Twenty-Two ➳ l.p.

Chapter Four: Light Ice

“Why do you always get light ice in your sodas?” Liam asked me, shaking his cup around. It rattled with the ice inside.

                “For that reason,” I chuckled, slurping my Sprite. “All ice does is take up space. My soda is still cold without it.”

                “Interesting.”

                “One of my many talents.”

Chapter Four: Light Ice

                Sure enough, Liam was there.

                He was breathtaking. Gorgeous.

                Of course, I had come to expect that from Liam. He had always been perfect even before he left, and I didn’t expect that to change.

                But he was just so attractive.

                He was on the phone when we arrived. He was lounged on the bench, an open plaid shirt with a criminally tight white t-shirt underneath adorning his muscles. The dark black arrowed tattoos seemed to contrast perfectly with the outfit, the same shade as the jeans that hugged his toned legs. He was wearing a pair of white converse—not that I was surprised. Liam loved converse.

                I guess not everything changes.

                And even though he looked absolutely ravishing, that wasn’t what made my eyes travel his way.

                His head was thrown back, a laugh painting his eyes that crinkled in response, barely leaving space for the joyous hazel specks to shine through. His laugh was rugged and loud, echoing through the crowded mall, and a few shopping bags dangled from his wrist as he pressed the phone closer to his ear. His eyelashes fluttered together; eyes sealing closed as a particularly funny moment struck him, and then he was belting out a snort that I hadn’t heard in three years, one that I found ridiculously dorky but absolutely adorable at the same time.

                I looked back at my pale hands, which had just now stopped nervously tapping against my thigh. How did Liam manage to look so flawless after the conversation we just had? How did he manage to look like I didn’t affect him at all?

                Because I know that he affected me. Anybody with eyes could see it. Even though the boys hadn’t mentioned it, I know that they noticed that something was a tad off with Liam and I. It was impossible not to.

                Liam spotted us then, and his expression turned cold only for a second before he cleared his throat. “Oh, here’s the boys. I have to go Danielle. Bye, see you.”

                And once again I froze. Danielle? Didn’t she and Liam break up? What was he doing calling her; laughing with her?

                Why did he have to look so damn beautiful while talking to her?

                I remembered when they broke up; when Abbie had nearly knocked me down in the hallway, shoving her phone in my face. It was a post from Tumblr—or maybe Twitter, I don’t know—about how ‘Payzer’ was over.

                I had told Abbie that I didn’t care.

                That was obviously a lie.

                But what was he doing with her now?

                Zayn must’ve seen the question screwed up in my face, because he offered me a soft smile. “They’re not quite back together, but not just friends either, you know?”