Not A Monster [LIAM DUNBAR]

Breathless

Aspen woke up to cool, minty breath in her face. She slowly opened her eyes and did the only sensible thing she could think of with a stranger in her bed.

She freaked.

Aspen pushed the boy off of the bed, screaming as he grabbed her wrist, pulling her off with him. She scrambled for the nightstand, knocking the lamp and a glass of water off into the floor. Aspen's chest pressed up against his as she tumbled on top of him, noses brushing. Her eyes widened as she came face-to-face with Liam.

Liam gulped. Aspen smiled down at him and he sucked in a breath to keep himself from throwing up. Her knees pressed up against his hip bones, her stomach just barely touching his. It took them both everything they had to not kiss the other right then. Aspen bit her lip, "Sorry.." Liam laughed a little and she rolled off into the floor beside him. He stood and offered a hand to help her up but she was already up, looking at something on the floor.

She frowned, a tiny line forming in between her eyebrows, "I broke your lamp." Aspen looked on the verge of tears and Liam jumped into action, placing a hand gingerly on her shoulder. "It's okay," he smiled, "Really."

The small blonde stared unblinkingly at the floor. "No," she decided, "It's not. Because you might've really liked that lamp. And I broke it."

"Really Aspen," he said, "It's fine." Liam had a feeling they weren't talking about lamps anymore. For the first time, she looked up at him. "Once it's gone, it's gone. You'll never get it back," she said quietly.

Liam stared at the broken lamp, avoiding her eyes. He took a deep breath. "This isn't about the lamp is it?" She sniffed and raised a hand to her eyes when Liam realized she was crying.

"I can't lose anyone else," she said, tears rolling down her cheeks. Liam knew she was worried about the deadpool, amongst many other things. She hesitated.

"I can't lose you," she sniffled. Liam finally met her gaze and stared. The breath that was once in his lungs was no longer there and he couldn't seem to get it back. It was funny how useless she could render him. He was completely and utterly breathless.

But it felt good.

His hand subconsciously found her's and he waited for the right words to come. But that little quiet moment was all that Aspen needed. She leaned forward and flung her arms around his neck.

To be completely honest, a hug was the exact thing Aspen needed at the moment. She needed arms wrapped firmly around her waist. She needed a strong shoulder to bury her head in. Right now, she needed Liam.

They both pulled back, though reluctantly, and their eyes met again. Aspen left her hands around his neck and his were still on her waist, squeezing slightly from nervousness. And suddenly they were leaning forward, lips brushing lips, nose brushing nose. Liam got that breathless feeling again, one he seemed to feel whenever they touched and electricity buzzed through out his body. Aspen's eyes fluttered shut but didn't stay that way long, especially when Liam's stepdad burst through the door.

They sprang apart, the prickly buzz flooding from both Aspen and Liam's bodies. Aspen could basically feel the tension in the air now, and it frustrated her. She knew she shouldn't have tried to kiss him- it just made things awkward.

And she hated herself for it.

Liam's dad offered her a ride to her house, after Liam convinced him they worked on their project all night, and did nothing else.

After stopping by the Martin house, Aspen and Liam met Mason at the school, where they ran along the cross country path in the little stretch of woods behind the school. Looking at Liam as they jogged, Aspen had to admit he looked good in the black, sleeveless shirt he was wearing. Mason had been talking about Garrett and Violet as they ran, clearly freaked out.