Breaking The Facade

The best kind of music for school mornings played through my earbuds as I hummed along, arranging items on my reading table. Once everything was in place, I checked the room one last time to ensure I hadn't forgotten anything. Satisfied, I turned to the full-length mirror on my wall to inspect my outfit one more time. Perfect. I was rocking a soft, schoolgirl look today: plaid cardigan, short pleated skirt, and long socks. Liam loved this look, which was why he suggested it.

Liam was my boyfriend. He was friends with the popular crowd at school, making him one of them by default. His parents were wealthy and fancy, living on the upper-class side of town, and they were... nice to me. I felt incredibly lucky to have Liam as my boyfriend. He was always looking out for me and being so kind. Many girls would kill to be in my shoes, but he chose me.

Smiling at the thought, I hurried downstairs past my cat, Tilly. She meowed in protest when I didn't pet her, so I turned around. "Gosh, you're so demanding," I sighed playfully, reaching out to pet her. She nearly sliced my hand with her claws.

"Well, make up your mind!" I said, pulling my hand back. Then I noticed the Country Club pin on my sweater. Tilly hated it. Once I removed it, I could pet her to my heart's content-well, until my ringtone interrupted the music.

It was Liam, and my heart skipped a beat as I realized I was running late. "Hi, Liam!" I said, hurrying to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.

"Babe, Lyra, tell me you're halfway here," Liam said. He was already at school with his friends.

"Sorry, I'm still making your coffee."

"Well, hurry up! I want to drink it before class begins," he snapped. I rolled my eyes. "Also, there's someone I want you to meet."

I frowned but didn't ask. "Okay, I'll see you in a few."

"Okay, love you."

I smiled, packed my things, and rushed out of the house. Dad was in the front yard, watering plants and talking to the neighbor over the low fence. "Running late?" he asked.

"Yeah, feed Tilly, please!" I replied, nearly sprinting past him. I dumped my stuff in the passenger seat and placed the coffee in the cup holder before getting into the driver's seat.

"Movie night?" Dad called after me.

"Sorry, Mom invited me to the estate. I'll be going there after school."

"She's back from Egypt? Cool, I want a souvenir!" he called. I smiled as I drove off.

I remembered Liam didn't have any first-period classes only when I got to the school parking lot. "Seriously?" I sighed, spotting him and his friends hanging around his big car. I parked next to them. Even though I was late, being Liam Frances's girlfriend had its perks.

"Finally, what took you so long?" Liam asked, taking my hand to help me out of the car.

"Traffic," I said, waving at his friends.

"Hey, Lyra!" they chorused with grins.

"I'll take that," Liam said, smirking as he took the cup from my hand. I folded my arms, frowning.

"What? What's with the funny face?" he asked.

"You made me hurry like you had a first-period class."

After a sip, he frowned and handed the cup back. "You didn't add enough cream. You know how I like my coffee."

"I was in a hurry because of you," I said. "Now you're not even going to drink it?"

Liam rolled his eyes. "It's just coffee, no need to be so sassy and uptight, Lyra. What's with the attitude?"

I blinked and calmed my expression. "It's not like I skipped breakfast or anything," I mumbled.

"Speak up. I hate when you do that," Liam said.

"It's nothing," I sighed, adjusting my bag. Liam was right; it was just coffee. I smiled at him, and his brown eyes brightened.

"If you're not having it, I will," one of the guys said, taking the cup before I could protest. I froze as I realized I didn't recognize him. Was he wearing eyeliner?

"Remember I said I wanted you to meet someone?" Liam said, patting the guy on the back. "This is my cousin, Owen, from New York. He'll be staying with us for the rest of the school year." Liam introduced him with a proud grin, and I waved at Owen, unable to find my voice. He was intimidating, staring at me while sipping my only hope for breakfast.

"Hello, Lyra. Liam talks a lot about you."

"All good things, I hope?" I muttered.

"I didn't catch that," Owen said.

"I have class!" I blurted, louder than intended, causing the other guys to pause their conversation.

