Waves, Sunsets, & Coffee

Chapter 10.0

    "Ah fuck. God I need a break." I groaned as the headache was killing me since last night.
     Again, I wasn't able to get even an hour of sleep because Liam decides to boggle with my mind.
     "Take this." Emma passed me some pain relievers but I shaked my head no.
     "Dude, you know I can't drink pills." I informed her as they seem to always forget that I don't drink meds.
     "You're eighteen! You still can't swallow this small pill?" She argues, only making my headache worse so I went to the couch to lie down.
     "Gotta talk to him Lex." Emma plumps down on the couch besides mine whilst eating. This girl won't leave me alone huh?
     "Enzo told you didn't he?" I asked, knowing Enz can't keep his mouth shut.
     "Yeah more or less." I sigh. God do I want to kill him right now. He should be thankful I have a headache or else I would've jumped on him right now.
     "Fine. Talk to me instead." She says with a mouth full of food.
     "What's there to talk about Ems?" I complained.
     "You and Liam?" Oh God I just want people to go away for a second.
     "There's nothing to talk about Liam and I. Just drop it Ems."
     Remind me again why I signed up for this friendship.
     "Exactly. Well, there you have it." She says and I'm now more confused than ever. She notices the confusion in my face and sighs.
     "You said there's nothing to talk about right?" She asked and I nod.
     "Then tell him that. Tell him that you don't feel the same with him. You don't, right?"
     "Yes Ems, I don't."
     "Then go and talk to him. He's by the beach with Alec and Enzo." Emma pushes and I only groan. I really didn't want to have a talk and people kept pushing me to talk.
     "Why do I have to talk to him when he didn't  even try to communicate with me when I told him I like him huh?" I argued back.
     "Because, you're the bigger person. Are you not?"
     "Fuck you Emma. You know that right?" I say and she chuckles, giving kissy noises before walking out.
     I guess I really have to talk to him.

     "Hey Enz. Where's Liam?" I shout out at them and Enzo gestures to the cafe. Here goes nothing.
      "Hey. Can we talk? Outside?" I walked up to Liam who was on his phone and sitting by himself.
     If I'm going to talk to him, it'll be on my terms and I'd talk to walk by the beach. You know, just in case it comes to the point where shouting is involved.
     "Sure." He replied and we both went out.
     "So uhm. Just so you know, Emma pushed me to do this alright?" I remind him and he chuckles.
     "I honestly don't know what to say. I just found out that my high school crush likes me. Even more, loves me. But uhm... we never really had a proper talk after... well after before. I just forgave you and flew out right?"
     Yeah... I did like him but I didn't like what he did so instead of going through all that confrontation, I just forgave him and flew to Australia. So we really didn't get to talk things out. That was my fault. I admit to myself.
     "I was young...er. I was younger back then and I was the girl who was head over heels for you. And when you wanted to get it with me, I was ecstatic. As funny as it sounds, I couldn't contain my excitement. Thinking about it now, I realize that it was just foolish love. You know what I mean? I was infatuated by the idea of love that I thought I did love you."
     It was only then did I realize the difference of infatuation and love. What I thought was love before? I was wrong.
     "What I had for you before, well it made me foolish that's for sure. I did like you, but it didn't last. I'm sorry Liam..." I said apologetically.
     I didn't know how else to say it rather than telling the truth.
     "So it's going to be Ares huh?" He asked as I stopped from my tracks, looking up to him with sadness in his eyes. I sigh. I didn't like hurting my friends, but I just hurt Liam.
     I brought my hands to his cheeks as he looked down.
     "Hey, I'll still be here. It's not like you totally lost me." I tell him, trying to make him feel better but I know that's not an easy thing to do.
     After finding out that the person you love for years likes another, that's really going to hurt like hell.
     "I know... but I did lose the chance to spend forever with the most amazing girl..." He says, grabbing my hand from his face and rubs it.
     "We could've been together. If only I wasn't a coward who ran away from you. I should've been the one to take you places. To go adventures with." He looked at me and I felt his pain when I saw his eyes. He tried to smile to cover the pain.
     Oh Liam...
     "I should've been the guy to take you dancing. To twirl you around like this..." He slowly spins me around and pulls me back to him.
     My hands landed on his chest as I felt his heart beat. His hands circled around my waist.
     "This should've been us. I'd touch your face, bring you closer to me as I lean. You'd close your eyes, waiting for your lips to touch mine..." He brings his face closer to mine until we are only inches apart. I felt his breath touch my skin.
     "That should've been us." He says for the last time and rests his forehead to mine. I gave him a hug and I felt how he melts under my arms.
     I don't know how to make it better with him. I don't know if the friendship we had before would be restored. I don't know a lot of things, but I do know this.
     "I love you Liam. You helped me when I was down, but I am not the right girl for you."
     He pulls from the hug and sighs.
     "I know."

     Luckily, Liam wasn't hard to please and was easy to distract, 'cause right now we just finished watching an action movie and we're currently walking towards the arcade station.
     Just like old times.
     "Loser buys the ice cream. Game?" I said as we stand in front of the basketball hoops, waiting for the game to start.
     "Oh you're on!"
     We ended up playing five rounds of the game before I gave up. Basketball is not my thing and I'd be happy enough to buy us ice cream.
     "I'll have cookies and cream. Three scoops in a cup please. And he'll have the chocolate chip. Three scoops in a cup as well. Thanks." I said to the man behind the counter.
     "So when are you going to talk to him?" Liam asked out of the blue as we were walking by the beach with our ice cream in hand.
     "What do you mean?" I asked.
     "Ares. Surely you're going to talk to him right?"
     "Yeah... I'm planning to do it later at night."