My Sister's Boyfriend

Chapter 7: Friends?

Hannah

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I awoke to my sister, Chloe clutching on to me in bed, the tray of my breakfast precariously perched near the edge of the bed.

It was evident that we had cried ourselves to sleep, Chloe now in a peaceful deep sleep with traces of tears on her cheeks.

Even though the breakfast was right there, I still didn't feel hungry. Still in my pajamas, I reached for my black jacket determined to find my dad and beg him to come back.

I left the room and slipped out of the house unnoticed. I didn't want my mum or Chloe to stop me, the house was still in a mess from yesterday's party.

In a hurry I walked miles away from my neighborhood not thinking clearly. Exhaustion took hold of me, I slowed to a crawl and eventually settled beneath a tree beside a school field watching leaves fall from their roots. The cool fresh breeze flowed through my body with my jacket hanging around my shoulder.

I saw a glimpse of a BMW, exactly like the car that had picked me up from school the previous day, it stopped for a few seconds before leaving. I knew it was Liam, I put my head down and pretended not to see him. Before then I had glanced inside and saw a beautiful blonde hair girl at the front seat, they were laughing and looking at each other.

"Who's she?"

"Is he cheating on my sister?" I wondered.

The car stops again few miles away from me before taking off.

I stood up, feeling exhausted. I let out a tired yawn before resuming my search.

Liam suddenly pulled up in front of me, his window whined down and this time he was alone in his car. He leaned out the window and asked,

"Is everything alright, Ann?"

I ignored him, pretending not to notice him, and continued walking.

He drove alongside me and repeated,

"Ann, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I replied, my tone somewhat harsh.

"What are you doing here all alone looking disturbed?"

"Can you help me get something to eat?" I'm starving," I asked.

"I don't have any cash on me, but I can make you something to eat if you follow me to my apartment."

I got into his car and followed him. I had no other option but to do so.

Throughout the ride, I noticed him staring at me but I didn't return the gaze. I sat down relaxed quietly with my eyes fixed in one direction.

Upon arriving, I couldn't help but observe his apartment both from outside to Inside. I wasn't very surprised by the opulence; I had suspected he was rich although I didn't realize it was to this extent.

I couldn't help but wonder "Who's this guy?"

He guided me to his bathroom to take a shower and offered me new clothes to wear. He allowed me use his personal bathroom with spare toothbrush and towel. The clothing he provided was a woman's, upon closer inspection, it didn't resemble Chloe's clothes in any way. It raised questions - if he lived alone, who's clothes were these? Could they belong to the blonde hair girl?.

He made me toast bread and poached eggs. While I was eating the food he had made, he sat down close to me, he gently held my hands placing his other hand above mine, caressing the top of my palm. In a warm and sweet tone he asked,

"You know you can rely on me, right?"

"I'm gonna be here for you if you need me, okay?"

He continued, "Things aren't always perfect, life doesn't go the way we want it to. Whenever I feel overwhelmed I just let out a loud scream to ease the pain inside". He placed my hands on his chest locking eyes with me and I could feel his heartbeat.

I pulled my hands off his chest, cleared my throat and let out a loud scream. His expression looked startled but he maintained his composure and smiled at me.

"Does that make you feel better?" He asked.

"Yes, I nodded with a smile.

His phone buzzed interrupting our moment, at least that's what it was for me. We both glanced at the screen. A text from "C love" appeared, "Have you seen Hannah?"

He picked up his phone and sent a reply.

Then he asked me for my number but I didn't have one. He went and grabbed a note, jotted down his number, drew a heart along with his initial 'L' and opened my palm.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, call me" he said placing the note in my open palm.

"You can keep the clothes too, consider it as a gift from a friend" he added.

"Friends?" I pondered in thoughts.

I thought we had something more going on.

"Finish up, I will drop you off at your house"

"Thanks.