Chapter 25

Chapter 25


Liam POV

I walked out of the library. The coffee stain on my shirt was very much visible. I tried my best to hide it with the jacket I had. I had nowhere to go. I didn’t know where to spend the night. There was a park close to the campus. The students who didn't live in the dorms slept in the park. I had slept there the night before and with what Jason told me, I might end up sleeping there again. My back was hurting from sleeping on the park bench last night. It was not as if I couldn’t go back to the dorm and face Jason.

I could but, the fact was, I was scared.

What would he do or say if he saw me again. Would he yell at me and tell me to leave again.

It was a scary thought.

Jason was more confident than me. I mean, see the way he confronted the girls at the library. No one stood a chance with Jason. He was bold, brave and fearless. Unlike me. I was shy and scared. The sun had started to set. It was a little cold and windy. Night was coming. I shivered a bit. I sat on one of the park bench and rested my back against it.

"I should just get used to sleeping here."

I took my phone out of my pocket and looked through the missed calls and messages.

Most of the calls and text messages were from Ryan. I was guessing he must have sent those before he got arrested. I ignored them and continued to scroll.

Suddenly, one of the text messages caught my eye. This one wasn’t from Ryan.

It was from the last person I had expected to text me…. Brandon 

And it was also a recent message.

His message was short.

“Call me.”

I noticed he had dropped a couple of calls earlier and I had missed them. I was shocked. Why was Brandon contacting me? Wasn’t he still mad at me for being with Ryan?

The image of how hurt and angry he was at the movie theater when he found out that Ryan and I were together flashed in my mind. He looked really upset and it made me feel bad. He even fought with Ryan that day under the rain.

What could have possibly happened for him to contact me now.

I stared at the text and then at the missed calls. I wasn’t sure what to do. I was scared to call him back. But, I was curious and the urge to find out what he wanted, overpowered the fear.

Part of me still missed him. Part of me cared about him.

I tapped my feet a couple of times as I tried to decide what to do.

"Call him or not." I sighed.

"I will call him." I finally made the decision.

I dialed his number and it rang twice.

"Hello. Liam." I heard Brandon's voice through the phone.

“Hi.” I replied.

A long awkward silence followed after. I don’t know what to say to him.

I couldn't think of a single thing to say.

"I was hoping we could meet up. You know, just talk." Brandon said.

"Meet up. Talk. Okay. Sure." I replied.

"How about I pick you at your dorm in the next thirty minutes?” He asked.

I was hesitant at first.

"Is there a problem?" Brandon asked.

“I….” I stammered.

“I’m not at my dorm. I don’t stay there anymore. At least for now.” I replied. My fingers nervously played with the buttons on my jacket.

"Why? What happened?” Brandon asked.

“Ummmm… Jason, Ryan's sister kind of kicked me out when he found out about my relationship with Ryan. I don’t want to escalate the issue anymore so I left. It doesn't matter though. I will find a place to stay soon. I'm okay."

"Jason kicked you out because of Ryan? Damn, I hate him so much." Brandon said.

"Anyway. Do you have a place to stay?" He asked.

"Not yet." I answered.

“So where are you, right now?” Brandon questioned. He sounded really concerned.

"I'm at the campus park. I slept here last night and I'm here again. You know, with nowhere to go." I replied.

"Liam. This is not okay. It's not safe for you to be out there, You could get hurt or worse. I’m coming to pick you up. You can stay here with me, in my dorm. Ryan got arrested so it’s just me here. You can stay here until you sort things out with Jason.” He said.

“You don’t have to…” I tried to argue but, he interrupted me.

"I'm picking you up. End of discussion." Brandon said and hung up.

I couldn’t believe that Brandon had offered to let me stay at his dorm, after everything that happened. It was surreal. And, the best part was, I would be able to avoid Ryan. With him being locked up in jail, there would be no tension.

Maybe it was fate or the universe telling me to choose Brandon Maybe it was fate giving me a chance to fix my relationship with Brandon.

Brandon was the only good option left.

An hour later, Brandon's car pulled up. The moon was already up and it had gotten really dark. I was on the other side of the park waiting for him and there was no one there. He got out of the car and walked towards me.

I noticed that his face was badly injured. He had s few stitches on his lips and cuts and bruises all over his face.

He also had a black eye.

“What happened to your face, Brandon?” I asked. My eyes widened at the sight of his bruised face.

"Your sweet little boyfriend Ryan happened. That's what." Brandon replied sarcastically.

He groaned and touched his cheek.

"It's still hurts." He said.

I could tell that his wounds had not fully healed yet. I reached out to touch his face, but he pushed my hand away. I guess he was still mad at me.

"See.” He said angrily as he pointed at the black eye he got. He also gestured at the other bruises.

"This is all because of you." He pointed at his bruised lips.

"And, these are from him." He added.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know he did this." I said.

"Well, now you do. Look at the mess you've caused. And, I'm the one who suffered." He said.

“You left me for a rascal. A savage. A criminal. See what Ryan did to my fcking face.” He yelled.

Then he started to pace around.

"Do you see what you've done. I didn't deserve any of this. You're supposed to be mine. Liam." He shouted.

"I loved you. But what did you do? You threw all that love away for a criminal who is now locked up in jail. I mean look at your life, Liam. Your best friend and roommate is angry with you, he kicked you out of the dorm and you’re also being humiliated by everyone in the school. Everyone thinks you’re a w-hore or a s-lut.” He said.

Brandon's words cut deep into me. They were harsh and painful.

