"I'm dancing Liam."

"Like you were with Nathan?"

"Hmm, so you did scare him off. Why am I not surprised?"

He scoffed, slightly shaking his head.
"If Nathan wanted to keep dancing with you, he wouldn't have been so easy to run off."

"Yeah, but why do I get the feeling you're used to people doing whatever it is you want?"

He tugged on the wrist he was still holding, causing me to collide with his chest. My other palm flew out and steadied myself against him.

"You don't know shit about me."

I searched his eyes, finding nothing but dismissal and anger again.

"Maybe I don't, but I do know you're killing my buzz. Let me go, I need another drink. Being around you is too sobering."

I yanked my wrist from his grasp and tried to walk off, but he swiftly wrapped both arms around my lower back, pushing my chest against him and causing my shirt to ride slightly up. Being pressed against his solid form caused a dizziness I was terrified wasn't from the alcohol. He leaned in, his woodsy and sweet scent entirely suffocating, and I completely stilled.

"What are you doing in my shirt, Maddie?" He whispered, his breath hot on my ear, causing my knees to slightly buckle, making me thankful he was holding me up.

I jerked my head back in confusion, gaping at his sober expression.

"Your shirt?"

His darkened gaze lingered down my body before meeting my eyes again. "That's what I said."

"I--I thought this was Aaron's shirt." I stammered, my cheeks suddenly feeling on fire.

"Well, you thought wrong." He swiped his tongue across his full, bottom lip, momentarily distracting me. "I'm going to want it back."

I pulled my eyes away from his glistening lips to meet his intense and unwavering stare.

"Like, now?"

He held my gaze, not acknowledging my words as we became transfixed on one another. I pressed my thighs together, unable to satisfy the need that was raging through me.

Wait, what need? Why is there a need?

His body tensed, his grip on my waist tightening, as if he was holding himself back from something, and I found myself curious to what that was.

"Hey Maddie, I've been looking for you!" Savannah shouted from a few feet behind me, breaking the lethal stare down Liam and I had been in.

Turning around, I saw her standing next to Josh. Her eyes widened as she took in Liam's presence.

"Having fun?" I asked, trying to avoid the nervous rambling that would sure take place due to Liam.

She slowly dragged her gaze away from Liam and brought her attention back to me.

"Um...yeah." She cleared her throat. "Actually, Josh was wanting to take me home. But I don't want to leave you, so if you don't want me to go, I won't."

I shook my head and smiled, glancing at an eager looking Josh. "No, it's fine! Let him take you home. I'll be okay."

"Are you sure? I'm not sure how I feel with you getting into an uber by yourself when you've been drinking."

"I'll get her home." Liam cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Savannah went doe-eyed again as her eyes darted back and forth between Liam and me. I tucked my lips in and widened my eyes at her, trying to get her to read my expression.

"Uh...thanks L.J., that's so kind of you."

I rolled my eyes at her lack of observation and telepathic abilities, so I mouthed a big NO. She coughed, slightly nodding her head in the direction next to me. I turned to see Liam eyeing me with amusement, clearly having seen my disapproval.

"Yeah, that'd be great man, thanks!" Josh said, reaching out and slapping Liam's hand. Savannah looked like a tomato as she gave me a small smile, mouthing, I'm sorry, and turning to head out with Josh.

I turned my attention back to a cocky grinned Liam and irritatingly shoved by him as I walked in the direction of my new favorite person there.

"I don't need you doing me any favors Liam. I don't exactly enjoy your company, and I know you don't care for mine." Back at the bar with my BFF, I ordered a shot and slammed it back, throwing a glance over my shoulder at an annoyingly quiet Liam standing behind me.

"Speaking of which," I grabbed the bottom of his shirt, pulling it over my head and throwing it at him, "here's your stupid shirt back."

He caught his shirt, glancing down at me and my now overexposed body. His eyes held daggers and he honest to God growled as he lunged forward, shoving the shirt back in my arms.

"Put it the fuck back on!"

I crossed my arms, allowing the shirt to fall to the floor.

"No. I don't want it on now that I know it's yours."

"You can't parade around in your fucking underwear, Maddie!"

"Why!? Everyone else is. This is the type of party for it." I snapped, rolling my eyes.

"I don't give a shit about what anyone else is wearing!"

I narrowed my eyes at him, his death glare pissing me off all the more.

