She turned slowly surprised to find his big brown eyes staring straight at her. Her heart squeezed at the sight of him.
"Bella?" His eyes drifted from Liam to her. When he looked down at her bandaged arm concern washes over his eyes. "What happened?"
Nate took a step forward reaching for her. She wasn't even aware that she's been holding her breath when she finally replied.
"It's nothing," she hides her arm away and looks down avoiding his gaze. There was an awkward silence in the air, Liam cleared his throat trying to break the ice.
"We were just about to take her home," Liam said his hands resting on Bella's shoulders. "I already talked to the guys."
"You what?" Red as a tomato she turned to Liam. She did not peg Liam as a guy who would be overly protective of someone he barely even know.
There is no surprise that Bella has a huge crush with Liam. Although, she may be going after all her crushes like crazy aggressive before unlike all of those guys, she knows too well that Liam is way over her league. He's way too macho. She's more into those boy-next-door look thus, Nate Vasquez.
"Yeah," he answered smiling to her. "Do you think you can go home alone after what happened?"
"Why?" Nate questioned. "What happened?" his eyes never leaving Bella.
"It's nothing really," Bella's eyes drop on the floor again. She does not have any guts to look at him directly. It's way too painful seeing him be concerned about her.
"You don't have to take me home," she turned to Liam and smiled. There's no way she'll hop on a car alone with Liam. Her brain would probably explode from daydreaming about his sculpted biceps and toned chest. He may be to manly for her but not impossible to stare and ogle. How humiliating.
"I'm fine, see?" she held up her bandaged arm but winces immediately. "Ow," she rubs her arm lightly.
Liam chuckled.
"I can take her home," Nate said looking at Liam. Liam's eyes widen surprised by Nate's offer. Bella looked at Nate her brows knit trying to figure out what he's thinking.
Nate and Bella inside a car? Her head swirls at the thought. They haven't spoken for the last six years after her humiliating confession. He didn't have a chance to ask anything after the incident. She practically never gave him a chance but the possibility of having that "talk" is coming. Sooner than later. Bella had hoped it would rather be a "Never".
"We are neighbors after all," he added.
"Oh.. are you?" Liam looked at Bella to confirm.
"Uhh..." she blinked. "Yeah..."
"Oh... ok," he frowned. "I guess it'll just be me and Mike then"
Oh. Her heart sank as she thought when Liam was offering a ride, he meant just the two of them. He had meant with him, Bella, and Mike. She brushes off her disappointment remembering there is no reason for her to feel that way.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNlVNf1qxJ
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It was a silent ride home with Nate. She didn't have any much choice when Liam practically pushed her towards Nate's car and settled her on the front seat. Bella just wished that the silence will remain throughout the entire car ride. She squirmed towards the door looking at the window trying to maintain as much distance as she can between them.
"You ok?" he finally asks looking over her when they approach a red light. She flinches surprised that the mere sound of his voice would still bring butterflies in her stomach. Bella rolled her eyes remembering the humiliation that her stomach brought her.
"Yeah, yeah," she replied without looking his way. "Fine"
Bella felt his eyes were on her. Waiting for him to speak again, she closed her eyes praying that he'll drop it. After 20 minutes of excruciating silence, they reached their destination. Nate turns off the engine and turns to Bella, "Look, I know you don't want to talk to me but at least take care of yourself."
Nate had always seen her as a fragile clumsy girl when they were kids. It's not surprising that he'd see her as the way she was before.
"I..." she turned her head to him and tried to find the words but none would come out of her mouth just like before she was speechless. Bella was relieved that he didn't go questioning her about the incident six years ago but she was feeling overwhelmed to even think that he still sees her as the clumsy girl that needs a lot of attention.
"If someone is bothering you let me know," he asked with a serious face looking at her. He knows.
Her palms sweat from nervousness. Of course, he would know. Who wouldn't? she thought to herself. The news was all over school.
"If he's giving you trouble you can tell me," he added trying to search her face. Bella was relieved that he didn't bring up the incident from six years ago. They haven't talked about it, the last thing she did was stay inside her room until the class ended and transfer to another school the next year. She practically pushed everyone out.
Although now that he is being kind and gentle was she supposed to feel hopeful? Giddy? Thankful? It was like the confession day all over again. Her head pounded against her skull as spots appeared in her eyes.
"Hey, hey," he grabbed her arm and shook her gently. "Bella... Bella..."
She blinked trying to focus on his face as he turned and reached her. His face looked flawless under the moonlight. He wiped something on her nose. Her eyes glance over his hand with blood on them. She instantly claps her hand over her nose realizing she has a nose bleed.
"Here," he handed her his handkerchief, covered her nose in one hand while the other held her neck for support. "Stay still," he commanded.
His face was so near it was hard to look other than him, she could almost count how many thick eyelashes he has. Bella tensed as her head starts to turn into a puddle.
