Playing With Fire

Andrea and Liam- childhood years

Andrea and Liam- age 6

“MOMMY!” Andrea cried as she came running from outside, covered in mud, tears running down her face. Her pigtails were no longer tight against her head and there was a small tear in her dress. “Liam pushed me in the mud puddle.” She said in between her tears.

“I said I was sorry.” Liam said as he followed Andrea stomping into the house.

Tori and Laura were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee and catching up. “Come here Andy. Let me see you.” Laura said. Andrea ran to her mother and embraced her in a tight hug. She wiped some of the mud that was starting to already dry up from her knees. Tori came over with a wet washcloth and cleaned Andrea up, making sure there were no cuts.

“Liam, sweetie. Can you please go into the bathroom and get the band-aids? Andy has a couple of cuts on her knees.” Liam’s eyes went wide and he started to tear up. He ran into the bathroom and came out with special Hello Kitty band-aids that he asked his mom to get for Andy in case anything happened.

“I am so sorry Andy. I didn’t think you would get hurt.” He stood next to her, grabbing her hand, trying to calm her down.

As she sat on the chair, Liam bent down and kissed her now clean knee. “All better?” he asked. She didn't say much, just nodded and jumped down from where she sat. “Come to my room, I will get you some clean clothes so you can change.” He went over to Andrea and hugged her and she hugged him back. “I really am sorry. I love you Andrea.”

“It’s okay, I love you too Liam, but don’t push me again or I’m going to hit you.” She warned.

“Andrea May! Do not say that.” Laura said to her daughter. Andrea huffed and Liam grabbed her hand and took her to his room so she could change into some clothes.

“We are going to be in trouble, aren’t we?” Laura said to Tina. “He is already smitten with her.”

“We are, but they do look cute together, don’t they?” Laura nodded.

Evan and John soon rushed into the house, taking their wives in their arms and embracing them in the tightest of hugs, “I take it that the meeting went well?” Tori laughed as Evan swung her around. The laughter drew the kids out of Liam's room, giggling at the sight that unfolded infront of them. Out of sheer happiness, John bent down and picked up Andrea and embraced her with the biggest hug, making her giggle.

After a couple of giggles, John took a look at his daughter and chuckled, “Why are you in Liam’s clothes?” He asked her. “Superman looks good on you.”

“He pushed me and got me all muddy and made me cut my knee. But he said he was sorry and promised not to do it again.”

“I’m glad you two made up. But yes, the meeting went amazingly! We got the bid for the hotel and we are going to start remodeling within the month!” John said with excitement.

“That’s amazing! I am so proud of you both!” Tori exclaimed.

“What are you two going to name it?” Laura asked.

“It’s going to be the Belmont, after my guy here.” John said, smacking Evan on the back, “This is going to be the legacy we leave our children! If it weren’t for our parents giving us the trust funds they had for us and the investors we got to sign, I don’t think this would be happening. It is all so surreal,” The deal with the parents is that Evan and John would get their trust funds when they marry, have children, and come up with a plan to invest it wisely. With this venture they are taking on, their parents agreed on the trust fund, with another added stipulation.

“Did your parents add it on?” Tori asked.

“Yeah, they had it amended last week by the lawyers for both Andrea and Liam.” John said, both of the guys taking seats across the table from their wives. They all watched as Andrea and Liam ran back outside, laughing and playing like nothing else mattered to them in the world.

“Do you think this is the right thing to do?” Laura asked. “I mean, adding in the marriage clause to their trust fund? A part of me doesn’t feel like this is right. I don’t know why your parents are insisting on it.”

“What happens when things don't go as planned? I'm not going to force the kids to do something they don't want to do, even if it means them not being together.” Tori said, with Laura agreeing.

“Look at those two. They are already inseparable. That kind of connection doesn’t come out of nowhere. They have been like that since they were born. The only times we would be able to get full nights of sleep is when those two were in the crib together.” Evan laughed. “Having the marriage clause in the trust fund paperwork ensures that our grandchild and their kids have their future set for them so they don’t have to worry. Them being married in the future; it’s not going to be a problem.”

“If you say so, but if something happens and I have to tell you ‘I told you so’, you’re going to hear it.” Laura agreed with Tori and the guys laughed.

“It’s on.” John said as they all looked out the window at their giggling children, playing with no care in the world.

Andrea and Liam- age 10

The years had come and gone and soon, fifth grade came. Their personalities were starting to show and even though they started fighting more and more, Andy and Liam always had each other's backs. But the fighting kept getting worse and worse and no one knew what was going on.

