Page 29 of Searching for Sadie (Mystic Falls #5)

SADIE

T he next day she woke up to a knock at the door. She was set to ignore it again, but there was something different about the knock. It was softer, but still somehow louder than it should have been. It was coming from inside the house.

What the fuck? She grabbed the bat from beside her bed, because what single girl in her twenties didn't have a bat by their bed. Even though she lived in the idyllic Mystic Falls, it still seemed prudent, and right now she was glad she had it. As quietly as she could, she opened her door.

What she found surprised her. Knocking on the bedroom door down the hall was Lucas.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

He turned to her with a little jump. "I thought you'd sleep in this room."

Sadie just gave a little shake of her head.

"Are you okay?"

Only then did it occur to her that she must look like a total mess.

She looked down at the outfit she had on.

A T-shirt and sleep shorts... but no stains, she'd call that a win.

Although she knew her unbrushed hair must look like a nest on her head.

She reached and tried to smooth what she could as Lucas made his way down the hall.

He reached for her and part of her wanted to recoil from his touch, but most of her just wanted him. Reluctantly she allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace.

"You kinda went radio silent for a few days and people have been looking for you."

She gazed up, finding his face full of concern.

"What?"

"Apparently people have been trying to call you, well people besides me. Although I've been trying. I also came over the other day, but you didn't answer the door. Are you okay?" he asked again, pulling her back just a little and evaluating her.

She nodded as her gaze fell to the carpet... the pink carpet, because of course it was.

"I'm okay, the show aired."

His brow furrowed as he held her close. "I know," he said with his strong arms wrapped around her.

This was what she'd needed. She should have known his comfort would make her feel better.

"Did you watch it?" she mumbled into his shirt, hoping he didn't.

She felt him nod. "I did. I've never wanted to punch anyone more in my life."

That made her laugh even if there were tears pooling in her eyes.

"There is someone here who wants to see you."

She shook her head.

"I'll send them away if you want me too, but it's someone who might be able to understand what you're going through."

She huffed. She wasn't sure who in Mystic Falls would understand what it felt like to be humiliated on such a public stage, unless, she looked up at him.

"Liam is on your porch and he would love to talk to you."

She pulled back slightly panicking and trying to smother her mess of hair. "Liam Jame?! I can't see him looking like this?" she said, pulling at her t-shirt.

"You look beautiful," Lucas soothed.

She shot him a glare.

"I mean, you look a hot mess," he said cupping her face. "But you’re still beautiful"

"Okay, give me a minute."

Before he left, he pulled her in for another long hug. When he reached the top of the stairs he turned back to her. "When you're done with Liam, I'd love to spend some time with you, if you're up for it. It's Saturday and I'm home for the day."

How was it Saturday already? She'd spend three full days hiding away. It was time. "Okay, I'll come over. Tell Liam I'll be down in a minute."

She went into her room and threw on some clothes she hadn't been wallowing in.

When she looked in the mirror her eyes were puffy with massive bags, but nothing could be done about that right now.

She managed to get her hair out of the bun only to find a greasy matted mess.

Yeah, this would require a shower and starting fresh.

So, she just put it back up before putting on some deodorant and a couple squirts of body spray.

With a shrug in the mirror, she turned and made it down the stairs.

Lucas was gone but the front door was open revealing Liam James looking like the rock star he was on her porch through the screen door. The comparison between them was stark, but it was time to take a page out of the book of Dolly Parton and get back in the mutha fucking saddle.

She looked at herself in the mirror by the door before taking a deep breath and mentally telling herself to buck up.

"Liam, hi," she said, opening the door.

He turned to her and slid his sunglasses on his head. "Hey Sadie. How are you holding up?"

"Not great," she said with a laugh. "But I'm trying."

He gave her a knowing nod. "Sometimes that's all you can do."

"Do you want to come in?" she asked, holding the door open.

Liam walked over and stepped inside. His eyebrows raised as he took in the flower garden of it all.

"The house used to be my great aunts. I haven't found it in me to remodel it yet," she said.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

"Yeah, do you want anything to drink?" she said, making her way into the kitchen trying to ignore the piles of dishes all over. "I have water, tea, and some Coke."

"Water sounds good."

She got two glasses of water and brought them to the table. "Is this okay?" she asked, offering him a seat.

"Perfect."

She sat down at the table across from him unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry to just show up like this. But Lexi and other people are worried about you, but they didn't know how to best support you. And I'm not saying I do... but I understand what it feels like to have all your shit put out there for public consumption."

She finally looked into his eyes and found such a depth of kindness there it almost took her breath away.

"I know what we went through isn't the same thing, but I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but a couple years ago I was involved in a huge scandal when the world at large found out I had a boyfriend.

It turned my whole world upside down. I was twenty-one and in my first real relationship with my touring bassist. I loved him, but the media turned that love into a circus.

I've never been ashamed of being bi, or even been secret about it, but somehow it was like I felt shame about something that wasn't shameful in the slightest."

He took a drink of water as she took in what he was saying.

"I know it's not the same thing you're going through at all. I just know what it can feel like to lose the narrative of your own life and feel vulnerable. It can sometimes feel like you’re just a feast for the internet trolls, but you’re a person."

Hearing it so bluntly put, pulled a huff out of her while tears pooled in her eyes. He reached across the table and gave her hand a little squeeze.

"Yeah, I've stayed off social media. I can't even imagine what people are saying."

"Good for you," he said with a nod of his head.

"I just wanted to make sure you know you're not alone, and that while it may seem like no one understands, there are people who understand, and I'm here if you need to talk."

"Thank you," she said as she traced the condensation on her glass.

"One good thing about being a creative is you can turn that pain into art. Not that it makes it okay. I'm not saying that at all, I guess I'm just saying being a songwriter you have a way to process your pain others don't. Don't forget that."

"Thank you. Really. That means a lot, and I think I've just been so busy trying not to drown. I forgot I know how to swim."

She swiped at the tear that was tracking down her cheek. He gave her hand another squeeze before letting go to reach into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"Whenever you're ready, let's get together and write it out." He handed her phone, and she put her number in. "And just so you know Poppy is going to start planning something elaborate unless you poke your head out of your hole soon," he said with a wink.

Sadie chuckled. "She does seem like the type."

"You have no idea. I adore her, but that girl has a flair for drama, and that's coming from me."

"Thank you for checking up on me. It means a lot."

He just nodded as he stood up. "Did you know I moved to Mystic Falls two weeks after I met Lexi?"

"Only two weeks?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I fell in love with the town as much as I fell in love with her.

They accepted me and never made me feel like an oddity, which isn't always what I get.

.. I guess I'm just saying, if you're staying cooped up here because you're afraid of facing people.

Mystic Falls is full of friendly faces."

"You're right. It might be time to get back out there."

They made their way to the door. Once she had it open, he turned and with his killer wink and said, "I meant it when I said we should write about it. Call me when you're ready."

"I will," she said with the first genuine smile in days.

"Good, I see ya later, Sadie."

As she watched Liam James walk down her front steps, she felt about a million pounds lift off her shoulders.

He was right. It was time to stop letting the show and the awful people she'd met there have control over her life.

She needed to talk to Lucas... Well first she needed to shower, then she would go find Lucas.