Finally picking the phone up again, I held it closely to my face. “Teddy, I have to go. I will call you later,” I said before hanging up.
I dialed Liam’s number and after two rings, he answered. “Hey Nora, I was going to call you to see if you wanted to get dinner before the movie,” he began before I cut him off. It broke my heart to hear how chipper he sounded.
“Liam, something has happened and I can’t go to the movies with you," I stuttered, as I rushed the words out of my mouth. “I will explain later.” I hung up before he could ask me any questions. This was just adding more fuel to the already blazing fire that was my problem. Liam was full of worry and trepidation and I needed to figure this all out for myself before I worried him. Even though he could sense my emotions, I just couldn’t express anything in words to him. Angry, I threw the phone across the room and watched as it bounced off the wall. I sat, alone and cried until I fell fast asleep.
***
I was woken suddenly by a pair of hands shaking my shoulders. “Wake up Nora,” my dad said, in a frantic voice as he lifted me off the ground and placed me on the couch in our living room.
Standing next to him, Victoria had tears filling her eyes as she watched me with an uncertain concern. She was distressed and skittish as she watched me crumbled in my father’s arms. I had never seen her show any emotion before, and I knew the situation I had put myself in now, was bothering her. I wasn’t someone who cried often, she didn’t know how to handle my neurotic state.
“I’m awake,” I said, my voice dry and rough as I sat up on my own. Using the back of my hand, I wiped away the excess tears that now stained my face. My eyes hurt and I was sure I had no more tears left in my body expel.
“What happened?” I asked. Why was I on the floor?
“I heard Nora crying so I came downstairs to see what was the matter. When I was halfway down the stairs, I watched here collapse onto the floor. She passed out,” Victoria cried.
“I was upset after Teddy called,” I admitted as I tried to think back to that conversation. “I’m fine,” I added.
“Nora, I need you to talk to me,” my dad said, his voice shaky and full of concern. “I need you to tell me exactly what happened the night your principal was murdered. The police have you on tape running from the scene of the crime. Be honest with me, this isn’t just some stupid prank. This is murder,” he bellowed as he stared at me intently.
Sighing, I opened my mouth and confessed how Sammy and I had broken into the school to steal our Biology exam. I admitted I had no business being in that school, I didn’t need the answers to the test. In fact, I was doing fine in Biology, I just wanted the thrill of doing something bad. My dad and Victoria stood and listened to me. Their eyes grew wide as I explained the rush I felt when I did something dangerous. How I craved that emotion. I knew now was the time to share this information, if I wanted my uncle to help get me out of this mess, I had to break down my own boundaries and walls and share this truth with my dad.
When I was done talking, I sat with my head low as I knew he must be even more disappointed in me. I was such a disaster of a daughter. I never did anything right and I was constantly embarrassing him and Victoria.
“Wow, I don’t know what to say,” my dad said.
“Do you really feel that way? I mean, do you only feel alive when you are risking your life?” Victoria asked, as she sat down next to me. Taking my hand in hers, she looked at me with comforting eyes. The touch shocked me, Victoria was never kind or motherly to me. Honestly, I didn’t know what to do in that moment.
Nodding my head yes, I didn’t have any words left to say.
“Nora,” my dad began, as he sat on the opposite side of me as Victoria. “I am so sorry you have been so depressed that you felt your only option was to place yourself in danger. I know you are not capable of murder. Neither is Sammy. What we are going to do is to go down to the police station with your uncle and tell them exactly what you just told me. I am sure your probation officer will be contacted and you may find yourself in trouble again, but at least we will clear your name as a suspect in these murders.”
When he finished, I realized that for the first time since my mom died, I felt like I was part of a family again. Beginning to sob, my dad and Victoria placed their arms around me and held me until I felt strong enough to gather my strength and go to the police station.
CHAPTER 12
Well, that was a bummer.
When we arrived at the police station an hour later, Sammy and his parents were already sitting in a small waiting area. He looked nervous as he kept his hands on his knees and his body shook as he glanced up at me. I was more upset that I had missed my date with Liam than I was to be pulled into a police station.
My uncle met us at the station and sat with both Sammy and I, along with our parents, as we both explained how we stupidly broke into the school that night. We also explained the strange voices we heard and how we assumed that it was the police.
An older police officer with a dark mustache sat and took notes as we talked. “So, you say you heard these men running after you?” he asked as he looked up from his notes.
“Yes,” Sammy and I said in unison.
Huffing, the officer leaned over to his partner who was much younger and slimmer. The other officer nodded his blond head as he opened a file and began reading through the pages.
“Our officers were not dispatched to the scene until after the alarms were sounded. It took ten minutes for them to get there. The voices you heard must have been from the killers,” the officer announced in a serious voice.
Glancing back and forth, Sammy and I both began to shiver from fear as we realized we could have also been victims that night.
