Chapter Nineteen

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"The whole school is talking about you." Lisa informed me after school as we made our way to the parking lot.

"Why?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes at my oblivion, "Liam cheated on Danielle with you, in front of a class."

I sighed, is that what everyone thinks happened?

"He broke up with her but she wouldn't accept it. And then we presented the script we were given, and that just happened to have two kisses in it." I explained.

Lisa thought that over for a second before replying, "That's not what Danielle is telling people."

My stomach dropped. I hate when attention is on me, and I care way too much about what people think of me. If Danielle is going around telling people that Liam cheated on her with me, that makes me out to be one of the bad guys.

"What am I gonna do?" I asked, looking over at Lisa hopefully. She always knows what to do.

She gave me a look of pity, "I'm not sure. Everyone already thinks that you stole Liam away from Danielle."

The only thing I did was help Liam break up with her, which was for both of their sakes. It's not fair for her to be with someone that doesn't have feelings for her.

And what do I get in return? The school hating me.

"You know, Liam didn't even like her. He was only with her because she kept bugging him, and somehow I got dragged into all of this." I complained. How is any of this fair?

"You didn't have to kiss him." Lisa pointed out.

I hate that she's right.

"Danielle needed to see that Liam didn't want to be with her." I weakly defended myself.

Lisa shook her head and her blonde curls bounced, "Were you really doing it for her? Or for yourself?"

I looked down in shame. Although I was thinking about Danielle and what's ultimately best for her and Liam, I was also just trying to come up with an excuse to kiss Liam if I'm being honest with myself.

"This whole thing is a mess." I mumbled as we finally walked out of the school.

"You should tell him how you feel." Lisa suggested.

I immediately shook my head, "There's no way I'm doing that. I'm not setting myself up for rejection and embarrassment."

"You're being dramatic. Everyone can see that he feels the same way for you." She told me, rolling her eyes.

I scoffed, there's no way he actually likes me like that. I don't know why everyone's trying to put those thoughts into my head. He doesn't treat me any differently than anyone else.

But he kisses you. A voice in the back of my head pointed out.

I'm sure he kissed Danielle too and we all saw how that turned out.

I pushed away all the crazy thoughts about Liam and tuned back into my surroundings just in time to run into someone.

Thanks for the heads up Lisa.

The person gently grabbed my shoulders to stop me from falling, and when I looked up I was greeted by amused golden brown eyes.

"You really need to pay attention to where you're walking, one day you're gonna get hit by a car." Liam teased, still holding my shoulders.

I rolled my eyes, "After today, that wouldn't be such a bad thing."

"I'm gonna go." Lisa chimed in. I forgot she was even here.

Liam released his hold on me, probably also realizing that there were people all around us, and that he didn't need to steady me anymore.

I gave Lisa a quick goodbye before bringing my attention back to the boy in front of me.

"I'm really sorry about today, and bringing you into it. It seems like I'm always dragging you into my problems." Liam apologized, moving so he was standing beside me as we began to walk through the parking lot.

I was invested in the conversation enough that I didn't even realize that I don't have a reason to be in the parking lot, I usually wait for my dad at the front of the school.

I looked up into his eyes, which for once showed what he was feeling, guilt, and I couldn't be mad at him. He obviously feels bad, and it was my fault as much as his anyway.

"I'm the one that gave you the okay to kiss me." I told him, shrugging.

"Do you want a ride home? It's the least I can do after what you did for me today." He offered, partially changing the subject as we got to his car.

I thought it over for a second. There's no harm in driving home with Liam, he's a good driver, his car is bulletproof so I should be safe, and it'll give my dad a break.

And am I really going to complain about having some time alone with the guy I have a crush on?

"Sure, just let me text my dad to let him know I don't need a ride." I replied, giving Liam a small smile when he opened the passenger door for me.

The bad boy has some manners, interesting.

As we drove through the parking lot I texted my dad, and when that was sent I didn't have anything to distract myself from the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.

Why does Liam have this affect on me? It's like every time we kiss I get more feelings for him.

"Where's your favourite place to eat?" Liam randomly asked as we drove away from the school.

"Diner Diner." I immediately replied. I didn't even have to think about my answer, Diner Diner is my favourite place to eat in the whole entire world.

"What's that?" Liam asked, taking his eyes off the road for a second to look over at me curiously.

I gasped, how could he not know Diner Diner?

"It's only the best Diner in the world." I told him matter-of-factly.

"I see. And where is it?" He questioned.

"5839 Wonderway East." I told him.

I only know two addresses off by heart, mine, and Diner Diner. That's now much I love the place.

Liam didn't say anything, and instead turned onto a road that definitely didn't lead to my house.

"Where are we going?" I asked, scrunching my face up in confusion.

"I need to try out this Diner you speak so highly of." Liam replied, giving me a cheeky smile as we stopped at a red light.

My stomach flipped at how cute he looked smiling like that, and the stress from today melted away at just the idea of going to Diner Diner. It's my happy place.

The rest of the drive was in a comfortable silence from us, only the radio filling the car. And when we pulled into the parking lot of my favourite place, I practically jumped out of the car, almost hitting my head in the process which made Liam laugh.

From the outside, this Diner looked like any other building, a neon sign with its name, boring brick walls. Nothing special. But the inside is where all the magic is.

"Woah." Liam breathed when we stepped through the door.

Everything in Diner Diner was retro and colourful. Each booth was a different colour, there were cool murals on all the walls and ceiling, and a juke box in one corner of the room that was always playing awesome music.

You can't be anything other than happy in here, it's just not possible.

I led Liam to my favourite spot, the purple booth that was close enough to the music to listen to, but not so close that it's too loud.

