Soulmates Chapter 8
summary: continuation the day after Adrianna's bday. Annie is missing and Liam tries to track her down. Meanwhile Naomi recovers from her hangover and works to piece together Annie's disappearance. A college AU with Liam/Annie, Navid/Adrianna, Teddy/Silver, Naomi/Max.
Enjoy!
Liam finally pulled off at a gas station between Beverly Hills and Las Vegas around 3:30am. He wondered if Dixon had a point, that maybe he was being irrational. Why the hell was he chasing Annie again? Why couldn't he get her out of his head? These questions forced their way through his stream of consciousness as he refueled his bike. No one was really around at the gas station, just a few local guys chain smoking and drinking outside the store. Which reminded him of the bar and his job but Old Salty would understand if he needed a few days off. He liked Annie, the few times they met when Annie would sneak down to watch Liam work the bar. She had an irrepressible curiosity and sweetness which Salty commented on to Liam. Of course Liam had pretended he hadn't heard to save himself an awkward conversation.
If Annie's ex, Patrick, managed to track her down and get her to leave with him they would probably go back to Kansas. Probably but who knew. Liam had to admit he was in over his head not to mention drained after being on the road half the night. He decided to pull over at the next rest stop and call Annie again.
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Meanwhile, Patrick was choking Annie senseless on a motel bed.
"Shut-up! Shut-up slut!" he was screaming in her face waving his hands maniacally.
"Please stop" Annie sobbed.
"I said shut up" Patrick repeated slapping her. He paced back and forth across the room.
"Who is this guy Liam?" he demanded, shoving Annie's phone in her face.
"I don't know," mascara tears streamed down her face. Her dress was torn from when she tried fighting Patrick off at the party.
"You're a pathetic liar Annie. Why does he keep calling? You've been gone from Kansas less than a month don't tell me you're already fucking another dude."
"No I haven't. I'm not in a relationship," Annie begged Patrick to believe her.
"Liar! He's clearly missing you in bed tonight. I guess from now on I have to keep better tabs on whats mine." He ranted on, pinning her down against the mattress.
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The next morning, Dixon woke up and feeling sobered by the morning decided he better try to check in with his little sister. His parents had trusted him to look after her and he admittedly hadn't been taking that seriously. After multiple calls that all went straight to her voicemail, Dixon realized she must have shut off her phone which he had never known her to do. Liam, was also gone so he decided to try tracking him down next.
Liam answered on the second ring. "Hey you hear anything?"
"Naw and she's not answering her cell. Where are you anyway?"
"At a rest stop. Listen I'm going to the police," Liam told him.
"The police," now Dixon was getting worried. Liam was a chill guy he didn't get worked up unless there was a reason.
"Dixon listen I know she's your sister and you may not wanna hear this but I think somethings wrong."
"This is getting unreal. Last night is sort of blurring on me but I swore she was there hanging with Naomi and Adrianna, everything seemed good." Dixon thought back.
"I already called Naomi and Max text me back because Naomi was still passed out but he was taking her to get some food and coffee in her. No sign of Annie according to Max. Jasmine said she knew nothing."
"Shocker," Dixon couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice of what a ditz Liam had taken up with.
"Call Adrianna and ask her," Liam was too worried to care what Dixon thought of Jasmine. "And did you see Patrick last night?"
"Whoa Annie's ex boyfriend was there?" Dixon was stunned.
"I think there's a good chance. You didn't see him?"
Dixon racked his brain "After Adrianna's music played my night fell apart and Teddy proposing everything got crazy. I don't remember seeing Annie after that at all."
"Me neither," Liam said remembering the moment. He was next to Jasmine, Adrianna's song "Dreams Come First" was playing so loud. Jasmine was trying to get him to dance but he wasn't into it. Then Teddy proposed and he couldn't see Annie anywhere and nobody was paying attention to anything but Silver and Teddy and the music that seemed ridiculously loud. "Dixon I have to go to the police. I'm not taking any chances" Liam suddenly said.
"Okay I'll check around and hit you back" Dixon agreed, realizing maybe his sister was in trouble and something in Liam's voice made him realize his best friend cared about his little sister more than he thought possible.
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Annie felt ill. Her face was swollen, bruised and tear stained she didn't know how long ago it had been since she'd collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Patrick was stationed near the door and though he appeared to be sleeping, Annie knew any movements or noise would wake him up in an instant. She knew she had to be strong, but that was the last thing she felt. Slowly she crawled toward the edge of the bed. She spotted her cell phone near Patrick on the floor. Her heart pounded in her chest and her head ached, making her wonder if she had a concussion.
Scared- to-death and hatred didn't do justice to her feelings towards Patrick and she wondered if she'd make it out alive. You're not supposed to think that way, she chided herself. But how the hell was she going to get away from him? Did anyone even know she was missing?
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Liam left the police station feeling numb like the last 15 hours were someone else's life. The officer had taken his statement and filed a missing person report also contacted Annie's parents overseas. They were taking the next flight home. Dixon hadn't gotten any further on his end but was driving his truck to the police station where Liam was to pick him and his bike up. Liam wished he had been paying closer attention, especially knowing about that creep harassing her. Annie shouldn't have even been in that club in the first place since it was only 21 and over. The officer had tried to be objective but even Liam could tell he suspected the worst about Patrick being behind Annie's disappearance.
