Crash Course

Chapter 6

"Let's get out of here." Liam said.

"Have you even set foot inside?" I asked jokingly as he laced his fingers with mine and pulled me back down the road.

"No, I got what I came here for." He said with a smirk. My heart skipped at his words. I was failing miserably at staying away from L&L, but how could I fight such a magnetic force?

"Where are we going?" I asked as he passed me a helmet for his bike.

"The ocean." He responded. I climbed onto the back of his motorcycle, wrapping my arms around his waist. As he took off, I felt the familiar adrenaline rush that accompanied being in his presence. Liam seemed drawn to the water. His favorite place was a set of cliffs overlooking the ocean, and now, when trying to escape the party scene, we were headed back to the water. Liam parked his bike and helped me climb off. I pulled off my shoes as we walked through the sand to the shoreline. The moon reflected on the water as the waves crashed right before our feet. A cool breeze blew around the coastline, making me shiver as I cuddled up to Liam.

"It's beautiful." I said, breaking the silence.

"Beautiful place for a beautiful girl." He replied. I tilted my head upwards, a smile creeping along my lips. Liam held my chin in his hands, lifting my mouth up to meet his. Kissing him was electric. Like nothing I had ever felt before. I buried my hands in his hair, pulling him closer to me. He smiled against my lips. "I didn't know it was possible to feel this way about someone, ever, let alone so soon." He whispered, breaking the kiss.

"How do you feel?" I asked. Liam's eyes scanned my face.

"Obsessed." He answered. He was obsessed... with me? "You make me feel things I never thought I would feel again. Passion, friendship, support." He ran his fingers through my hair. "While the rest of the school looks at me like I have blood on my hands, you look at me like the person I am."

"You've been through Hell and back Liam, but you can't keep blaming yourself, no matter who else does." I said, sitting down in the sand. "I'm so sorry for your loss. I really am, and if you were the shitty boyfriend that people keep saying you were, then take this as a wake up call to be a better person." Liam sat down next to me.

"You don't pull punches, huh?" He said, sadly staring off at the water.

"I think you need the tough love." I said, bumping his shoulder. "You should join the team." Liam's eyes widened and he turned to me.

"I think that ship has sailed. Luke and the guys don't like me too much." I rolled my eyes.

"Luke is a big softy, he'll warm up eventually. You guys used to be best friends. There must still be something there." I leaned into him and watched the water. He traced circles on my cheek.

"What are you and Luke?" He asked, changing the subject. I went along with it.

"Nothing, friends on a good day. My brother thinks I should stay away from him, I have a bad history with my brother's friends." I said. "Luke is a really good guy. Just like you are." I said. I couldn't tell him that my heart was so torn. That the way Luke looked at me and touched me lit me on fire. I couldn't tell him that as soon as he left my mind would wander to where Luke was and who he was with.

"Luke is a good kid. A little shallow and stupid, but he always had everyone's best interest at heart." Liam said, planting a kiss on my hairline. "I'm glad you came here when you did Mighty Mouse. I didn't realize just how much I needed you."

Liam drove me home, he knew the way by heart. I crashed hard, in anticipation of cheerleading tryouts the next morning. I slept restlessly. Once Liam had left my mind wandered back to Ethan, he was going to ruin my life, he had me in the palm of his hand and he could crush me whenever. I had to figure out a way to keep him quiet.