Chapter 6

When Amanda opened her eyes, 4 adults were looking at her and she was on the floor. Amanda tried to jump up when she realized what had happened, but Liv just pushed her back down and told her to relax. Liv held her hand while Ms. Cabot went to call for the nurse. "Just lay there we want to make sure you didn't hit your head before we help you up." Fin chimed in "Yeah, but from what I gather about you already you're hard headed so even if you did I bet you're fine." Amanda smiled and that made her relax some. The nurse came over and checked her head and eyes, then gave the okay for her to sit up slowly. Fin and Liv helped her stand and guided her to the chair. Amanda looked around with wide eyes. Liv looked at her and saw all the wrong things. She saw fear and panic. Ms. Novak and Ms. Cabot pulled the detectives to the door and quietly explained that she was cursing and trying to leave. She wasn't going to report anything. Liv knew from working in special victims that Amanda was in fight or flight mode. Liv looked at them and said "How about Fin and I speak to her alone we kinda have a bond with her." Ms. Cabot looked at them confused, "Oh you know her?" Amanda didn't know this but the ladies were all friends. Liv, Alex, and Casey all went to college together and had known each other for years. Fin just chuckled, "Yeah Amanda has a little crush on Olivia here." Liv looked at them blushing, "Fin not now."

Liv and Fin sat beside Amanda. Liv held her hand and squeezed it tight. Amanda didn't hesitate and snatched her hand away "I'm not telling you what happened. I'm not reporting anything. I know what you are doing. This is the beginning of a nice friendship, being nice to me to get me to talk. I'm not dumb." Liv looked at Fin and said "Hey can you give us some time alone." Liv waited for Fin to close the door and she moved closer and grabbed her hand again. "That's not what I'm doing. If you don't want to report anything, I'll stand behind you, but I want you to look me in the eye and tell me right now that you are not in any danger anymore. Everything you said is correct, but we were called because you are in a public school system. You being 19 puts it in your hands, but Amanda I do care about you. I don't know what I feel, why I feel it, or where this is going between us, but if something happened to you and I didn't help I will never forgive myself." Should Amanda trust her? She didn't trust people. People always let her down. She twisted her hands in her lap and finally looked Liv in the eyes, she saw someone who cared. "Liv I'm not in danger, if I think I am I will tell you. Deal?" Liv took a deep breath and said "Okay. I want you to take my card and my personal cell and address are on the back for you. You need me for anything I want you to call me." Amanda looked unsure, no one had ever cared or helped her. This was all new and she just wasn't sure it was real. She wanted to tell Liv about what happened in Georgia before she came to New York but she was embarrassed and wasn't ready to talk about it. Liv gently tilted Amanda's chin so she was looking at her "I mean it! Day or night, doesn't matter." Amanda looked at her watch. "Okay! I've got to go. I've got work." Liv let go of her hand, "Hey! Why didn't you tell me that big block was because you were in high school?" Amanda hung her head, "Liv I really wanted you to like me and you were already upset because I was 19, I figured high school would be a done deal." Liv shook her head, she couldn't believe what she was about to say. "Well it's not and we will take whatever this is very slowly." A big smile spread across Amanda's face. Liv said "Amanda if you want this to happen you need to start being honest and communicate with me. I'm not going to push you with the bruises right now, but telling me what's going on eventually needs to happen. Something is going on. That busted lip you've been sporting since last week, the slight bruise on your cheek. Did you forget I'm a detective. I'm going to give you some time but one more visible bruise and you will start talking. Are we clear?" Amanda wanted to spill her guts. Liv made her feel bad she wasn't being honest, but she had work and needed the money. She just agreed with Liv and went to work. "Yes Liv I understand." Amanda left for her shift.