How?

Eight

     The weekend goes by way too fast. I do my homework, eat, and sleep. When Monday comes, I can feel the dread deep in my stomach. I don't want to face the people at school, especially not Liam. But, nonetheless, I get ready for school and get on the bus. I make sure to put my backpack in the seat next to me so no one sits by me. When I get to school I go to the bathroom until the bell rings for class. I go to class, avoiding looking at anyone. When I get to class I am greeted by stares and whispers. Does everyone know about the party now? Only like fifteen people were there, at most. I ignore everyone and quietly do my work. Once class ends I pack up my stuff and start walking out of class, but I'm stopped by a hand grabbing my forearm. I turn around and see the hand is attached to Liam. I pull my arm free.
     "Can we talk?" He asks.
     "No." I say plainly, walking away.
     Liam follows me. "Why not?"
     "Because I don't want to."
     "Well sometimes you have to do things you don't want to."
     I ignore him and go to my locker, getting my books out.
     "Come on, Rory. I'm not that repulsive." He tries to joke.
     "I don't want you or anyone getting any ideas." I explain. "Now leave me alone."
     Liam sighs. "I'll talk to you after school. I know where you live."
     I think the only way Liam knows to make people feel better is by making jokes.
     I shut my locker and walk away from him. This time he leaves me alone. I go to my next class. The rest of the day I'm left alone, even at lunch when I sit by Olivia and Brett, they don't ask me about the party or what happened with Liam. They just pretend everything is normal.
At the end of the day I go home on the bus feeling much better than I did when I got to school. But when I walk up to my house Liam is already waiting in my driveway. I wonder how long he's been waiting.
"I told you I didn't want to talk." I say, trying to go around him.
He doesn't try to stop me from walking around him. I'm about to reach my porch when he says something.
"I think you do. You just don't want me to know you want to talk."
I roll my eyes and turn around to face him. "I don't know what I want. But I have a gut feeling this talk is not going to be too enjoyable." I explain.
"If we don't talk about it we'll always be awkward and weird around each other."
"Guess I'll just have to avoid you." I say with a shrug.
"Come on, Rory." He says it in the exact tone he used at school. "Just tell me what your thoughts are. About the party, I mean."
I sigh but comply. "I've never kissed anyone." I shrug. "I didn't want my first to be in front of a bunch of strangers."
"Then why'd you play? The whole game is centered around kissing."
"I'm not in the mood for a lecture, Liam."
He chuckles and then gets a little serious. "So it wasn't because of me?"
"I don't know. You're a good guy and it seems like every girl at school likes you. But it just didn't feel right kissing you."
He nods and says, "Okay."
As he turns around and starts walking away from my house I feel bad. Did I hurt his feelings? I silently groan and walk inside.
The rest of the day is like usual, I eat dinner, do my homework, watch tv, and then sleep. I wake up the next day and get ready for school. Another day of dread.
I get on the bus and have to sit with a kid I don't know. When we get to school I put my stuff in my locker and go to class. Today there are no stares and no whispers. It's back to normal. Until lunch, when Liam decides to sit with Olivia, Brett and I. We fall silent as he sits on the left of me.
"Um, hi?" Olivia says.
"Hi." He says with a smile.
"Do you need something?" I ask.
"Just wanted to sit with you guys, get to know y'all."
Brett, who's on my right, and I exchange glances.
"Why?" Brett asks.
"Because he's into Rory." Olivia says plainly.
"Oh my god shut up." I say. Then I look at Liam, who I guess has been looking at me this whole time. We meet eyes and then I look away. "We barely know each other." I add, stabbing my salad with my plastic spork.
"So, my brother and I are going bike riding tonight and we were wondering if you guys wanted to come." Liam says after a few seconds of awkward silence.
"By 'you guys' you mean Rory, right?" Brett says. I kick him under the table. "I mean, since you live so close." He adds.
"Well, if you guys needed a ride I could always pick you up." Liam shrugs.
"I'm out." Olivia says.
"Me too." Brett agrees.
"And I guess I am too, seeing as I don't have a bike." I say.
"What?" Liam exclaims.
I look at him. "Huh?" I ask.
"You don't have a bike?"
"Nope."
"Well then I guess we're going to have to buy you one." He says.
"Oh god Liam, no. I'm fine, I don't need one. Just go biking with your brother."
"Alright then." He says, standing up. He grabs his tray and walks to his regular table.
"What's wrong with you?" Olivia asks when he's gone.
"What do you mean?" I reply.
"I've tried not to talk about it to spare us the uncomfortableness but Liam is the guy all the girls want. And he tried to kiss you at his party and you ran out! And now he's inviting you to go biking and you make up a lie about not having a bike."
"I really don't have a bike."
"Whatever. Why don't you like him? Or are you just playing hard to get?"
"He's just too much right now." I say. "And he invited you two also."
"Yeah right, he was looking at you, waiting for your answer the whole time."
The bell rings. "I just don't think it's a good idea for me to start bringing boys into my life." I say, standing up.
Brett scoffs. "Am I not a boy?" He asks.
We laugh. "I mean romantically." I say.
"Okay." Olivia says. And we don't talk about Liam for the rest of the day.
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Hope everyone is doing well and you like Rory! As always let me know if you find any typos! - Hannah 💛⚡️