Tate I grab myself a glass of cold water to take up to my room too. The house is so silent, after the noise of the party it is soothing. I really don’t get the whole partying scene. I grab some cookies from the flower patterned barrel sitting on the counter and start munching before I’ve got to the bottom of the staircase. I didn’t really eat anything at the party and my dinner was a few hours ago now. Heading up the stairs, I see the light go out under my parents’ bedroom door. Since it’s now well after half-ten and by the time I chat again with Liam and see if he has any news on Tammy, I already know I won’t be getting any sleep much before mid-night. The thought of having to go through the whole day tomorrow being shattered makes me groan. But I do have the trip to Oregon with Liam to look forward to. I can sleep an hour or two on the jet before we land. I’m excited for that, I mean taking me to Oregon to go hiking in my favorite place is just so exciting. I cannot wait. As I ope
Liam I wake up feeling more tired than I did when I went to sleep. Tate and I chatted until mid-night and I already know that girl is going to be as tired as me. She doesn’t do too well with no sleep. I have learnt over the years that Tate is a bit cranky when she’s over-tired. Peering through my shutters, I can see she’s already awake since her blinds are up and her bedroom window is open for the nice fresh morning air. We’re supposed to be going into school together and having breakfast at Mason’s before and meeting up with the others. Although I am doubting very much if Tammy will turn up. I hope so, because just like Tate; I am worried about her too. At least there is the housekeeper and Willow’s nanny at their home to take care of Tammy’s little sister. Donning my black jeans from last night and black suede dessert boots, I walk into my large closet and select a black D&G t-shirt from one of the hangers. Yes, I do like them all hanging up. I really hate that crease mark you get
TateI try really hard to ignore Liam as we drive, not ignore him per se, just you know try not to take in his slightly muscular arms, the tattoos that run up his arms the fact that one of them says Tate. It was his first one. God knows what his first serious girlfriend will say about that. Before I can stop to think the words come out of my mouth as he drives steadily along the road, takes a left and starts pulling into Mason’s breakfast diner.“How you going to explain that tat to your steady girlfriend?”“Huh, what tat?” He asks as he carefully parks. His pickup truck isn’t exactly small but he’s a good driver.“That one. The one that says Tate.” He looks down at his arm, the pickup now in park and removes the key from the ignition.“Nothing, why?”“Only if it were me with a guy and he had a girl’s name permanently inked on his arm, I think I’d be a little jealous.” I bite my lower lip, I know I’d be jealous if it was some other girl’s name on Liam’s arm. I’d want to cut it out wit
TateJust as we’re all wrapping up breakfast we hear a voice. “Hey everyone.” We turn around and see a very bedraggled and rough looking Tammy. She’s definitely not looking her best-self this morning. Not at all.“Jeez you look like shit.” Liam states the obvious. I nudge his leg with mine and give him a slap on it for good measure.“Yeah well it was a bad night.” She plonks herself down on a spare chair at our table. “Give me some coffee would you please.” She asks no one in particular. I’m guessing our girl has literally crawled out of bed, slung on her favorite black skinny jeans and grey hoodie and instead of brushing her hair, tied it in a top knot on top of her head.This is the first time I have ever seen Tammy looking worse for wear. Usually her face is done up and she’ll be wearing bright pink lipstick and wearing her trademark pink. “You want to talk about it?” Asks Lilly concern etched all over her pretty face.Tammy begins to cry, tears run down her perfect cheeks, her gor
LiamIt is breaking my heart that someone has violated Tammy. No girl deserves it especially not Tammy. She is pure and sweet with a heart of gold and when I find out who did this to her, not only will he have no teeth left, we are going to make sure he gets put away. He can experience what it’s like to have your rights taken from you, to be behind bars and only see so much daylight a day. That fucker is going to pay.I’ve driven the girls to mine, my mom is at home. Willow, Tammy’s sister will be at school. Her parents are not at home but we have at least calmed Tammy down and ensured she’s made a call to her parents. Which of course went straight to their voicemail. They’re in New York at some gala charity function tonight but the least they can do is pick up her message and call their daughter back. Don’t they realize how special she is?“What’s happened? Why aren’t you in school?” My mom’s voice is accusatory as she looks from me to Tate then her eyes fix on Tammy. It’s obvious so
Tate“I feel sick.” I say to Liam as we get back into his pickup.“Me too, Tate. I’m so angry I just want to punch his face in and stop him from breathing.” I can see he is seething as his knuckles go white from gripping the steering wheel.“Don’t do anything stupid, Liam. Let the police handle it. You’ve got to think of college and football. Don’t let some prick get the better of you and ruin the rest of your life.” I know I sound like his mother but it’s only because I care for Liam. We all already know I am in love with him, with my best friend. Now and Forever.He doesn’t reply, instead he just backs away from the house, turns the car and starts to drive us into school. It’s not the first time I have witnessed this ice coldness from Liam. It’s a sign that he is more than angry, he is as mad as hell. And I get that. We’re all angry, we’re all upset. We’re all dying a bit inside for what has happened to Tammy.He is so quiet that I want to reach out and squeeze his hand, I want to d
Liam I am so pissed off with what has happened to Tammy. Anger is burning in my veins and I want to rip the fucker’s head off who did this to her. I’m also really pissed off that Tate and I have to skip the Oregon trip. I was damn well looking forward to taking her there and having some special time with her. She does so much for me that I wanted to give her something back. It feels ages since we’ve done anything just the two of us as best friends that doesn’t revolve around the others, school and practice. Maybe I need a break. It’s been intense. I’m sitting in history class and so far haven’t absorbed anything the teacher has said. I rarely do, how I’ve managed to pass any of the exams for this subject is beyond me. It’s really not my thing. To be honest most of school isn’t my thing. Only I want to play football so I have to suck it up. Denver on the other hand is a natural born student, as are Tate and Lilly. Sure I used to love school when I was a kid, up until it all started g
Tate The rest of school was a drag only because I wanted to know what the hell Liam was really up to. I bet it had something to do with Tammy. I’ve called her a couple of times but it has gone into her voicemail. She will call back when she is ready. My instinct is to go over to her house after dinner and sod the assignment and movies with Liam. I know he’s my bestie but right now, Tammy needs Lilly and I more. We’re her closest friends. I wonder if her parents even bothered to get back to her and how little Willow is doing. She’s such a beautiful and happy child, that it saddens me to think her parents will be too busy for her as she grows up. Right now she seems unaffected as she has a lot of nursery school friends and her nanny who dotes on her. Then she does have Tammy, Lilly and myself. We all love Willow, it would be difficult not to. However, we cannot replace her parents, although part of me reasons that what you’ve never had, you cannot really miss. I’m just laying on my be