smoke coming from none other than the pancakes. Ally and I dart our eyes to the pan. She flips the pancake over, revealing it to be burnt. She covers her mouth.

I release her in my arms, and she grabs the pan and tosses the pancake away. She shifts her eyes on me, and I give her an apologetic look. She sets the pan on the stove and gives a spoonful of pancake batter onto the pan.

I take a step back, and my mind travels all the way back to when we were in high school. When Ally and I were dating Troy and Cheryl. I wondered what would it be like if Troy and her were together still. Or if she fell in love with anyone else.

"Ally?" I questions. She gives me a 'Hmm?' as a response. I clear my throat and ask, "I know that you told me you didn't do much dating. Before you came to work here, was there someone who you fell for? Someone who you loved."

She turns around and raises an eyebrow. "No, I was never really with anyone. Why would you ask?"

"I was just wondering," I said. "Because someone must've loved you like I love you." She shakes her head. I nod my head and change the subject, "How is your dad?" I ask. "I'm sure you have enough for the surgery now."

She nods her head. "I do," she says. "My dad will be okay once he undergoes the operation. I just haven't told him yet. We reconnected about three years ago, and ever since, he would always tell me 'you need to get married' and 'I want grandchildren'. And I will tell him that I haven't found the right guy yet. I was busy with school, and I wasn't looking into relationships at that time. I wasn't even looking into dating again until I met you again. When I saw you, my heart was beating once more, and I felt alive again. The scars were slowly healing itself. I've felt the burden of solitude for a long when I left you behind. And I'm not really proud of it, but I'm kind of glad that I did. If I had stayed, I don't know what would've happened to us. If we were given a chance. I was happy for you. But some things were just hard for me. If I had stayed, I wouldn't have gotten the chance to teach Bear. Nor to be with you again. In all honesty, I don't regret leaving."

"I understand," I reply. "You left, and that's when I realize everything was going downhill for me. I bottled everything up, and I couldn't bring myself to open up to Cheryl anymore. I chose to drink and smoke to relieve my stress. But it wasn't only the absence of your presence that caused me to change. There was an accident. I didn't know how it got started but there was a fire in my house, and I barely made it out alive. I was stuck in the living, trapped between fires. Part of the ceiling fell on top of me, and I thought I was going to die. But I didn't. And I was sad and happy at my fate. Ever since then, I haven't completely felt like myself."

Ally's eyes puff, and she managed to swallow. "Liam," she croaks as she walks through me, "I'm sorry for what happened. I just never knew..."

"It's alright," I said. "You didn't know. But look now where we are." I hold her in my arms. "I love you sweetheart."

"I love you too," she says.

She grabs my neck, and we pull in for a kiss, lighting up the spark. I move my hands to her back and slowly press her against my body. I was reassured by every peck that she was mine and I was hers.

Soon, we were losing oxygen. We pull apart, and I grab her hand and intertwine our fingers.

"Well, I have to get back to the stove," she says. "I'm busy with pancakes still." I sigh disappointedly and free her hand.

I exit the kitchen to give her time to make breakfast. Once Bear was up and Ally was finish, we help her set up the table and enjoy breakfast together. We kind of had to eat fast because Bear was running late for his trip with Freddy and his parents. They were going somewhere for the next couple of days. At first, I was worried, but then, Ally gave me faith to trust Freddy's parents. I hope they can take good care of him.

After Richie sent Bear off, Ally was cleaning up the kitchen. I sat in the living room, reading the news of the day. As I read, I hear someone knocking on the door. I set the newspaper down on the couch and stand up. I walk to the door and open it. My brows crease, seeing an unfamiliar man standing at my door. He was around my height. His hair was covered with a beanie. He wore a jacket and sunglasses.

"Hello?" I greet.

"Hi," he greets. "My name is Will."