Next day
"Did you buy everything I told you to?", Liam was talking to someone on the phone.
While Scarlett had baked a tray full of red pasta loaded with cheese and made delicious strawberry ice cream...
She had already learned Liam's likes and dislikes in food...
To her theory he liked strawberry and hence she made strawberry ice cream. She was a pro at cooking, she loved it and enjoyed it. Earlier only Emily praised her but now every time Liam would tag her food as *Delicious*, even ask for a second serve sometimes even third.
Hence she liked to cook his favorites, it made both of them happy...
Scarlett placed the food on the table and came to Liam. She tapped on his shoulder, Liam looked at her and asked "What?", to which she pointed at the food on the table.
"Wait I am busy", he told and went from there...
Scarlett decided to wait for him...
After half an hour he came downstairs all dressed up with his car keys ready to go somewhere.
Scarlett stood up and looked at him.
"We have a boy's night out today, I will be back late.
Open the door only when it's very important and don't enter my room", he instructed and was about to leave...
Scarlett quickly approached him and stared at him disheartened...
She tried to tell him that he should dine with her but he ignored her explanations and left, once again breaking her heart.
She had added all her efforts in cooking his favorites but he didn't even glance at the food ...
*Why am I sad? Fine don't eat. It's not the first time someone despised my food.* She thought and comforted herself...
She went to serve herself but couldn't even eat a single morsel. She felt something missing.
In these ten days, she had enjoyed Liam's company so much that now she was getting spoiled. She had never felt home before and just small gestures of Liam made her feel at cloud nine.
*I had raised my expectations too much, Now I won't cook his favorite *, She thought angrily and then puffed her face...
Discarding the food in the fridge she went and slept in her room...
11:25 pm
Liam was back after clubbing and enjoying himself with his friends. He wasn't a party freak but just to feel less lonely he went to bars and clubs...
He had been even drinking after he turned 18 but had a good alcohol tolerance.
He quietly sneaked into the house dizzy and tiptoed to his room.
He dropped himself on the bed and slept without even bothering to check on Scarlett...
3:05 am
Liam's pov
I woke up, I had a sudden urge to pee. I felt as if my bladder would burst anytime.
After returning back from the bathroom, I became a bit sober and changed my clothes to more comfy ones.
My stomach grumbled indicating that I was hungry.
"Of course I would be, I had only been drinking the whole evening", I said to myself...
"Let's check what's in the fridge"
I walked downstairs and opened the fridge only to find delicious pasta and strawberry ice cream in two bowls.
My mouth watered at the sight of such delicacies.
The thing that disturbed me was all the food looked untouched.
"Did she not eat?"
"Should I go and ask her. What if she is hungry and wanted to eat with me?"
Then it struck me what Scarlett was trying to say when I left in the evening.
She wanted me to eat with her and she made my favorites also...
Guess I should go and wake her up.
I walked to her room and slowly opened the door ...
Lights were on, Who sleeps with lights on...
Her face was covered with a blanket which I slowly removed to be greeted by her goddess features.
She looked cute in her sleep hugging her old teddy bear.
"Even a teddy bear is luckier than me", I thought to myself.
A mischievous idea struck my mind and I decided to play with her. I slowly snatched the teddy from her hands and lowered myself to become invisible from her eyes.
But she didn't move a bit, then I took away her blanket but still no movement.
What is she? A rock. While she sleeps, she has no effect on her...
Next, an idea popped in my mind and I decided to switch off the lights and close the door, she will definitely get scared and panic, I thought to myself...
Hence I did what I planned and hid behind the curtains...
I could feel her moving in her bed...
Since it was dark I couldn't note down her scared expressions.
Author's pov
Scarlett woke up frightened, all the lights were off and even the door was closed...
She started panicking, she had nyctophobia (fear of darkness).
She had developed it at the young age of 5 when her stepmother used to lock her in dark rooms without any fans or windows. She would panic and feel suffocated, she would cry but her sobs were so soft that no one ever heard or came to help...
Scarlett felt the same fear again, she thought that her stepmother had locked her in the room. She had forgotten that she was no more in the cruel hands of Mrs. James rather she was with Liam.
We tend to forget things when we wake up from deep sleep.
She tried to scream but nothing came out, her hands and legs went numb and she started shivering in fear...
Fresh warm tears made their way out of her hazel eyes and she sobbed the most silent sob ever...
Liam had no idea how he made the girl suffer and he quickly switched on the lights and shouted *Woohhhh*.
Scarlett flinched again and buried herself inside the blankets, she wept more this time...
"Hey !! Silly girl, are you scared?", he approached her unhappily...
"Hey!! look at me it's Liam", he said softly.
Scarlett looked up at him.
*Hiccup*
*Hiccup*
*Hiccup*
Liam gave her some water and sat near her...