After taking more of our statement, the officers decided not to press charges against us. The school, however, gave us each after school detention every Thursday until the end of school. Along with our detention, we had to retake our Biology exams and write a letter to the school apologizing for our actions. The officers even spoke with my probation officer and they both agreed that if I attended therapy sessions once a week with my parents, than no further charges or punishment would be taken on me. As much as it sucked to be back in trouble and under the watchful eye of the law, I guess it could have been worse.
Sammy received the same punishment, only he was kicked off the football team for the rest of the year. Even though he was angry about this, he too realized our punishments could have been far worse. We could have gone to jail or worse… faced death.
When I left the police station, I realized we had been there for over four hours. It was past midnight and I hadn’t even checked my phone. When I got home, I thanked my dad and Victoria for their support and went to my bedroom. After texting Ronnie and Teddy and assuring them I wasn’t heading to prison, I decided I would call Liam. I just hoped it wasn’t too late.
Just as I began to dial his number, Teddy called.
“Hey Teddy, can I call you back,” I urged.
“No, I heard what happened. Are you ok?” he asked.
“Yes, your dad helped me out. I am in trouble, but not as much trouble as I probably should be in,” I admitted, as I fell onto my bed.
“Nora, two people have died. You need to be careful. I am worried about our town,” he said, as his voice began to shake.
“Look, Teddy, I appreciate you calling and checking on me but it is late…”
Before I could say anything else, I saw Liam’s name glowing on my phone. “Teddy, this is terrible, but I need to call you back,” I urged as I tried to switch calls.
“Please Nora, for once in your life listen to me. Stay home. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I promise,” I said, my voice full of honesty.
I clicked the phone call to Liam. “Nora,” his voice rang through my ears.
“Yes, I’m here,” I said, reassuring him I was home and safe.
“Did you see what happened?” he asked, his voice full of pa
nic and worry. “I have been trying to call and text you all night. I thought you would have been back sooner,” he yelled.
“Yes, Teddy called and I watched the news. This is awful,” I began. “When you called earlier, I had just talked to Teddy. I wasn’t ready to talk to you yet. There is more information I need to share with you,” I said, as I prepared to tell him the events of the last couple of hours.
“What happened?” Liam practically screamed into the phone. “I tried to listen outside of the station, but there are more police patrolling than ever before. It is hard for me to lurk around without catching the attention of someone.
“Teddy told me I was a suspect. Sammy and I were caught on camera running from the school the night Principal Donaldson was murdered. I was able to tell the truth and I have detention and therapy sessions I have to attend, but Sammy and I aren’t in big trouble.”
Sighing, I could hear Liam begin to settle. “That is terrible. I was so worried about you. I could sense you were upset and when you didn’t answer my calls or texts, I began to fear something else happened. I need you to stay safe and not leave your house unless your parents, Teddy, or me are with you,” he demanded.
Agreeing, I talked with him a little while longer before I crashed and went to sleep.
***
The next morning, my dad woke me to tell me he and Victoria were going to work, but my uncle would drive by and check on me throughout the day. I thanked them both again for being there for me last night and promised I would try to keep myself out of trouble. I wasn’t sure if that was even possible, but I knew I had to try now.
After eating breakfast and showering, I heard my phone ringing as I sat on the couch watching a movie on Netflix. Answering the call, I heard Liam’s sweet voice on the other end of the phone.
“Good morning, my Nora girl,” Liam sang into the phone.
“Good morning,” I replied back.
Standing, I left my place on the couch and began searching through my house. I had that eerie feeling you get when you are home alone and someone might be watching you. I didn’t feel comfortable and something was definitely off. “Nora, are you alright?” Liam asked, his voice growing even thicker with concern. “Are you home alone?”
In the background, I could hear loud noises as he spoke. His words were grumbled and I could tell he was biting his lip in angst.
I could hear his motorcycle engine revving and I knew he was on his way to see me. Sighing, I smiled to myself as I walked around the house and made sure all of the doors and windows were locked. I even turned on the alarm system as I looked outside into the early morning light. With school still canceled and the town on edge, no one was outside and the streets were bare and empty.
“I am fine. My dad and step-mom went to work, but Teddy’s dad will drive by in a while and check on me I am sure, but for now, I am just making sure the house is locked.”
“Good,” Liam said, as he exhaled a breath he had been holding. “I will be there in ten minutes. Do not open your door until you see me.”
And with that, he ended the call. A few minutes later, my uncle called and told me he was driving by. After assuring him I was fine, he told me he would call my dad and also confirm that I was ok. Ending our call, I stood anxiously by the door for Liam to arrive. No amount of police protection or arm guards would ever make me feel as safe and comforted as Liam could.
In no time, the familiar sound of Liam’s motorcycle filled the silence in the air and I smiled as he drove fast into my driveway. Jumping off his bike, Liam threw his helmet to the ground as he rushed up to the door. Swiftly opening the large wooden doors, I jumped into Liam’s arms and he caught me as he wrapped his strong arms around my body.
Lifting me up, he held me tightly against his frame and I was finally able to exhale with relief that I was safe and sound with Liam.
“I’m so glad you are here,” I said, as I placed my lips to his neck.
