NINE

DELILAH

This week has been rough. Despite it being our first week of senior year Liam's manager called to let them know of an event back in LA that they could not get out of. They have been in LA for three days, doing photo shoots and concerts. 

Meanwhile, I'm stuck in Mr. Wright's Physics class debating putting my sharpened pencil through my eye just to be able to get out of here early. He's been droning on for thirty minutes about particles, but I just can't seem to make myself care. I was up until 3 AM last night on FaceTime with Liam and it's taking everything I have just to keep my eyes open.

Beside me, Tessa nudges my elbow and my forehead hits the desk with a thunk. "Ouch," I hiss at her.

"Late night?" She teases. I roll my eyes as the bell finally rings releasing me from this prison. Tess and I both have lunch now and today we're having pizza and I am here for it.

Sitting across from Tess, I pick up my piece of cheesy goodness and bring it to my mouth. "Mmmmmm so good." I moan, while doing my little celebration dance that happens subconsciously whenever I taste my favorite foods.

Tess looks up nervously at me from her phone that I just realized has been rapidly dinging for the last few minutes. "What is it?" I ask her, something big must be happening because the cafeteria has erupted into hushed whispers and laughter. I notice a lot of people are looking our way. Wait. No. A lot of people are looking at me. "Did I miss something?" I question again since she has yet to answer me.

"Did you forget your phone in your locker?" She quickly asks and I nod.

"Let's go get it." She's acting bizarre. We both know I am not about to leave my pizza uneaten. She knows how much I love pizza. I pout at her, shaking my head. 

"Just tell me. Is there something on my face? What's going on?" I pull a small mirror from my bag and quickly examine my face. My eyes look a bit tired, but after staying up late, getting up early, and suffering through that lecture, it's to be expected.

She looks at her phone again as if having an internal battle with herself. "You said you spoke to Liam last night, right?" She leans in and whispers quietly. "What exactly did they get up to yesterday? Maybe you should call him. Yes, you should call him. Now."

At this point I'm over her vague replies and I want answers. "Show me your phone Tess." She looks up and I'm confused when she looks fearful, and why do I see pity in her eyes?

I take her phone by force.  "Why are Tyler and Liam blowing up your phone with texts?" I question her and her mouth opens and closes rapidly like a fish while trying to come up with a response. What exactly is happening?

It's then that Alicia Rogers walks over and plops her phone in front of me, placing one hand on her hip and cackling in my direction. What the heck is going on? She hasn't spoken to me willingly since Liam chose me first while we were playing duck duck goose in third grade. I'm looking at her like she's insane when she points to her phone again and speaks loud enough for everyone to hear, "Wishful thinking on your part. Did you really think that you would be the one to finally make Liam Anderson settle down? I knew it wouldn't last."

I look down at the screen in confusion and then I see it. The article is from today and sure enough there's a photo of Liam with his arms around some half dressed gorgeous blonde. Her hands are on his chest and they are clearly being cozy together. Then there's another, this time it's a redhead and her lips are on his. I blink rapidly and make the words bigger, trying to force my brain to work properly while everyone has their eyes glued to me. The headline reads, Trouble in Paradise: Liam back to his playboy ways. Looks like he's been busy in LA. The jerk.

I look at Tess who is already watching me cautiously as if I were a wounded animal. She only nods. Obviously noticing the same detail in the photos as I did. He's wearing the same hat in these photos that I had borrowed from him on our beach excursion last week. So obviously the photo is recent. I stand, grabbing my bag and my uneaten pizza and walk out of the cafeteria and straight out the front door of the school. I've learned enough for the day.

LIAM

I've been texting and calling Lilah for three hours straight now. It goes straight to voicemail every time. I know she's already out of class and I have a sickening feeling in my stomach about why she's ghosting me.

I woke up this morning to headlines straight out of my worst nightmares, and they are completely false. Even worse, I am stuck in LA for two more days on this damn photo shoot. I have no idea if Dels saw the articles and more importantly if she believes that they are true. I run my hands through my hair for the hundredth time in the past five minutes wishing I could just talk to her for two minutes.

"Has anybody been able to get a hold of Delilah or Tess? Neither of them will answer me." I question my best friends who all look at me sympathetically.