"Then why do you care about what I'm wearing, or not wearing for that matter?"

"You know what, fine! Be a stubborn ass about it. I'm sure Aaron would love the fact you're parading around looking like that!" He snapped, throwing his hand up in my direction.

"I thought I was just a hookup, so what does it matter anyway?"

His took a step forward, closing in on me. His chest was heaving, and he looked as if he was ready to go rounds. But so was I.

Go ahead and call me Ali.

"Fine. I don't want to see you dressed like that." He bent down picking the shirt up and pushing it to me. "So do me a favor and put the damn shirt back on!"

Okay, ouch.

I didn't exactly have a body I was ashamed of, in fact, I felt pretty confident about how I looked. But apparently Liam's revulsion of me had the ability to immediately make me doubt myself.

I yanked the shirt from his hand and pulled it back on. Blowing a stray hair out of my face, I glared him down.

"Screw you, Liam!"

"You know, you say that a lot. You might want to come up with new material."

"Ugh! You're so infuriating! You can leave now." I waved my hand, dismissing him, and turned back toward my BFF whose name is still unknown, smiling sweetly. "I'll have another whatever it is you got."

"You got it, babe. By the way, I liked you better with your shirt off." He winked, reaching for more liquor.

"She'll have nothing. She's had enough." Liam snarled, pinning my bestie with one of his sharp glares.

Pssh, like that glare will work on my bestie here.

"Sure thing L.J. Whatever you say man."

"Wait, what? Seriously!? Oh, come on!" I reached out, patting him on the cheek. "We could've had a good thing, if only you weren't such a pussy."

His eyes widened and a laugh escaped his lips. Throwing his hands up, he shook his head. "Sorry babe, but he's calling the shots here and he's right."

"I'm pretty sure you both can suck it! I'm leaving!"

I turned and took a step, pausing so the floor could stop moving, before taking another step away from my now ex BFF and stupid Liam.

Uh-oh.

The floor began to move again along with the walls, which was such a weird structural choice.

The school should really fix that.

I stumbled back, falling straight into strong arms. I looked up to see Liam steadying me.

"I got it from here, thank you very much!" I sing-songed.

He sighed before flipping me around and lifting me up, tossing me over his shoulder. I yelped in surprise, hitting his back with my hands.

"Liam! Put me down! I can walk!"

"You can barely stand." He scoffed. "I'm taking you home."

"Not my fault the floors are unsteady!"

His bare hands gripped my upper thighs. They were big and rough, and all too close to my ass. My shirt had ridden up and my butt was on full display.

"Liam! Seriously, put me down! My ass is hanging out."

I heard dozens of snickers and hollers as we walked by. I leaned up on my elbows, flipping everyone off in the same moment he splayed one of his large hands over my butt, shielding parts of it, and causing me to suck in a breath. Losing my words, I remained both still and quiet until he roughly set me down by a car.

Opening up the door, he motioned for me to get in. Ignoring his demand, he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

And what a sexy nose it is. Can noses be sexy?

"Get the fuck in, Maddie. Now."

"Freaking fine! But only because I can't remember where my phone is to call an uber."

"Sure, whatever, just get in!"

He slammed the door, making his way to his side of the car. Once in, he backed out and started down the street.

"What dorms are you in? Or do you have an apartment? I'm ready to drop you off, so I can actually enjoy my night."

"Why do you have to be such a dick!? Geez. What did I ever do to you?"

He cut me a dangerous glance, squeezing the gearshift and roughly shifting into the next gear.

"Ugh, you don't even remember me." I sighed, turning my body to face him. "You know, I used to know a Liam. He was cuter though."

"Oh yeah?" His voice was tense, and his jaw clenched, the usual it seemed for him, and I found myself getting rather annoyed.

"Mm-hmm. A lot nicer too. I miss him. He was my best friend. You remind me of him sometimes. When you're not looking at me all angry like." I reached out and touched the middle of his forehead. "You know, you have these squishy wrinkles when you glare."

He swatted my hand away as he shot me a glance. "I do not."

"You ever think about how squishy is a weird word?"

"No."

"Hmm. Squishy. Squishy. Squishy. Squi--"

"Are you going to keep repeating it?" He cut me off, but I noticed his lips twitch, as if fighting off a smile.

"It doesn't even sound like a word anymore."

