All the Little Secrets

CHAPTER 7. THE SCIENTIST

Chapter 7. The Scientist

A text chimes, waking me from a dream of an endless, blue ocean. I roll over and grab my phone from the nightstand. Two texts; one from Marco, reminding me of our phone date on Sunday, and another from Seth.

I'm antsy, it states. Wanna go early? I'm grabbing breakfast... drink of choice?

I smile at the phone and reply, Chai tea latte, thank you :)

He responds back with, k, be there soon!

I glance over to the side of my bed and find that it's empty. Parker must have snuck out early. Stretching out against the soft mattress, I lay for a moment, staring up at the ceiling as I think about today. Seth said there's no rush, no expectations of anything more than a friendship. But that kiss last night was not friendly, and he deserves the truth. My stomach knots itself as I vow to tell him everything when we get to the beach.

I climb out of bed and grab my teal and white bathing suit from my top dresser drawer. I change into it, looking at myself in the mirror. I feel confident in it, the way it hugs my curves; how hard I work to be toned, pushing my body to higher limits each time I run. I like how I feel in my body. I throw my hair into a messy bun, packing up my phone, a charger, my journal, and a towel into my schoolbag. Throwing on my swimsuit coverup, I walk out of my room and right into Liam. He leans against the wall, dressed in his football gear, his helmet in his hand.

"Morning," Liam says, his eyes skimming over me in my bathing suit. I wrap my arms nervously around my torso as he flushes and looks down at the floor. "You going for a swim?"

I bite my lip. "Going out, actually. Were you looking for me?"

"Becca actually," he says quietly. "But she's still sleeping."

"Gotcha." I grip my bag. "Heading to practice?"

"I have a scrimage today," he says, lifting his helmet in his hand.

"Cool..." I hate small talk when there is so much more to say, so I end the awkwardness with, "Good luck with your scrimmage."

Liam reaches out to stop me from moving. "Listen, about last night —"

"What happened to you?"

Liam sighs. "Don't worry about it. That's not what I came to talk about."

"Then I don't want to talk at all," I say firmly as my phone rings.

"Avery -"

I reach into my bag as I glance quickly at Liam.

"Hey, Seth." I balance the phone on my cheek as I walk around Liam, heading to the stairs. "I'll be down in a minute. K, bye."

"You're going out with Seth?" Liam follows.

"Yeah," I hesitate, then unintentionally blurt, "He kissed me last night."

"Oh..." His eyes widen slightly.

"Yeah... he's planned this whole day for us....so, uh." I lose my confidence to keep talking. "I don't know why I told you that. I'm gonna go."

I'm halfway down the staircase as Liam calls out to me. "Avery?"

"Yeah?"

He leans over the upper balcony. "Can we go out tonight? To talk. Really talk." My quick response of no is not enough for Liam as he persists. "Please. Just one dinner. I know shit's been difficult, I've been difficult... but I really want to explain."

"Will you tell me what happened to you last night?"

Liam runs his fingers through his hair with his free hand.