Caught between my bully and my step brother

Chapter 7

" This looks great Lacey," I said, smiling. The get-together was exactly what she said it was. People sprawled on bean bags, music playing lowly in the background and drinking wine out of boxes. Conversations were happening everywhere. People were speaking quietly, whispered laughs. No big egos with obnoxious laughs that boomed off of the walls. She grinned at me when I looked at her. Excitement was emanating off of me. Maybe I had just been looking in the wrong places to earn a life and friends. Maybe my path wasn't loud thumping music, dancing and grinding on people. Maybe it was an enjoyable relaxing night with good conversations with like-minded people.

" Not a dickwad in sight," she grinned back at me. She grabbed my hand and pulled me further into the room and started introducing me to people. Some looked at me like they knew me already but not with disgust with what looked like pity. Which made me think they had seen how I was treated around campus. We ended up seated with a group of two guys and another girl, shoes off our feet tucked under us on bean bags and a glass of wine in our hands. I didn't join the conversation to begin with, I just observed the flow. Until one of the guys named Liam looked at me directly, breaking off from the group discussion.

" Hey Addison, right ? "He asked and I nodded, smiling politely. " Yea, everyone calls me Addie though" I told him.

He smiled and nodded. " I'm Liam "he stated. I already knew that because the others had been talking to him, calling him by his name, but I nodded anyway, like it was new to me.

" Nice to meet you, Liam " I said, taking a sip of my wine.

" So , what are you studying ? "he asked.

" Medical studies, "I told him and he whistled and let out a small laugh.

" Super smart then, huh ? So you want to be a doc ? "He laughed again.

" Pediatrician, and yourself, what are you doing ? " I answered.

" Journalism and English literature. I want to become an investigative journalist, "he told me, and you could tell he really had passion for it.

" That's cool "I agreed.

" Soooo where are the guard dogs that usually swarm you ? " He asked and I frowned, Guard dogs ? My confusion must have been clear because he laughed again. " The two guys that are never too far from you. I've seen you around, and they're usually not far away. Looks like you don't like them there though "he stated boldly. I felt my stomach drop a little. He must mean my tormentors. Just the mention of them had me sweeping a look around the room to make sure they weren't in fact here. To ruin yet another day of mine in the many they have already.

I laughed nervously. " I wouldn't call the guard dogs, more like just dogs, horrible rabid ones "I clarified, and his eyebrows rose.

" I sense you don't like them much ? " He asked, and now I laughed.

" I hate them. They've made my life hell for years. They hover round me just to plot how they will next make me miserable and embarrass me. They're asses" I ranted, and when I looked back at him he looked shocked and my face heated. " Sh*t sorry" I went to apologize and he shook his head.

" Don't it's cool, actually really cool that you hate them" he stated and I frowned.

" Why ? " I asked him.

" Well, it means you're available, and I can ask you out. Like I said, I noticed you around , but I thought maybe you had a thing going with one of them so I didn't approach. Like I said they were always around when I have seen you " his forwardness shocked me speechless , my mouth opened and closed no words coming out.

" Course she would like a date, wouldn't you, Addie ? " Lacey shoved my shoulder, snapping me out of my shock. No one had ever had the balls to ask me out back home and no one from here so far. Liam was handsome, I couldn't lie, he had chestnut brown hair that hung loosely and a charming smile. Brown eyes and a jaw line that was razor sharp. He didn't look like he would be as tall as them , but he looked fit, his blue shirt clung to his chest and he looked like he worked out a bit. Still I found myself hesitating. What if he knows them and this is just another trick ? He was the one to bring them up.

" Addie " Lacey knocked me again. I looked at her, and she frowned and nodded her head towards Liam.

" Errmmm yea sure sometime yea" I said, sounding unsure.

" Cool , here put your number in here " he said. I looked back at him to see he was handing me his phone. I took it suspiciously and hesitantly typed my number in his phone. When I passed it back to him, I stared at him, trying to see a flicker of anything sinister , but he looked down at his phone looking genuinely happy. Either ignoring I was being weird or just not noticing.

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. " There you go, you have my number, we will chat and set up a date "He looked up grinning. I forced a smile all the while, inside my nerves were firing everywhere. After that, he joined back in with the others' conversation, but now he made an effort to make me included. I did my best to join and not seem weird or anything, but now I wasn't calm anymore, scenarios were looping in my head.

Turning up to our date, and they are both sat there waiting to mock me, or if it is legit, they find out and find a way to ruin this for me.

The night started to wind down. People got up and left. I felt a buzz from the wine warming my veins. Lacey was in a conversation with another guy. She had kind of broken off from our group a little with him, but she hadn't gone far. Sometimes she would look round at me, I think she hadn't gone far to stay close to me to make sure I was OK.

I found myself chatting a little bit more as the wine did its trick and calmed me back down , but even with it there was still a knot in my stomach. But at least I didn;t sit mute and make myself look weird. Liam kept chatting to me and smiling that charming smile and I forced a smile back. It's not that he wasn't attractive hell he was and he seemed nice. But it seemed the two devils in my life constantly lurked in the back of my head like they taunted me without being there in the flesh.

I was starting to feel tired though, yawns kept slipping out. I looked at Lacey, who had scooted closer to the guy she was with, and he had his hand on her thigh now as she gave him a coy smile.

It definitely looked like they were going to be busy with each other tonight. I found myself envying her. She was so carefree and casual. Lacey wasn't a sl*t not by any means, but if she wanted a guy she could have him without fear and she definitely wanted this guy. Looking back at Liam, I suppose if I had any sort of confidence I guess I could have shown a few signs, gotten closer and let him touch my thigh the way that guy was with Lacey. But being that no guy would come near me back home, I was stunted in that department. I didn't know how to flirt and give a guy the signal.

Sighing I stood up and walked over to Lacey , I didn't want to ruin her fun but i was beat. She looked round and up at me when the guy did signalling someone was behind her.

" Addie you OK ? " She asked , I smiled and nodded.

" Yea all good , but I am wiped. I am going to head back " I told her. I saw her face drop a little, and she looked back at the guy before looking at me again.

" Ermm yea sure we can go " She stated, but I could tell she didn't want to leave, so I shook my head and smiled again.

" No you stay, our rooms aren't that far. I can walk back by myself. You seem to be having fun " I winked at her, and she laughed, but she still didn't look convinced.

" No no, I'll come. I'm not leaving you to walk back alone," she stated.

I opened my mouth to protest again when Liam's voice floated into the conversation.

" I'll walk you back, Addie "he eagerly offered, standing up from his beanbag and walking over. My stomach did a flip. Nerves kicked in.

" No, it's fine honestly," I told him too.

But of course, Lacey had to push." Either I walk back with you or he does," she threw in a sly smile on her lips now. I glared at her, but that smile just turned into a smirk. Sly little witch knew I wouldn't want to ruin her night.

I cleared my throat and looked back at Liam. " Ermm, yea sure" I agreed nervously.

His mega-watt smile to that was blinding.

" Great, let's go then, my lady," he joked, which made me actually laugh a little. As we walked off, Lacey called after me and told me to text her when I was back in my room. I waved my hand over my head as I followed him out.

I just hoped two people in particular didn't see us.