SAVED

Alice’s POV
I went back into the club, the loud music and vibrant lights doing little to lift my spirits. The bass thumped through my body, reverberating in my chest, but it felt like a hollow echo. I tried to get into the mood, dancing and drinking, but my heart wasn’t in it. I just wanted to forget, even if only for a few hours.
“Hey, Alice! Lighten up! Let’s do some shots,” Emma shouted over the music, dragging me to the bar.
I forced a smile and joined her. We leaned against the bar, the polished surface cool under my palms. The bartender set up a row of shot glasses, filling them with a red liquid. Shot after shot, I felt the alcohol numb my pain, but it also made me more vulnerable. I welcomed the numbness, letting it wash over me and drown out the hurt.
“To forgetting,” Emma toasted, clinking her glass against mine.
“To forgetting,” I echoed, tipping back the shot and feeling the burn down my throat.
The alcohol hit me hard and fast. The room spun around me, the faces of strangers blurring into swirls of just colors and sounds.
” I wanna go dance!.” Emma suddenly dropped her cup beside me and staggered into the crowd.
I found myself alone, the alcohol pressing in on me. I tried following Emma, I also wanted to dance but the world seemed to tilt and sway, my steps unsteady.
“Hey there, beautiful. Need some company?” A man’s voice slurred in my ear. I turned to see a group of nen. Their leers made my skin crawl, and a chill ran down my spine despite the heat of the club.
“No, thanks. I’m just waiting for my friend,” I said, trying to sound firm, but my voice wavered, betraying my unease.
But they didn’t back off. One of them, a tall man with a tattoo snaking up his arm, grabbed my arm, and panic surged through me. His grip was tight, his fingers digging into my skin. “Let go of me!”
“Come on, don’t be like that,” he insisted, pulling me closer, his breath reeking of alcohol.
Fear tightened my chest, my pulse racing. I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. The room seemed to close in around me, the music pounding louder, almost deafening. “I said, let go!”
“She said let go!” A familiar voice rang out, cutting through the noise. I looked up to see Liam, his eyes were filled with fury. He shoved the man away from me, his eyes blazing with anger. “Get away from her!”
The man stumbled back, his friends closing ranks around him. “What’s your problem, man?” he sneered, but there was an edge of fear in his voice.
“My problem is you,” Liam growled, stepping forward, his body tense with rage. “If you ever touch her again, you’ll regret it.”
The men backed off, muttering curses, but I didn’t care. Relief flooded through me as Liam pulled me into his arms, his embrace strong and protective. The warmth of his body was a contrast to the cold fear that had gripped me moments before.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice tight with worry.
I nodded, my head spinning. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving you from making a huge mistake,” he replied, his tone softening slightly. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
Liam guided me out of the club, his grip on my waist firm yet gentle. I stumbled slightly, the alcohol making my movements clumsy.
“I don’t need your help,” I mumbled, but even to my ears, the protest sounded weak.
“Yes, you do,” Liam said firmly. “You’re in no state to be here.”
________
Elizabeth’s POV
With Alice gone, I had the house to myself. The silence was comforting. This was my chance to get closer to Liam, to show him that I was the one he should be with.
I noticed him leave the house in a hurry earlier, with a determined look on his face. My curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to follow him. If he was going after Alice, then I needed to be there. I needed to make sure things went my way.
As I approached the club, the pulsating lights and thumping music grew louder. I saw Liam helping a drunken Alice into his car. Perfect. This was my opportunity to solidify my presence in his life.
I parked a little distance away and watched as he gently buckled her into the passenger seat. His concern for her was evident, but I couldn’t let that deter me. I had to play this right.
_____
Liam’s POV
I drove with one hand on the wheel, the other holding Alice’s. She was quiet, her head resting against the window, eyes closed. The streetlights cast fleeting shadows across her face, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. This was all my fault. If only I had been more careful, if only I had seen through Elizabeth’s schemes sooner.
“Are you alright?” I asked softly, glancing at her.
