"We were able to extract the bullet and stop the bleeding. Luckily nothing important was hit. He's going to be okay." The man who had been working on Garrett, told us.

I let out a sigh of relief as Liam got up and gratefully shook the man's hand.

It's been hours since we got here, so we've been silently and anxiously waiting on the living room couch for an update on Garrett. I couldn't be more relieved that the waiting is done and he's going to be okay.

"We moved him to a proper bed and he's resting now, you two can see him in a while." The man continued, and we both nodded in understanding.

"Thank you Daniel. I don't know what I'd do without you." Liam thanked the man, and I finally learnt his name.

"It's what I do." Daniel joked before turning around and leaving the room.

Now that all the worrying about Garrett was over, the realization that I've been gone from home for so long and haven't contacted my dad since last night, struck me.

I quickly pulled out my phone and saw that it was one in the afternoon, and I had three missed calls from dad.

"I really need to go home." I told Liam, getting up from the couch to leave.

He sighed but didn't argue, much to my surprise. Instead he started walking out of the living room.

I quietly followed behind him and soon we were in his car and on the way to my house.

"I'll have some people watch your house to make sure you're safe." He told me, his eyes glued to the road.

"What about the mole?" I asked. I don't want the mole to be the one watching my house, then the other gang will know exactly where to find me.

Liam sighed, "Until I find the mole, I'll watch your house, and there's two other guys I know for sure didn't rat so when I have to take care of Jenny, they'll watch over you." Liam explained.

I gulped uneasily, I don't know how much I like that idea. Often times, the mole is the person you never suspect.

"You'll be safe, I promise." He said when he looked over and saw the worry on my face.

After that it was silent in the car and ten minutes later I was walking up to my front door.

I looked over my shoulder and saw that Liam was parked on the side of the road, making me feel a little better for now since I knew I'd be safe, at least until he leaves.

"Emma?" Dad called from the living room when the front door closed louder than I wanted it to.

"Yeah it's me, I'll be up in my room." I called back before rushing up to my bedroom. If I saw him right now I think I'd break down. Everything that happened in the last twelve hours was threatening to crash down on me and I was determined to push it all away.

I can freak out about all that later, right now I need to text Lisa to make sure she's okay. She was a mess after the party she went to last night.

To: Lisa

Are you doing okay?

I quickly typed out the text and sent it, anxiously fiddling with my phone as I waited for her response. Not only do I care about her, but this was also a good distraction from the terrifying world of Liam. As long as she replies soon.

Unfortunately for me, she didn't reply and I was left to my very troubling reality.

•  •  •  •  •  •  •

I was looking out my window every ten minutes to make sure Liam was still outside, and eventually I decided to just sit at the window and do my math homework.

Every time I finished an equation I glanced out the window, and this time when I did so Liam was talking into his cellphone, and he looked angry even from up here.

I wonder if he found out who the mole is. That would be a step in the right direction.

As soon as he put down his phone I sent him a text asking him to keep me updated on everything. I also added that it would make me feel better, so he didn't think I was just being nosy. Although that was a large reason why I sent the text in the first place. I just want to know exactly what's going on.

When he got my text he looked up at my window and I could just barely make out his eye roll before he looked down at his cellphone to reply.

A few seconds later my phone buzzed with his response and I eagerly opened it.

From: Liam

There's no news on anything yet but I'm working on it. I'll keep you updated.

I sighed at his formal reply and the fact that he hasn't figured out who double crossed his gang.

Gang.

I can't believe he's in a gang. Yeah he's a bad boy and all but I never thought it would be to this extent. I knew I should've stayed away from him.

Although, the only reason I called him was because I needed to help Lisa, so none of this is really my fault. All the blame should fall on the guy who hurt Lisa.

Devin Cook is going to get the lecture of a lifetime on Monday.

I sighed again when I realized that it was barely supper time and I had nothing to do, not even homework, and I didn't feel safe going out on my own. Not to mention the fact that if I did go out, the only reason would be to see Steph or Lisa, and I don't want to take the chance of them being seen with me and getting them mixed up in all this gang stuff.

Just as I was about to die of boredom, there was a knock at my door and then dad walked into my room.

"Hey sweetie, I just remembered that Leo came over this afternoon looking for you."

My eyes widened with the realization that I completely forgot about Leo. He asked me if I wanted to hang out this weekend and Lisa answered for me and told him that I would love to. Then he made the plan to pick me up Saturday at noon.

In all the commotion that's happened since last night I totally forgot what day of the week it was, let alone my plans with Leo.

"Crap!" I exclaimed, earning a disapproving look from dad even though it wasn't that bad of a cuss word.

"I have to go." I told him, hurrying out of my room without waiting for a reply.

I would call Leo to apologize, but I don't have his number. Fortunately, I know someone who does, and they just so happen to be right outside my house.

As soon as I got to Liam's car I knocked on the driver side window to get his attention.

"Can you give me Leo's cellphone number?" I asked when he rolled down the window to see what I wanted.

He scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion, "Why would you need Leo's number?"

That's not really any of his business, but I chose to ignore that and answer the question, "I was suppose to hang out with him today but I wasn't home when he came to pick me up."

Liam's expression switched from confused to pissed off in the blink of an eye.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from him?" He demanded, making no move to take out his phone so he could give me the phone number.

I sighed, "Look, I just really want to apologize to him, he probably thinks I stood him up."

A moment of silence passed between us before Liam's eyes lit up and he gave me a smirk.

"I have an even better idea." He told me as he dug into his pocket and retrieved his cellphone.

I watched curiously as he tapped on his phone for a moment before putting it up to his ear.

"Hey Leo." Liam said a few seconds later.

There was a brief period of silence before the devil in front of me spoke again, "Yeah I'm actually calling to apologize on her behalf. I was with her last night and got her home today later than expected."

My jaw dropped in utter disbelief at what I was hearing. Liam's making it sound like I was with him by choice! He's making the situation sound completely different than what it actually was.

I made a grab for the phone but Liam easily leaned away so I couldn't reach it, a smug smile showing off his pearly whites.

Why is he doing this?

"Liam, give me the phone!" I exclaimed, putting so much effort into reaching the phone that half my body was leaning through the car window.

"Yeah she's with me now, I'll put her on." He told Leo, his evil grin widening when I snatched the phone out of his hand.

"I can explain." I said as soon as the phone was to my ear, internally cringing at how that must sound. That line is always used in movies when someone did something very wrong. The only worse line is 'This isn't what it looks like'.

"Look Emma, if you weren't into me, you should've just said something. I can handle rejection, but what I can't handle is someone sneaking around and playing me." Leo replied, sounding so disappointed that my heart hurt for him.

I shook my head even though he couldn't see it, "Liam made it sound like something completely different than what actually happened."

"Did you spend the night with him?" He asked.

"Technically yes but-" I began but I didn't get a chance to finish my sentence because he cut me off.

"That's all I needed to know."

And then he hung up.

"Why would you do that?" I demanded, turning my attention back to Liam.

He shrugged like he didn't just ruin my friendship with Leo.

"You're an ass." I spat, tossing his phone onto his lap before storming away, slamming the front door behind me once I was inside.

Why doesn't he want Leo to be friends with me?

Does he hate me so much that he doesn't even want his friends to be associated with me? Am I really that horrible?

—————

Thank you KoredeMosaku for making the beautiful cover!

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