I waited on the front steps of the school for my friends to arrive as usual. Why does dad have to drop me off so early? It's extremely boring waiting for Steph and Lisa to show up, they're almost always late.

I fiddled with my red hair, which I left down for my presentation of the Romeo and Juliet scene, and ran lines over in my head to distract myself from the boredom of waiting.

I went through the whole scene twice before something caught my interest. Liam's car pulled into his usual parking spot and he slowly got out, followed by Danielle.

Wasn't he suppose to break up with her?

Maybe he hasn't gotten a chance to yet. The logical part of my brain told me.

Maybe.

They slowly walked over to me, Danielle clinging to Liam's arm, and Liam looking unimpressed.

"You go on ahead, I have to talk to Emma about our presentation." He told Danielle when they got to me.

She sighed but walked off without another word, much to my surprise. I expected a little bit of whining before she gave up.

"I don't know what to do." He grumbled when his girlfriend was out of hearing range.

"About what?" I asked, studying his expression for any sign of what he was talking about, but of course his face was an emotionless brick wall.

He sighed, "After I left your house yesterday I went over to Danielle's to break up, and she wouldn't let me."

My face screwed up in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"She said I couldn't break up with her. I had to at least give the relationship a shot before ending it. We argued for a while about it and I just gave up." He explained, running a hand through his hair as he spoke.

"That's insane." I commented. You can't just make someone be with you.

He nodded in agreement.

"Well if she won't let you break up with her, you have to make her break up with you." I thought out loud.

He cocked his head to the side as he thought that over, "How am I suppose to do that?"

I shrugged, "You have to be an awful boyfriend. Ignore her, talk to other girls. I don't know."

"That's what I've been doing this whole time." He pointed out.

I guess that's true, he's never seemed to have any interest in her, except when they first started hanging out, before I got dragged into his gang feud. What could he possibly do to get her to break up with him?

"I'll try to think of something. But until I do, try to break up with her again at lunch maybe." I suggested. Maybe when she sees that he really doesn't want to be with her, she'll accept it.

Liam nodded and then we sat in silence as we tried to figure out how to get him out of this mess. I guess this is what you get for leading someone on that you have no feelings for. I shouldn't even be helping him, but I feel bad for them both, and it's better for me if he's single. I'm allowed to kiss him if he doesn't have a girlfriend, and I still need to win three kisses.

Maybe I won't feel bad for using him to win the game, he used Danielle, I'm basically just getting back at him for her. And he never needs to find out about the game anyway. I could totally win and get away with it without any consequences.

Not long after our conversation stopped, Lisa and Steph got to school and I walked off with them after saying goodbye to Liam.

"Have to talked to Leo much since we all hung out at my house?" I asked Steph when we were out of earshot from Liam.

She nodded and a blush immediately coloured her cheeks, "We've texted a bunch and last night he called me and that lasted until like two in the morning. I think he really likes me."

I smiled at how happy she looked, if she likes Leo and he likes her back, and if they make each other happy, then I'm ecstatic for them. They both deserve to be happy.

I opened my mouth to tell her just that but the bell cut me off and we all went our separate ways to class.

•  •  •  •  •  •  •

At lunch Liam and Danielle were nowhere to be seen. He must be attempting to break up with her like we planned this morning.

It sounds so awful, that I helped plan Liam breaking up with Danielle. But I'm just trying to do the right thing for everyone, and she deserves it anyway. He tried to break up with her and she wouldn't let him. That's just crazy.

"So what do you guys think of Danielle and Liam being together?" Lisa asked, directing the question to everyone at our table.

Leo shrugged, Steph and I stayed quiet, but Garrett had something to say about the topic.

"I think it's wrong. He never even mentioned her and then all of a sudden she's always around and they're dating. Something isn't right about that, I don't think he even has feelings for her."

Garrett was exactly right, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

Lisa nodded in agreement, "I thought he had feelings for someone else, so it's a complete shock that he's with Danielle."

My brows furrowed in confusion, who did she think he liked? He didn't seem to have an interest in anyone.

"Yeah I agree, a certain redhead caught his attention in a way I've never seen before." Leo stated.

My heart hammered in my chest at the idea of Liam having feelings for me. But there's no way. I'm the last person Liam would have a crush on.

"You guys are crazy." I finally spoke up. Why would they put ideas like that in my mind? It's not healthy for me.

Steph shrugged, "Maybe, but everyone can see that you and Liam have a thing for each other."

My heart continued to pound, is it that obvious that I like him? Does he know?

"We don't have a thing for each other, don't be silly. Besides, he has a girlfriend remember?" I told her.

He might not have a girlfriend for long, but that doesn't matter. My feelings for him aren't reciprocated.

Finally the bell rang and I was saved from our lunchtime conversation. I don't think my heart could handle one more comment on Liam possibly liking me. Why would they give me false hope like that anyway? That's just cruel.

"See you guys later." I told them as I got up, and then I walked away and was suddenly hit by a wave of nerves.

My next class is advanced English with Liam and Danielle, and today we have to present our script to the class.

I hate public speaking or presenting of any kind. When all the attention is on me my face goes super red and I get all flustered and quiet. It's basically my least favourite thing ever.