“I don’t know John, I think Tori had a point.” Laura said, sitting out on the patio with Tori, John, and Evan, watching Andrea and Liam get into a heated fight. “ It's time we made some changes to their trust fund. They are developing into their own personalities and as much as we would love it if they came together, there is that chance that it won't happen.”

“How would you feel if your parents told you that you had to get married to someone you don’t love?” Tori said to the guys.

They groaned. “But they do love each other. They just show it in their own way.” Evan said, all of the adults freezing for a moment to see the scene unfold in front of them.

“I hate you!” Andrea yelled, pushing Liam away.

“I hate you more!” He yelled back.

“Yeah, that sounds like true love right there.” Tori rolled her eyes, their attention going back to the two arguing.

“If you didn’t want to be my friend anymore, all you had to do was tell me instead of pushing me off the stupid swing and making me cut my head open and bleed everywhere!” she turned around and lifted her ponytail, showing him the stitches that she had to get earlier in the day. The kids were at school playing during recess when Tori and Laura got a phone call from the principal.

During recess, Liam’s friends had been teasing him because Andrea was his best friend. The boys took it that she had a crush on him and he liked her back because he didn’t do anything about her, because we all know at that age, girls and boys just couldn't be friends without others thinking there was more.

The boys were teasing Andrea during recess to the point where she ran and cried and went to the swing. Liam went over to check to see if she was okay, because even though his friends teased him, she would always be his best friend and he would always care. He got to the swing without a second thought, he pushed her off the swing, not meaning to push her as hard as he did.

She didn’t cry immediately. First she looked up at him in awe, not believing that he actually pushed her. His eyes went wide, looking at the blood that spilled from her head behind her. She followed his gaze and turned her head and that’s when she freaked out.

Andrea was brought to the hospital, needing 5 stitches to the back of her head, where her hairline meets her neck. Tori took Liam with her to the hospital where Andrea was getting stitches.

When she was finished, he walked into the room and tried to say sorry.

“Go away Liam. I never want to be your friend again.” She said in vain.

“I’m really sorry Andy!”

“I don’t care.” They fought all the way back home. They fought the entire time the families were outside. Andrea came running back to her parents.

“Mom. I need to talk to you.” She exclaimed. Laura sighed, held her hand out to Andrea and they took a walk to the other side of the yard.

“Okay, tell me what’s going on.” She said to her daughter.

“I hate him so much! I never want to see him again.” She huffed and Laura giggled.

“Don’t say that sweetie. If you keep saying that, then one day that just might come true.”

“Then that would solve my problems. He's a jerk. He's only nice to me when we're alone.”

“Just take it one day at a time. You are both at a confusing time in your lives. You are learning how to be yourself. It will take time, but when you two are ready, you will forgive each other, work things out, and be back to normal, if not even better than before.”

“Better? Yeah, right.” She scoffed.

“You know, when you two were born, you two could not be away from each other.” Laura stopped walking and sat on the grass, patting the stop next to her. “Growing up, you two were inseparable. Do you remember what you two were talking about when you were five?”

“Mom, I barely remember what I did yesterday, let alone five.” She rolled her eyes.

“One day, you and Liam came running up to Tori and I, telling us you were going to be like your mommy and daddy and live together and love each other.”

“Eww mom. No, we didn’t” she scrunched her face.

“It’s true. Ask Aunt Tori if you don’t believe me. You two looked like a younger version of ourselves, so happy and so in love.”

“The day that I love that i***t is the day the world burns.” Laura shook her head, knowing better. Mothers always know best.

“Just don't say you don’t want to see him again, don’t say you hate him, because one day, you may end up regretting the words that are spoken.”

“But he makes me so mad!”

“Now he does, but maybe one day, he will make you happy.”

“You just don’t understand! No one understands!” she stormed away and ran into the house and into her room, away from Liam who was sitting with the guys. Laura walked back over to where Tori and the guys were sitting.

“I am so sorry, Aunt Laura. I don’t know why I did it. I feel bad.” He looked sorry, he sounded sorry.

“We know you didn’t mean for her to get hurt. Just next time, think before you act.” He nodded to Laura.

“What am I going to do about Andy? She hates me now.” His eyes fell and he became really sad. By looking at him, you can tell he really meant it.

“She doesn’t hate you,” Evan said. “She is just angry. And confused. Give her some time and she will come around.”

“Are you sure? How do you know?”

“Because you two are best friends and you two have always meant to be in one each other’s lives, so something like this isn’t going to ruin what you two have,” John said.

“And besides, what you two have is beyond special and can survive the wildest of storms,” Tori said and hugged Liam.

“How about you go inside and relax and watch a little TV, okay?” Laura said. He nodded and ran inside.

“So, what were you saying about their future?” Evan chuckled.

“In due time. They have no idea what they are getting themselves into.”