"How did you find this place?" He asked as he slid into the seat across from me.

I smiled as the memory of coming here for the first time played through my mind, "My parents used to bring me here as a kid. This was my mom's favourite place."

My mood dimmed slightly at the thought of my mom, this place always reminded me of her, and sometimes it made me happier while other times it just made me miss her.

Fortunately my mood was again lifted when our waitress came over, on roller skates.

Liam's face was priceless when he noticed her rolling over.

"Hey Emma, I see you've brought a friend." Tina, one of my favourite employees, greeted me.

"Hey Tina, this is my friend Liam." I introduced.

She gave a nod of approval, silently telling me that I picked a good one, and I rolled my eyes at her.

It's not like that with Liam, I don't have a chance with him. Everyone needs to stop giving me false hope.

"So what can I get you guys to drink?" Tina asked.

"You know this place best, what should I get?" Liam asked me.

"Two sugar comas." I told Tina, and we exchanged a knowing look. Liam has no idea what he's about to get.

"I'll be back with your drinks in a minute." Tina told us before rolling off.

"Sugar coma?" Liam asked, his eyebrows drawing together as he tried to figure out what that was.

I shrugged, giving him the most innocent look I could muster up.

"What are you getting to eat?" I asked, pointing to the menu in front of him. There's four menus painted on every table, which is another reason I love this place. It's just so unique.

I already knew what I was going to get, I've tried everything on the menu and I narrowed my favourites down to three different things. I just take turns getting them whenever I come here now.

"Since my drink is going to be sugary, I think I'll get a cheeseburger and fries." Liam decided.

I nodded in approval, "Good choice, the burgers here are the best."

"What are you getting?" He asked.

"The double decker B.L.T." I answered, and my stomach grumbled at the mention of the sandwich.

A few seconds later Tina rolled back to us with our drinks and I watched in amusement as Liam's jaw dropped at the beverage.

The sugar coma is a large chocolate brownie milkshake topped with whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles, maple syrup, and a chocolate chip cookie. It's basically the best tasting drink in the world, but it's also super unhealthy and very hard to finish.

"Have you two decided what you're getting to eat?" Tina asked as she set the milkshakes down in front of us.

"I'll have the double decker B.L.T." I told her.

"And I'll have a cheeseburger and fries." Liam replied after me.

"Sure thing, enjoy your drinks." Tina told us before rolling off again.

"This looks like diabetes." Liam commented as he studied the drink in front of him.

I nodded in agreement and took a sip.

Liam also took a sip and his eye widened. That's how everyone reacts. No ones ever really prepared for the full punch of sugar they get from just one sip of the sugar coma.

"This is sweeter than I ever imagined, but it's still somehow really good." He said after a few more sips.

He isn't wrong. Sometimes things are too sweet and it ends up ruining it and being gross, but with the sugar coma that just doesn't happen.

After that we continued to chat about nothing in particular until our food came, and then the conversation centred around who's meal was better.

"This is four layers of amazingness. Nothing can compete with it." I argued, pointing to all the layers of my B.L.T.

Liam shook his head and laughed, "My cheeseburger is a classic, there's a reason burgers have been so popular for so long. You can't seriously think your sandwich is better than my burger."

I rolled my eyes, "Burgers are too mainstream, I like a little more adventure when it comes to my meals."

He snorted, "A B.L.T. isn't adventurous."

"It's more adventurous than a cheeseburger." I countered, sticking my tongue out at him after I spoke.

"Yours might be less boring but mine tastes better." Liam offered.

"I guess so." I agreed, taking the final bite of my sandwich.

As I chewed Liam looked at me with amused eyes and his mouth twitched with a smile.

I raised my eyebrow to ask what was so funny without speaking through a mouth full of food, but he didn't explain. He just kept looking at me and I grew increasingly self conscious.

"What?" I demanded when I finally swallowed my food.

"You have a little mayo." He told me, pointing at my mouth.

I hastily swiped at my mouth, "Did I get it?"

He shook his head, "Let me." And then reached out and gently wiped the corner of my mouth with his thumb.

My face tingled where he touched me and my cheeks heated with the embarrassment of being a messy eater.

"Thanks." I muttered, handing him a napkin to clean his thumb with.

"That's cute." He responded.

What?

"What is?" I asked, completely confused with the random comment.

"Your blush, it's cute."

His explanation only made me blush harder.

"Are you two done with your food?" Tina asked, rolling back up to us and saving me from further embarrassment.

We both nodded and handed her our empty plates.

"I'm surprised you're not by the juke box dancing Emma, you usually are." Tina commented before rolling away.

"Dancing huh?" Liam teased.

Thanks a lot Tina! My secret is revealed!

"I used to dance to the music here all the time as a kid. And very badly at that." I explained, which was half the truth. I still dance like a goofball here, I'm not scared about anyone judging me, lots of people dance to the music here.

"C'mon." Liam said, getting up and offering me his hand.

I shook my head, "No way."

He grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the juke box anyway.

Once we were in front of it Liam started going through the songs until he came across one he liked, and then he played it.

I stood there listening to the song and watching him dance like a fool for a little while until he grabbed my hand again and I had no choice but to dance with him.

I laughed at his awful robot attempt until my sides hurt, and by the end of the song I was out of breath from both dancing and laughing.

It's weird that I'm having so much fun with him, usually he's so serious and guarded, but right now he's a completely different person. One that I could really fall for.

In this moment, as a slow song started and he pulled me close, there was no sign of gang Liam or drunk Liam. Only the sweet romantic Liam I caught a glimpse of that day we had the picnic.

This is my favourite Liam.

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