"See you later, babe," Liam said, kissing my cheek. "Can you show my cousin to Mrs. Ellis's classroom on your way?"

I glanced at Owen and nodded. "Sure."

"Great, see you at lunch," Liam said, giving Owen a fist bump before letting him follow me.

The hallways were nearly empty since the warning bell had already rung. I kept glancing at the cup of coffee in Owen's hand, regretting not getting breakfast when he pulled out a bagel and took a big bite. The awkward silence was broken by my stomach growling loudly.

"Um... worms," I blurted the worst excuse ever, holding my stomach.

Owen, unfazed, handed me the coffee. "Take this, kiddo."

"Kiddo?" I shook my head. "No thanks, it's yours."

He deadpanned at me, and I gave in. "On second thought..." I took the cup and had a big gulp.

"Hey, don't finish it. It's still mine," Owen said, looking slightly offended.

"Sorry," I giggled, wiping my upper lip.

When he split his bagel and offered me the bigger half, I gratefully accepted. "Thanks," I said with my mouth full.

"So, girlfriend to Liam," Owen said lazily, "what's a girl like you doing with a guy like him?"

"What do you mean?" I frowned, remembering my long-time crush on Liam. He was the guy of my dreams.

"Clueless little thing, aren't you?" Owen hummed, offering no further explanation.

"Mrs. Ellis's class," I said, stopping at a classroom door. "Thanks for sharing."

His grey eyes fixed on me as he stepped closer, almost making me step back into a trashcan. "I don't like sharing my food. So for the love of God, kid, make sure you get your own breakfast every day. Clear?"

I nodded quickly, watching as he brushed golden locks from his face with his ring-covered hand. "All I said was thank you," I murmured.

He rolled his eyes. "You really need to speak up, Squeaky." Then he pushed the door open and stepped into the class.

"Squeaky?!" I exclaimed before spinning around and marching to my own class.

"One more word about demand and supply and I'm going to hurl" Sage said rubbing her temples as we walked out of the classroom, taking our things with us. We were heading straight for the cafeteria.

After hours of hopping from class to class, it was finally time to have lunch, I could barely wait even though Vesper, Sage and I had secretly shared Oreos at the back of the class during the lecture.

"I quite enjoy the subject" Vesper said with a shrug.

"You slept through half of it" I pointed out.

"Hey I was just closing my eyes, I could hear everything clearly" She defended.

"How about we sit somewhere different for today? Looks like your boyfriend's table is full so..." Sage said with a shrug, taking a tray and getting in line.

"Aww, that's too bad!" Vesper pouted before squinting at the popular tables and adjusting her glasses. "Who's the new guy? He's so fine."

"That's Liam's cousin, from New York" I said.

"I love his outfit." Vesper sighed, dreamily.

"Black on black on black?" Sage asked, shooting a disgusted look over her shoulder.

"He looks so good, I could run my hands through that hair anytime, what's his name?" Vesper continued anyways.

"Gosh Vesper!" Sage groaned.

"Owen" I said, "he's not really nice anyways"

"Just like every single person at that 'popular' table" Sage put in, making air quotes.

I took my tray that was full of food by now and left the line. "Liam is nice."

Sage only laughed, throwing her head back.

"Lyra!" Liam's loud voice called from where he was seated and I turned to look. He waved us over to the table and we, including a reluctant Sage, went over.

"Get lost Lloyd, my girl needs to sit" Liam shooed one of the football guys away so I could sit next to him, rather, between him and Owen. "Hi Lyra!" One of the several girls called, waving from the other side of the table. She looked so chic and glamorous.

"It's Lyra" I said quietly so she couldn't hear but I waved back.

"Nice outfit" Another girl said. "Nerd." She added quietly and they all giggled like they were sharing an inside joke. Great, they were mocking me.

I only realized that Sage and Vesper hadn't gotten seats a bit too late. I caught a glimpse of them walking away to find somewhere else to stay.

