Charlie's POV
I wonder where Liam is—well he could be sick, but he didn't look too bad yesterday—or the last few days. I mean, he really just complained about a headache and I haven't really seem eat too much so maybe his stomach is bothering him.
I really hope he is okay—I know he probably is, I just worry.
I sat down at the lunch table with Sophie and Caleb—I wondered if they heard from Liam. "Did Liam text you guys? Is he okay?" I asked—god I hope that didn't sound…weird or whatever.
"He's probably skipping." Caleb said—I didn't believe that for a second.
"He only did that one time because you and Jason basically made him." Sophie remarked.
"So what? Who really cares about Health class anyway?" Caleb replied and I couldn't help but laugh—he had a point there. But I guess that didn't really answer my question—I had a feeling Sophie would know better since she is Liam's girlfriend.
"I went by this morning and his dads told me he was sick." Sophie told me—I thought so.
"He didn't seem that bad yesterday." I mentioned.
"Well yeah, but he's kind of been out of it this week if you've noticed." Sophie said and I had to agree with that. Maybe he just got a virus or something like that. Maybe I will go by later and see if he's okay. I texted him about it then, if I didn't hear back, I'd just go over there. I mean, I'm sure he'd want company, right?
I hadn't gotten a text back from Liam, so I decided to go over there myself. I knocked on the door and his dad, Nick, answered. "Hi Charlie." He said. "I guess you're here because Liam wasn't at school today."
"Sophie told me, he's sick." I stated. "Is he okay?"
"He said he's better." Nick said—it was sort of weird referring him to that, but oh well. "I guess we'll see in the morning if he thinks he's well enough to go to school."
"Can I see him?" I asked and I watched as he considered it for a moment.
"I guess so, I don't think Liam would mind." Nick said. "He might be sleeping though." He warned and I nodded. I went up the stairs and knocked lightly on the door and after a few seconds of no answer, I opened the door slightly and went in. I saw that he was asleep—I guess that might be why he didn't answer me. I could sit here for a bit and if he doesn't wake up, I'll leave. As I sat down in the chair, I heard him mumble something—he talked in his sleep? That's interesting.
"NO STOP!" I heard him, sort of yell. I frowned—was he having a nightmare or something? Or was it a day-mare in this case? Oh shut up Charlie, I think this would be a good time to wake up; and also a good time for me to wake him up.
Liam's POV
"Liam! Liam! LIAM! WAKE UP!" I blink my eyes open and I try to catch my breath. Oh thank god, it was just a dream. Wow, it's been a while since I had one like that. I haven't dreamt about him in years—since I was 13. I see that Charlie was here and had woken me up. I let my hand rub over my face and then sit up as Charlie backs away and sits in the chair a few feet away from my bed. "You okay?"
"Yeah." I said and then cleared my throat. "What are you doing here?" I then asked—I guess my dad had let him in.
"Thought you'd like some company—you dad seemed to agree." Charlie said and I grinned—I guess it was nice, especially since he woke me up from that. "You okay?" He then asked and I grinned and nodded. I definitely am now that I'm awake. Of course, then my throbbing tooth reminds me that I'm not completely okay—but I nodded anyways.
"You seemed to be having a nightmare…or a day-mare in this case." I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Okay forget I said that last thing." I shook my head—I actually did need to laugh at something. It helped distract me for a brief moment.
"It's fine—it was funny. I'll give you that."
"I'll leave that stuff to Caleb…he tries to be funny, right?" Charlie said and I nodded. We both laughed at that comment. "So what were you dreaming about?" He asked and I frowned.
"I don't want to talk about it." I said, turning away from him. I didn't even want to think about it, let alone talk about. I hadn't really thought about him for years, but now those memories are coming back. I guess Charlie sort of reminded me of what happened and now with my current problem and state of mind—why wouldn't it be on my mind?
"Liam," He said and I turned to him. I really hoped he wouldn't make me talk about it. "You're cheek is swollen." He said—wait what? I looked in the mirror—but I didn't really see what he was talking about, maybe it wasn't there and he was just seeing things.
"No it isn't." I stated and turned back to him.
"Yes it is." He said, looking again. He walked over to me and looked at it—would it work if I said I had personal space issues or if I was claustrophobic? "…right there." He said and touched it there and I flinched. Okay—maybe it was. It didn't look swollen to me—I guess I was thinking about the kind people get when they have their wisdom teeth out; I guess that's not the case here.
"You're in pain—" He started to say, but I stopped him. I didn't want him talking too loud or my dad might come in.
"Shhh!" I said and he sighed.
"You're not really sick." He said, not as loud. Oh thank god for that.
"I have headaches if that counts." I said honestly, it was true.
"I wonder why you have them."
"I had them before it even came out." I said—oh crap, I may have just gave him another hint to what's wrong with me. Now there will be no stopping him from telling. Wow—I sort of sound like a child thinking this way; oh well, I can't do this.
"Came out?" He said, questioning what I had said. He looked at me and in that moment, I knew that he knew. "Did a filling come out?" He asked. I sighed and nodded. "Dude, you can't just leave that alone." He said and I turned away.
"Like you would have said the same thing two—three weeks ago." I stated and he sighed.
"Yes, but what did you do when I refused to go?" He questioned and I sighed. I know I did the right thing then and I know he is right about this, but I just can't do it. "Liam, you have to. How long has it been?" He asked—oh god, if he tells my dad he'll definitely kill me for leaving it this long.
"A week—10 days maybe." I mumbled, but I knew he heard me when I heard a reaction.
"Liam—"
"I'll go just not today." I said—even I knew that wasn't the truth. I just really wanted him to drop it and leave me alone.
"Right. That's exactly what someone would say so their friend would drop it." Charlie stated—damn it! "I'm not dropping it."
"I'd appreciate it if you would."
"You need to tell your dad." Charlie told me and I sighed. A part of me knew that, but another part of me—the part that only thinks about the fear and the pain and I just can't bring myself to do it.
"I can't." I said.
"Yes you can, you know you have to."
"I can't do it." I said, finally looking at him. "I can't bring myself to do it!" I said a little louder than I intended to do. "Sorry, but all I can think about is…"
"What happened before?" Charlie questioned and I looked down and I think he could take that as a 'yes'. "Yeah, I get it." I sighed—Charlie really is the only one who could really get it. A part of me wanted to tell my dad and get rid of the pain, but the thoughts and such from a bad experience are just overwhelming that I can't bring myself to do it. The thought itself is bad enough.
"Liam—"
"I can't bring myself to do it." I said. "I just can't."
"Can't bring yourself to do what?" I jumped at hearing my father's voice—I knew it was him before I even looked up. I turned to Charlie—pleading him not to, even though I knew he would anyway.
"He can't bring himself to ask you for help." Charlie said. "I'm sorry, Liam." He then said, I knew he meant well, but I just couldn't agree in my current state of mind.
"Liam?" My dad questioned me, but I couldn't say anything for the first few moments.
"I just can't." I said and then quickly got out of the room—I just couldn't stay in there. I knew Charlie would tell and I know should be able to do it myself, but I can't. I know I am being stupid and irrational, but I can't help it. I just can't bring myself to do it.
We also had a POV from Charlie and it looks like both Nick and Charlie know now.
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