Liam's Secret

Chapter VII: Runaway

I wake up on top of Liam, where I remember being last. I looked out the window. Darkness. I peeked at my alarm clock. 8:16. Holy crap, I've slept the whole day. I woke up Liam and told him what happened. He just laughed and said,

"Oh well."

All of a sudden, my brain noticed the rap music coming from downstairs.

"What's that?" Liam asked. I got off and opened the door to two strangers making out in the hallway. I immediately went back into my room.

"Ryan's hosting a party. Mom was out for the day and she's coming back tomorrow afternoon." I informed Liam.

"Well, let's find Ryan first." Liam said. We both got dressed and headed downstairs, hand in hand.

"Hope you did it safely." Some random drunk guy said on the staircase.

"Fuck off." Liam said, knowing that we did nothing close to that. I spot Ryan, talking to another girl.

"There he is." I said. We weaved in and out of people until we got to him.

"What's going on?" I yelled over the music.

"I'm having a party? What else did you think was happening?"

I shook my head as Liam looked down at his phone.

"7:23." Liam informed. More people piled in.

"You wanna get a drink?" Liam asked me, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. I nodded and we made our way over to the drink station. Liam grabs a cup and starts to fill it.

"I wanted to get you something before it's all gone." Liam said, handing me the cup. I take a sip when a random guy my age says,

"Hey baby girl, can I get your number?" He obviously had a few drinks tonight.

"Um, no." I respond, looking disgusted. Liam stepped in between us.

"Sorry buddy, but you need to back the fuck up." Liam said, looking down on the kid.

"Whatcha gonna do about it, noodle?" The kid said, followed by some snickers.

"Noodle?" Liam asked, lifting up his shirt, revealing his abs that I'm all too familiar with. Some girls' mouths dropped open. Even the kids eyes widened. I'm surprised the kid called Liam a noodle. He was tall and muscular but not over-the-top.

"You really wanna mess with me?" Liam asked, standing over the kid.

"Sure, let's go." The kid answered. People formed a circle.

Liam hit him with four punches, and on the last one, the kid fell with blood coming out of his nose.

"Fine, you win." The kid said, getting up and backing away from Liam.

"Don't hit on my girl." Liam said, then he turned, grabbed my hand, and we left out the front door. He started to walk to his Jeep, but I stopped him halfway. I hugged him and thanked him for protecting me, listening to the crash of the waves and the chirp of the crickets.
I pulled away and got in the passenger seat. Liam put the key in the ignition, but didn't do anything. He just sat there.

"I hate when guys do that." Liam said.
   
"It's ok, it's all over now."
   
"No."
   
"Yes, now please calm down and let's have a good night."
   
Silence.
   
"Wanna go for a drive?" Liam asked.
   
"Of course I do."
   
"Alright then." Liam pulled out of the driveway and we were off onto the road. We drove for a couple of minutes, not a car passed us.
   
"Where are we going?" I asked.
   
"You'll see."
   
Liam pulled onto the highway, cranked up "Adore You" by Harry Styles, and rolled down the windows. I threw my hands in the air and screamed. Liam put one elbow on the window sill and laughed.
   
We drove for a good twenty minutes before he pulled into a dirt road. Then we continued on for a good five minutes more until we reached an opening. A parting of trees to a sunset with mountains on a ledge, similar to the one at the carnival.
   
Liam pulled up until we were about fifteen feet from the ledge, then he parked the car and turned toward me, resting on the car door.
   
"Remember when I told you I was getting gas a few weeks back?" Liam asked. I nodded.
"Well, this is where I actually went instead." He started. Pause. "I wanted to bring you here."