This chapter is dedicated to kayleywritess for being an amazing sport. Thank you for all your votes and lovely comments! And guys she is a great writer go and check out her book "WAVES" :)

In class, I can't stop thinking about what Red said. It still makes no sense to me. She and Jayden are not even friendly. Imagining that they've actually been intimate is quite disconcerting. Maybe that is why he and Liam are on such bad terms, because of her.

I wonder why Jayden never mentioned this to me before. They had this whole other life in New York, and none of them like to talk about it. It's a big fat mystery. Like a puzzle but tougher. Because the more pieces you get, the harder it is to figure out how they all fit together.

When the bell rings, I take my sweet time to head out the door. I'm actually dreading rehearsal today. Brittany and Elliot are in a fight from what I heard at lunch in the English building. They thought they were out of earshot, but they were yelling so loud I couldn't help overhearing. I don't know what the yelling was about exactly, but I heard my name being thrown around a couple of times. Steff won't be there, and to make matters worse, Red will be assisting Liam. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, and I am so ready for this whole thing to be over already.

When I hear whistling, I turn around.

"Such a fine ass you got there, Jess. Can I please climb that mountain?" Sanchez is standing at his locker with a few members of the football team and varsity cheerleaders in all his sleazy, misogynistic, douchebag glory.

"I wouldn't if I were you, Delacruz!" Jayden walks over, looking somber, and the smile vanishes from Sanchez's face.

"Just harmless flirting, Wilson. Come on, that was funny!" He says defensively.

"No one is laughing, asshole." Jayden is ready for a fistfight.

"He's not worth it, Jade." I step towards him, grabbing his arm. "Let's just go."

"It must be nice having two bodyguards." Chastity Price scowls at me. "What is it about you? Does your vagina have superpowers or something?" She says, making me cringe.

The girls chuckle, and the guys eagerly wait to hear my reply.

"Okay, come on, Jess. Let's go." Jayden tugs at my hand.

"I could have handled it. You didn't have to step in." I tell him as we walk away.

"Yes, I did. Fuck that guy. He gets on my nerves."

"Where were you at lunch?" I ask as we make our way to the theater.

"I had study hall."

I could ease into it, but I decide to just rip the band-aid and ask the question I've been dying to ask him since the moment I found out.

"Why have you never mentioned that you and Ellyn were together?"

"Together?" He chuckles.

"Yeah, she told me all about that one time you couldn't keep your hands off her," I snigger, and he laughs.

"She did, did she?" He shakes his head. "We were never really together, Jess. We just slept together a couple of times. That's all." He says it so casually that it makes me frown.

"But isn't that why you and Liam don't get along?"

I see his smile dim.

"No, it's not."

We round a corner and come face to face with Liam.

Shit!

"Liam!" I squeal.

I didn't expect to see him before rehearsal. His eyes travel from me to Jayden, and his expression darkens.

"Hey, buddy. How is it going?" Jayden tantalizes, and I glare at him.

To my surprise, I see one side of Liam's lip curling in a smile. He completely ignores Jayden and turns to me.

I gulp, and his eyes travel to my throat.

"Hey, baby." He steps closer, his eyes are smoldering as they meet mine.

My face starts to heat up. There is electricity that passes through my body when he is this close.

My cheeks flush instantly as he holds my gaze. Those eyes. It should be illegal for him to look at girl like this.

"I'll be inside," Jayden says irritably.

I jump. I almost forgot he was here.

As soon as he walks away, Liam pulls me to him.

"I fucking missed you." He whispers, running his hands down my bare arms, and goosebumps break across my skin. He leans forward, breathing me in, and he releases an appreciative hum.

"You smell good." His voice is hoarse, and the feel of his breath against the shell of my ear sends a shiver down my spine.

I let out a soft sigh when he presses his lips to my neck, and I feel him smile against my skin. His hands travel to my waist and squeeze as he lightly bites my ear lobe.

"We're gonna be late," I say with the intention of sounding stern, but my voice comes out breathless.

Liam pulls away and looks into my eyes. His pupils are dilated, turning his eyes a darker shade.

"Later, then." He says and flashes me a wicked grin.

There is that bad boy glint in his eyes. And the dark promise excites me. I squirm again. And he smiles, knowing how much he is affecting me. Then he abruptly tugs my hand and starts marching away.

Once we gather in the theater, Red runs around, making sure everyone is on point. And by everyone, I mean mostly Liam. She is helping him catch up while I am stuck with Steff's script playing freaking Gertrude. Jeremy isn't here either. He said he has already memorized his lines and won't be able to come till the dress rehearsals. Everyone is in different corners, practicing their lines. Madison and Sanchez are reading theirs, and Chloe is reading a book right next to me. She is not part of the play, but where ever Madison, goes she goes. I have no idea how Madison and her even get along, they are literally from different planets. I divert my attention to where Liam and Red are seated, and I see Red smile at Liam as he presumably reads a line. Then I see her rest her hands on his knees and lean into him as if to point something out on the script he is holding. His eyes immediately search for me, and when they find me, he holds my gaze. Red looks over, following his eyes, and she puts her hand on his shoulder to get his attention. He turns around, and the urge to drag her away from him by her hair overwhelms me.

"These two are quite the dynamic duo, aren't they?" Sanchez says, leaning into my ear, his eyes on Red and Liam.

"Go to hell!" I shove his chest.