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Annie felt so desperate and paralyzed. Her anxiety was making her shake. She knew Patrick wouldn't sleep long and then he would be even more violent and abusive. Slowly she turned around searching for a room phone. Finally she found the cord ripped from the wall, her heart sank. She thought of running to the bathroom but what would that accomplish? She knew she had to get her phone. Inching closer, she heard Patrick's steady breathing, but she willed herself to keep going. This was her only chance. She made it to about a foot away, crawling along the carpeted flooring. Pain shot through her body. The phone. Get the phone. Those were her only thoughts. She felt her hand on it and she pulled it to her quickly. She looked at Patrick who was in the same position. Her fingers pressed 9-1-1. Then she heard the operator go "9-1-1 what's your emergency?" Unfortunately she heard it at the exact moment Patrick did. He launched himself on top of her. "You're going to regret that bitch!" he yelled at her, pulling her across the room by her hair.
Annie was not a take charge type of girl, but after Patrick shoved her down into the bathtub and stood over her his arms crossed, she realized she had to do something.
"Really Annie?" Patrick stated snidely "you had to call 9-1-1. you fuckin bitch. I can't get a minutes sleep."
Annie wondered if she should scream, she obviously couldn't physically overpower Patrick.
"Please," Annie begged. "I'm sorry I'm really -"
"I'm sorry" Patrick yelled jabbing a finger into his chest. "I'm sorry you've been fucking Liam and he turned you against me."
Annie couldn't help it she burst into tears. The last day being held captive by her ex having to listen to the false accusations he was spewing against her was too much.
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Naomi wondered where Annie was all day. She kept texting her but was getting nowhere. Max and Madison had left her and Silver at the diner and then she and Silver walked along the boardwalk a while thinking the fresh air would help her headache. Silver was so preoccupied with Teddy's proposal she didn't seem to think Annie's absence was any big deal.
"Maybe she got really wasted and crashed at somebody's house" Silver suggested.
"Annie had to go to her interview at the daycare she wouldn't be a no show" Naomi said.
"I'm sure they'll let her reschedule," Silver said, staring at her sparkly ring. She twirled around in the street dreamily causing Naomi a pang of jealousy over Silver and Teddy's engagement.
"I don't know," Naomi couldn't shake her instincts telling her something wasn't right with Annie.
The more Naomi sobered up after Adrianna's birthday, the more she realized something wasn't adding up. As they kept walking they passed the floral boutique where Jasmine worked. Her suspicions flared, Jasmine was extremely jealous of Annie and it was easy to think she could have done something nasty to Annie.
"Hey I'm gonna pay someone a visit. I'll catch you later." Naomi said.
"Naomi leave it alone," Silver grabbed her arm. "Jasmine is a bitch and not worth your time."
"I know all that. But I bet she knows more than she's saying." Naomi insisted. Silver looked extremely skeptical.
"You don't need more trouble Naomi. You're starting Cali U. Forget her."
"All I want is to get Max a little thank you gift," Naomi said trying a different approach. "Go see your fiance," she added with a smile.
Silver hesitated another moment before resigning this was probably just Naomi being Naomi.
As soon as Silver was headed back to her car, Naomi dashed in the floral boutique. Jasmine as usual was stationed behind the counter consumed with pouting.
"This must be a pretty tough crowd, huh?"
"What do you want Naomi?" Jasmine spat.
"I just mean all these people ordering something special for someone special...it must kill to never be the special one yourself. Especially on a day like today Liam chasing after Annie and just pushing you aside without a second thought."
"I'm not worried about his little mission impossible. He'll be back. He's got a bar to run." Jasmine snapped.
"What makes you say mission impossible" Naomi demanded. "You wouldn't know anything about where Annie is -"
"Just shut Naomi."
Naomi could see Jasmine was rattled. "Let me guess you let your jealousy of Annie get the best of you and you did something stupid to sabotage her."
"Look whose talking" Jasmine countered, then lowering her voice "you're a bitter bitch because Max can't stand you and loves Madison now."
"Jasmine can you just get over yourself and tell me what happened with Annie? Don't you even care how hard Liam is trying to find her?"
"Annie's not my concern. Patrick can deal with that little witch from now on." Jasmine ripped off an order sheet, seeing her boss giving her an impatient glare from the back room.
"How do you know about Annie's ex boyfriend? What happened to Annie at Stardust?" Naomi demanded.
Jasmine looked more flustered than ever. "Whatever, he came in here to order her a cute flower arrangement," Jasmine left out everything about all the plotting with Patrick who seemed like a psychomaniac.
"You only saw him the once? Not at the party last night?" Naomi pressed.
Jasmine looked away trying to regain composure, she smirked "If Annie decided to hook back up with her ex last night that's none of my business."
"So you set Annie up? Do you know what type of person her ex boyfriend is?"
Jasmine was done being guilt-tripped, in her mind Annie was at fault. Annie moved in on her boyfriend Liam literally and Annie was ruining everything with her good- girl act. No one could blame Jasmine for seizing an opportunity. "Naomi either order or get out. I have nothing to say to you."
"Fine. I want to send the ultimate assortment of chocolate covered strawberries and to Max and -"
Jasmine began cackling. "Didn't anyone ever tell you if you really care about someone you should let them go? Especially if the guy moved on forever ago."
"And didn't anyone tell you if you care about your job you'll keep your fucking opinions to yourself? Besides I could give you that same advice regarding Liam."
"No you should give it to Annie"
Naomi made a face at Jasmine and tapped the order sheet "And the medium golden plush teddy bear personalized to say 'Max sending you bear hugs for being so sweet love Naomi'.
"Love? You want it to read love? Are you deranged?"
"Are you deaf? Take my order didn't anyone teach you the customer is always right?"
Just then Jasmine's manager strut out she sneered at Jasmine for being so incapable while viewing the line forming behind Naomi. "Jasmine pick up the pace, there's a line. Time is money." She then hovered over Jasmine ensuring everything got processed efficiently while making small talk with her customers for at least 20 minutes. It really pissed Jasmine off. Damn Naomi for having to be such a loud mouth and attract her boss's attention. After all this, she hoped Patrick would keep his promise to get Annie as far away from her and Liam as possible.
Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think! :)