Their moment was suddenly interrupted when someone knocks Nate's window car. They both turned to see who it was. "Leslie," Bella announced.
Nate remove his hands on her and turned the lock off to let Bella open the door. "What are you doing here?" Bella asked looking at her backpack in Leslie's hands.
After all the ruckus that Gian Matthews stalkers did to her, she forgot about her things at the gym. "How did you..."
"I called you but someone else answered," Leslie answered looking at Nate who was behind her.
"I should go.." Nate thumbs towards his house. "I'll see you tomorrow."
He was halfway towards his front door when Bella called him, "Hey, Nate!" he turned and looked over at them.
"Thanks," Bella smiled appreciatively. For a moment, she felt that she have his best friend back. He nodded and continued walking towards his house when Leslie groaned.
"And yet you insisted that there's nothing going on between the two of you," she crossed her arms waiting for her answer.
"There isn't," Bella shrugged.
"Right..." she nodded her head slowly. "Then that scene I just ruined a few minutes ago isn't something I should be worried about?"
"Because from where I was standing, it looks like you guys were kissing," she added.
"What? No! What?" Bella shrieked.
"Oh yeah..." Leslie's brows shoot up and nodded. Her mind went off track for a minute while her stomach did a somersault. She shouldn't be feeling this way. Her relationship with him ended the day he rejected her. No exceptions but why does she felt hopeful all of the sudden?
"That's not gonna happen," she chuckled trying to convince more herself than her best friend.
"Ok, then at least tell me how'd you get in a fight?" Leslie pointed her slashed hoodie. "I leave for a few hours and you end up beat up and like as if the universe is being so unfair I get to speak with Liam. THE LIAM! ON YOUR PHONE NONETHELESS!" she added her eyes twinkled reminiscing.
Bella remembered Leslie's obsession with Liam. She has been fantasizing about him ever since they become the best of friends. Leslie has always been attracted to guys who look twice their age. Thus, the intense attraction to Liam. They may have different tastes in men but they do agree in one thing.. their tendencies to throw themselves towards the guy that they like. Shamelessly.
"Wait, Liam gave you this?" Bella took her backpack from her checking if all of her things are on there.
"Yeah, he was the one who answered your phone," she explained chinning her phone as Bella checked for text messages. "And may I just say? how on earth did you become close with Liam? I thought he wasn't your type? You're more of that guy anyway" she pointed out Nate's house.
"No, I am not,"
"And... FYI, he was the one who saved me from Gian Matthew's psycho stalkers," she groaned remembering the crazy event at the gym.
"Lucky!" Leslie exclaimed. "I'd be into that.. Liam saving me like a shining armor."
Bella made a face showing disagreement with the idea. "I'll make sure to let the stalkers know that you want to get threaten so he'll come riding with his white horse for rescue." she said sarcastically. Leslie rolled her eyes.
"Speaking of which," Leslie said as she walk towards Bella's house. "Tomorrow we'll need to settle this stalkers with Gian Matthews or I am going to start reporting this to the police."
"Les--"
"I know. I know," Leslie held up both her hands to surrender. "You don't want this going there, but face it this isn't something minor Bels. You're going home with a bandaged arm, how'd you tell Aunty Ches about that, huh?"
Bella didn't want to report the bullying to the police nor any officials for that matter. She already had one terrible experience with them last time she and her Aunt Ches reported the viral video. And nothing happened there.. she was sure that it'll be the same as this case. She let out a deep breath as she opened their front door.
"It's not like I don't want to," Bella explained as they went in. "It's just... I have a pretty good idea that it won't make any difference."
"But if you don't, what happens if my Liam won't be there to save your butt? Or anyone for that matter?"
"Then, we'll report"
"Yeah, once you're laying on a hospital bed"
"Yeah" Bella nodded smiling at Leslie.
"You idiot," Leslie slap her good arm as they went inside Bella's room. They sat in Bella's bed in a momentarily silence exhausted for the day.
"I'm serious Bels," Leslie spoke with concern. "I think it's best to report this to the authorities."
Bella let out a deep breath, it's not that she didn't consider the option. It's just that there's nothing they could do at the moment and she really doesn't want to be the center of attention once again in a school. She may be graduating after the year-end but they keep records of those things when she starts college and that may affect her university choices. Besides, her attackers practically gave her the solution. It's a problem with Gian Matthews. So, if she cut ties with him it'll all be over.
She reached out to the inside of her hoodie pocket and google search Gian Matthew's home address. It's about time to let him have her piece of mind.
"Shit." Bella frantically searched her pocket. "Damn, damn, damn.."
"Why? What's wrong?" Leslie narrowed her eyes at her. She looked at Bella turning her hoodie pocket inside out panicking.
