The One For Me Read online

  I walk out into the vacant parking lot and throw my bag into the backseat. I watch the shadows, someone could come out and murder me, I bet Liam would care then. I jump into the front seat. Furious, I reverse and start toward my house. I can already see the disappointed look on Mr. Fringe’s face Monday morning when my paper is turned in with a bunch of crappy lines about Liam’s awfulness. I hit the steering wheel and sigh. Why am I being punished? I study. I clean. I am nice to people. Why is the Heaven’s reigning down on me? I drive, passing the water until I see the school where all my problems started, being partnered up with Liam. If I can just get Mr. Fringe to change his mind.

  I drive a few miles down and notice a large group of people gathered around a house settled by the water. Santa Catalina Island, California is a great place to live if you’re tanned, a surfer or have a beach body. I’m none of these.

  I look closer and see the high school aged kids and remember Aaron Mitchell’s party. I smile. This is where Liam wanted to go. Should I go? Hell yeah.

  I pull against the road behind a Jeep. The music is blaring and I flinch. It’s so loud; I can barely tell what song is playing. The house is beach front and large. Aaron is the son of a gynecologist and an attorney. They have stacks of money. He throws these kinds of parties at least once a month, when his parents are gone on conferences.

  I haven’t been to a party like this in a while. Hayden and I went together to a party on the beach a few months back. They’re all the same. Swimming, drinking, eating and sex. It gets old.

  I wade through the sand to the front door, its wide open. I fight the urge to knock but judging by the vast majority of my drunken piers, I’m sure no one would notice. It smells of smoke, ocean water and alcohol when I walk in. There are teenagers everywhere. I’m surprised they aren’t hanging from the very large and expensive chandeliers in each room. I see a few familiar faces, but not Liam. It looks like the zoo in here, during mating season. The kitchen is cluttered with beer cans, spilled drinks and teenagers in each other’s faces. I scan the room and narrow my eyes when I see Liam. He is leaned against a counter, his feet crossed and holding a beer.

  I start toward him and he glances over at me. “Yikes,” he says. “You look scary, sweetheart. Want a beer,” he says, offering the beer he is holding.

  “Do I look like I want a beer, Liam?” I ask, the guy standing beside Liam widens his eyes and makes his escape. I’ve seen him a few times around school; he seems to be Liam’s best friend. How he has friends, beats me.

  He scoffs. “No, but you look like you need one. Ease up, sweetheart,” he says, bumping his arm into mine. He smiles down at me. “You scared off Billy. I will admit you are a little scary sometimes. When you go all ‘leave me alone,’ ‘do what I tell you.’”

  “Are you ignorant, or just deliberately avoiding me? We were supposed to meet tonight, Liam. We have the project this weekend, ring any bells up there?” I ask, pointing toward his head.

  He grabs my hand and squeezes it. I snatch my hand away. He smirks. “I told you that I had plans or you wouldn’t have known to show up here.” The song changes and he bobs his head up and down to the music. “Wanna’ dance?” he asks, wiggling his dark eyebrows. He grabs my waist and starts to sway us back and forth. He has the attention span of a Kindergartener.

  I shove him away from me and grit my teeth. I feel the heat rushing toward my cheeks. Really? Is this guy serious? “No!” I yell. “I didn’t come to dance with you. I came to remind you that you’re not only throwing my grade away but yours, too!”

  “Wow, you’re grouchy, is it your time of the month?” he leans in and whispers.

  “Fine, Liam. I’ll do the project myself.” I start to turn away and he grabs my arm.

  “Oh come on, I’m joking with ya. Get a sense of humor, will ya?” He smiles down at me. It actually looks semi genuine. Semi. He looks up, over my shoulder and stops moving. I look over my shoulder, following his glare and see Hayden and Holly walk into the room. Holly stops and starts talking to someone while Hayden scans the room. His eyes meet mine and my heart aches. His brows furrow and he sets his jaw. I want to run my finger over his brow and straighten out the wrinkle. “Looks like your ex is a little jealous, sweetheart,” Liam whispers in my ear. I keep still, watching him watch me. I want to run to him, for him to hold me tight. He doesn’t.

