The One For Me (13 page)

When we get outside, I feel giddy. “Well, my pretend girlfriend, you ready to go get jiggy with it?”

“If you don’t say that ever again, I am.”

He laughs. He holds his hand out and helps me into his Jeep.

“A gentleman,” I say.

“Tell me that at t
he end of the night.” He smiles and shuts the door.
He walks around the Jeep to the driver’s side. I intertwine my fingers and squeeze. I’m nervous. I hate dances, but getting d
ressed up makes me feel…pretty…wanted.

“Nervous?” Liam asks, starting the engine.

I nod. “I’ve never been. I normally wouldn’t even think about going, but we have to be believable, right?”

“You never went with Hayden and you dated for how long?
”

I shake my head. “
A while and n
o
I never went
.”

This makes him smile. “Did he never ask you?”

I look out the window. “Yeah, but I’m just not a big dancer.”

“So,” Liam coughs, “you told him no?”

I nod. “Pretty much. I faked sick for Homecoming last year, and said I was cramping for prom.” I laugh.

“So, I should feel privileged?” Liam asks, eyebrow rose.
His dimple is dented in his cheek. It’s adorable.

“Oh, most surely. It’s a rare gem to get me in a dress, let alone a dance. Write this date down.”

Liam smiles. I feel the warmth of his hand on mine. “No one is watching,” I whisper.

He turns toward me. “It’s good practice.”

When we get
to the dance, the entire place is swamped
. Oh, shit.
It’s like a mad house outside. There are teenagers, taking pictures, strutting around and fixing their dresses.

“Wow, didn’t know so many people come to this,” I say.

“It is homecoming week. Tomorrow is the big game, ya know.
It’s kind of a big deal. This is high school. The only good thing that ever happens in high school is the games and dances.
”

Yeah, I know.
“Oh, God,” I say, breathing in and out.

Liam laughs, reaching over to pat my leg.
“Calm down, it’s going to be fine, I swear. Come one.” Liam gets out, comes around and helps me down. I watch all the other couples walk in, whispering in one another ears. “Would you like me to whisper sweet lines in your ear, little bear?”

Yes.
“It’s not necessary,” I say.

Liam wraps his arm around my waist. “But, this is right?” His breath is warm on my neck.

“Yes,” I say, breathless. I wonder if he can tell he is making my heart beat like crazy against my ribcage.

He pretends to bow. “Shall we?”

“We shall.”

We walk up to the ticket booth. “I need two tickets,” Liam says, pulling out his wallet. A tall, dark haired boy is sitting behind the desk staring at me. A slow grin crawls up his face.

“You’re Katy, right?”

Liam looks down at me. I nod. “Yes.”

Tall boy laughs.

Ah hell.
“What’s so damn funny,” Liam says, snatching the tickets out of his hands.

He raises his hands in surrender. “Nothing, bro. Just joking. Nothing is funny.”

“I didn’t think so,” Liam says, grabbing my hip and pulling me into the gym. “People are never going to grow the hell up are they?” he asks.

I shake my head.
Probably not.
I don’t even want to know what he was laughing about. I can only imagine.

There are tables full of punch, finger
sandwiches, chips and cookies, when we get into the gym. I want to crawl underneath one
and hide. The middle of the gym has been transformed into a dance floor, where most of our classmates are grinding on one another.

Liam pulls at the collar of his shirt, his grey eyes darting down to me. “Want some punch,” he asks.
“I promise not to spike it.”

“Yes,” I say. “My throat is suddenly very dry.
And maybe you should spike it.
”

He
laughs
. “I know exactly what you mean. You grab us some seats and I’ll grab us something to drink.”

I nod. I push my way through the cluster of kids, while my head pounds to the rap music that’s blaring through the gym. No one seems to even know I’m pushing through them, they barely move to let me through. I spot a table and walk quickly
, then si
t down. I face the dance floor and watch as everyone starts jumping up and down to the ‘shots’ song.

“Well, it was a mad house but I finally got you something to drink,” Liam says.  He hands me my punch and I take a large gulp. “Wow,” Liam says. I look up; he is staring at the group of swaying kids. “It’s like a zoo when everyone is in heat.”

I laugh, spilling some drink on the table. “Stop, I’m gonna spill this all over me.”

Liam laughs.
“Better not, I don’t think my shirt would go good with that dress.”

“Definitely not.”

I glance up and over the dance floor when I notice Holly dancing. She is swaying her hips, then I meet eyes with Hayden, who is staring at me. His green eyes look like The Green Goblin’s. His jaw is set, hands on Holly’s waist and crotch against her ass.

I look away. I don’t want another replay of Liam getting upset because I’m looking and getting pleasure out of making Hayden mad. Which makes me wonder why he would be mad in the first place?
This is just a pretend relationship right? We only kiss and hold hands for show? Liam picks me up for school because it’s the right thing to do?
He doesn’t really care about me, does he? Do I care about him?

“Katy,” Liam says, waving his hand in front o
f my face. “You all here today?”

“Yes.” I lean back in my chair.
No, hell no.

He leans back in his chair.
“What you thinking about over there, little bear.”

I shake my head.
If you really like me or not. If you want this to be more than a ‘pretend’ relationship.
“Nothing important.”

“Well, little bear, we’ve been antisocial long enough.” Liam stands up and offers me his hand. “Would you like to dance?”

“Oh,” I say, fluttering my eye lashes. “I’ve been waiting all night for a gentle caller. Hooray.”

