Love and Life

Caring and Cliques

Chapter 5

Liv's POV

What was wrong with me?

I leaned back on the weathered brown seat at the back of the cab, and closed my eyes, thinking of a sane reason to explain my actions.

Let's see, you literally hauled a douche's drunk ass home, and stood in his room as his maid tucked him in to make sure he was okay.

Nope, there's no sane reasoning to be done here.

Maybe it was from trauma? Yes! Trauma from my parents' fight and my near psychotic break. It explained everything.

As my heart slowed down and I began to relax, I couldn't help but listen to that nagging voice in my head.

But doesn't trauma cause you to do harmful activities to yourself and others around you? Not saving someone's life and making sure they were being well looked after?

I clenched my fists in frustration as I tried to block out that thought.

No, there had to be a reason on why I had decided to save Finn Crawford other than the fact that I... I cared for him.

At first, I was confused about why the idea of me caring for Finn was so appalling.

Flickers of the night before flashed in my mind. When he had held my hand and I felt all my worries disappear into thin air and the cute stutters and shy smiles that had melted my heart.

So what if I cared for him? He didn't seem like such a bad guy...

Then I remember him bullying and pushing around innocent kids just for the thrill of it and luring girls into his bedroom like a fisherman reeling in his catch of the day.

No, there was no possible way that I could ever care for Finn Crawford.

***

Finn's POV

As I climb out of my silver Mercedes, I peer through my tinted sunglasses to see the orange brick structure of Bridgewater High.

With less than 300 kids in Bridgewater, the high school only consisted of one long building.

Some people got bored of the idea of a small town. But I loved it.

Everyone knowing who you were and there being no secrets between us all, made Bridgewater always feel like a family to me rather than a community.

I watched as several of my peers stumbled up the stone steps towards their homeroom. It was good to know that I wasn't the only hungover one this morning.

In reflection, maybe a party the night before the start of senior year wasn't a good idea after all.

But it was a tradition and no one questioned Bridgewater tradition.

As I swung my shiny black leather backpack onto my shoulder, I began to make my way up to my locker, trying my best not to seem too out of it.

After successfully making it up the steps without falling, I walked up to my locker in victory.

Sorting through my messy locker, I could hear Nikki and her clique tormenting yet another girl from down the hallway.

I didn't usually stop them since it gave them something to do other than gawk and pester me all day long.

But when things got too heavy, I had to break it up since nobody else was willing to.

This was one of those times.

"What the hell bitch? You don't look hungover at all."

"That's 'cause... Duh! The bitch didn't go to the party last night."

"Oh my freaking God, bitch! You had a chance to go to a Crawford party, like the only chance you'll ever get, and you ditched it? You're such a dumb bitch."

I couldn't see the poor girl's face because of Nikki and her crew blocking my view but I could see her tiny frame standing straight, patiently waiting for them to finish.

I admired those kind of guts in a person; how she could stand there and not let them get the better of her. It was obvious she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of knowing that their words had hurt her.

I leaned against my locker and watched the whole debacle unfold in front of me.

Then, one of the girls started to pick out black silky strands from the tight bun that sat upon her head and I could see a tiny vein bulge out on her neck.

Poor girl. She shouldn't have to take this crap from these blonde bimbos.

I strode up to them and began to break it up.

"Ok girls, that's enough. It's time for homeroom anyway. Come on now," I commanded authoritatively.

"Finny? Boo! You're ruining all the fun," Nikki pouted as I pushed her and the other blonde bimbos off the black-haired girl.

"Yeah, yeah Nikki, get moving now."

I held my breath as they stumbled away, the bitter stench of alcohol still lingering on them from last night.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask softly and put my hands between the girl's two prominent shoulder blades.

She immediately stiffens and doesn't turn around to face me. She nods without making a word and begins to run away.

What? No one runs away from Finn Crawford! Especially if they just got the privilege of him saving them from Nikki and her clique.

Wait a second. There was something familiar about the girl's run.

How her pale slender legs sprinted across the hallway. The way she clutched her chest as she ran. More wisps of her raven hair had fallen out of her bun which only made me think of what her hair looked like if it was cascading down her shoulders...

My heart stopped completely as my brain put the puzzle pieces together.

It was her.