Chapter Text
Lachlan shuffled through the village, the wind pushing his hair back from his face. It felt good, reminded him what it was to be alive. He slowed to a stop across from David’s shop, concealed behind a bush. He could see David and Jacob, talking. Lazy smiles across their faces as they playfully fought. David grabbed Jacob’s football heading it across the village as Jacob laughed, shouting bye to his dad as he ran to catch the ball and his bus.
It was something Lachlan had never had, something alien to him. A dad. Someone to love him, to protect him, to teach him what was right and wrong. David looked up suddenly catching sight of Lachlan. He frowned, before approaching him. Lachlan flinched further back, wishing he could disappear all together.
“I’ll never forgive you for what you did.” David snarled.
Lachlan nodded, fighting back his own defence mechanism to say something sarcastic. David shook his head, sadly.
“I know what you did, and well, Alicia wouldn’t want that. All she wants is for you to know how wrong it was, for you to never do it again to anyone.” David said, urging Lachlan to understand.
Lachlan nodded, quickly wiping away a stray tear from his cheek. He’d cried more in the past few days than he had his whole life. Maybe it was what he needed, to wash himself clean, to wash away the mistakes of his past.
“I would never.” Lachlan whispered, the words catching in his throat.
David stared at him for a moment, perhaps comparing the boy in front of him to his own sweet, innocent son. Where did things go wrong for Lachlan? What made him the way he was? Somethings you’d never know, David decided, as he walked away, walked back to the shop, closing a chapter on that part of his life. He had to use all his strength to fight his cancer, to survive for Jacob. He couldn’t waste even an ounce of it on hating Lachlan.
Lachlan watched him walk away, feeling as if a small weight had been lifted from his chest. Maybe Liv was right, maybe this was exactly what he needed to do. He moved forward, his feet knowing their destination before his head.
Meanwhile back at Keeper’s Cottage Chrissie burst out of the kitchen, Robert and Aaron on her heels.
“Lachlan, get your stuff, we’re going home.” Chrissie shouted, before scanning the living room, her eyes widening as she realised Lachlan was gone.
She eyed Liv angrily. “Where’s he gone?”
Liv shrugged, nonchalantly, her eyes never leaving the TV screen. “Out.” she replied. Suddenly she felt her arms being gripped tightly, painfully. Chrissie shook her, shouting in her face.
“How could you just let him leave? You stupid, stupid girl.” Chrissie screamed hysterically.
“Oi.” Aaron shouted, pulling Chrissie off Liv.
Liv sank back on to the sofa, cowering in to the cushions, her heart hammering in her chest. Why was she causing herself so much trouble by covering for Lachlan? It’d be easier if she just told the truth.
Robert knelt down next to her, brushing her hair back from her face, gently. His eyes wide and pleading. “Just tell us anything you know, Olivia.”
Liv closed her eyes, she didn’t want to lie to Robert. But she wouldn’t betray Lachlan. She knew what it felt like to be betrayed. To be made a promise, only to find out it was worth nothing. She wouldn’t do that to anyone. Opening her eyes, Liv took in a shaky breath.
“I don’t know, and please get that crazy woman out of our house.” Liv huffed, turning back to the TV.
Robert watched her for a moment, studying her face, determining the truth. Liv kept her face still and calm, even as her heart pounded in her chest. Eventually Robert stood up, ushering Aaron and Chrissie out of the living room. Liv could hear them whispering in the hall, talking of all the places they could check, Chrissie’s tears echoing in the air. Liv bit her lip anxiously, hoping that Lachlan wouldn’t let her down, hoping that she wouldn’t live to regret her lie.
In the village, Lachlan wandered until he reached the B&B, stopping at the door to look up. The sky was blue, clouds hung in the air. They’d still have been there even if he’d died. It was a scary thought to realise that the world just carried on existing even when you didn’t. Suddenly the door opened and Lachlan found himself face to face with a furious Eric.
“Back to torture me some more? Wasn’t satisfied with stealing my wife’s wedding ring, eh?” Eric stormed, pushing Lachlan forcefully in the chest.
Lachlan landed with a thud on the ground, shockwaves spreading up from his hands. Eric looked down at Lachlan, pointing a finger at him threateningly.
“You’re a piece of work. Stealing from my Val, how dare you show your face here?” Eric shouted, each word punctuated with a sharp jab to Lachlan’s chest.
Lachlan sat and withstood it, silently. Maybe this was what he deserved, maybe this was what he needed to hear. Just as suddenly as it had begun, Eric stopped, pausing to stare down at Lachlan. A pale young man, sprawled in the grass, flinching from Eric’s words. Eric cleared his throat, shaking his head. What was the point of holding on to all this anger? It had never brought Val back.
“Just get out of here, Lachlan.” Eric sighed.
Lachlan looked up at him for the first time, their eyes locking together. “I’m sorry.” Lachlan said, hoping to convey every ounce of remorse he felt.
Eric nodded sadly, before turning away, shutting the door on Lachlan.
