The next day at school, after the current period had ended, Allison dashed out of the class as if she was being chased,
The sun was shining brightly as Allison walked through the school hallways, her backpack slung over her shoulder. She had been looking forward to this day all week, hoping to finally talk to Liam and clear the air between them.
As she entered the cafeteria, she scanned the room for Liam's familiar face. She spotted him sitting at a table by the window, his nose buried in a book. Allison's heart skipped a beat as she made her way towards him.
She approached the table, with her footsteps quiet on the tile floor. "Hey, Liam," she said softly, trying not to startle him.
Liam looked up, his eyes locking onto hers for a brief moment. But instead of smiling or greeting her, he simply stood up, his book still clutched in his hand, and walked away.
Allison felt like she had been punched in the gut. She stood there, frozen in shock, as Liam disappeared into the crowd of students. She couldn't believe he had just ignored her like that.
She sat down at the table, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. Why was Liam being so cold and distant? Didn't he want to talk to her to work things out?
As she sat there, trying to process what had just happened, Emily walked into the cafeteria, a concerned look on her face. "Hey, Allison, what's wrong?" she asked, spotting her friend's tears.
Allison shook her head, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Liam just ignored me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emily's expression softened, and she sat down beside Allison. "I'm so sorry," she said. "Maybe he's just still hurt and needs some time."
Allison nodded, feeling a small sense of comfort. Maybe Emily was right. Maybe Liam just needed some time to process everything.
But as she sat there, thinking about Liam's behaviour, Allison couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Why was Liam being so distant and cold? And what did it mean for their future together?
As the lunch bell rang, signalling the end of the period, Allison stood up, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. She was going to find out what was going on with Liam, no matter what it took.
She turned to Emily, a newfound sense of purpose in her eyes. "I'm going to talk to him," she said. "I'm going to find out what's going on."
Emily nodded, a supportive smile on her face. "I'm with you," she said. "Let's go."
Together, the two friends walked out of the cafeteria, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As they walked, Allison couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What would Liam say to her? Would he even talk to her?
But she pushed aside her doubts, focusing instead on the determination burning within her. She was going to make things right with Liam, no matter what it took.
The two friends walked through the school hallways, their footsteps echoing off the lockers. They passed by classrooms and students, their eyes fixed on the goal ahead.
Finally, they reached Liam's locker, and Allison's heart skipped a beat as she saw him standing there, his back turned to her.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come before speaking.
"Liam," she said softly, trying not to startle him.
Liam turned, his eyes locking onto hers for a brief moment. But instead of speaking, he simply turned back to his locker, his expression cold and distant.
Allison felt a pang of hurt and frustration. Why was Liam so stubborn and uncooperative? Didn't he want to talk to her to work things out?
But she refused to give up. She walked up to Liam, her eyes locked on his. "Liam, please," she said. "Just talk to me."
Liam sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "What do you want to talk about, Allison?" he asked, his voice cold and detached.
Allison took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I want to talk about what happened," she said. "I want to explain why I did what I did."
Liam raised an eyebrow, his expression sceptical. "Go on," he said.
Allison hesitated, unsure of where to start. But as she looked into Liam's eyes, she saw a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could work things out after all.
"I was scared," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sophia threatened me, and I didn't know what to do."
Liam's expression softened slightly, and Allison's heart skipped a beat. Maybe he was starting to understand.
But as she looked deeper into his eyes, she saw a hint of pain and hurt. Liam was still hurting,
Liam's eyes seemed to bore into her soul as if searching for any sign of deception. Allison felt a shiver run down her spine as she struggled to maintain eye contact.
"I was scared, Liam," she repeated, her voice trembling. "I didn't know what to do. Sophia threatened to hurt my father if I didn't do what she said."
Liam's expression didn't change, but Allison sensed a slight softening in his demeanour. He seemed to be considering her words, weighing the truth behind them.
"Why didn't you come to me?" he asked finally, his voice low and husky. "Why didn't you trust me to protect you and your father, you though i betrayed you by telling you that your father was dead. I heard rumours, Allison.. i h..?"
Liam was unable to hide his emotional expression. He let out a little tears, which made Allison understand how he must have felt.
Allison felt a pang of guilt and regret. She had been so blinded by her fear that she hadn't considered turning to Liam for help.
"I was ashamed," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was ashamed of what I had done, and I didn't want you to know."
Liam's eyes seemed to cloud over, and Allison feared that she had lost him forever. But then, to her surprise, he spoke.
"I understand," he said, his voice softening. "I understand why you did what you did. But what I don't understand is why you didn't trust me enough to believe me and to tell me the truth."
Allison felt a lump form in her throat as she realized the depth of Liam's hurt. She had wounded him deeply, and she wasn't sure if she could ever make it right.
"I'm sorry, Liam," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I'm so sorry for what I did. Can you ever forgive me?"
Liam's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, searching for any sign of insincerity. But Allison knew that she was genuinely sorry, and she hoped that Liam could see that.
"I don't know," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need time to think."
Allison nodded, feeling a sense of disappointment wash over her. She had hoped that Liam would forgive her, that they could move forward from this.
But as she looked into Liam's eyes, she saw a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could work through this after all.
"I understand," she said, her voice soft. "Take all the time you need."
Liam nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. For a moment, they just stood there, the tension between them palpable.
Then, without a word, Liam turned and walked away, leaving Allison standing alone in the hallway.
As she watched him go, Allison felt a sense of uncertainty wash over her. Had she lost Liam forever? Or could they somehow find their way back to each other?
Only time would tell..
TO BE CONTINUED.