Twirling me around, Liam inhaled my hair and squeezed me gently to him. “I was so worried about you. I haven’t slept all night. I sensed something was wrong. I drove by several times last night, checking on you,” he admitted, as I pulled my face back to look at his. “I hate that our date was ruined,” he huffed.
Brushing his messy black hair out of his eyes, I leaned in and gently kissed his soft lips. “You are amazing,” I sighed. “We will have plenty of opportunities to go on another date.”
Placing my feet back on the ground, Liam walked us inside my house as he closed the doors and locked them behind him. “I wouldn’t know what to do if something happened to you,” he said, as he tucked a strand of my long, brown hair behind my ear. Together we began to climb the massive wooden staircase that led upstairs to my bedroom. I led him to my door and as we entered, I felt a wave of nervous energy take over me. My bedroom was private, a space that I had only shared with Ronnie. So much of this room contained feelings, I wasn’t sure how Liam would react. He knew I was an artist and that I loved art, but I hadn’t shown him my work before.
As we stepped inside the room, his mouth drew open and his eyes grew wide. He began taking in the space looking at every color and shape throughout the room.
“Did you make all of these?” he asked in wonderment.
Nodding my head yes, I stood frozen, unsure of what he felt.
“These images are incredible,” he gushed. “They are even more beautiful up close,” he said.
He stopped and noticed the canvas still on my stand with the blue eyes. He narrowed his own eyes as he studied the piece. Cocking his head to the side, he turned and smiled at me. “Are these?” but he couldn’t finish his question.
“Yes,” I breathed as my nervous energy sparked around me. “I see your eyes everywhere I go. I find comfort in them,” I admitted as I stared back at him sheepishly.
“Wait, did you say they were even more beautiful close up?” I asked, his words finally registering.
Looking like a kid who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Liam smirked. “Well, I told you I have been watching you for years. Only, I find it is easiest to watch you at night. When it is dark and no one can see me. I’ve seen these images and have been desperate to see them in the light, to capture the part of you that is shown on these canvases,” he stated with pure love radiating from his words.
I should have been upset at the invasion of privacy, but I wasn’t. Somehow, it was comforting to know he had always been watching me. As creepy as it probably was, he was my own little dark angel and I loved that thought.
Suddenly looking down, I realized that I was dressed only in a pair of black yoga pants and a purple t-shirt. Placing his hand on my chin, Liam lifted my face back up to his. “Don’t do that, my Nora girl,” he said with a smile. “You are absolutely beautiful and so talented. I am in awe of you right now.”
Smiling, I couldn’t contain my heart from racing out of my body. I swear Liam, stirred emotions inside of me that I had never felt before. Looking into his mesmerizing eyes, I felt a tear trickle down my cheek as my emotions got the best of me. Brushing the tear aside, Liam took my hands and held them in his.
“Nora, I love you,” he said, watching me carefully.
The air around me grew thick as the heaviness of his words weighed down on my shoulders. Did he love me? Was it possible that what we felt was more than just a crush? That it was more than just a simple fling, a strong emotion and connection? Yes, I had never been more sure of anything in my life.
“I love you too!” I cried out, as I jumped back into his arms again. Swinging me around, Liam laughed as he held me.
“I have been in love with you since the night I saved you,” he admitted through his own tears. “I have watched you from afar, dreaming of the day I could touch you and make you mine. I risked my soul and eternal life to be with you. I would risk anything to keep you.”
Crushing my lips to his, I kissed Liam with a passion so strong I swear it could move mountains. “I have been
in love with you too, since the night you saved me. It just took me a little while longer to realize who you were and how special you were to me,” I admitted.
Walking us to the couch, Liam continued to hold me. “I don’t know what all of this means for us,” he began as he held me on his lap.
With my arms around his neck, I breathed in his sweet scent. He truly smelled like heaven. “What do you mean?” I asked, gazing into his eyes.
“Technically, I am dead. If I get rid of these demons that are haunting us, I don’t know if that will be my saving grace to allow me to move on, or if I will be granted permission to stay on earth with you,” he said carefully, the words spoken with great emphasis.
I paused, letting that information sink in. I guess while I was falling in love with Liam, I had forgotten that he was no longer really part of this world. I couldn’t let that stop us, I knew in my heart that what was meant to be would work out for us. It just had to.
“Liam, you are here for a reason. You saved me that night because you felt it was the right thing to do, whether the decision was made for selfish reasons or not, everything happens for a reason. We have to believe that your life will continue here with me.”
Deciding to speak of the unspoken danger surrounding us, I changed the course of our conversation. “Liam, the news reporter said witnesses saw men wearing black jackets running from the scene.”
Nodding his head, Liam bit his bottom lip. “It was them. They are trying to warn me again. They want me to leave you alone, to allow them to make the decision on whether you should stay on earth or die as you were supposed to that night two years ago. What I did that night transformed everything. Think of it like a domino effect. I changed the course of actions that were set in place, so now, everything else is off course.”
Shady Oaks Series: Out of Darkness Page 9
