Chapter 9

We've been driving for about an hour and a half before getting back to Liam's mansion. I never really looked at it before. Well, I never had the chance to.

It was hard to tell what the color of his home looked like since we were driving into their massive driveway and they had tinted windows.

The mansion seemed more like a castle. There was a fountain of some sort and a few balconies at some of the windows. There was a tower-like thing that reminded me of the tower from Tangled. To the left was where the garage. I'd stolen the ugly car from over there. And to the right seemed to be a garden with a pool in the back. The house was just massive. It was a cream-like color. His driveway was way too long. You don't need a massive driveway. Just enough to get your car into the garage. They even had a gate surrounding the entire house.

Once the car came to a complete stop. I quickly opened my side of the door and quickly closed the door, leaning on the car. The three of them quickly got out of the car and saw that I was leaning against it.

"I'll show you to your room," Liam said, grabbing my arm. I flinched at his touch. He's grabbing my arm as Tom used to...

Without even blinking an eye, I yanked my arm from his grip, his glare that I'd seen when I was calling my parents. Once I looked at Liam, I saw that he had wiped his nose with a tissue in his pocket.

"You don't need to grab my arm or my wrist. So why don't you lead the way and I'll follow you? I know that at this point I can't run off. Especially with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb following right behind me." I turned to see them glaring at me from my Tweedle comment. I rolled my eyes at them and turned my attention back to Liam.

"I will do what I want when I want. And I'll let this slide, but next time I'd hold that tongue of yours." Liam warned me, "And don't ever punch me again."

"And next time you grab my arm, trust me when I say I won't hesitate to make it so that you know never to touch me again," I warned him.

We both kept threatening each other for a few more minutes before we couldn't say anything else. I don't know what other threats to make. And who am I kidding about the ones I said I won't go through with.

We started walking in and I could see Charlie who looked sad. I kept looking at him trying to give him a smile that said I'm okay. But I'm not okay. Charlie knew it. But for a second I think I saw...pity? That's not possible, if they even showed emotion toward me it was all fake.

I realized I was on the floor and that Liam was smirking at me. I hate that stupid smirk.

"Does something interest you?" Liam asked, glancing toward Charlie.

Charlie quickly left the room and looked back down at me. Liam offered me his hand to help me get up but me being me I didn't take it. I'm still angry about what he made me go through. But what can I say, I'm stubborn like my father.

I stood up quickly and Liam rolled his eyes at me. We walked to a door that was very pretty. It had designs all over it. Not like crazy but it was simple. Liam opened the door and pushed me into the room. I heard the door lock and I started glancing around the room. There was a little bed next to the window. The flooring was made of dark oak wood. The main bed was massive and like the door it was white. The covers were a light blue and I could see that there was another door that was most likely a walk-in closet since I could see another open door. It was the bathroom. A bookshelf stood on the left side near the bathroom.

I could see that there was a camera on one right by the door to get into my new room.

Paranoid much?

I decided to go shower and went to pick out some clothes. And let me say the closet was massive. They'd put a few pairs of clothes in the closet. Not tons since they probably didn't know I was staying in one of their rooms. Let alone in any of the rooms.

I picked out a navy blue top with a heart on it. The pants that came with them were the same color and were short. They are at least above my knee. I grabbed a bra and underwear and a towel that was on one of the sides of the closet and went into the shower. I made sure that there weren't any cameras in the bathroom otherwise I'm not showering. Or using this bathroom. Once I got all my clothes off I saw how truly bruised I was. I also saw some of the scars that I had from Tom when we were together. But he's gone. He can't hurt me anymore. Or anyone else.

Once I pushed those thoughts away I got in the shower at first the water stung but after a little bit, it stopped. And after a while, I leaned against the wall and started to cry.

-----

The whole car ride home was completely silent. We did put music on which made it even more awkward. I glanced her way a few times and could tell she had cried a little bit. She was holding back tons of tears though.

Once we got back to the house she hopped out of the car and very quickly she slammed the door shut and anger started rising in me.

I swear if she tries running off again I'm going to kill her friend and make her watch me. Just like what I'd done with Mack.

All three of us jumped out of the car ready to go grab her, she was just leaning against the car.

"I'll show you to your room," I mumbled grabbing onto her arm. She flinched at my touch, sending guilt throughout my body.

Melody yanked her arm from my grip, and that feeling of guilt quickly disappeared. Instead, replaced with anger.

"You don't need to grab my arm or my wrist. So why don't you lead the way and I'll follow you? I know that at this point I can't run off. Especially with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb following right behind me." Melody snapped. She turned around to see them glaring at her from her little comment. She turned her attention back towards me. She was waiting for me to move.

"I will do what I want when I want. And I'll let this slide, but next time I'd hold that tongue of yours." I quickly warned her stepping ever so slightly towards her. I never let things slide, but I can't help it this time. I only let it slide after threatening Thea. "And don't ever punch me again."

"And next time you grab my arm, trust me when I say I won't hesitate to make it so that you know never to touch me again," Melody warned me.

We both kept bickering back and forth about what would happen if something happened that ticked the other person off. For a few minutes, neither of us said anything more. Unlike her, I'd go through with the threats I make.

I led the way and once we were inside I saw that she and Charlie were looking at one another. Charlie seemed upset and gave her a sad look. I'll talk to him about that later. Me being the jackass I am, I stopped making Melody fall to the floor. I also threw in my smirk which I know she despises.

"Does something interest you?" I asked, glaring at Charlie.

Charlie quickly left the room and looked back down at Melody. I offered my hand to help her stand back up. But she didn't take it. I rolled my eyes at her and she stood up quickly. We made our way toward a door and I opened it for her and shoved her in. I closed the door and locked it.

The three of us walked down the stairs and I saw Charlie.

We both made eye contact, "My office...now." I ordered walking to my office. Once we were both in my office. I made Charlie close the door. I sat in my chair while he sat in one across from me.

"What did you find out that made you look so depressed? Did you find something out about her past?" I asked.

He nodded his head. The second those two questions left my mouth Charlie got even sadder. Maybe with a tint of anger.

"What is it?" I asked, getting more annoyed. Let's just say, I don't like being kept in the dark. About anything. And when I mean anything, I mean anything.

"She dated this guy named Tom Pierce for three years..." he trailed off. He seemed angry at the name Tom. Only reason I knew he got angry was his fists clenching. Along with his jaw tensing by Toms name.

"What about him?"

"Wilson showed me a bunch of files on the guy, he had lots of criminal records. They were from petty theft to murder."

"Had?"

"He died in a car crash. And Melody was in the car. I printed them out if you'd like to see them?" Charlie asked.

I nodded, "You have five minutes to bring me those files. Charlie, bring Wilson with you." I said. I nodded towards the door and Charlie quickly got up.

The two of them came in. Wilson also seemed angry but also sad. I looked down to see a big folder full of papers with Tom's name. Whatever this Tom guy did, got both Wilson and Charlie upset.

"What's that?" I asked, pointing at the file.

"This is everything I pulled up about him going to juvie and getting released and meeting Melody." Wilson responded, handing me the file.

"Wilson, if you find anything else about this guy, bring it up to me immediately...understood?" Wilson nodded.