"Are you scared of darkness?", he asked
She nodded in *Yes*
"Sorry", he just said a plain sorry...
Scarlett had gulped down a whole glass of water at once.
"You want more?",
*No*, she nodded.
"Actually I was trying to wake you up but you were in deep sleep so I decided to trouble you a bit. Oh btw, why didn't you have your dinner?",
*I wasn't hungry*, she signed
"Huh?", Liam didn't understand, then he took a paper and pen and gave it to her.
She wrote what she tried to gesture ...
"Are you hungry right now?", he asked
*Yes, little bit*, she wrote
"Okay let's eat together then, I am extremely hungry ", he told her with puppy eyes rubbing his belly...
Liam had never been that soft to anyone but Scarlett's innocent eyes and red chubby face always melted him and he would end up acting cute with her...
They both jogged downstairs and ate dinner. Then Scarlett brought ice cream..
Liam ate almost half from the big bowl of ice cream...
"Yum ", he commented...
He felt heaven when the cold creamy ice-cream contacted his taste buds...(🤤 Author is craving ice cream)
Scarlett's inner self did a happy dance on hearing the praisings...
"How do you manage to cook so good?", he asked
*Hehehehe*, Scarlett gave a toothy smile.
"Were you some chef in your previous life?",
*Huhuhu*, again she laughed at his stupid conclusions...
"You aren't a bit less silly than I thought",
*My pleasure *, she gestured with a professional bow down.
"Oh !! You can even make fun of others, Smart huh!!", he smirked.
Laughter echoed in the room...
Liam showed his handsome smile and laughed with his whole heart...
While Scarlett did the same, her laugh was audible and it was melodious to the ears...
Just like her cries her laugh was clear to the nearest person...Too innocent and angelic...
She looked adorable when she was happy...
"You should laugh more, you look cute", he said
And went to wash the dishes in the sink...
Scarlett cheek's tinted red on this sudden compliment. She thought to herself, *He isn't that bad*...
Sleep was miles away from their eyes...
Dawn was setting in. Scarlett decided to visit the terrace and witness the sunrise. Liam followed her along.
The sky was painted yellow and orange with a tint of the pink meaning the sun would show anytime.
The first ray of sun shot like an arrow from the Cupid's bow which struck through the duo's heart...
Scarlett stared at the sun with glistening eyes. The sparkle from the sun made her glow. She looked pretty just like a roman goddess doing wonders to other's hearts..
Wherein Liam just looked at her face which was overshadowed by the yellow-orange lights. He himself looked very handsome in the loose black tee and pajamas, all fresh just woken up. His bed hair added to his handsomeness.
"Beautiful", Liam said looking at Scarlett...
Scarlett just nodded her head assuming that he complimented the sky.
Men are very prone to lose their hearts before women. The same was the case with Liam. He somewhere had developed feelings for this innocent girl.
Scarlett took care of him, cooked his favorites, worried about him, and above that the Soulmate thread they wore...
All of this just compelled his ice-like heart to melt...
Soon both of them were back downstairs to their respective rooms.
Scarlett was preparing for her exams which were next month and the same with Liam...
Liam was a quick learner, he studied less and scored more whereas Scarlett studied a lot, she loved her books.
She wanted to become a writer.
Scarlett was struggling with a math problem when Liam entered her room. He carried a small polybag in his hand.
He coughed a little indicating his presence.
Scarlett looked at him and raised her eyebrows asking what he wanted.
"This is for you", he handed her the bag.
Scarlett looked at the bag puzzled.
"These are some cosmetics which I asked ...I mean Mia brought for you...for the party", he told her.
Scarlett took the bag from his hand and saw some branded makeup inside.
But the problem was she didn't know how to apply makeup, she had never done it before.
She took the makeup from him and bowed down indicating thanks...
Liam was about to leave when his eyes fell on her notebook.
"Are you struggling with Triangles? This problem is very easy.", he took the pen from her hand and quickly scribbled few numbers, and Bingo!! the problem was solved...
After that, he solved some more problems. Scarlett was impressed by him.
She thought to herself *No wonder he has beauty with brains*.
13th February
It was 9 in the evening. Scarlett stood in front of the mirror trying the gown they bought. It was body fit beautiful red shaded with some designing on its front.It was backless with thin straps but looked very elegant.
Scarlett had no idea how to dress up. She had no idea how to put on makeup and style her hair.
There was no one who could help her. If she gets late for the party tomorrow, Liam would get furious and scold her.
Her mind got stressed and then an idea came up.
She decided to seek help from Mia. She went to Liam's room. Liam was showering and she took the opportunity and grabbed his phone.