"What about my friends?" I asked Liam who looked down at me with a smile.

"There's no room for them here, they can find somewhere else to stay" "Can't you make room?"

"And chase my friends away? Hell no. If you have a problem with it, you can just leave" He said calmly.

I stared at him for a second, actually considering it. "I- I'm fine here" I finally said, but he'd already turned away to toss an apple at a guy with glasses.

"You realize this table is for wannabes, right?" Owen said quietly next to me before taking a bite of his beef burger.

"You're here too" I murmured, staring down at my plate and fidgeting with my fingers.

"You realise if I try real hard I can actually hear you, Squeaky?" He said, giving me a sly, side look.

I turned to frown at him just as Liam grabbed my waist from my other side, laughing loudly at something someone said.

With a wince, I tried to pry his fingers away but he kept coming back. Sighing in resignation, I picked at the diced apples in my tray.

Lunch went by slowly and I kept casting longing glances at Sage and Vesper.

They were near the window, having fresh air which was scarce here. The guys were so noisy, jeering at people passing by, calling girls names and calling a freshman over just so they could trip him.

They'd been doing this everyday for a long time so it was nothing new.

I finally got to breathe when the bell went off, by that time, my fingers were raw from endless biting and picking at them. Taking my sweet time, I watched my food slowly slide out the tray and into the trash can hoping Liam would get impatient and leave me behind.

"So you see it or you don't see it?" Owen's voice suddenly asked from behind me, startling me badly so that my whole tray went into the bin.

"See what?" I snapped unintentionally and his eyebrows raised in an impressed way.

"Not so squeaky when you're mad huh?" Owen asked, "but I'm guessing you don't see it"

"See what?" I asked in a much calmer tone. He nodded at something behind me and I turned to look just in time to see Liam shove a shorter guy super hard into the wall.

"Liam Frances is a jerk" Owen said calmly. "So what's a girl like you doing with a guy like him?"

I glared at Owen. "He's your cousin, how can you say that about him?" I asked "and I'm his girlfriend, remember?"

"So you're gonna tell him I think he's an idiotic spoiled brat?" He deadpanned.

I was about to open my mouth to speak when a pair of strong arms wrapped around me from behind.

"Looks like you're very well aquatinted with my girl now?" Liam asked, kissing my cheek while I glared at Owen who squared his shoulders and stared down at us with something close to "eww".

"So what do you think?" Liam asked.

"You were right, she's a keeper. You got yourself a good one, Cuz."

Owen said through his teeth.

The smile on Liam's face was happy and proud.

"You don't need approval from him" I said, throwing a glance Owen's way.

Liam only laughed like I said something funny and held out his elbow for me.

"Come on, we've got the next class together"

I took his arm with warm smile "Let's go" I said, not bothering to look at Owen once more.

He was just a trouble maker. Liam was perfect for me... to me, I mean.

"Sorry about yesterday honey, I had this thing..." Mom said from the other end of the line.

"It's fine mom, I understand, we can hang out today?" I said, holding my hair up in a ponytail and putting the band in place.

"Oh, today can't work, I have a meeting tonight" She said and I facepalmed as I suddenly remembered.

"I have a meeting too!" I said, "well it's more like uh... dinner at the Frances's"

"You're still dating that Frances boy Haylor or what's his name?"

"Liam, mom" I chuckled, playing with the airplane figurine on my table.

"You crushed on him for years before he finally opened his eyes" She sighed and I blushed.

"I know, aren't I lucky?"

"Listen, I have to go now, Lyra. Sorry to break this up"

"That's fine, that's cool but don't forget, you...!" Before I could finish my sentence, the line went dead.

I put off the phone screen and replaced the figurine.

Tilly meowed and hopped onto my table to knock the airplane to the floor.

"Exactly, she promised we'll see all these places together" I said, running my hand down Tilly's black and white fur. "Egypt, Paris, Greece and Rome, You'd be there too with your own matching T-shirt..."

"Lyra, I'm making bacon, you in?" Dad called from the kitchen.

