Chapter 78 The cold street
Chapter 78: The Cold Street (Liam’s POV)
The moment Maya’s lips touched mine at the bonfire, I felt sick. It wasn't the kind of "kilig" or spark the movies talk about. It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. I didn't move for a second, my brain completely frozen, but I could see Elena over Maya’s shoulder.
The look on Elena’s face—the absolute heartbreak and disgust—is something I’ll never forget. She didn't stay to hear me explain. She just turned and limped away into the dark with Julian.
I shoved Maya back so hard she stumbled into the dirt.
"What is wrong with you?" I yelled. The crowd was cheering, but I felt like I was losing my mind.
"Liam, come on! It was a dare!" Maya said, rubbing her arm and trying to look innocent. "Besides, she’s gone. She’s with him. Just let it go."
"I’m done letting things go," I said.
I didn't stay for the rest of the game. I didn't care about Jax's mocking laughter or the way Chloe was filming the whole thing on her phone. I spent the next four hours driving. I went to the hospital, but the security guard told me the "private wing" was off-limits. I went to Julian’s old neighborhood, but nobody knew where he’d gone. I was about to give up and go home when I saw a silver car speeding toward the luxury apartments downtown.
I parked across the street and waited. I didn't even know why I was there. I just couldn't go home to my father’s disappointed face and a house that felt like a prison.
I sat in the dark for hours, the rain starting to tap against my windshield. I was leaning my head against the steering wheel when I saw the front door of the apartment building swing open.
A small figure stumbled out.
It was Elena. She was carrying a bag that looked like it was falling apart, and she was leaning heavily on her cane. She didn't have an umbrella. She didn't even have a jacket. She just limped to the corner and slumped onto a concrete bench at the bus stop.
My heart nearly cracked. I jumped out of the car, not even bother to lock it, and ran across the street.
"Elena?" I called out, my voice barely a whisper.
She didn't look up. She looked like a ghost. Her hair was soaked, and her shoulders were shaking with sobs that made no sound.
"Go away," she choked out.
I didn't go away. I walked right up to her and stood there, the rain soaking through my hoodie. I saw the red marks on her arm. I saw the cheap clothes spilling out of her bag.
"Elena, look at me," I said, dropping to my knees on the wet sidewalk so I was at her level.
She finally wiped her eyes and looked at me. Her face was pale, and her eyes were bloodshot. "What do you want, Liam? Haven't you done enough? Go back to Maya. Go back to your mansion."
"I'm not going anywhere," I said. I reached out to touch her arm, but she flinched away like I had burned her.
"Don't touch me! Don't act like you care!" she screamed. A car passed by, splashing water onto our feet, but neither of us moved. "Julian was right. You're just a Vance. You think everything is a game. You think you can just show up when I’m at my worst and play the hero."
"I'm not playing anything, Elena! I’ve been looking for you all night!"
"Well, you found me," she said, gesturing to her broken bag and her shivering body. "Are you happy? I’m homeless. My mom is trapped in a ward I can't enter. Julian threw me out because I wouldn't... because I said no. Are you satisfied now?"
I felt a surge of rage so strong I wanted to go back inside that building and tear Julian apart with my bare hands. "He did what? He kicked you out in the rain?"
"Because of you!" she yelled, standing up. She was unstable on her feet, and I reached out to steady her, but she pushed me back. "He was jealous because of the library! He was jealous because of the way you look at me! Every time you come near me, my life gets worse, Liam! Just leave me alone!"
"I can't leave you here, Elena. It’s midnight. It’s raining. Come to the car. I’ll take you to a hotel. I’ll pay for everything."
Elena let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "More money? That’s your solution for everything, isn't it? Julian used money to buy me. You want to use money to 'save' me. I don't want your money! I don't want to be anyone’s project anymore!"
"It’s not like that!"
"Then what is it like?" she stepped closer, her face inches from mine. "You didn't believe me when Jax hurt me. You didn't believe me when I said I wasn't a thief. You let Maya kiss you in front of the whole school! Why should I trust you?"
"Because I love you!" I shouted.
The words hung in the air, drowned out only by the sound of the rain hitting the pavement. Elena froze. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
"I love you," I repeated, my voice softer now. "I was a jerk. I was a coward. I was everything you say I am. But I’ve been a mess since the day you left that basement. I don't want a project, Elena. I just want you. Even if you hate me. Even if you never want to talk to me again, I cannot leave you on this bench."
Elena stared at me for a long time. I could see the battle in her eyes—the part of her that wanted to believe me and the part of her that was terrified of being hurt again.
"You're lying," she whispered. "You're just saying that because you feel guilty."
"Maybe I do feel guilty," I said. "But that doesn't change the fact that I can't breathe when you're not around. Please, Elena. Just get in the car. You don't have to talk to me. You don't even have to look at me. Just get out of the rain."
She looked at the car, then back at me. She looked so tired, like she couldn't fight anymore. "Where would we go? Your dad would lose his mind if I showed up at the house."
"We aren't going to my house," I said. "I have a small apartment near the university. My dad doesn't even know I have the keys. It’s quiet. It’s safe. You can stay there as long as you need."
Elena hesitated, then she slowly reached down and picked up her bag. I grabbed it from her before she could protest.
"I'll carry it," I said.
We walked to the car in silence. I opened the door for her, and she sat down, staring straight ahead. As I got into the driver’s seat, I looked at her. She was shivering so hard her teeth were chattering.
I reached into the back seat, grabbed my spare hoodie, and handed it to her. "Put this on. It's dry."
She took it without a word and pulled it over her head. It was way too big for her, making her look even smaller than she already was.
As I started the engine, I looked at the apartment building one last time. Julian was up there, probably thinking he had won. He thought he had broken her. But he didn't know that when you break something, you just find out what’s inside. And Elena was stronger than he would ever be.