I Had To Leave You

Chapter 3: Five years later

This is five years later, she's sixteen.

I sighed as I pulled the tray of hash browns and wedges out if the oven. It was the same every night, get home from school, do homework, cook dinner go, to bed. Except for Wednesday, then I would go to therapy with Linda after school. And sometimes I would have to go to the chemist to pick up my prescription and get my depressants. I had been taking them for three years now. I had paid someone to take me to the doctors and I got prescribed with depression.
I was about to turn on the T.V when there was a rapid knock at my door. When I didn't immediately answer, it came again but harder. They kept knocking as I made way to the front door.
"Okay, okay I'm coming!" I shouted.
I opened the door and my heart stopped.

His crystal blue eyes met mine and a wide grin spread from ear to ear on his face. He hadn't changed a bit. He still had the same dusty blond hair, same loose shirt and jeans, same joy-filled expression, same everything.

"Ruby, " he sighed.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed me in a bone-crushing hug. I stood there, frozen and unsure of what I should do. I forgot he had a southern accent, he was from North Carolina so it made sense. I slowly pulled myself away and looked up at him. He was around 6'2so he was obviously taller than me.

"Why're you here, Liam?" I asked in an emotionless tone, even though I wanted to pound his face in with my fist.

His face fell. "Aren't you glad to see me, Darlin'?"

I frowned and stepped back into the safety of my house. "Why would I be?"

He looked absolutely stunned. He opened his mouth to say something but I slammed the door in his face before he could. I locked it then went into the lounge room and turned the T.V on, scrolling through Netflix and deciding to watch 'welcome to America.' It was about an African prince going to America for the first time and falling in love and getting married, it was pretty much the same as ever movie except it was supposed to be cringy. That's why it was funny. Liam knocked on the door again and juggled the doorknob. After I didn't answer him, he stopped and I assume he left. That was until the door swung open and I saw him replace the spare key in the can't pot. I sighed in frustration. I need to find a new place for that. I thought.
He strode into the lounge room and sat next to me on the couch, I ignored him and continued to watch the movie. He grabbed the remote and turned to T.V off.

"Hey!" I protested.

"Why wouldn't you be happy to see me?" He asked and I turned to face him. "We're best friends, c'mon just talk to me, "

I rolled my eyes and strolled into the kitchen to put my plate in the sink. I couldn't afford a dishwasher yet, but I was saving up for one.

"Ruby, what's wrong?"

That's it. "You wanna know what's wrong, Liam? Fine. My best friend left me without telling me, he wrote a tiny letter that didn't explain anything. My mother left right after you did and I can barely afford this house. I have to go to therapy every week and I have to take these stupid pills that are supposed to make me feel better but guess what? They don't. I still want to fucking die because I've had no one who fucking loves me since I was twelve years old. That's is what's wrong." By the time I finished my rant, Liam's face was pale and I was close to tears.

I ran upstairs to my bedroom and slammed the four shut behind me. He had no understanding of how hard it had been for me these past five years. I couldn't get a job until I was fourteen so I had struggled to make it look like mum was still around, and even when I did have a job I was getting underpaid by at least thirty dollars a week. I was still struggling to keep balance out work and school. The last thing I needed was a distraction like Liam Stuart. I plopped onto my bed and put my head in my hands as tears of frustration welled and pressed to be released.
The door squeaked open and I heard him shuffling towards me. I didn't bother to look up. He sat beside me and put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his chest.
"I'm so sorry, babe, " he whispered. "You have no idea how much I regret going back, or how much I missed you."

I sniffed. "Well, it's your fault because you're the one who left. Not me."

He moved behind me and laid down on my small bed, then pulled me down so I was lying on his chest. No, I couldn't let him do this. He would just leave me again. I wiggled out of his grip and stood, strolling to the door.

"Come on, " I told him, gesturing to the door.

He followed me downstairs and I led him to the front door, pushing him out and making sure to grab the spare key. He slumped.
"Fine, I'll be here when you need me though." He sighed and walked across the street.

I shut the door and pressed my forehead to it, letting my sanity slip for a second. My entire body screamed at me to go and bring him back, to hold him close and never let him go again. But if I did that then he would just leave me again, and I wasn't sure if I could handle the heartbreak. I went up to my bedroom and sank into the mattress, ugh. It smelled like him, smoke, forests and mint. I loved that smell because of him. I kicked my shoes off and snuggled into the blankets, inhaling his delicious scent. This was the side that I wouldn't let anybody see.