SIXTEEN: COURT PAPERS

KIMBERLY


Liam kissing my forehead became the only image in my mind-eye, each time I closed my eyes, I would see the image, even when I was thinking about something else, my mind would find a way to wander back to it and each time I think about it, I felt this little flattering feeling down my abdomen. He had taken me to another mall and we had shopped for everything my mum had sent me to buy and they had dropped me off in front of the house. We still didn't get to an agreement to become a fake couple. I don't know if Liam had any empathy at all, he didn't care what the effects of his words were on someone and there was no way I was going to be in any kind of relationship with him, but what was I going to do? I couldn't let him expose me either.

Our alumni group was in a frenzy by the time I got home from that mall because Shirley and her friends were talking about nothing but Liam and me. Pat sent me a message immediately to meet up with him the next day, he wanted to know why Liam and I were still seen together. I got home quite late and had to lie to mum that I was hiding from some reporters. Khloe pestered me for the gist about me and Liam and I didn't know what to tell her.

The next day being a Sunday, nothing new happened except for the picture of Liam and me in front of the mall all over the papers. I wondered if those people always stalk celebrities and famous people and I realized slowly that that was going to be my life from henceforth. I stayed in bed throughout that Sunday refusing to make myself get up and refusing to go to Pat because I didn't want to receive any scolding from him. In the evening, dad came into my room, I was alone and Khloe had gone to a birthday party.

I sat up in bed when I saw him. He walked quietly to my bed and sat down beside me, looking at me. I avoided his gaze and sighed heavily. We remained silent for a while, dad looking at me while I stared down at my fingers. I have never thought a moment would ever feel so awkward between my dad and me. He was like my best friend at home.

"Are you okay?" dad finally asked.

I looked up at him, corking my eyebrow and widening my eyes feigning ignorance. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You know, I never really got a chance to talk to you about this whole news flying up and down with you and the McGillivary boy."

The way he said the McGillivary boy made it sound like Liam was not responsible and wasn't worthy of me. I managed a smile. "What about us dad?"

He stared at me for a while before he spoke again. "You never told me about the two of you. You have told me everything about you and how you felt."

True. Dad and I were so close that I told him everything about me, the way I truly feel about everything, just anything. I smiled and opened my mouth searching for words to say. "We were keeping it a secret," I said.

"Really, Kim?"

"Yes, dad. I didn't say something because I wasn't sure we were in a real relationship and if this whole thing had not blown up..." My words trailed off because I was tired of lying already, especially to my dad and I wished someone would just come in and interrupt the conversation at that moment. It wasn't my favorite topic.

Just as I wished, Pat's call came in and I excused myself from my dad. I couldn't look him in the eyes and keep lying to him. I didn't take Pat's call either. It was difficult trying to think on my own, not telling anyone. Pat was only going to be judgemental or so I thought. I didn't want someone to scold or lecture me about what I did. The day passed slowly and when I slept that night, I dreamt of Liam smiling at me and holding my hand. I didn't know why I had that dream anyway.


The next morning was balmy and I felt refreshed. Khloe had left for work before I woke up. I felt better that day, I didn't know if it was from the dream I had last night or if it was the fact that I would rest from Shirley's clique and their unending questions of when they would see Liam and me together. I was up and doing and was even helping mum and dad in the restaurant when an average-aged man in a black tailored suit and a briefcase walked in. He looked odd to me and I went to him before mum or dad did and gave him the customer-friendly smile and asked what he wanted.

"I am here to see Miss Kimberly Nordstrom, this is her address," the man said.

I felt my heart drop low in my abdomen. "That is me. Is there a problem?"

He took out an envelope from his briefcase and handed it to me. "Mr. McGillivary is suing you for defamation and lying with his name on National TV..."

"What?!" I clutched my mouth to muffle the scream that tore out of my throat.

"Kim, is everything alright there?" mum asked.

"Oh, yes mum..." I called back and turned to the man. "Uhm...please..." I didn't even have anything to say. I was short of words, my heart was hammering against my ribcage. I had never imagined Liam McGillivary could be that heartless and I didn't believe he was being serious when he said I should get an attorney. Well, I just realized that men of his status don't joke around, I have learned my lessons. At that point, I needed someone to talk to. I flashed the attorney all the smile I could muster and I was sure it must have shown fake because his brows creased a little. "Is there anything you want, not even a drink? We have good food here."

"I'm good Miss Nordstrom, I will take my leave now."

"Alright, " I said waving at him.

"What does he want?" dad asked behind me.

I turned sharply to face him, hiding the envelope behind me and he looked suspiciously at me. "What? Oh, nothing...er... he was looking for...er...someone who is not here."

Dad looked at my hidden hand and went away. I ran upstairs and went to my drawer where I kept the piece of paper Aiden wrote down Liam's number. I quickly dialed his number, it rang twice before he answered and his deep, mean voice came on the line.

"Hello."

"Where should I meet you?" I asked.