"It's not here," Bella whispered. "LES! IT'S NOT HERE!" Leslie knit her eyebrows trying to understand what she was saying.
"Gian Matthews address... it's not here"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdUzZW427A
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The next day even though it was a Saturday Bella ended up going to school anyway. She turned her hoodie inside out and turned her backpack upside down but there was no paper. There's no other explanation the paper with Gian Matthews address fell when she was being harassed by his stalkers. She searched every inch of the storage room trying to find it when she was almost ready to give up the door flew open and from it stands a Herculean guy leaning at the door frame.
"Phew," Liam let out a sigh relief to see Bella. "I thought someone's being harassed in here or having it again with all that noise."
Bella felt flustered. From her experience talking to Liam, he didn't have any filters. She wasn't even sure if he was joking or serious at times but it sure does makes up with how majestic he looked like leaning at the door with the sun ray behind him. Breatheless.
Figuring that he was kidding she held up a peace sign. "Sorry," she smiled weakly. "I was trying to find something I left here."
She took another look behind the filing cabinet and sighed to find nothing there as well. "I guess it's not in here."
Liam looked at her blankly waiting for her to give him more details but that means she'll need to explain to him about what happened yesterday thus the need to tell him all about the guidebook. Bella shook her head, "You know what, it's not here anyway. I'll just be on my way."
Bella put back the filing cabinet and passes by Liam when he said, "Do you mean Gian's address?"
She stop at her tracks and turned slowly at him.
"I found it," he explained walking towards Bella. "That's what you are looking for right?"
Now, she could lie and walk away from this or she can tell the truth and may be, just may be he'll be understanding. Bella nodded to confirm his suspicions.
"Why do you need Gian's address?"
"It's..." she started and immediately brush off the need to explain. "...complicated."
"Try me."
One thing she learned from her guidebook when it comes to guys it's better to keep it simple and not less than two sentences or else they'd end up getting lost track or bored of what you are saying.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI6NvMVkPx
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She intended to do just that but Bella ended up telling him everything. Except about the guidebook part, jury's still out if he can be trusted with that kind of information. He may be kind and easy to talk to, but that's a sensitive topic to just throw out there.
"So yeah," Bella sigh. "That's why I need the address so I can talk to him."
Liam was silent the entire time, she was not sure that he heard half of what she just said so she went ahead and asked, "Can I please have it back?"
She turned to Liam, palms up waiting for him to give the address back. It was an overcast afternoon perfecr to lounge around the field and there wasn't that much students around the school so it's safe to have the conversation in the bleachers. He was seated on one of the metal seats where they end up talking about everything that caused her to have a miserable week.
"Wait," he finally said blinking trying to get a sense of what Bella had said. "So, let me get this straight... he blackmailed you. So now you have to pretend to be his girlfriend?"
Her shoulders went up and down as she nodded to answer.
"I mean, I get that he can't have any girlfriend and all..." he knitted his eyebrows speaking more to himself than to her. "but... blackmail?" he looked at Bella.
She shrugged. "Is it that impossible for him being a blackmailer?"
"He wouldn't go that far"
"Why? Because he's so cool?"
"No"
"Because he's popular?"
"No"
"Then why? Isn't he the type of person who uses someone else weakness for his own benefit? Because he definitely look the part" Bella nodded her nose flared as he defended Gian Matthews side.
"Because he knows first hand how ridiculous that is----" his eyes widen with what he had said. "I mean..." he groaned.
Bella blinked trying to decipher what he had just blurted out. "I'm sorry, did you just say that he was blackmailed before?"
"Look, Gian is a difficult person to understand but we've been in the same school since 3rd grade and I know how people react around him." Liam explained. "Everybody sees him differently because of how he looks."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I mean..." he groaned. He runs his hands through his hair in frustration. "People do terrible things to get what they want."
"And what exactly does he want? Me as bait to all of his disciples?"
"That's..." he sighed.
"Do you expect me to be understanding, is that it?" tears forms in her eyes but she didn't let any of them drop fearing that it'll never stop. "After the humiliation? the threats? I'd let him off just like that?"
Liam sighed and continued, "I didn't meant it like that.. it's just.. he's really wouldn't..."
He looked at her square in the eye and added, "He wouldn't do anything to anyone just because he likes it."
"Ha!" Bella laughed weakly. "I'm pretty sure he's enjoying this."
"No, he doesn't" Liam replied not an ounce of amusement in his face.
"How would you know?" she chuckled.
"Because... you are not the first person who got hurt because of his stalkers."
She gasped. "Wait... so he knows what's been happening to me?"
Silence.
"He knows that her stalkers would target me when he tells everyone that I was his girlfriend?"
Liam looked away.
"I need to speak to him," Bella shoots up from her seat.
"Bella--" Liam tried to soothe her.
"Take me to him," Bella hissed. "NOW!"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9TmIn9yTQ
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