"Oh, baby! I love it when you get rough." He says as my phone vibrates in my pocket.

I pick it up while glaring at him.

"Steff, hey."

"Jess, how is it going there?" Her voice is tired.

"It's hell but warmed up," I say, walking away so I can talk in privacy.

She chuckles.

"That bad, huh? Is Redzilla all bossy again?" She asks.

"Worse! She is hanging all over Liam." I snarl.

"I don't blame her. That boy looks like a snack."

"Not helping!"

She chuckles.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I've been comforting my mom ever since I got home. She opened the cabinet to grab sugar and found grandpa in the container. She says she is traumatized for life." She tells me, and I imagine her rolling her eyes. "She just went to her room to change for dinner. She is a handful sometimes. Is it possible to put your mom up for an adoption?" She asks, and despite everything, I laugh.

"Where are you guys going for dinner?" I ask.

"Jeremy is taking us to a Brazilian Steakhouse in the next town. I don't trust my mom to drive, and they said my poor car will be in the Garage for a while."

Soooo this is why he couldn't make it to rehearsal today. How adorable! I can't wait to give him a hard time about it.

"Well, have fun. And wish me luck. I might end up murdering a certain goddess of beauty in cold blood."

She laughs.

"Cheerio, killer!"

I smile, hanging up the phone, and I am startled to see Liam making his way towards me.

"Who was on the phone?" He asks when he reaches me.

"Steff." I smile.

"I told Elle we'll be leaving, so grab your things." He tells me, and I frown. I don't mind that he is being bossy, but I hate that he just called her Elle.

"What is it?" He frowns.

"Nothing. Why are we leaving early?" I ask, masking my jealousy.

"It has to do with you and a jar of Ice Cream." His eyes are heated, and that familiar fire spreads throughout my body.

"I'll go get my bag."

***

I watch Liam drive while lost in his thoughts, and I swoon over his every single feature. I can't get enough of him. I still don't understand why someone like him is with someone like me. And I am scared that one day he is going to wake up and decide that he doesn't want me around anymore.

Imagine Dragons' album Night Visions softly plays on the stereo, and when Demons comes on, I tell Liam about how Steff and I met during their concert and bonded over this song.

"You guys both cried?" He is trying to stop himself from laughing, and I pout.

"It is a painful song! And I was at my lowest." I say defensively.

Steff and I hugged each other for the longest time after the song ended. It was the first time in a long time that I felt like I could actually breathe. When the concert was over, I abandoned my cousin Alex, who had given me the free entrance ticket, to leave with Steff. We went to a little Diner and talked about anything and everything until the sun came out.

I watch as the smile slowly fades from Liam's face.

"I'm sorry." He reaches for my hand and squeezes before lifting it up to his lips and placing a soft lingering kiss.

The gesture melts my heart. And Liam drives the entire way, holding my hand in his. When we head up the driveway, we see a car parked out front.

"Were you expecting someone?" I ask.

"No." He tells me, parking the car on the sidewalk. "Stay here." He says killing the ignition and stepping out.

As I watch him walk away, a mixture of anxiety and fear settle on my chest. I can't bear to just sit here, so I get out of the car and follow him into the dark. I see the driver door of the other car opening, and a guy steps out. I can't really make out his features, but he is about the same height as Liam.

From where I'm standing, I can see the surprise on Liam's face. And the next thing I know, they are hugging. Once they break their embrace, Liam turns around and spots me. I walk up to them, keeping my eyes locked with Liam's. His brows are furrowed, and he looks unsettled.

"Jess, this is Louis, an old friend." His voice is strained as he introduces us.

I look over at the guy, and my eyes meet a pair of icy blue eyes that seem to be glinting in the dark. He extends his hand for a handshake, and a small smirk plays on his lips as he shakes my hand. I watch as his eyes do a quick scan of my body, and I instantly feel self-conscious. His dirty blonde hair falls into his eyes, and he shoves it back with his other hand keeping his eyes trained on me. The guy is strikingly handsome, but there is something off about him. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but I feel uneasy in his presence.

"And who might this beautiful lady be?" His thick British accent fills my ears.

He turns to Liam, but he doesn't let go of my hand. I see Liam shift uncomfortably as his eyes zero in on our hands.

"The name is Jessica. I'm a friend." As soon as the words leave my mouth, I want to swallow them back. I didn't want to take a big leap and introduce myself as his girlfriend. That would be too presumptuous. But saying we're friends is equally as strange and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

I see Liam's expression change. I free my hand from Louis' grip and take a step back.

"A friend?" His eyes travel to Liam, and his smile grows. "And here I thought you and Elle finally called it quits. It's a shame! She is a real beauty." He says, looking me up and down.

I shift my gaze back to Liam and watch as the look of anger is replaced by an underlying sadness.

"I guess Amanda was right. Sometimes I think she knew you better than any of us."

The shock on Liam's face is as clear as day the moment the name rolls out of Louis' mouth. It's as if he's just been struck by lightning.

She knew you better than any of us.

I have never heard Liam mention an Amanda before. But whoever she is, she matters enough to get this reaction out of him. Liam's eyes are still fixated on mine, but they suddenly look lifeless. That eerie feeling takes over my body again, and dread travels up until it wraps itself around my throat and slowly chokes me.

***

I was crazy busy this week, and I have no idea how it flew by. Eh! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It took a lot to get it out for you guys so please vote and leave a comment.

Much love, 
Becca.