I knew everything he was saying was true. But hearing them hurt so bad.

"I know." I replied. Tears began to form in my eyes.

"It's not easy. Trust me. I know that my life is a mess and I know that I've messed things up. And, you have every right to be mad at me. But I’m sorry, Brandon.” I begged.

I reached out to him and began to plead. I almost fell on my knees.

"Please. Forgive me, Brandon” I begged.

“Why?” Brandon asked. “Why did you cheat on me with Ryan? I gave you all my love? Just tell me why him?” He questioned.

“Am I not good enough for you, Liam?” Brandon asked.

I sniffed back the tears.

“It’s not what you think Brandon. Let me explain.” I said.

“Then explain.” Brandon shouted as he held me by my shoulder and shook me.

I was a little shocked by the way he was acting. He was being a bit aggressive and forceful. He looked angry. I was scared. I was scared because, Brandon wasn't the type to act this way.

He was always calm and sweet. But I brushed it off as him being hurt and angry.

"Okay. I will explain. But, please. Stop shouting."

He didn't respond. He was waiting for me to talk.

I sighed and tried to find the right words.

"The truth is, I…I met Ryan before you. We met at a party and he kissed me. The day that you gave me your shirt, I had accidentally spilled that coffee on myself because I was mad I saw him with someone else.” I said.

Brandon scoffed.

“So you lied to me. At the dorm, when I asked you if you’ve seen Ryan before. If you know him. You said ‘No’. So it was all a lie.” He yelled.

"I was scared." I cried.

"Scared of what?" He asked.

"I was afraid of losing you. You were so sweet to me. And you’re the first guy that ever asked me out on a date. Ryan and I weren’t serious or anything. I really liked you, Brandon. Please understand me. Forgive me. Please.” I begged again.

Brandon ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes. He paced up and down.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I pleaded again. Tears fell from my eyes.

"I wish things could be different. I wish we could go back to the way things were." I said.

"So, does that mean, you still have feelings for me? You still love me?" He asked.

I nodded my head.

“I will take you back, Liam. I will pretend that this thing with Ryan never happened. I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. I will let you back in my life and let you be mine again.” He said.

A tear slid down my face.

"Thank you." I murmured.

I was happy. This was my chance to work things out with Brandon and at least try to have a normal life again.

"Thank you.” I said again.

“You don’t have to thank me, Liam” Brandon told me.

He moved closer to me and stared into my eyes. There was a strange expression on his face. A sudden change. Like it got darker and colder.

I didn’t know what was going on. Then he did something I didn't expect.

He leaned closer and pressed his lips against mine. His hand circled round my waist and pulled me closer.

My eyes widened in shock. He kissed me. His kiss was not gentle like his usual kisses. It was a very rough and intense. I tried to push him away. But, Brandon wouldn't budge.

He grabbed me and kissed me deeper. His fingers were digging into my clothes.

“Your condition is simple.” Brandon said. He grabbed my cheek and pulled it up for me to look up at him.

“You have to give yourself to me. You have to have s-ex with me. Just like you had s-ex with Ryan” He added.

“What?” I gasped.

Brandon smiled.

"That's the only way you can prove your love to me and gain my trust again." He said.

I couldn't believe what he was asking me.

"B-But….that's not fair. You can't just ask me to have s-ex with you." I stuttered.

Brandon let out a dry maniac laugh.

"Why? Ryan had s-ex with you. Didn’t he? You gave yourself to him like a little s-lut so why are you acting like this is something new?” He said in a very condescending manner.

“You’re just a w-hore, Liam. Admit it. You think you’re too good for me and my money. So, you threw yourself at the criminal who has nothing and doesn’t care about you. I bet Ryan has had many people and he doesn’t give a damn about you. You mean nothing to him, Liam. Don't kid yourself. I've known Ryan for a long time. I know him. But, he doesn't care about anyone or anything except himself. You were only a plaything to him and that’s all you will ever be.”

I slapped Brandon hard on his already bruised face. I was angry.

“Shut the hell up, Brandon.” I said angrily.

He was insulting me. Calling me a w-hore and asking me to have s-ex with him like I was some kind of p- rostitute or h- ooker.

"Don’t you dare talk to me like that Brandon. I thought you were a good guy but now I see that Ryan is so much better than you. At least he doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not and he doesn't treat anyone like  a toy. You disgust me."

Brandon laughed.

"Ryan is a criminal, Liam.I am a law-abiding citizen. You should have chosen me. He is a bad person. What does that say about you, Liam?"

Brandon grabbed me and shoved me into his car.

"Get the fck in." He yelled.

“No.” I shouted as I struggled to get away from him.

Where we were there was no one around. No one could help me. And Brandon was a lot stronger than me.

"Let go of me. What are you doing?" I asked.

Brandon didn't say anything. He kept a tight grip on me and put his hand over my mouth.

"Shut up. And stop struggling." He said.

He pushed me hard against the car and I winced in pain. My side against the metal door.

He then dragged my shirt and tore it open. My chest was exposed and he forced me to take off my trousers.

He brought out his phone and took pictures of me.

I tried to cover myself because of the cold and scream but, Brandon's hands were blocking my mouth.

"You have two options. You can either choose to come with me, or, I will make sure everyone at this school knows what a slut you are. I will send them all these pictures and expose you. I would tell them you stripped yourself to seduce me. I will make sure your life is a living hell." He said.

I was in tears. I had nowhere to run. Brandon had me cornered and trapped.

"So, which is it going to be?" He asked.