Chrissie slammed the door as she left Keeper’s Cottage, the house seeming to shake behind her. Robert leant his head against the door, breathing heavily. He jumped slightly as a hand touched his back. Turning around, he looked at Aaron.
“He’ll be back.” Aaron assured him.
“How can you be sure?” Robert asked, running a head through his hair before rubbing his tired eyes.
Aaron shrugged, thinking back to his conversation with Lachlan at the kitchen table. He believed Lachlan wanted to change, and if they truly wanted him to then maybe they needed to trust him. Aaron moved closer, placing his hands on Robert’s hips.
“Just trust me.” he whispered, leaning closer, his breath causing Robert’s lips to tingle.
Robert let out a sigh before closing the gap between them, losing himself to the comfort of the man he loved. Each kiss, each taste of Aaron pushed Lachlan further from his mind. He was a selfish coward, he didn’t know how to help Lachlan. All he wanted was Aaron.
She was already there when Lachlan arrived at the bridge, leaning against the railing, her blonde hair rustling in the wind. Lachlan felt his heart clench painfully at the sight of her. How would he live without seeing those blue eyes?
Taking a deep breath, Lachlan moved closer, standing beside her, looking out to the water. Belle looked towards him, the blazing blue of her eyes causing Lachlan to look away. How could you look at something so beautiful and know it would never be yours?
“I got your text.” Belle spoke softly.
It was getting dark, Lachlan knew his mum would be worried, Robert would be angry. For a moment his thoughts wandered to Liv, he hoped she wouldn’t be in trouble. They stood in silence for another moment, watching the ripples in the water.
Suddenly Lachlan felt Belle slide her hand in to his and he squeezed his eyes shut tightly. Maybe he could just pretend, keep pretending there was a chance she could ever love him.
“Lachlan.” Belle whispered.
Lachlan opened his eyes to look at her. Her eyes showed pity, concern, even understanding. But no love, never any love.
Lachlan gripped her hand tighter, turning away to look at the water, it was easier to talk to the darkness. “I know what they say about me, Belle. And they have every right to. But you, you’re different. You’ve always been different for me. You’ve always been that one person that I thought could change me.” Lachlan explained.
“I can help you.” Belle pleaded.
Lachlan shook his head, refusing to look at her. If he looked at her now he’d agree to anything she said. He’d agree to be her friend no matter how much it hurt him. But he knew he couldn’t go on like that. It hurt too much. “I have to change myself, Belle. It’s not your problem.”
“But you’re my best friend.” Belle whispered, the words catching as she let out a sob.
Lachlan finally turned towards her, bringing up his shaking hands to cup her face. “You’re perfect, Belle. Don’t let anyone tell you anything different.”
Tears fell down Belle’s face as she looked in to Lachlan’s eyes, unable to see the monster they all claimed he was. All she saw was the sweet boy who loved her, who’d do anything to protect her. Leaning forward, Belle pressed her lips to Lachlan’s. Lachlan could taste tears in his mouth, although he didn’t know if they were hers or his. Eventually they broke apart, Lachlan’s mouth rising in a half smile.
“Goodbye, Belle Dingle.” Lachlan whispered, looking at her for once last time, before walking away, letting go of the last piece of his old life.
He walked in to Keeper’s Cottage at almost midnight. Robert and Aaron were sat in the dark on the sofa. Robert stood up as soon as he caught sight of Lachlan.
“Where have you been?” Robert demanded. He didn’t know if to hit Lachlan or hug him.
Aaron rested a hand on Robert’s arm, warning him. Pushing Lachlan wouldn’t help, Aaron knew that. Aaron nodded at Lachlan. “You alright?”
Lachlan nodded back, looking at Aaron, a note of understanding passing between them.
“It’s late, we should all get some sleep.” Aaron suggested.
Lachlan nodded, before turning to walk up the stairs. Half way up, he paused, listening.
“What do we do with him, Aaron?” Robert asked hopelessly.
“We be there for him.” Aaron said.
“Really?” Lachlan heard Robert ask incredulously.
“He needs a family.” Aaron said simply.
Lachlan smiled before climbing the stairs to the spare room. As he passed Liv’s room, he noticed the door was open. She sat at her desk, her hair tied back, clicking away on her laptop. Lachlan knocked softly against the door. Liv spun round to face him, her eyes widening in surprise as she noticed Lachlan.
“Hey, thanks for covering for me.” Lachlan said, smiling.
Liv shrugged. “It was no big deal.”
Lachlan looked down before turning away. After a moment he paused, turning back to stare at her. “It was to me.” he said before walking down the hall, closing the door of the spare room.
Liv watched him walk away, her heart pounding in her chest. For the first time, she realised that her heart wasn't beating in fear. She wasn’t afraid of Lachlan. She was afraid of how much she’d already begun to care about him. Reaching up Liv traced a finger over her bottom lip where she’d made it bleed with her anxious chewing as she’d waited for Lachlan’s return.
Standing up, Liv quickly shut her door, promising herself that she’d avoid Lachlan at all costs. She couldn’t fall in love with a monster.