“I don’t know, Mags.”
“Don’t you want to feel comfortable because I know you aren’t in those clothes? Don’t you want to wake up every day and love what you are wearing? Picking out a style for yourself isn’t just about buying clothes, although that’s the fun and easy part. It’s about knowing who you are and what you like and don’t like.”
“I have enough clothes and besides, I like how I’m dressing. I didn’t at first but I love it now. You see how everyone responds to it at school and I don’t get picked on anymore.”
“Liam, you’re one of the greatest people I know and you are my best friend. There is nothing wrong with me wanting you to discover what the best version of you is. There is nothing wrong with anything you’ve picked out but with some minor touches, you’ll see a tremendous difference.”
“I don’t know Mags, it just sounds like a lot of work.” he sighed.
“Don’t worry! Like I said, I will help you through every single step.”
FOUR
MARGARET
I could forgive Liam for most things but the one thing I would never forgive him for was if he ruined prom for me. After adding some minor improvements to Liam’s style, personality and just overall confidence I figured I would start to see the old Liam back but things got worse.
Liam loved the tweaks I made and it boosted his confidence to the point where he was practically a hit with the varsity football players and cheerleaders. In fact, it was as if he was the hot new kid in school except he was just the same Liam that lived next door to me for the past eighteen months except I don’t think he remembered that.
The more his popularity grew the more he was bombarded by everyone at school and he was constantly getting pulled away and encouraged to hang out with the various groups that wanted his company. I was seeing Liam less and less often and with all of the social invitations he was getting, our Friday night movie ritual got put on the backburner.
The theme for this year’s prom was called Cherished Memories with the song of the night, “What Is It About You?” by the Wexley Brothers, Liam’s favorite band.
It was this unspoken rule that Liam and I would go to prom together IF we ever decided we would go and although Liam hadn’t officially asked me out, I knew he wouldn’t let me down. I decided to ask him about it because I really needed to know because Roger asked to be my prom date and if Liam didn’t want to go, I wanted to see if it was alright with him if I went with Roger instead.
I didn’t give Roger an answer also because I’d rather go with Liam. Despite the tension and lack of time spent with each other this past year, I knew I’d still have more fun with him and that’s what prom was about. It was about having long-standing memories during significant moments in your life and high school was one of those defining moments.
“Hey, have you seen Liam this morning? I usually meet up with him at our locker but he never showed up.” I asked Cherie, a girl that was in my 6th period Calculus.
“Yeah, I think I saw him by the water fountain around the corner.”
“Thanks, Cherie, I’ll see you in class.”
I rushed down the corner, anxious to ask Liam if he considered going to the prom and if so, would he want to go with me or if he expected that as much as I currently did but it took all of three seconds for my hopes to be crushed.
There Liam stood in what looked like a flirty conversation with Brooke. I inched my way closer so I wouldn’t be seen eavesdropping, I wanted to know what they were talking about.
“So, the word is that you don’t have a date yet.” she twirled her hair.
“No, not really but I don’t think I’m going.”
“Well, lucky for you I am available for you to take so you can still go. Not that I couldn’t get a date or anything, plenty of guys have asked me to go but I said no to each and every one of them. Do you know why?” she asked.
Damn her.
“I haven’t the slightest clue.”
“It’s because you’re taking me, silly.” Brooke giggled.
“You want to go to prom with me?”
“Yes, so I’m wearing a blue dress which means you will have to coordinate with me. Don’t forget to get me a corsage and the gang is going to pitch in for a limo so we can ride with them. The limo is going to pick you up around eight on Saturday. P.S. There may be a special treat in it for you.” she said as she walked away.
“But…”
“Eight on the dot, Liam,” she called over her shoulder.
What in the hell just happened? Was Liam going with Brooke Miller? She was one of ten people he and I vowed to hate together, forever. I really was losing him.
I took off running down the hallway and shoved the admin building doors open causing them to slam against the wall. I ran down the sidewalk heading for the bus stop at the corner, tears stung my eyes as they continued to slide down my cheeks. Sobs wracked my body, my vision blurred and I didn’t care who saw me. I just wanted to get out of there.
The city bus appeared several blocks away and I was careful to wipe away my tears, put on my sunglasses and calmed myself down before it arrived. All I could think about when I finally sat down while the bus pulled away from the curb was that I was wholeheartedly and unforgivably crushed by Liam Collins, my former best friend.
FIVE
MARGARET
The change in Liam’s confidence and his growing success with women was exactly what I’ve always felt Liam needed. Only, I felt like I was losing my best friend. He’d missed all of our Friday night film fests and he started cancelling on our daily breakfasts and I was sure he was going to skip out on this one too. He was fifteen minutes late, but I still didn’t want to give up and leave just yet. As I took a big sip of my second glass of orange juice, I saw him hustle through the front doors.
