Stockholm Syndrome

Skinny Love

A/N:

skinny love: (n.) when two people love each other, but are too shy to admit it, yet they show it anyway.

It's been four days since i saw the person outside my house and also since that guy came up to me and told me "By the way, i suggest you take care of yourself. People are always watching and you never know what could happen."

Eloise hasn't told our mother and neither have I. She's been struggling with her divorce and her job is giving her a hard time. Obviously the divorce was a bit hard on us but it's not the same. If we tell her what happened that day i think she's going to have a harder time than before and I don't want her to feel that way. Maybe the person was just trying to scare me and the guy at the record store said that by coincidence?

Right now I'm heading to Liam's house because I'm quite bored. Every time I talk to Liam I think of my sister. She clearly has a small crush on him but she denies it. The day when she accepts that she likes him, that day will be a very productive one.

We arrived at Liam's house and i could see El was a bit nervous. I just want her to tell Liam how she feels. Liam knows and I can tell Liam also likes her. I wouldn't mind since Liam is a great guy and he's only had one girlfriend his whole life and she cheated. I'd date him if i was a female.

All i want to do today is hang out with Liam, have a few drinks and just relax by the pool. The pool is quite big and so is his house, maybe a little bigger than mine. I love Liam's house because it's so quiet since his parents are out working and his sisters are in university.

I've know Liam since we were in kindergarten. We were coloring an animal of our choice and i grabbed the black crayon to paint the puma and he yanked it from my hands. I pushed him and he pushed me back but by the end of the day we ended up being friends. That's basically the story of how our friendship was created.

I entered Liam's house and the first thing i see is Miranda and Keenan sitting on the stools by the counter talking to Liam. Miranda's hair is a different color. Her hair was a light brown almost blonde and now it's purple. Since when? She works with me at the record store and she's quite shy. She can barely talk to the customers so i do it. Keenan is an asshole who studied with Liam and I and sometimes goes to the record store. I don't understand how Liam is friends with that guy. I also don't understand why he invited them here, i though it was going to be Eloise, Liam and I.

"Hey Lou, you arrived." Liam said while standing up.

"As you can see i did." I was pissed off at the moment but it'll pass.

"Take a sit." Miranda told me. I did what she said and sat next to her and Eloise sat next to Liam... shocker.

Miranda had a nose piercing and a tattoo of a sunflower on her hand. She's changed. The last time i saw her was like 2 weeks ago.

Liam and Eloise talked for a few minutes. They know they like each other but i don't know why they won't do anything about it like do something.

"Lou can i talk to you?" Liam said taking me to the living room.

"What's up?" I had no idea what he was going to say to me.

"I'm throwing a party." A party? He knows i hate parties. "I knew you wouldn't want to come so that's why i didn't say anything. Just stay for once, please."

I thought about it very carefully. My 17 year old sister is here and i don't really want anything to happen to her but then again she doesn't talk to anyone, only her friends, and no one has the guts to talk to her. I get uncomfortable at parties because of all the people but maybe i can deal with that for just one night.

"ok, i'll manage to survive." i said unsure of my words.

At 8:40pm everyone started to arrive and music was as loud as ever. Everyone in the room had a cup in their hand. I can't find El but i'm guessing she's in a room lying on the floor listening to the muffled music. I looked everyone and in one corner there was a couple practically swallowing themselves. Miranda was in the sofa looking at everyone. Keenan was flirting with some girl and the others were just dancing, talking, playing beer pong. I hate this. I hate closed spaces. I can go to concerts where there is a lot of people jumping and all but this is different.

"Hey Louis. Where's your sister?" Liam asked me coming from the living room.

"I don't know but if you find her tell her it's time to go home."

"What why? It's early."

"This isn't me Liam and you know it."

"You're right. I'll find her."

I went looking for Eloise also because two people searching is faster than one. I looked everywhere but she was nowhere to be found. it was almost 11pm and my mother was probably already home and she'll call soon.

Just like i said, mom called and i stepped outside so i could listen to her.

"Louis?" She sounded different.

"Yes?" I was scared and i could feel my heart beating faster than usual.

"Please come home and fast. I think someone broke in." Shit.

"ok mom be careful i'm on my way."

I ran back inside looking for Eloise. "Eloise!" I yelled hoping she could hear me.

"Louis?" Someone touched my shoulder and i looked back. "I think she's upstairs." Miranda told me and i ran upstairs.

"Eloise!" I yelled louder.

"Louis!" I heard her scream.

I heard her in the guest room and i ran as fast as i could. Once i opened the door I saw her throw a lamp to Keenan. I was scared when my mom called but now i'm pissed off. I knew this asshole would do something to a girl but i didn't know it would be my sister.

"Don't touch her!" I walked towards him and threw a punch at him. I hope it hurt more to him than it did to me.

"Scared it'll happen the same to your sister?" He laughed cockily and i just wanted to rip his head of.

I threw another punch at him and it felt good. He pushed me back and i fell so he took the advantage and punched me back.

"It won't happen to her because i'm here." I pushed back and stood up. I wasn't going to keep fighting so i took El by the arm and pulled her out of the room and made my way downstairs.

"We need to get home." We made our way to the car and i turned on the engine as fast as possible.

We got there in no time since there weren't that many cars on the street.

The front door was open and i told El to stay outside until i checked the whole house.

"Mom?" I called but she didn't answer. I checked the first floor and it was clear. I walked upstairs and made my way to my room.

"Mom." There she was on my bed covered in blood. She was looking at me directly and shaking her head slowly. Seeing her like this made me so scared.

"Louis be careful!" she yelled and when i turned back i got hit in the stomach with a stick. I bent down in pain and the guy hit me with his elbow on my back and i fell. He turned me around and kept punching me. I couldn't fight back since i was too weak.

The last thing i heard was Eloise yell. "You're hurting him! Stop!"