Chapter Nineteen

The car drive was absolutely silent. Bryce had tuned out anything and everything, never even glancing out the window, just looking straight at the road. Liam, on the other hand, was staring out the window, simply spaced out.

Neither of them had the courage to say a word. Bryce didn't want to mess anything up, he'd already done enough of that. He knew, though, that he was perpetually messing everything up because he wasn't apologizing. He couldn't apologize, though. How would Liam take it? Would he forgive Bryce? Would they still be friends afterwards?

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"Liam!"

Liam heard a panicked shout of his name come from a recognizable voice. He opened his eyes.

"Oh, Liam, thank god you're okay." Bryce wrapped his arms around Liam, tears pouring down his face. Liam looked around the car. Small shards of glass were scattered on the leather seats, and the front windshield was broken open.

Liam relaxed in Bryce's warm embrace, and slowly hugged him back. Bryce pulled away. "You're not hurt, are you?" He said, his voice panicked and shaky. Liam hesitated for a moment, in pure shock. "Y-yes, I'm okay." He said shakily.

Red and blue lights flashed as a jarring alarm sounded. Bryce turned toward the broken window to his right, squinting. "What.. happened?" Liam asked, stunned by the frightening crash. Bryce turned back towards Liam, and wiped his tears off his face, trying his best to keep his voice level. "Someone was running a red light and hit us. It got me pretty bad, but..." Bryce trailed off, not wanting to mention that his head hurt because of him drinking last night.

Liam looked at Bryce a little expectantly. Bryce choked down a sob. He knew what Liam wanted him to say, but he just didn't know how to say it. He felt horrible. He knew that, just when Liam thought he got Bryce back, he just ripped it away. He wrapped his arms around his sides and his stomach twisted.

(a/n: idrk what like.. happens after a car crash. so just note that for the rest of this chapter)

After the Policeman let them leave, they began walking home. Bryce's legs were stiff, while Liam's were shaky. Liam rubbed his arms while looking at the ground. He could see his own breath.

"Liam?"

Liam looked up at Bryce. Bryce had a concerned look on his face. He hesitated for a moment.

"Why were you crying last night?"

Liam tried to play dumb. "What?"

"You don't have to answer, but you also don't have to act like you don't know what I'm talking about."

Liam looked back down at the ground and mumbled something. Bryce frowned.

"Hm?"

Liam sighed. "I'll tell you later, alright?"

"Okay."

The rest of the walk was silent.