I closed my eyes for a moment, causing my head to spin. When I opened them back up, I took a moment to watch him as he drove. His sweats were still hung low, the fabric bunched a bit where I could make out what looked like a whole lot of something if you know what I mean. I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to suppress a giggle as I trailed my eyes up his chiseled chest and to his face. His lips were pulled downward, and his eyebrows were scrunched forward as if he was in deep thought. I sighed, wondering if he ever looked happy. But even with his permanent frown and disheveled hair, he looked like every bit of a sex God.

"Do you really look this good after sex? Ugh, who am I kidding, you probably do."

He turned his head, a surprised expression replacing his frown. A choked laugh escaped, followed by a quick clearing of his throat.

"There you go, thinking about me and sex again. Are you that obsessed with me, or are you just some sexual deviant?" He quirked his eyebrow, smirking at me.

"Pssh, you wish I was obsessed with you. Can I let you in on a secret though?" He remained quiet, so I continued, leaning closer and whisper shouting. "I don't know if I like sex all that much."

He jerked his head so fast, causing him to slightly over steer. He corrected the movements and sat up higher in his seat, looking back over at me.

"You don't like sex?" He asked incredulously.

"I mean, I want to. I like the idea of it. But I don't know. I feel like I'm just never satisfied when I actually do it."

He rubbed the back of his neck as he kept his attention on the road, suddenly looking a bit uncomfortable.

"It uh--," he cleared his throat, "it sounds like you're doing it with all the wrong people. Trust me, sex is amazing with the right person. When you have someone who knows your body like their own, satisfied isn't a strong enough word to describe how you'll feel."

I sat up slightly, examining him and what he just said. "Do you think you satisfy all the women you're with?"

A cocky grin spread across his face as he turned to face me. "I know what the hell I'm doing if that's what you're asking."

I sighed, leaning back again. "I actually bet you do which is really freaking annoying considering I hate you and all."

He raised an eyebrow, looking me over. "How much did you have to drink, woman?"

"About fix or so many drinks."

"Fix?"

"Yeah, like this much." I held up five fingers, then added another one and squinted my eyes. "I don't know. But I do know I would have had more if you weren't so bossy. What's with you anyway?"

"Nothing's with me." He huffed, sounding like a five-year-old.

I laughed and hiccupped at the same time. "Hey, there he is!"

"Who?"

"My Liam." I smiled, poking his cheek.

He looked over at me, his eyes darting back and forth. His lips remained tight, but I noticed a softening in his eyes. He turned back to face the road as he pulled away from a stop sign.

"What's the address, Maddie?"

My eyes felt heavy and for some reason, Liam kept disappearing and reappearing.

"Hey, Liam, I learned your magic!"

"Maddie? Maddie, where am I taking you? Stay awake."

I felt wetness on my face, and I realized I had started crying. I wiped my eyes, looking back at Liam before closing them again.

"Why did you forget me?"

****
I heard the door open, but my eyes felt so heavy. Suddenly, arms were wrapped around me, and I was pushed up against a chest. I breathed in a woodsy and vanilla scent.

A woonilla. A Voodsy.

"Those aren't even words." A chuckle escaped the woonilla person's chest, making me realize I had spoken those thoughts aloud. I tried registering where I was or who it was, but my thoughts kept coming out muddy.

Am I being kidnapped!? I'm too young to die. I haven't even tasted Savannah's cheesecake.

"I really hope cheesecake isn't code for something."

He's reading my thoughts! I'm dead for sure!

"I'm not reading anything. You're talking out loud. Relax, Maddie, you're okay."

He hugged me closer, and the sound of his voice finally registered with me.

"Liam?" I struggled to open my eyes, failing miserably as the sleepiness took over. "Don't hurt me." I whispered before fully succumbing to the darkness.

"Shh, Little Dove, I got you."

👀 I'm sorry, what did you just say, Liam? 🤨😮

I hope you enjoyed the time these two had in this chapter! It seems, little by little, Maddie is chipping away at the ice Liam is covered in. Too bad her butt had to be displayed in order to do so. 😆

Anyone have any embarrassing, drunken moments they want to share? One crazy night led to me singing Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid quite loudly on the bathroom floor...video evidence was my only reminder of my Broadway performance LOL but, I can't say this was the most embarrassing. 

Thanks for reading so far, and if you're enjoying it and feel like being super amazing, I'd love if you'd hit that star! Either way, thanks for your support❤