Maybe You’re Wrong
989 Words
Maya
~_~
Three weeks.
For three long weeks, I watched two people who were the exact opposite and had nothing in common pose to be blatantly in love with each other. From going hand in hand to social events, to the extreme PDA that got traction from the media, people talking about how perfect the looked together and what not.
Liam never kept girls around this long. Usually, they were gone after a night or two—maybe a week at most. But Bree? She was still here. She managed to do in three days what I couldn't do in twelve long years.
I curled up on the couch, gripping my phone so tight my fingers ached. Liam had posted a new picture from last night’s party—his arm wrapped around Bree’s waist, his grin lazy and satisfied.
Captioned: The Queen and Her Throne.
My stomach twisted.
I shouldn’t care. I knew I shouldn’t. Liam was a player. This was normal for him. But again this wasn't normal, he didn't post a picture with the girls he f****d, he didn't take the to social events nor make the public.
For years I held on to the hope that maybe, just maybe the reason why was because he loved me and that one day he'd confess his feeling.
And now, for the first time, it felt like maybe he never would.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear Ray come in until his voice cut through the silence.
“You look pathetic.”
I flinched, locking my phone and tossing it onto the table. “Wow. Thanks for that.”
Ray dropped onto the couch beside me, arms crossed. “I mean it, Maya. You’ve been sulking over Liam for weeks.”
I scoffed. “I’m not sulking.”
Ray raised an eyebrow.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “It’s just weird, okay? He never keeps girls around this long.”
“Maybe because Bree actually knows how to play his game,” Ray muttered.
I shot him a glare. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He leaned back, shaking his head. “You really don’t see it, do you?”
I folded my arms. “See what?”
Ray exhaled sharply, like he was debating whether to say it. “Liam doesn’t respect women, Maya. He sleeps with them, uses them, and throws them away. You’re just the one girl who sticks around, and he lets you—because you make it easy for him.”
I felt my chest tighten, but I forced out a laugh. “That’s not true.”
Ray wasn’t laughing. “You think he’s going to wake up one day and suddenly see you differently? That he’s going to drop every girl in his life and choose you?”
I swallowed hard. “He cares about me.”
Ray’s gaze was sharp. “As what? His backup? His emotional crutch? The girl who hypes him up while he screws other women?”
I clenched my jaw. “Shut up, Ray.”
“No.” His voice was firm. “Because you need to hear this. Liam will never love you the way you want him to. You’re wasting your time. You're beautiful, very beautiful. Put yourself out there and stop being a lost puppy for an ungrateful owner.”
The words hit like a slap.
I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell him he was wrong. But deep down, in the part of me I tried to ignore, I knew he wasn’t.
“But he's your best friend, what does that say about you?” I try to argue
“I won’t lie to make you feel better. You’re my twin before he’s my best friend, and I won’t put you in a situation where you get hurt.”
Ray sighed, pushing himself up from the couch. “You can’t fix him, Maya.”
I didn’t say anything.
Because I didn’t want to fix Liam.
I just wanted him to choose me.
~_~_~_~
I wasn’t going to check my phone.
I was going to cut myself a cloth from self-esteem and not text Liam.
I wasn’t.
But when it buzzed, I grabbed it without thinking.
Liam: Bree’s insane.
I frowned. It wasn’t unusual for Liam to rant about his flings, but this felt different, he sounded irritated.
Me: What happened?
The typing bubbles appeared. Then disappeared. Then came back.
Liam: She’s just clingy. Already talking about the “next step.” Like, we just met. This is why I don’t do relationships. She wants to see Dad already.
Liam: Can you come over? I'm breaking up with Bree and I need someone to take out the trash
I stared at the message, my heart racing.
Bree was talking about the “next step”—which meant she was serious. And if Liam was freaking out, that meant he wasn't serious.
I clapped my hands. Dancing around my room, celebrating my sweet victory.
Maybe Ray was wrong. Maybe Liam could love someone, just not Bree. Maybe he could love me.
My pulse quickened.
This was my chance.
Before I could overthink it, I grabbed my keys and headed to his house.
When I reached Liam’s house, I hesitated. The lights were on. I could hear music playing from inside.
Maybe I should turn around. Maybe this was stupid.
Before I could decide, the door swung open.
Bree stood there, looking smug.
“Oh,” she said, tilting her head. “Did Liam forget to tell you we’re busy tonight?”
My stomach dropped.
She was wearing his shirt.
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “You can wait if you want. But it’ll be a long night.”
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut.
Why did bother to call me over if he was just going to get back with her?
- Writer
