Under the Bridge

chapter thirty eight-"i'm not like her"

THE REST OF WINTER BREAK went by faster than me when I find out there's ice cream in the fridge. The breakfast with Liam's extended family was awkward and uneventful. After that, I spent my time watching movies with Hope, and my mother flew me off to Aspen to celebrate New Years with her work friends. 

Now, it's the first morning of school. 

Kill me, please. 

Liam is going to pick me up in five minutes, and I haven't had time to eat breakfast. I'm also in the middle of trying to fit one last notebook in my backpack. It's so pull, it seems like a balloon with too much air that'll burst at the touch. 

The bell rings. 

He's early. 

I tug the boulder over my shoulders and climb down the stairs, opening it wide to see Liam holding two bags from Starbucks. He hands me one of the small brown packages, and I see a muffin inside. "You are a godsend, Liam Walker." I say, pulling him into a hug. 

Liam smiles and hugs me back, warm arms engulfing my small frame. "I got you one of those sugary coffee drinks too, but it's in the car." 

"A Frappuccino?" I ask. 

"Yeah." 

I kiss him firmly, right on the lips. I think I want to marry him right now. 

"Remind me to get you Starbucks more often." He says as we walk over to his car. I take the passenger seat, and I see that indeed, my favorite whipped cream covered drink is in the cup-holder. 

"I didn't have time to eat breakfast, you are a national treasure." I explain, breaking off a piece of the muffin. 

Liam sips his coffee as we stop at a red light, expression just as exhausted as mine. Neither of us want to go to school. The never ending abyss of the high school system is looming ahead of us, and frankly, I wouldn't mind dropping out now. 

This is our debut as a couple. I told Hope, and Liam is a pretty private person, so I doubt anyone knows. We pull into the parking lot, and Liam also looks a little worried. "If James or anyone gives you shit, tell me." He says, unbuckling his seatbelt and looking over at me. 

I shrug. "Don't do anything stupid today." I tell him, setting a hand on his shoulder. "If someone says something about me, ignore it, okay?" 

He looks at me, genuinely confused. "Why would anyone say something about you?" 

I don't really know how to respond, so with shaky breaths, I just speak my mind. "Liam, I'm your first girlfriend. I'm ugly, and boring, and I don't dress nicely. People are going to say things about me. Just ignore it." 

"Does anyone say that to you?" He says, seeming mad. 

I shake my head. "Not anymore, but they think it." 

He takes my hand and squeezes it between his, thumb running over my knuckles. "I don't think it, okay?" He tells me. 

I nod, and Liam's smile comes back. 

He tilts his head and leans in, kissing my lips softly and kindly, smoothly opening his mouth and mingling is tongue with mine. I never thought I would be frenching with Liam Walker in the school's parking lot. 

* * *

Everyone is talking. I can hear their voices ringing in my ears as I walk down the hallway to AP World. I haven't been spotted by a lot of people with Liam, but he did walk me to my first class. Everyone's eyes were stuck to me like glue.