  Hayden looks away and wraps his arm around Holly’s waist, bringing her closer to him. My body feels like there are pins and needles being poked into it. I think I’m going to throw up. She reaches up and kisses his jaw; he beams down at her with his admiring eyes.

  I turn my head. I can’t see that. I can’t bear it. I glance up at Liam; he has an eyebrow cocked and a smile riding on his lips. He probably feels really bad for me. That makes me even madder. So many emotions flood my brain. I can’t let Hayden affect me like this. I can’t let him win. I reach up on my toes grab Liam’s face and kiss him. I’m so shocked I can’t make myself come to my senses. It just do it. I kiss him.

  At first he is still, arms to his sides probably revolted. Then he slowly loosens, wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me to him, my feet hanging helplessly.

  I’m trying to imagine the look on Hayden’s face but rather I lean into Liam’s kiss a little more than I should. His lips are soft, like they look. His mouth taste like spearmint and I seem to be lost in it. Suddenly, Liam turns me around and lifts me onto the counter he was leaning against. He presses tighter to me, in between my legs. His hands know just were to touch, his lips matching the pace with my own…I jolt out of my daze and pull back from him. No, no, no, this is not happening. What. The. Hell. Katy!

  My eyes are wide, heat is burning in my cheeks and I can feel Hayden’s glare on the back of my head. Liam is breathing hard, his arms on each side of my hips. What the hell did I just do?

  “I---,” I mumble, words leaving me. “I--,” I jump down, my head spinning and push past Liam.

  “Katy,” Liam yells, but I don’t stop, I continue through the crowd of teenagers until I’m at my car. I start it and zoom out of the driveway. I can’t believe I just kissed Liam Erickson. I’m barely able to keep my mind on driving while I go home. What will I say to him Monday? How freaking embarrassing. Of course I didn’t think this through before I went and laid a big smooth on him. Jeez, Katy. Why do you let Hayden effect you like this? It’s pathetic. I pull into my driveway, and storm toward the house.

  Mom is in the kitchen when I walk in, eating ice cream out of the carton. Her dark eyes lift to mine and she smiles. It’s fake. Her eyes look a little puffy. Has she been crying? She takes a big bite of chocolate ice cream and says, “Hey, baby, are you okay? You look pale.”

  “I’m fine, Mom.” You’re the one that looks bad. It must be Dad.

  She frowns. “Still not back together with Hayden?” she asks, taking a second large bite of ice cream. She looks really rough.

  “No,” I whisper. “Um, are you sure you’re okay, Mom?”

  “Yes, sweetie,” she says through another bite.

  “Okay, well, I guess I’m headed off to bed. I’m tired.”

  “Sweetie, about your dad and me, look I’m sorry---,”

  “Mom, please. I don’t want to talk about Dad, you, Hayden or Holly. I want to go to bed, please. I’m tired.”

  Mom nods. “I was just going to tell you, he left,” she says.

  My heart stops. Left? As in already left? No, no, no. “Left, without saying goodbye? He moved out already? He wasn’t going to wait on me or anything?”

  “He told me to tell you he would be back tomorrow to get his things. He will see you then.”

  I close my eyes and fight back the tears. “This sucks.” I hate him.

  She looks up, eyes sad. “Yeah, it does. I’m sorry, Katy…”she keeps talking but my head is spinning too much to try and handle the excuses.

  Mom reaches for my hand. “I’m going to bed,” I say, biting back to the painful lump growing in my throat.
r />   Mom retracts her hand, nods and pushes her long hair from her shoulder. “Okay, baby. Get some sleep; it’s been a long week.”

  You have no idea.

  “Katy, get up. Someone is here for you,” I hear Mom say.

  At first I think I’m dreaming. Because, Jennifer knows not to come this early to see me on a Saturday and I don’t know anyone else who would want to. I slightly open one sleepy eye and glance up at her. I’m not dreaming. She is staring down at me, an eyebrow raised. I feel the effects of my staying up late and crying. My eyes feel swollen and they are tender. “Tell them I’m asleep. Is it Jennifer?” I rub my eyes.

  Mom shakes her head. “No. It’s a gentlemen caller,” she says, very Southern, with a drawl and everything.

  I set up in the bed. “Who?” My heart thuds. Hayden?

