Willow
I walk into Chloe’s hospital room, half expecting her to be asleep, but I find her sitting up, her eyes focused on her phone.
“Chloe!” I throw myself in bed next to her and hold her in a tight hug.
“Are you my sister?” She places her palm on my forehead. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I chuckle.
“I’m glad,” she grins. “Willow, Leo loves you. He can’t even hide it, everyone can see it. His protectiveness, the way he looks at you, and how his eyes light up when you are around.”
“He’s supposed to be your man,” I frown in confusion.
“We both know he would do anything for you,” she shrugs.
“Because he feels guilty. Please don’t make me change my mind.”
“Guilty of what? Change your mind about what?”
“Chloe, Leo is not the person we thought he was.”
“What did he do? Does he have something to do with your kidnapping?” She asks.
“No, it’s something else. We had a fight.”
“People have fights all the time, I want you to think about it. I'm not asking you to marry him, I just want you to know.”
“Do you remember Liam? My boyfriend.”
“Yeah, I do.” She says dismissively. “Liam the good guy,” her voice is dripping with sarcasm.
“Did Leo say something to you about Liam? And what’s going on? I thought you were in love with Leo. Why are you speaking as if you want me to be in a relationship with him?”
“We broke up and no, Leo never mentioned Liam.”
“I’m so sorry about your break-up.” I say half-heartedly.
“It wasn’t going to work out, anyway.” She exhales.
“So, you came all the way to break up with Leo? Did he invite you to that restaurant?”
“No, I came when he told me that you were kidnapped.”
“You came for me?” I raise my eyebrows. “Not for Leo?”
“Who cares about Leo?” She smiles weakly. “I came here ready to kill whoever who kidnapped you.”
“I thought you cared about him.”
“Why are you ruining our moment?” She frowns playfully. “Why were you kidnapped, anyway?”
“I’m not sure. Everything happened so fast and no one told me anything, not even the kidnappers. I thought you would be happy.”
“If they took you? No, I wouldn’t have anyone to torture.”
“So, you love me?”
“You wish,” she sighs. “But seriously, I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time. You needed us, but Mom and I just let you grieve alone.” She shudders. “I will never forgive myself for that.”
“We used to be so close, then one day you changed. Why do you hate me so much?”
“Because Dad was the better parent, and he liked you best.”
“But Dad loved all of us equally,” I say defensively.
“I don’t know, and he’s not here to comfort us or defend himself.” She exhales. “When you were born, I was excited to have a little sister, but then as you started growing and doing your science stuff, Dad was always impressed by you. I felt myself fade into the background, I became the forgotten middle child.”
“What?" I whisper. "So, this whole time, it wasn’t my fault?” My voice breaks.
“No, I’m so sorry.” She looks at me, her eyes pleading.
“I walked on eggshells around you, afraid that I was upsetting you, carefully choosing my words so that I wouldn’t set you off, and you are telling me that it wasn’t my fault this whole time?”
“Willow...”
“You changed out of the blue. I kept wondering what I did wrong. I wanted to fix it. I ended up becoming a people pleaser because of you! Why didn’t you ask dad when he was alive? Why did you take out your anger on me instead of him?”
“Because I was also busy trying to please him, trying to get him to say he was proud of me too!”
“You were supposed to be my sister! I didn't hate you because mom likes you better.”
“I’m sorry, and I’m trying to do better.” Her eyes sparkle with tears.
“It’s a little late for that,” I mumble.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me right now, but I hope we can fix this one day.”
“I doubt it. I have to go.” I climb down the bed and I put my shoes on.
“Try to be there for Leo, I think he’s going through something,” she says.
“Then you should be there for each other. You deserve each other.”
“Willow?” The pleading in her voice envelopes me with guilt.
I hold my hand up to stop her from continuing to speak. I place the lunch bag on the bedside table and I quietly exit the room without taking a glance at her.
I blink back the tears as I walk out of her room. My face bumps into a firm yet comfortable figure.
“Liam, what are you doing here? You scared me.” I place my palm on my chest.
“I’m sorry babe, I’ve been looking for you. I called the cops.”
“For what?” I raise my eyebrows.
“To search Leo’s apartments, I think there might be limbicus stored somewhere in his apartments.”
“What?” I unintentionally raise my voice, gaining the attention of people who are passing by.
“I knew it! I knew you were lying to me. I have always told you I know you. You left the packet in Leo’s apartment and lied about it. The police are on their way,” he says with a smirk.
I turn around, my head spinning. I brisk walk to the exit, fishing for my phone in my handbag, my shaking hands seem to grab anything but the phone. I curse under my breath when I touch a bottle of eye drops that I even forgot existed.
“Even if you run, you won’t get there on time.” He walks behind me, each deliberate step he takes behind me irritating my ears.
“There is no limbicus in that apartment,” I mumble, keeping my eyes on the exit and my hand in my bag without turning to look back at him.
“What are you going to say to him?” He chuckles. “Hey Leo, I tried to get you arrested, and now I feel bad,” he does the worst imitation of my voice.
I roll my eyes as if he can see my face, and I continue to walk.
I stop when I get to the side of the road, relieved that Liam is not following me anymore. I take a deep breath before fumbling with my bag in another attempt to find my phone. When I finally find it, I reluctantly make the call.
“Jeremy, I need a huge favor from you.”
“My favorite TA...” He says in his usual cheerful voice.