Liam helps me up and wraps his arms around my waist. “I’m no gentlemen, Katy.” He winks and leads me out to the dance floor.
I never truly thought he was. I think that is what I like about him.

Liam pushes through the kids like their rag dolls. No one says an
ything to him. The song is fast. I look around me, there are so many kids dancing.
Where was my class on dancing? Everyone else seemed to have one?
We have gone to the same school most of our lives!

“I really don’t know how to dance,” I yell up at him.

He smirks, turns me around and presses my back to his front. “Just move with me, I’ll show you,” he says.
“It’s very simple.”
I feel his breath on my neck; it seeps down to my toes.
Shit
. He wraps his arms around my waist, the flesh of his arms, touching my bare skin. He moves us to a steady beat with the music.
My heart is beating in my throat. I can’t breathe. Liam squeezes me tighter, running his mouth close to my ear. I gasp.
It’s Heaven.

I vaguely see kids around us start to slow down, change positions. I feel Liam turn me around but my head is still spinning. He pulls me into him, wrapping his hand around my waist, the other holding my hand out to the side.
I didn’t even realize the song had changed. My head is too far gone.
“You’re not as bad as you think,” he whispers. I feel his smile against my hair.

“I’m terrible,” I whisper up at him.

“Not a chance,” he says.

“Where did you learn to dance?” I ask.

He shrugs. “My grandma taught me. She goes dancing all the time.
Very promiscuous, that ol’ gale.
”

I smile. “Dancing with grandma, must be fun.”

Liam rolls his eyes. “Dancing with you is much more fun.” I watch his lips as he says this, I want to kiss him. Scratch that, I want to jump him. “While we’re talking about dancing, I was wondering if you would go to
Feed The Children
benefit that my dad is hosting next Thursday. We get dressed up in dresses and suites, eat,
dance and the adults get drunk. Basically parade around like a bunch of rich idiots.”

I smile up at him. “Can we steal
some liquor?”

Liam gasps. “Little bear, I’m both appalled and turned on by th
at statement. Of course we can. Believe me when I say no one will even notice.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “Well, of course I will then.”

Liam glances down at me, smiling. “It’s a date then.”

“I’ll be there.”

Liam sighs, running his fingers along my side. “Katy,” he mumbles, leaning closer to my lips. I lean up, hoping he will remove the distance, it’s driving me crazy. He glances down at me, asking permission.

I nod, slightly.

He exhales, breathing cinnamon breath on me. His top lip touches my bottom and I melt in his hands. His fingers grip at my sides, bringing me as close as I can get. His mouth covers mine. His full lips take mine, desire is running through my veins.

“Can I cut in?” I hear. I’m still standing eyes closed, mouth open
, like a horny teenager,
when Liam grips me tighter. I open on
e eye and look over
to see Hayden standing, hands in his pockets, staring at me. I grit my teeth. I’ve never wanted to knock the hell out of him more.

“No,” Liam says.
“You can’t.”

I widen my eyes.
Ah, shit.
Hayden clenches his jaw. “Why the hell not?” he asks.

“Because, I’m dancing with my girlfriend.” Liam pushes me to the side, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
“You don’t get to cut in.”

Hayden looks to me for help.
Don’t look at me
. As if reading my mind Liam says, “Don’t look at her. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with you. You had your chance, not tuck your tail and walk away.”

Hayden clenches his fist. “I just want to talk to her, move out of the way.” He tries to walk around Liam, but he blocks his way.

“I said no, get lost.”

“No, move. You’re jus
t trying to get some ass anyway
. You don’t care about her.” Hayden shouts, this draws a few other students’ attention.

Liam looks angry, it’s incredibly sexy. “Me? You’re the one that dumped her for slut face Holly. She’s slept with the entire school.”

Hayden’s face reddens.

This is getting good.

“Well, as long as she hasn’t slept with your nasty ass, I don’t give a damn.” Hayden
turns to me. “You can do better, you look amazing by the way---,” Liam punches him.

Just punches him, right in the jaw.
It all seems in slow motion. Liam chuckles, then reaches back and punches the hell out of him. Hayden falls backwards into a group of kids, dancing. They all scream, scattering like cock roaches.
Hayden lays on the floor for a minute. I’m standing mouth wide open.
I can’t believe he just done that.

Hayden gets up, staggering, then throws a punch at Liam. Liam ducks, missing
the jab
by an inch.

Liam jumps on top of Hayden, fist slinging everywhere. Hayden rolls on top of Liam; they do this for only a few seconds before the coaches come over and pull them off of each other.

“Both of you
out now,” Coach Cunner yells, yanking them both toward the door. I follow, heels clicking against the floor. Liam snatches away from Coach Cunner when we get outside and stalks toward his Jeep.

I can hear Holly yelling at Hayden from across the yard.
“You stupid asshole,” she yells.

You got that right.

Liam has the Jee
p started before I get in.
He screeches out of the school parking lot. I sit quietly for a few minutes.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Liam doesn’t answer; he just keeps driving, hands on the wheel, face serious. I want to reach over and touch him. I want to grab his face and make him look at me, but I don’t
,
I just look forward.

Liam pulls up to my house. He stops, runs his fingers through his hair and then covers his face with his hands.

“I’m sorry--,” I mumble, pressing my hands together.

He laughs, without humor. “Katy-,” he starts but then trails off. “I’ll see you Monday, okay?
I just need to go home. You understand that right?
”