Tyler clears his throat. "Actually, Tess just wrote me back." Ty says. "She is trying to find Lilah. Apparently, there was a bit of an altercation today at lunch. Alicia made a big scene, showing Lilah the pictures of you in front of everyone. Lilah was obviously upset and immediately left school. And Tess is furious at you. She doesn't believe the photos are old, something about the cap that you're wearing?" Ty says scrunching his nose in confusion while reading the rapidly incoming texts from Tess. "I'm trying to do damage control but it doesn't look like either of them will be taking your calls anytime soon."

We woke to the gossip blogs posting about our night out on the town. We did go out to a new club opening for an appearance we had scheduled, but the pictures they included in the article were from months ago, not last night. I admit it looks bad, really bad, but I haven't even looked at another girl since I asked Dels to be my girlfriend. However, the person I need to convince of my innocence is 1000 miles away right now and not taking my calls. I had a feeling my past would catch up to me. I just didn't think it would be so soon.

My phone buzzes and I look to see a text from Delilah. Finally.

Dels: Liam Eli Anderson what the actual fuck

Well, she's definitely seen the pictures. At least she's talking to me right? That's progress. I'm not sure what to reply. This seems like something that would be better said in person. I decide to try and call her again. No answer.

Me: Lilah please answer your FaceTime.

Me: Dels please. I need to talk to you.

I call her again, "This number is no longer in service." What? I check my phone confused then toss it across the room burying my face in my hands.

She blocked me. Delilah blocked me.

My chest feels heavy and I'm worried I may have lost her for good, over some random girls from months ago who meant absolutely nothing to me.

***********************************

LIAM

We just landed back in our quiet home town of South Carolina. Except the airport is anything but quiet right now. Reporters line the baggage claim and taxi area, snapping photos and asking personal questions. "No comment." I reply for the hundredth time, as I grab my duffle bag and sling it over my shoulder.

It's been three days without a single word from Delilah. It's a little after 11 on a Friday night and I'm headed straight to her house, whether she wants to see me or not. I have to at least try to explain the truth to her. I have to make it right somehow.

I toss my bag into my house and quickly jog down the street to Delilahs. The house is quiet but a few lights are still on upstairs. I climb up and pull myself over the balcony railing. I take a deep breath and knock on the glass door. It opens almost immediately, but the person staring back at me is not at all who I expected to see.

"I had a feeling you'd be stopping by." Andrew motions for me to come inside and shuts the door behind me. I glance around the room and quickly realize that Dels is not here. Her bed is made, and the room feels emptier than usual. "I was hoping to talk to Lilah." I answer. "Is she here?"

He pats me on the shoulder, "got time for a cup of coffee?" He questions, studying me thoughtfully. I must look like a mad man. Between the time difference and Lilah ignoring me, I've barely slept in days.

"Sure," I respond as he leads the way down to the kitchen.

He takes two mugs down from the white cabinet, sits them on the granite countertop, and turns on his fancy coffee machine. "How do you take it?" 

"Black." Like my heart. He hands me a steaming mug and I take a sip, perhaps it'll help heal my broken heart.

"Look, I'm not going to beat around the bush." He begins as he sits down at a stool on the other side of the island. "She was already pretty skittish about dating anyone. Claimed she didn't need a boyfriend, but I know how bad it hurt her when you left last year."

Andrew takes a sip, before he continues talking. "There is no school this Monday for seniors, so I let her and Tess take a girls trip to get out of town. I'm not going to tell you where they went because I know you'd show up there and she doesn't want to see you right now. I think it'd be best if you respect that and give her some space." Andrew takes a sip of his coffee and waits for me to say something.

"Sir, those were old photos. I swear. I would never do anything to hurt Delilah. You know how those gossip pages are. We did go to that club for a scheduled appearance, but I kept my hands to myself. I would never do that to her. I swear."

He studies me like he's trying to find a crack in my story. He nods, "I believe you kid, but I'm not the one you need to convince. Give her some time. When things cool down she may come around." He raises his eyebrows, scowling. "Next time you can use the front door, you know. I don't need your fans protesting on my lawn, because you fell off her balcony and can't perform."

I nod, shaking his hand and exit out the front door. She'll be at school Tuesday and I'll explain to her then. If I can just get her to listen to me, she'll understand. She has to.