antithesis. // payne

Chapter nineteen: I Can't Do This.

Edited.

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

"Liam, stay still," I order as Liam leans away from me as the rag damp with peroxide barely touches his cut.

"It stings," He says as if that is the only reason behind everything.

"Would you rather it get infected?" I ask rhetorically watching Liam scowl but shake his head. "I didn't think so. Now sit still."

I gently dab Liam's cut, frowning when he winces at the sting, before slowly placing the rag directly on the cut. We have been home for about ten minutes and of course the first thing we did was let Eleanor and Noah go out to eat so Liam and I could clean ourselves up and not scare Noah. I didn't even see Noah, I stood outside as Liam sent them out and I turned away so neither of them would see me. Looking at Liam now worried that I hurt him I'm surprised to see him angry. How did I make him mad by trying to help him?

"Why are you angry? Did I do something?" I ask watching Liam stare at me for a moment before looking at the other wall.

"I'm not angry," Liam says defensively making me roll my eyes.

"Liam, I know you're lying. If you're angry with me just tell me already."

"I'm not angry with you Ashley now drop it," Liam demands standing up from the counter chair I placed in the bathroom and walking out. I throw down the rag covered in peroxide following Liam in to the kitchen where he is looking through the fridge.

"Then why are you angry? And don't you dare tell me to drop it again."

"Fine, then I'll tell you this. Shut the hell up and mind your own business," Liam says angrily before slamming the fridge closed with a beer bottle in his hand.

"I'll ask something else then. Why do you have blood on your shirt, and who cut you?" I ask different questions from one side of the kitchen counter as Liam twists off the cap and takes a drink of his beer.

Liam ignores me as he continues to take swigs of his drink making me angry, I went through being ignored by my dad because he was drinking and I am not going through it again. I stomp around the counter and grab the now almost empty bottle out of Liam's hand. Quickly I walk to the back door, open it and throw the bottle into the pool. Turning around after shutting the door I come face to face with a furious Liam.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Liam shouts in my face making my anger fester.

"I don't enjoy being ignored because of alcohol!" I say just as loudly watching his face become a slight red.

"How can someone be such a damn bitch? I kick a guy's ass making his blood get over me, I get cut by some other guys pocket knife and I worry myself sick over you being taken only for you to be a cunt!" Liam's voice rises even louder while I shake my head.

"Fuck you, wanker. I'm sorry I actually care about you and don't want to see you drunk off your ass! I'm not sure if you remember but my father was a damn alcoholic and I really don't want the man I love to be the same! And do I even have to remind you of one of the last times you were drunk? You know, when Noah and I were in a car wreck after I left you as you were yelling?"

Liam laughs dryly before saying,"You attention seeking bitch, why are you bringing up your 'terrible' life and bringing up my mistakes? You're not the only one in the world with a less than perfect life Ashley!"

"Well I'm sorry for trusting you enough to tell you about my past, I'll make sure to keep my business to myself for now on. Not that you care, right?" I ask before pushing past Liam and slipping on a random pair of flip flops.