“So nice of you to show up,” I said with an attitude. I still hadn’t fully forgiven him for the way he’s been all year, let alone going to the prom with Brooke but that’s okay because I went with Roger and we had a great time.
I hated to admit it to myself, but seeing Liam with Brooke at prom hurt but when he confessed to me (with glee I might add) that he lost his virginity and slept with her that night hurt my heart completely and I vowed never to forgive Liam for that. He was far beyond the guy I used to call my best friend and I don’t think the old Liam would have done anything like that to me.
“Mags, I told you a million times that I was sorry.” he sighed. I couldn’t help but feel like he was moving on, as if he didn’t need me anymore. Was I just a place holder because he was lonely?
“You guys ready to order?” the server asked as she walked up. I had already ordered for the both of us.
“No, I’m just going have an espresso,” Liam said quickly. My stomach dropped. Did he just say he wanted just an espresso? Liam loved their breakfast biscuits.
“What?” I asked.
“Sorry, I have to get going soon so there’s not much time to eat.”
“I promised I’d meet Brooke,” Liam said uncomfortably. I crossed my arms and sighed, the server taking a hint and walking away. “Margaret don’t make me feel bad. We can have breakfast anytime.”
“I know, but I can’t help but feel like I’m the one weighing you down.” I said honestly.
Just as I tried to elaborate on my point, there was a loud knock at the window right outside the table we were sitting.
“Hey, Brooke.” Liam waved with a smile. She didn’t even look at me and instead started giving seductive eyes to Liam.
“Have fun,” I said with a sigh, not looking up at Liam. Even if he was willing to cancel on Brooke, I didn’t want him to at this point.
“Margaret,” Liam said, not continuing with much else. I maintained avoiding eye contact as Liam got up from the table and left. He walked outside and Brooke ran towards him, wrapping her arm around his as he walked her to school.
*****
It had been three weeks since I’d seen Liam for longer th
an a minute. We stopped talking after that day he ditched me for Brooke. I never would have thought that Liam was interested in girls that we both vowed was on our shit list. She was pretty, but just the type that gave away a little more than necessary. I couldn’t see her being someone that Liam would end up with long term.
Ever since our falling out, it gave me the courage to put more effort into what I already had going on with Roger. We never took anything serious nor did he ask me to be his girlfriend because we didn’t spend much time together in person with being three states away at Stanford and we both weren’t the long distance type.
For most of the year, one of the reasons why I typically held back with Roger and didn’t want to progress further was that I wanted Liam to be my first and I knew that was probably what was stopping Roger from asking me to be his girlfriend. Roger had this plan for us to officially be together with the assumption that I got accepted to Stanford. I found out last week that I did and next year I would be able to be with him if I wanted, that’s if I accepted the college invitation.
The one thing holding me back was Liam. I was afraid that if I decided to go to college in Stanford that would mean that I would have to cancel on our graduation plans and somewhere along the way I knew that if I got into a relationship with Roger, I would lose Liam in the process and Liam was the most important person to me.
Right now, however, our friendship no longer existed and any contact Liam and I had with each other was completely awkward and uncomfortable and we pretty much hung out with each other less and less because the only thing I could think of was how he broke my heart and I couldn’t forgive him for that. So I made the decision to go to Stanford and start my new life with the guy who actually wanted me back.
I was scared shitless but always ended and once they did, a new door happened even if it meant losing Liam wasn’t on the other side.
TO BE CONTINUED
The End
I wanted to thank all of you for taking the time to read the cliffhanger prequel, Because of You. This book has been a major labor of love and I took a risk in writing a book that was slightly different than my usual books but I had this idea and I just had to run with it.
I hope you loved it as much as I did and I can’t wait to hear from all of you about it.
If you want to continue reading what happens next with Liam and Margaret, check out the Book One to the series called Every Day I Loved You.
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About the Author
Robin Edwards was born in Lewiston, Maine. She writes Contemporary Fiction books as well as the occasional Clean Romance story all of which are written to get your heart pounding and your pulse beating. Her approach is to develop gotta love them and hate them characters and end the story happily ever after.
Her books are recommended for mature audiences, 18+ years of age who enjoy a unique choice of characters and situations with twists and turns that are diverse from the humdrum romance fiction.
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Every Day I Loved You (Coming Home Series, Book One)
by Robin Edwards is a publication by
© 2018 Second Chances Press.
www.secondchancespress.com
More Books by the Author
Serendipity Series
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Before Twelve: Sam’s Story (Prequel)
Twelve Miles (Book One)
Twelve Weeks (Book Two)
Twelve Nights (Book Three)
Serendipity Series 3-in-1 Box Set
Office Escapade Series
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One Little Lie
One Little Mix-Up
Office Escapades Series 3-in-1 Box Set
Secret Revenge Series
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Scars Series
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Asphalt
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Every Day I Loved You
Because of You Page 3