He didn't even have to yell it because my nose was working overtime.

I wasn't even close to running late so I shook off my slightly melancholic feeling and made my way downstairs with Tilly and all my things.

"Count me in Dad!" I called and went outside.

After I put all my things in the car, I made my way back into the kitchen to have breakfast.

"I could have sworn you'd refuse" Dad said, laying out food for three. The wet food wasn't for either of us, don't worry.

"You made breakfast, I would've regretted missing it" I said, stabbing a piece of bacon as I took a seat.

"Rawrrrr-!" Tilly yowled and jumped off the floor and onto the table, but

I caught her in my arms before she could reach her food. "Patience, girl" Dad said and put her food on the floor with a chuckle and she nearly tumbled out of my arms, trying to get back down.

"She acts like we starve her sometimes" I gushed and went back to eating.

"What? That's crazy" Dad laughed airily and I gave him a pointed look.

"Oh come on, you know I feed her" Dad reassured me.

"Thank you" I said and went back to my food.

After a very enjoyable breakfast, I made the usual cup of coffee for Liam, making sure it was just how he liked it and set off for school.

I found Liam in the hallway without his usual entourage today but simply waiting next to Owen who was busy in his locker.

Liam was talking nonstop about something, "... And then I won the next bet and took all of their money, right, so...."

Owen closed his locker and faced away from Liam just so he could roll his eyes. But they landed on me as I approached them, instantly sizing me up.

I ignored the uneasy feeling I got from him scrutinizing me and turned to Liam. Oh boy, he wasn't smiling.

"You're late," he said, looking down at me with folded arms.

"The bell hasn't gone yet, Liam" I said quietly, and held out the cup to him. "I didn't want to skip breakfast today" I added, doing a double take at Owen who was leaning on the lockers, watching. His eyes were really striking.

"I skip breakfast everyday to get here on time" Liam pointed out. Please, it was only because he was prone to stomach aches.

"One of the reasons I regret coming to your house" Owen cut in quietly, unwrapping a sandwich.

"And what did you have for breakfast?" Liam continued like his cousin hadn't spoken.

"Um...bacon, sausages and eggs....wh..?"

"Isn't that a bit too much?"

Owen paused mid-chew.

"You don't need that much fat" Liam said pointing at my stomach which

I surreptitiously covered with my arms.

"And you don't need so much coffee" I whispered, looking down.

"I didn't hear you" Liam said and I shook my head. "Damn, speak up, that mumbling thing you do is getting old"

I opened my mouth to say something but closed it wordlessly over and over, successfully looking like a gaping fish. "Didn't you say you had to have a talk with the coach before classes today?" Owen asked Liam who looked up at him with a frown. "No?" Liam replied, slightly confused.

"Dude, you better hurry before you lose something important" Owen said in mock concern.

"Like you think he'll put me on the team?" Liam asked, already looking hopeful.

"Sure, get outta here" Owen nodded, taking another bite and we watched Liam race down the hall and give the finger to the protesting people he nearly pushed over.

"How rude!" Someone called and I sighed, looking away in embarrassment.

"Thank you" I said to Owen.

"How do you repay me, kid?" He asked, not missing a beat.

"D... I...uh.." I stammered, not expecting that question but he simply took the thermal cup out of my hand and waved it at me with raised eyebrows.

My goodness, he had a resting sarcastic face if there ever was one. "I'm fine with this, small fry" he said and took a long sip.

I tried not to stare at him as I waited, rocking listlessly on my feet. Then he noticed me still waiting there.

"Well what do you think?" I asked.

"The drink?" He asked. "It's really good."

"Really?" I grinned.

"Let me guess, Liam never told you that before" He said, stuffing his free hand into his pocket.

"Yes he has!" I lied without thinking.

"You're loyal to a fault, Squeaky, I'm impressed" Owen nodded in approval, "mostly disgusted that you'd stick up for that idiot but impressed still" "You know what, if you want to talk trash about my boyfriend, I don't think you can have his drink" I said and snatched the cup out of his grasp.

