The Secrets We Carry

Chapter Twenty-One | Bittersweet

James

It's been almost two hours and we haven't heard anything yet from Adam.
Liv was sure that was probably a good sign. I just hoped it was.

I was sitting up leaning against some old wooden boxes and Liv was laying down with her head in my lap. After Adam had left we started talking more about our plan to leave. We even wrote down a few things to help guide us. Things we would need to pack, resources to help us get started in a new city and even budgeting goals. I couldn't believe this was happening I could get away.

I needed to call my mom and tell her. Let her know I wouldn't be here anymore and that she shouldn't come back here. She was safe with her sister for now and she could come and live with me once we're settled.
A sad thought pops into my head as I realize she still hasn't called me since she left. I called her a few times and she would message back that she couldn't talk on the phone. The last two messages I sent her went completely unanswered.

I'm jolted out of my thoughts at the sound of foot steps coming up the stairs. I know Liv has heard them too as she starts sitting up looking in the same direction.
I see Adam as he reaches the top and a moment later I see Angela's face behind him. Her face falls as she looks over at me, taking in my less than pleasant appearance.

"Oh my god." She breathes. "James are you ok? What am I saying? That was a stupid question." She walks over to me and kneels down beside Liv and I.

I let out a nervous laugh. "I'm ok."

Adam makes his way over to us and that's when I notice he's holding two large paper bags.
He sits down and starts pulling out burgers and fries, the intoxicating smell over takes me. I hadn't eaten all day, none of us had. My stomach reacts to the smell by letting out a low grumble.

"Hungry?" Adam says laughing in response to the growl my stomach let out.

I nod, embarrassed as he hands me a burger.

Liv starts picking at the fries and so does Angela.
No one is saying anything as we eat enjoying the food.

"So as you guys probably figured out, I told Angela." Adam says breaking the silence.

Liv smiles over at Angela. "Yes, I assumed as much since she's here."

"I just feel awful that you're all going through this." Angela puts down her food. "That you've been going through this for years. You're all so strong." She looks around at all of us and I feel my cheeks flame. I hadn't shared anything about my personal life with anyone. Now I have a whole groups of people that know. That support me.

"I'm not strong. I'm lucky I have Adam or I don't know what I would do." Liv says reaching over and squeezing his hand.

"I'm lucky I have you Liv. You're the only reason I've pushed through this long."

I knew Adam was protective of Liv as she's shared stories with me. Seeing them together though and the unconditional love they have for each other is enough to melt the ice off the coldest heart. I find myself wishing I had someone like that in my life that I would have had through all the nights I would nurse my own wounds. Not even my mother showed me that kind of love.

We finish the rest of our food and throw the garbage into one of the bags. When Angela brings up us leaving.

"So Adam tells me you guys are planning on leaving after graduation."

"That's the hope. We've written down a few things to help put this plan into action." I tell them as I reach over for the notebook where Liv and I wrote it all down. I pass it to Adam and he reads it with Angela leaning into him to read it too.