She opened her eyes slightly, her gaze unfocused. “I don’t know,” she mumbled. “Everything hurts.”
” I’m sorry Alice,” I said, squeezing her hand.
” You’re not?,” She grumbled. She suddenly sat up. ” Where are you taking me to?,” She pointed her constant swaying finger at me.
“Home, of course,” I replied. “I don’t want to go your home!,” She yelled out angrily.
“If you won’t go there then where would you go Alice?,” I asked softly.
“Emma’s house,” She gave me a cute smile before dropping backwards into her seat.
“Emma’s house?.” I asked no one in particular.
____
We arrived at Emma’s apartment, and I helped her inside. She was leaning heavily on me, and yet still staggering.
Getting to the door, I twisted the hinges repeatedly but it wouldn’t bulge. The door was locked!.
“Do you have the keys,” I asked her sweetly.
” Key!,” She beamed, pulling out a key from her pocket. She tried putting it into the door patch but kept fumbling with it, because of her trembling fingers.
“Here, let me,” I offered, taking the key from her and unlocking the door.
Inside, the apartment was dark and silent. I guided her to the couch, and she sank into it with a sigh, her eyes closing. I put on the light and immediately went to fetch a glass of water and handed it to her, kneeling beside her.
“Drink this,” I said gently.
She took a sip, her hands shaking. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I watched her, my heart aching. This was not how things were supposed to be. I wanted to protect her, to keep her safe from all harm, but I had failed. “Alice, I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice breaking. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
She looked at me, her eyes filled with tears. “Why, Liam? Why did you let her do this to us?”
“It was a mistake. I was stupid, and I let my guard down. But nothing happened, Alice. I swear to you, nothing happened.”
She stared at me for a long moment. Finally, she nodded, a single tear rolling down her cheek. “I want to believe you, Liam. I really do.”
“Then believe me,” I pleaded, taking her hand. “Give me a chance to make this right.”
“I…,” Her head suddenly dropped on my shoulder. I adjusted quickly and placed her head on my shoulder properly. “Will she forgive me?.”
Alice’s POV
The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache and a heart full of confusion. The events of the previous night came rushing back, and I groaned, burying my face in the pillow. Why did everything have to be so complicated?
I heard a soft knock on the door, and Emma poked her head in. “Hey, how are you feeling?” she asked, her voice gentle.
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck,” I muttered, sitting up slowly.
Emma walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes full of concern. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I don’t even know where to start, Em. Everything is such a mess.”
“Well, let’s take it one step at a time. What happened after you disappeared from the party and made me look for you for more than an hour before texting me that you were fine!,” She ranted.
” I’m sorry Em… But I never sent you a message,” I said honestly. ” If you didn’t then who did?,” She asked.
” Liam,” I uttered. Her eyes widened, ” You both have sorted things out already?,” She grinned.
” No.” I rolled my eyes at her. ” If you haven’t then tell me why he was in control of your phone,” She teased.
” Because I was drunk dummy,” I clicked my tongue. ” I don’t understand, gist me all that happened,” She grinned at me.
I recounted the events, from the men at the club to Liam showing up and bringing me home. Emma listened intently, her expression growing more serious with each word.
“So, Liam saved you from those creeps?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, he did. But it doesn’t change what happened before,” I said, my voice tinged with bitterness.
Emma nodded slowly. “I get it, Alice. But maybe you should give him a chance to explain. If what he says is true, then Elizabeth is the real problem here.”
“I know,” I said, my shoulders sagging. “I just… I don’t know if I can trust him again.”
“Trust takes time to rebuild. But if you love him, it’s worth trying,” Emma said softly.
I looked at her, tears welling up in my eyes. “I do love him, Em. But I’m so scared.”
“Then take it one step at a time. Don’t rush into anything. Let him prove himself to you,” she advised.
I nodded, feeling a little bit of the weight lift off my shoulders. “Thanks, Emma. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“That’s what friends are for,” she said with a smile, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.