Fortunately, Liam never locked his phone with passwords.She messaged Mia,
*Hey!! it's me, Scarlett.Can you plz help me get dressed tomorrow I don't know how to dress for parties*
She felt back for being so naive and simple.
The reply came instantly...
Mia had written, "Yes, you may come to my house at 6 in the evening ...Xyz street flat 52".
Scarlett wrote, "Okay😊, Thanks".
Then she deleted all the chat and went back to her room.
Next Day
Scarlett packed her things and headed outside at sharp 5:45 pm. She had informed Liam that she will be going to Mia's house to get dressed up. She didn't tell him that she used his phone to contact Mia, she had no intentions of digging a grave for herself.
Liam got disheartened because he wanted both of them to enter the party lounge together like a couple. He himself didn't know why he wanted it.
Scarlett was excited about the party. She had for once kicked aside her muteness. She had decided to be confident and make friends. She liked how Mia was all swag and cool. Liam and Sam liked her so much. But then somewhere she knew that she will be looked down on for her inability.
Not letting the thoughts overpower her she regained her confidence and reached Mia's house.
Mia greeted her and introduced her to her other friends.
Mia had beforehand informed them to be good with Scarlett and treat her like an ordinary girl.
But her friends being the rich, egoistic brats neglected Scarlett's presence.
Mia had hired a stylist for everyone.
All of the girls one by one got ready leaving Scarlett alone. They even dragged Mia with them.
It was 8 in the evening, the time for the occasion to start.
Scarlett wasn't ready, she had only wore her dress. She sat in the lobby waiting for her turn.
The stylish along with other girls came out from the room.
"Ma'am my time is over. Now I may leave", she said.
"Just one girl is left. Help her get ready and then you may leave ", Mia said.
"No ma'am. My time is over. I have a shift at other places also", the stylist told.
"But I will pay you more", Mia said.
On hearing her words Scarlett came to her and denied her offer.
*No it's okay, I will get ready on my own*, Scarlett signed.
"But Scarlett", Mia was about to speak when Scarlett cut her off.
*No, it's okay*, she again signed.
Mia's friends asked her to leave since it was already the peak time for the party to start. They dragged her along to the venue deserting Scarlett all alone.
Scarlett looked down with saddened features. And again it happened, again she was deprived of happiness.
She was so happy to enjoy and make friends today but guess she is unworthy to be loved. She thought to herself.
AT THE PARTY
Liam had reached the venue, his eyes searched for the queen of his dreams. But she was nowhere in sight.
He looked like a prince in the black coat he wore.
His hair was perfectly gelled and he smelled of aftershave. He had three top buttons opened which made him look tempting and hot.
"Hey Mia, Where is Scarlett?", he straightaway asked.
"Someone is impatient", she teased.
Liam gave her a death glare.
Then Mia quietly told him about what happened.
"And you left her all alone", he screamed a bit.
"Fuck", he muttered.
He stormed to Mia's house and searched for Scarlett everywhere.
The maid said that she had left 15 minutes ago.
"Where did she go?", he grabbed his hair in frustration.
He drove off to his house. This time he was worried about her.
*What if she tried to kill herself again?*
The only thought which went through his brain.
He swiftly reached the house and went to Scarlett's room.
He took a deep breath and relieved himself.
Scarlett was back in her daily attire. She was arranging the dress in the cupboard. The makeup bag was kept untouched on the bed.
"Come with me", he ordered.
Scarlett raised her eyebrows.
Liam took her dress and makeup and dragged her along.
He stuffed everything in the car and drove to a beauty parlor.
He stormed into the parlor.
"Get her ready for a party. Here is the dress and makeup. I will pay you as much you want", Liam declared.
He never cared about money, he had more than enough for himself. He knew it is his father's money but he thought not to love I can at least get their money.
Soon the stylist started to work over Scarlett's hair and then face. Scarlett somehow signailed them to keep it light.
Then she wore her dress and red heels. She looked breathtakingly pretty. Her hair was tied in a bun giving a perfect view to her white back. Her eyes were smokey black and her lips cherry red. Her chubby cheeks added to the glow.
She looked like her name *Scarlett red*.
Liam's eyes popped out of his sockets on seeing this gorgeous woman standing in front of her. He made her turn around only to check everything was perfect.
Then his eyes landed on her exposed back.
He thought for a while and said "Open her hair, they don't look good".
"Why sir? Untied hair would spoil the look of the dress", the stylist told.
"Do as I say", he ordered.
"Okay",
Scarlett looked at him confused.
*This boy is so difficult to understand*, she thought.
She was happy though because she didn't like to reveal her skin.
Her long brownish-black cascades like hair fell to her back. She looked like an angel dropped from heaven.
*She is just mine*, Liam thought to himself and blushed..
*Wait, why am I simping for her?*, again he questioned his thoughts...
Both of them left for the party...