When I got to class Liam was already sitting in the desk beside my usual one, and Danielle was on the other side of the room. That's a good sign.

"How'd it go?" I asked him as I sat down.

He shrugged, "I tried, but she still thinks we're together. The only reason she's not sitting over here is because we have to sit with our partners."

My eyes widened in shock, how can she do that?

"I straight up told her that I'm not her boyfriend anymore and she just said 'of course you are silly' so I don't know what to do." He continued, quiet enough that no one else could hear us.

"We'll think of something. But right now we need to focus on our presentation." I told him.

He nodded in agreement just as the teacher started talking.

"Liam and Emma, I think you two should go first today." She said, and I internally groaned. I hate presenting and now I have to go first?

We both slowly walked up to the front and I tried to calm myself as Liam introduced our scene.

"We're doing Act One Scene Five, when Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time."

Then he started his lines and I tried my best to forget about the rest of the class and pretend we were back in my living room, practicing.

We went back and forth with our lines and I grew more comfortable just by looking into Liam's honey eyes until we got to the first kiss.

"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take." Liam recited, and paused because that's when we're suppose to kiss.

He searched my face for a sign of what we were suppose to do and an idea struck me.

If Liam kissed me, maybe Danielle would get the hint that he really doesn't want to be with her.

I nodded slightly to let him know that he could kiss me, and he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine without hesitation. Maybe he had the same thought as me.

My stomach flipped as I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled me close. I wonder if Shakespeare imagined Romeo and Juliet would feel like this when they kissed.

The class hooted as we pulled away and we continued with our lines until the second kiss.

I again nodded and Liam kissed me, this time for a little longer, and pulled my flush against him. My head spun with how close we were and the feeling of his lips against mine.

By the time we pulled away I could barely feel my feet on the ground, I was lightheaded from the bliss of the kiss and I barely noticed Danielle storming towards the door.

"You kiss by th' book." I finished off our part of the script, and then we both took a bow as the class clapped politely.

"She left." I whispered to Liam as we made our way back to our seats.

He nodded, "Maybe she finally got the message. Should I go after her?"

I furrowed my eyebrows as I thought about that for a second. He made it clear that they're not together, so he doesn't have an obligation to go after her, but at the same time it seems like the right thing to do.

"I don't know." I finally answered. There's pros and cons to either decision he could make.

"I think I'll stay right here then." He made up his mind, sending a quick smile my way before paying attention to the next pair that was about to present.

Why did my heartbeat speed up at that smile?

My mind was preoccupied as class went on and pair after pair presented, and I jumped with a start when Liam nudged me, catching me completely off guard.

"Sorry to scare you, but I need to talk to you after class. There's been a breakthrough with the mole I think." Liam whispered so we wouldn't get in trouble for disrupting the class.

It felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders, there's a good chance that I wouldn't have to live in fear anymore.

"That's great!" I quietly exclaimed, a wide smile invading my face.

For the rest of class I impatiently watched the clock, and when the bell rang I jumped up and was the first one out of the room.

Thankfully Liam also hurried out so I wasn't left waiting in the hallway for long.

"What's breakthrough?" I asked as soon as he stepped out of class.

He rolled his eyes at my enthusiasm but a small smile tugged at his lips, "There was a guy named Pete, and he used to be in the gang. We think that's who the mole is."

"Why do you think it's him?"  I asked, my face screwing up in confusion.

"Pete used to date a girl in the gang, and she was cheating on him with another gang member. When Pete found out he just disappeared, so we think he's trying to get revenge. I just found out that he joined our rival gang, the one that shot at us." Liam explained.

That makes sense, "So he knew about the warehouse?" I questioned.

He nodded to confirm my suspicion.

I felt relieved to know that Liam at least has a suspect, but I still didn't feel safe.

I opened my mouth to ask another question but a screechy voice cut me off.

"How could you cheat on me like that? And in front of the whole class!" Danielle yelled, storming up to Liam and I.

"Calm down, we aren't together. I didn't cheat." Liam argued, his tone much more calm and quiet.

"I never agreed to breaking up. You're a cheater, how am I suppose to forgive you?" Danielle again yelled.

This girl is making a scene.

Liam ran an exasperated hand through his hair as he replied, "I told you we're not together anymore, and I meant it. I didn't cheat, so you don't have anything to forgive me for."

Danielle stood there for a moment, and then her bottom lip quivered and the waterworks began.

"I thought you liked me, why would you ever get into a relationship with me if you didn't want to? Why would you use me like that?" She cried.

My eyes widened at what she was hinting at and I looked over at Liam to see his reaction. Unfortunately he wasn't showing any emotion other than slight annoyance.

"I didn't use you, and the only reason I agreed to date you was because you wouldn't leave me alone. I should have just been honest, and for that I'm sorry. But I'm not sorry for kissing Emma because we aren't together anymore, so I didn't do anything wrong." Liam told her.

That was brutally honest.

Hurt was written all over Danielle's face and I actually felt bad for her. She doesn't deserve to get her heart broken, but it is partially her fault.

The three of us silently stood there, in the now deserted hallway, until the bell rang.

"Great, now I'm late to class!" Danielle exclaimed, storming off without another word.

Liam and I exchanged a bewildered look before reality kicked in and I realized that I'm also late for class.

Fantastic.