  “His name is Liam.” What. The. Hell. “He is waiting down stairs, you better get up.” She smiles. This. Is. Not. Happening. “He is cute, Katy--,”

  “No, Mom. Don’t even go there.”

  She throws her hands up in surrender, rolls her dark eyes and leaves my room. Flustered, I jump out of my bed, and grab a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I pull my hair into a low ponytail and rush downstairs. Liam is sitting on the couch across from my mom, talking. I wince. I blink twice. He is still there. My nightmare is real.

  Mom’s eyes flicker up to mine. “Katy, nice of you to get up and join us.” Liam turns around and his eyes meet mine. Embarrassment swarms me and I feel my cheeks heating. I could cook an egg on them.

  “Liam, can I have a word with you?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. My fingers tap nervously along my forearm.

  Liam smiles and I hate that my stomach flutters when he does. “Sure thing, partner. I was just explaining to your mom how you needed today off so we could go to the library. She said you could miss helping her in the garden.”

  I look over at my mom who is smiling. I narrow my eyes and her smile flattens. “My dad is coming today, to pick up his things.”

  “About that--,” Mom says, standing up. “He won’t be here until tonight. He is going to stay for dinner. We have to try and talk all of this out, Katy.”

  I shudder. Talking with Mom and Dad would end in boxing match. When I look up Liam is staring at me, eyes steady. “Okay, let’s talk, Liam. Mom would you excuse us?”

  She nods and walks into the kitchen, out of hearing distance. As soon as I know that she can’t hear us anymore, I step off the bottom stair and walk toward him. He has an amused look on his face. I push his shoulder. “What the hell are you doing at my house, Liam?”

  He stands up, a smile curling on his lips. His long arms cross over his chest and he laughs. “We have a project to do, don’t we? That is why you came to the party last night.” He grins, it’s dark and greedy. He is hinting at it. My entire body is shivering. I’m not sure why.

  I throw my arms in the air. “Go ahead and say it, Liam.”

  He shrugs his shoulders and leans back on his heels. “Whatever do you mean, Katy?” He asks, wide eyed.

  The image flashes in my head. Liam’s lips on mine, placing me on the counter and widening his mouth to touch his tongue to my bottom lip. I clench my fist and fight the urge to slap him. I can’t believe I kissed him. “I kissed you, Liam.”

  A smile crawls up his face. “Indeed you did, Katy. It was quite a kiss, too. Didn’t know you had it in you.” He scoffs when I place my head in my hands. “Oh, stop it. I know you were just trying to make that asswipe jealous. It’s not a big deal.”

  I sigh. “Sorry, he just makes me so mad.” Liam cocks an eyebrow. “Anyway, let’s get this done. I have plans.”

  “Are we going to the library?” he asks.

  “No, I have a laptop. Let me go get it.” I turn to go get it.

  “Should we go to your room?” he asks. He is smiling. Yeah, like I want you in my room, alone with me.

  My stomach flips and turns. “Hell n--,

  “Of course you should,” Mom says. “I’ll bring you both some lunch soon.” What! What kind of mother suggests we go to our room?

  “Mom, we can just stay down here--,”

  “Nonsense,” she says, waving me off. “There isn’t enough space on the living room table and your desk is huge. Get up there and do your work. It’ll be just fine. Now, get on up there,” she says, pointing her finger toward my room.

  “Thanks, ma’am,” Liam says. He starts toward the stairs and it’s the first time I’ve really looked at him since I got up. His high tops are unlaced and his jeans are ripped. I can see his skin between the fringed jeans. His white t-shirt is tight to his chest and he is smiling when my glare gets to his face. “See something ya like, Katy?”

  “No. Just go,” I say, pointing up the stairs. I pass Liam once we get to my room and open the door. My bed is unmade, I have clothes scattered around my floor and books are open all over the place.

  “Yikes, Katy, I thought you’d be cleaner than this? Ms. Perfect Grades, Goody Goody,” Liam says, closing the door behind me. He is standing close and I’m aware of his every move. I have Liam Erickson in my room. I never thought this would happen. This shouldn’t happen. This is how he uses his trickery on girls to get them in bed.

  “I was woken up by my mother in my face because someone doesn’t know how to come to someone’s house at a descent hour. I came right down. Let me get things cleaned up really quick.”

