Page 5 of Tranquility

Even though I had no expectations about what I would find, Liam looked no different from the boy I once knew. His kind eyes lit up when they met mine. His curly red hair was well-groomed, and he gave me a warm smile that almost made me forget what he had done.

“Kat,” he stood, and I came to a halt, afraid that he was coming at me even though his hands and legs were cuffed. He stopped, looking dejected at my reaction for a moment before putting on a smile and taking his seat. “I’m so glad you came,” he said.

Tentatively, I took my seat before him with folded hands. “Why?” I asked, baffled at his words.

“Because I’ve missed you,” he replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I swallowed, my reason for coming here suddenly eluding me.

“Did you miss me?”

I shook my head, refusing to meet his gaze.

“Then, why are you here?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered, and I honestly didn’t. It hadn’t been the first time I had dreamed of Liam since he was arrested and sentenced, yet something had been different about the last dream. The urge to see him, if only for the last time, had been so great the past few days that I could no longer resist it.

“Are you still mad at me?” he asked, twisting his fingers together. I made no sound of reply for lack of knowing what to say. “Look at me, Kat,” he urged, but I kept my head lowered. “Look at me,” the yell came so suddenly that I gasped in shock, and my eyes snapped up to meet his. “I only did it for you, to protect you,” he said and grabbed my hand as I shivered in fear. “Your father’s death was a mistake, and you know it. But those girls, they hurt you, and I punished them. It was what they deserved,” he watched me with eyes that genuinely believed he had done the right thing. Just like that, I knew why I was there.

I yanked my hand from him. “You know, ever since you killed those girls, I’ve held the guilt because you claimed to have done it for me, but you killed those girls because you wanted to, not for me. I’m done blaming myself for your crimes.” I stood up and leaned against the table to stare into his eyes. “I know why I came here now, Liam, and I forgive you.”

He chuckled like he couldn’t believe what I was saying. “I don’t need you to forgive me. I did nothing wrong,” he insisted with a steely gaze.

“Tough luck, I forgive you anyway, and I’m putting all of this behind me. Have a nice life, Liam,” I said and turned around to leave, his maniac laughter trailing behind me as I walked out the door.

I sat in the back seat of my mom’s car in between Mason and Jake while Aaron drove and my mom took shotgun, looking out the window in silence. The thought of what I had just done felt freeing like I had let go of a burden that threatened to ruin me.

“Hey, are you okay? You haven’t said a word since you left that room,” Mason said as he took my hand in his with his other arm wrapped around my shoulder.

Leaning into him, I smiled. “I’m more than okay,” I answered, my eyes meeting my mom’s in the rearview mirror as we exchanged smiles.

“Good,” he grinned.

“So, what should we do? Dinner at my house?” I asked cheerfully, wanting to spend more time with the people I loved the most.

“I’m sorry, Katrina. I won’t be able to make it. I’m taking Noelle out on a date,” Jake said, all smiles.

I nodded with a smile of my own, happy that he and Noelle were back together. “What about you, Aaron?” I asked, and even from where I sat, I could see the tips of his ears turn red, causing me to raise a curious eyebrow. “Aaron?” I asked again when he remained mute.

“Aaron has a date with his girlfriend,” Mason snickered.

With my eyes rounded in shock, I asked a little too loudly, “What? Girlfriend?”

I watched as Aaron scratched the back of his neck nervously before answering me. “I asked Carrie out as you suggested, and we’re… um… kinda dating now.”

“Already? It’s only being what, four days?” I asked, not because I was jealous but because it seemed like things between them were going too fast.

“What’s wrong, babe? You’re the one who wanted him to date her,” Mason said with an edge in his voice, so I squeezed his hand to reassure him. As much as things were going well between us, I knew a bit of insecurity still lingered due to my kiss with Aaron.

“You’re right, as long as you’re happy, Aaron,” I said and returned the grateful smile he sent my way.

“I guess it’s just us three then,” my mom said to Mason and I. “Mason, oh, I can’t wait to show you all of Katrina’s baby pictures.”

“Mom,” I whined, and laughter filled the car as we drove off.

CHAPTER SIX

Being eighteen felt no different than being seventeen. I was still a shy and awkward teenager who had zero sense of fashion – a fact that was quite glaring with the sea of clothes on my bed and a frustrated Noelle drowning in it all.

To say I was shocked when Noelle offered her assistance to dress me up for my birthday party was an understatement. Still, I had accepted anyway since I had no female friends and didn’t want my mom dressing me up again. Thankfully, she was out with a friend for a girls’ night out.

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