Midnight Summer

Two

I don't even know why I have crazily agreed to this. Liam convinced me to stay with him. Maybe I didn't need a little convincing. I didn't feel tired anymore by now. Honestly I didn't feel like returning to that shit hole of an apartment when a handsome guy is interested in spending time with me.

Liam asked me if we could hang out more so we got to know each other. I hesitated at first but then it took only one look at me and I changed my mind. He asked me if I had a place in mind and I didn't hesitate to bring him to my new favorite spot.

I don't even know why I have bought him here. I have never told anyone about this place. I usually come here when I feel like being alone. I sit on the woodened bridge and Liam follows.

"Is it safe here?" he asks.
I am not sure about that. Well for the times I have come here, nothing bad had ever happened.
"I guess." I shrug staring at the water.
"This is your favorite place." he states with a smile and I nod.

"If you don't l..."

"I like it. It is quiet and the view is lovely. Just I don't want to have play my own horror when a shark or piranha shows up or shit." I am a mess of laughters by the time he ends his mumble.
"Geez, you've watched a lot of horror movies, haven't you?" I giggle a little bit more as he follows too.

"I won't mind being your hero though." That grabs my attention in a second ending my giggle. Liam realises it too and turns with a smile to look at my face. I am already picturing a handsome shirtless Liam saving me from sharks. Check.

"Are you alright Emma?" That draws me back to the land of the living. I nod not sure what to say. Liam smiles scooting closer to me. I can't imagine how this night has turned drastically. I am sitting next to one of the most handsome talented men in the world.

"Penny for your thoughts." he murmurs.
"I am thinking about how the sky is beautiful with all the stars." Liar.
"You want to know what is beautiful?" he locks his eyes with mine. I nod in sheer curiosity.

"You."

I hear my heartbeat over the grave silence that passes for a minute. Liam actually thinks I am beautiful. I can't hide the colour tinting my cheeks. He is still staring at me, his eyes look beautiful under the moonlight and they look intense with something I can't decipher.

"You are beautiful Emma."

No one has ever called me beautiful. Hearing him say it with sincerity makes my heart skip a bit. Why does he have to say the right things? Talk Emma. He is waiting for you to reply.

"Thanks." Is that what they even say? I am getting whiplash with every passing minute of this staring contest. My mind already can't function well in his presence.

I really need to talk and stop blushing at all his compliments. Was this what they called flirting?
"So where are you from Liam?" I avert my gaze from him to my dangling legs from the bridge.

"Canada," he replies.
I knew he was not from Australia but I didn't know he came from that far.
"And you travelled all the way to this small town?" I raise a brow at him. I am more curious about him now.
"It was Earl's idea, the blonde who was on the table with the girl on the lap." I remember seeing him before we left. He was seated near the red head.

"This is his idea of a get away." I don't understand why they are even on a get away. Are they criminals from somewhere? Liam doesn't look like a fugitive less alone a criminal but who knows, looks can be deceiving and I have learnt that the hard way.

"A get away from what?" I stare at him curiously.
"You ask way too many questions Emma." he smiles. He is distracting me from my major motive now.
"Are you like criminals?" I immediately regret blabbering that when I watch Liam's face turn to a grimace.

When that vibrant smile returns to his lips, I sigh with relief. Perhaps I should first think before I accuse him of anything.
"How about we stop with the twenty questions and we try question for question. It sounds fair." I don't understand what he would want to ask me but since I want to hear more about him, I agree.

"We are not criminals if that is what you think. We are just free lancing." I still don't click but at least he has answered my question and he is not a criminal.
"Who is your favourite artist?" he asks.

"I don't know. I hardly listen to songs let alone get the artist's names." Liam casts me an unbelievable look before muttering a wow under his breath.
"Who is your favourite artist?" I ask him.

"I love a lot of them but I think my best is Whitney Houston. I think she had a great voice and her music is a blast." I can only imagine an oh because I don't even know who she is.
"Why were you sleeping in a bar?" he asks. I was fearing he would ask that question but my biggest horror has come to life. Liam looks at me hopefully waiting for an answer.

"I don't think you want to know why. It is embarrassing already." I shield my stare from his trying to focus on how the river looks beautiful under the moon.
"I want to Emma and am all ears now." He is hell bent on knowing why. I resist the urge to groan.

"I was tired from working straight twelve hours without rest." There it is. Liam looks at me with something like adoration. The look is pure and far from what I expected.
"What was..."

"We agreed, question for question and I believe its my turn now." I smirk at his defeated face.
"That song you were singing, is it yours?" I ask shyly.
"Yap." he nods.
"I wrote it myself too." I am surprised with how many talents he has.

"What were you doing for those twelve hours?" Oh boy! He wouldn't want me to answer that question but the determined look on his face says otherwise.
"Cleaning fish down at the market and doing some rich men's laundry." He is not laughing which is not a good sign. His face is twisted in a hard look.

"Are those like even real jobs?" he asks. He doesn't look happy about it.
"I can say they are for me." I murmur incoherently.
"Geez Emma. How much do you even earn from that?" I don't like where this conversation is going. I already feel like I have said too much than I should.

"It's my turn Liam." he sighs, removing the head sock passing a hand in his already messy black hair.
"What is your favourite color?" I ask stupidly. I want to ease off some tension.
"Black." he easily replies. I try as much as possible to avoid his gaze. That say much because he is dressed in black apart from his dark blue jeans.

"It's my turn now. How much do you make?" I thought we were past that question but Liam doesn't give up that easily.
"Ten dollars for cleaning fish and fifteen for doing laundry." I am glad my voice is still strong. Liam stares at me unbelievably. I think it is high time we end these questions.

"I don't blame you for sleeping in the bar." There is that stupid smile of his again. I smile sadly too trying to lighten my mood which was turning dark.
"I don't blame myself too." We chuckle before I stop when I realise he is looking at me again.

"What?" I find myself asking when his hand cups my face. The contact of his manly calloused palm on my skin is causing my body to feel a whole lot of emotions. I can hardly make sentences now.

"Am I insane for wanting to kiss you now?"