  Liam bends and picks up a purple lace bra. “Need some help? Believe me, I don’t mind.”

  I snatch it from him and point to my desk chair. “No, no help. I can get it.”

  I hurry and pick up my clothes and make my bed. I never realize how many embarrassing things I have lying around. It’s ridiculous. I really need to start putting my underwear up. “Okay, let’s get started,” I say, placing my notebook on my desk and turning in my chair toward Liam. He is leaned against my desk, smiling. “So, what are your goals in life?” I ask.

  Liam purses his lips and then lets out a snort. “Wow, going for the nitty gritty, huh? Let’s see,” he says, stroking his chin with his long index finger. “I want to own my own bar when I get out of school.”

  I write Bar down on my list. “So, you’ll go to business school to do this?”

  “Do I look like the college type, Katy?”

  Hell no. “Um, miracles happen. You are going to go into it blind then?”

  He rolls his eyes. “My uncle owns a bar. Next question,” he says, crossing his arms.

  “Any siblings?”

  He shrugs.

  Oh. “How do you not know?” I ask.

  Liam shakes his head. “Next question,” he snaps.

  “Liam, you have to answer some of these questions, so I will have something to work with.”

  “I did last night,” he whispers, his voice low. “I think you enjoyed it.”

  “Shut up you--,”

  “Katy! Oh my God, is it true---,” Jennifer runs into my room and abruptly stops. “It is,” she gasps. “You were making out with Liam at the party and went home with him.” She leans in closer, her small eyes wide. “You did the nasty.”

  “What!” I yell, standing up. “The nasty? You have got to be freaking kidding me!”

  Jennifer nods and places her small hand on her slender hip. “That is what everyone is saying. I was defending you, but...” she trails off shaking her head. “Brenda Ling called me, said that Tommy Cho had called her.”

  “You’re the center of the Asian gossip train,” Liam says, smiling.

  “Jesus,” I mumble into my hand. “Why me?” I shout up toward the ceiling.

  Liam snorts. “You’re a drama Queen. I’m not that bad, Katy. You could do so much worse. You already have,” he mumbles.

  I look up at him. “We have to stop this, Liam. I cannot let people think I slept with you. That’s crazy. I can’t let my reputation go down like this. What will people say?”

  “Hoe,” Jennifer says. “Rebound. Boy toy.” She shrugs. “Just some rand
om words I’ve picked up.”

  My head hits the desk and I muffle a cry into it. “Oh my God. I’m ready for Justin Bieber to run our and yell you’ve been Punk’d!”

  “Well, you did kiss me, sweetheart. Take it from experience, rumors start from one ounce of truth.”

  Jennifer gasps. “What? Katy? You kissed him?” She is smiling and I want to knock it off her face. This is not a laughing matter.

  “I was just trying to make Hayden jealous. He kept staring at us and rubbing on Holly. It made me sick. What was I supposed to do?”

  “Leave? Why were you there anyways? Why didn’t you invite me?” Jen places her hands on her hips. She told me it makes her look more serious.

  “I wasn’t going, Jen. I was trying to get Liam to come and do his project with me. That’s what’s we are doing now.”

  “Sure,” she mumbles. “If that’s the story you’re going with.” Jen jumps when her phone alarm goes off, “Shoot, my ten minutes is up. I’m outie. I have to get back; I told my mom that I was walking the dog. She will come looking for me if I don’t hurry. You know how she is, study, study. You’re Asian, you have to do well. Show the American’s we’re smart. We will rule. You know the norm.”

  “Where is your dog?”

  “I put him in a kennel behind a bush in front of my window, smart right?”

  “Doesn’t your dog bark at everything?”

  “Shit,” she says. “See you later.” Jennifer slams the door and I hear her small footsteps running down the stairs.

  “Well, well. What do you want to do, Katy? Your boy toy is bored.” He smiles and flutters his eyelashes.

  I sigh. “Let’s just do this stupid project,” I mumble.

  Fifteen minutes later after beating the answers out of Liam, my mom knocks on the door. “Brought you guys some sandwiches, and chips.” Mom sets the food down on my chest of drawers. “What was Jennifer freaking out about?” she asks.