"Hey!" He protested in alarm like I was taking his life source away. "Wait, that's mine."

"Nope," I said and took a sip "it's mine now."

"I don't see how that's fair." Owen said dryly.

Then he pointed at something behind me, "Friends of yours?"

I turned around to see Sage and Vesper walking towards me.

"Yeah. Hi guys" I said, waving before quickly turning to Owen to give him back the coffee.

"Maybe we could share next time"

"I hate sharing"

"Then get your own coffee!" I whispered loud enough for him to hear before turning around, nearly missing the amused look in his eyes.

"Finally, someone who can see!" Sage exclaimed, throwing her hands up to the air.

We finally had the chance to discuss freely at study hall and with annoyance I explained what Owen thought of his own cousin.

"What do you mean?" I asked her, folding my arms.

"The same thing I've been meaning ever since I noticed you making goo- goo eyes at Liam in sixth grade!" Sage said, blinking her hazel eyes at me.

Vesper snorted a laugh without looking up from her book.

"You're too kind and sweet to be with him, Lyra. He really is a jerk." Sage continued.

I sighed, "He's not that bad."

"He never listens to you!"

"That would probably be because she doesn't say things" Vesper suggested, pushing her glasses up her nose.

"Yeah!" I enthused, pointing at her before pausing. "Wait..."

"Okay then, Vesper's got a point, you should speak up, you know" Sage shrugged.

"I know, it's just...a habit now" I stared down at my text book, hopelessly. Sage and Vesper put their hands on both of mine and I looked up to their encouraging faces.

Sage's fierce and determined but Vesper's kind and warm.

"You'll be fine"

"Everything would be alright" They said at the same time.

I smiled at them.

"Don't get me emotional for no reason, guys" I fake sobbed and they both laughed.

At lunch time, the moment I saw the crowded popular table and compared it with the quiet, lonely table near the window, I knew exactly where I wanted to sit.

"Lyra, over here!" The jocks called and waved, Liam was seated amongst them, watching on.

He was still mad at me from this morning for coming late and over eating...

"See you later, Lyra" Vesper said and they both left me to make my choice.

I sighed and walked over to the popular table.

"Liam," I said when I got there, waving at the football guys and the cheerleaders. "Hi"

"Hi" he said and pat the empty space next to him.

"Um, I'd really like to sit with my friends today" I said, making sure my voice was audible.

I took a quick glance around, everyone was minding their business and Owen was no where to be found.

Liam held his hand out for mine and when I took it he yanked me down to his level so he could whisper in my ear. I had to balance my tray with one hand and hold myself up on his shoulder with the other.

"Just sit down, Lyra. You're going to make things look weird." He said.

"What things? This place is too noisy and cramped for me" I explained. "And my friends aren't here"

"These are your friends" he shot back.

Were they? They were friendly to me but maybe that was just because they were Liam's friends, "I...I meant my best friends."

The look on Liam's face when he realized I wasn't giving in was so mean it was enough for me to zip my mouth shut and sit next to him.

But I was saved.

Sage and Vesper came giggling, pushing through the jocks and cheerleaders to get to me.

"Hi Liam, but sorry we're gonna have to steal your girlfriend!" Vesper said, grinning and batting her eyelashes as she hooked her elbow through mine.

"You don't mind do you?" Sage asked, her big grin looking like a shark with braces getting ready to attack.

"Of course not," Liam replied, an easy smile transforming his face. I just wished he could smile like that all the time.

"Really? You're absolutely positive about us taking her away?" Sage asked, the killer's grin still on her face. "Today and every other day we're in school"

"Why won't I be?" Liam laughed, "I'm not clingy or anything. Just take good care of her, she's my delicate rose if you know what I mean."

"Oohhh!" his friends jeered and he shushed them up, laughing. "I don't know actually." Sage deadpanned, dropping the grin. "Sage." I elbowed her gently.

After that, they just took me away. I finally breathed freely when I was seated near the window.

"She's my delicate rose!!!" Sage mocked in Liam's British accent, making it seem like she was yapping the words out. Vesper cackled.

"I owe you guys." I said with all my heart.

"Please, please, our services are for free" Vesper said, making a 'calm down' gesture with both hands.

"They are?" Sage joked. "I'm gonna need my payment. And by payment, I mean dump his sorry butt!"

I giggled and shook my head.

"Tell me you've at least considered the option." Vesper said, resting her folded arms on the table.

"Yeah." I lied, nodding. "Totally."

"Well that's progress." Sage said, pointing her fork at me.

"So you're free to sit with us whenever you want now." Vesper said, gleefully squirming on her seat and I smiled half heartedly, my sixth sense telling me Liam was keeping an eye on me and that we were both thinking the same thing.

I was going to pay for this later.

Later that evening, I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, smoothing out the brown dress Liam told me to wear.

It was supposed to be a classy dinner or something. I didn't care, I just wanted to go, have a stomach ache as an excuse to leave and then come home to watch Netflix and enjoy hugs from Tilly.

I didn't dare to put a rain check on this. The last time I did...?

I shuddered, and not from the cold wind coming through my window.

"Honey?" Dad called with a light knock as he pushed the door open. "I didn't count or anything, but in the three trips I took to and fro the kitchen you've been staring at your own reflection, what's up?"

"It's nothing" I replied.

"Is it the dress?" He insisted, coming to look into the mirror with me. "Do you not want to go to the dinner? Is it your mom?"

Since he wasn't going to let this go, I went with the wrong answer. "Yeah, I just...I haven't heard from mom today" I shrugged.

"I'm sure she's thinking about you, Lyra" Dad said, taking a pink hair clip and putting it in my black curls, "you spent ten freaking months in her womb. It would be hard not to think about you."

I snickered so hard that I snorted and Dad laughed with me. "Thanks, I just needed the reminder that I'm a late bloomer in every sense of the word."

"I won't say every, you turned out great I guess, look at you using lipstick now" He said, gesturing to the mirror.

"Gosh" I rolled my eyes with a smile and left the room without taking the hair clip out. The pink went with my lipstick.

"Do you want me to drive you there so I can pick you up later?" Dad asked.

No!

"I'm a big girl now, Dad" I said, laughing as I pet Tilly briefly and headed for the door "But thanks anyways"

"Just trying to do my part. It's hard as it is letting you go on dates"

"Trust me, I can tell"

Once the door closed behind me, I was on my own.

The sun was just about to set when I got to the high class part of town where Liam lived and where my mom's estate was.

I pulled up in front of the Frances residence and got out of the car to press the bell.

I prayed Mr. Frances would be the one to open the door and I wasn't disappointed.

"Lyra, hello" he said with a smile. He was a tall man who never used to be so thin. He was really nice to me but very jumpy and skittish, just like me sometimes.

"Good evening, Mr. Frances" I greeted and he let me into the grand house making small talk as we passed by expensive paintings of all sizes, glowing chandeliers, the massive foyer, and we finally climbed up the stairs that led into the dining room.

"...and all those things. Unfortunately, Owen won't be joining us tonight. He had to do some... shopping of some sort. A shame really, he's a really handy person to have around." Mr. Frances chuckled nervously.

"I know exactly what you mean" I sighed and we both straightened up when his wife, Mrs. Frances bounded into the room all radiant and smiling.

A stark contrast to Mr. Frances who looked like he'd been sapped of all his glow.

"Lyra" Mrs. Frances cooed and walked up to me in all her perfect grace. She was swathed in fancy silk for this simple dinner and her face was caked up with make up from her own company. Her perfect figure made me feel like a fat blob in a brown dress.

"H-hi Mrs. Frances," I said, wondering why she was being so nice. Usually, she just ignored my presence.

"Your face is so smooth, I never noticed." she said, running a dainty hand down my face. Up close, her perfume clogged my nose up completely.

"Hans, quick take a picture," she ordered, handing her phone out to him.

"Don't forget to smile," she said through her grin as she put an arm around me.

I mustered up a big smile so she won't get mad and her husband took a picture. While that went on, Liam stepped in. I offered him an apologetic smile as his mom let me go.

"Perfect," Mrs. Frances said, a satisfied smile on her face as she looked at the picture and started texting. "Straight to Instagram...use Feather cosmetics to get that perfect...look. And posted!"

I frowned as I realized and looked at Mr. Frances who cast his eyes down in shame.

"You posted my picture on the internet? But I don't use Feather Cosmetics." I said. I had to stop when I learned about how unhealthy it was for the skin and wasn't really environment friendly, I could even get started on the animal testing.

Franca Frances sighed and looked at her son. "When are you going to let this one go already? She's so slow"

"I love her mom, I'm not letting her go," he replied with a loving smile to his mom.

I didn't melt like I originally should have, but Franca did.

"Oh my baby's in love, well let's have dinner already, I'm starving. Then we can discuss the big party I'm throwing soon."

I won't call what I had dinner, it was salad and I wasn't allowed to have anything else since I was apparently gaining more weight.

Franca ate it with great relish though. But she kept glaring at my miserable expression everytime I bit on a tomato.

"Can you at least pretend you're happy to be here?" He asked, leaning over to whisper. "Do I have to remind you you're not off the hook yet?"

"I didn't do anything wrong" I murmured but this time he caught what I said.

"Really?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'm not even hungry" I said, sliding my plate forward. "And I don't even know exactly why you're mad I sat with my friends"

The scraping of Liam's chair against the tiles filled the silent room as he pushed his seat backwards to stand up.

"It seems like you have a lot of things to say, so why not just come with me and say it" he said and I gulped, shaking my head.

"I want to go home" I said, despite my voice going hoarse.

"Come with me, Lyra" Liam repeated, more forcefully.

I stayed seated, trembling slightly. Suddenly, his mother slammed her fist on the table, "Did you hear him, child?!"

I jumped in my seat, a small whimper leaving my lips. I glanced towards the door hoping Owen or at least someone would just walk in.

But no one did and Liam resolved to grabbing me roughly by the arm to yank me to my feet. Mr Frances squirmed helplessly, "what if we just continue our din...."

"Now honey," His wife said calmly, "she got herself into this mess and we all know what happens when you do that"

The last I saw of Mr. Frances's pale face was fear and pity all directed at me.

It was a bathroom Liam took me to. He didn't lock the door, that was good.

My feet took me to the farthest end of the room which was near the sink.

I wished this place wasn't so small. Liam seemed to tower over me even though he was near the door.

"You have something to say, so say it" he said, training his hard brown eyes on me as I cowered in the corner and shook my head.

"No" I whispered.

"No?"

"I don't have anything to say okay?"

"Why are you shaking? I didn't even do anything"

The spots where his nails had dug into my skin still stung badly. I just shook my head still.

He took more steps closer till he was right in front of me, invasive.

"Does this mean you're going to apologize for what you did wrong?" He asked.

"N-no" I whispered shakily "I didn't do anything wrong, I just want to be myself with the people I-"

"DON'T say no!" He yelled, his voice echoing off the tile walls. He was absolutely livid staring down at me.

"Apologize" he ordered.

Despite my trembling and my vision blurry with unshed tears, I looked up at him and made my choice.

"No"

The back of his hand was a blur as it aimed for my face. WHAM! The sound rang through the air for a long, long time.

My shaking hand went up to my cheek as I turned to look at him in pure shock.

He swore, his face mirroring my utter surprise and dismay.

"Oh no" He stumbled backwards like he was seeing me clearly for the

First time.

"Lyra...I don't know what came over me......."

I crumbled to the floor, my hand still on my face as I sobbed.

This couldn't be happening, not again.

"I promised this won't happen again... I'm so sorry" Liam's voice quivered as he spoke and he sank to his knees in front of me.