I'm silent for a moment. I'm in complete and utter shock. Did Demi really tell Liam?

"I- I-"

"Answer me, Claire."

I look into Liam's, sweet, dark eyes. They're almost pleading, like he wants me to say yes, as if he's begging me. His hands travel to my waist. We're so close I can smell the smokiness of his breath.

"I love you," Liam says.

"W-What?" I ask.

"I love you, Claire Peters. You make me feel differently than any other girl has. I see you and my knees go weak. You kiss Louis, and I'm ready to start a fight with my best friend that I've had for years. If you go to back to New York after next year, I'll follow you. If I have to bust my a- butt working at the worst place in the world to be with you, I would.I love it when you ramble about all your genetics stuff. How into it you get makes me mesmorized. I would risk my life just to be with you. A lot of people say we don't even know what love truly is at this age, and honestly? Before I met you, I didn't. You're the first thing I think of every morning and the last thing I think of every night before I fall asleep. I've had dreams about waking up next to you, settling down, raising kids together... I can't get you off my mind. You're my muse, Claire. You're all I ever draw. With your curly red hair and your beautiful green eyes, how could I not? Dating Demi made me feel sick. Every time I was with her I was picturing how things would be if I were with you instead. I know I don't deserve you. The number of girls I've used probably is more than the number of guys you've even liked. I've never wanted to be with any girl more than I want to be with you, Claire. I love it when you say my name. It makes me get this warm feeling inside. And when we kiss... when we kiss it's like I never want it to end. Like if I were to die at any moment that would be the moment I'd die in...But I guess that's how you feel about Louis... I know I'm rambling... but you deserve to know, Claire. I love you more than anyone else." He pulls away, and begins to walk off.

"Liam, wait." I yell, and he stops in his tracks and turns around.

"What?" He asks.

"It's true, Liam. I love the way you look when you're really trying. Even when you get frustrated and can't find out the answer. When you kiss me I feel as if I'm on top of the clouds, and yes, if I were to die anywhere, your arms are where I'd want to be. I love it when you draw stuff with such meaning. I love it when you talk about your mom. When you describe her, it's like you're talking about an angel. You protect Emma as any older brither would and I think that that's amazing, You love and care for her even though you don't like to show it. You're wrong about one thing, Liam. I don' love Louis, at least not the way I love you. When I'm kissing Louis, all I think of his how it doesn't feel like the way we kiss. When I kiss Louis I want to be kissing you. I feel like all i think about is you, now. Constantly, you're tunning through my head. My heart shattered every time I saw you with Demi. It hurts. I thought you were in love with her, and... I love you. It feels like someone stabbed me in the chest each time I saw you with her. I thought Louis would be a distraction, but I can't distract myself from you. The more I try to get away, the closer you feel, Liam. You're right, people say we're too young to know what love is, but I know what it is, It's what I feel when I'm with you." I rant.

Both of us are silent for a moment, but then Liam walks back over to me. He places one hand on my waist, and the other on my cheek. I instantaniously wrap my arms around his neck. He leans in again, and carefully connects his lips with mine. Our lips move like the night we danced. They were meant to connect, to be close. This moment, this feeling, I don't want to end.

Liam pulls away, and begins stroking my cheek. "We can't do this."

"Why not?" I ask.

"You're dating my best friend, Claire. It's wrong. I love you. I'll say it a million times. I love yo. I love you. I love you. But I don't want to hurt Louis." he states.

"But... I want to be with you," I admit, pulling Liam closer to me.

"You also don't want to hurt him, either," Liam says, and kisses my head.

"Liam, I can't stay away from you. I've tried time and time again and I just can't," I utter.

For a long time, Liam and I just stand there, holding each other.

"Let's go to the boardwalk," I say.

"Are you sure?" Liam asks.

"Of course. I want to go there. I just want to be with you."

Liam grows a huge smile on his face, "Alright, love."

We hop onto his motorcycle. We get weird looks from the few students who are still at school, as if we aren't normal together, which we aren't. I'm the girl who wears glasses and basically lives in the library. He's the principal's son/ bad boy who gets chewed out for smoking with his three friends.

"Hold on tight, Deary," Liam says as I wrap my arms around his waist.

On the ride, I can't help but notice things I never had before. It's weird, The sky seems lighter, the sun seems brighter. Everything seems... better. When we get to the boardwalk, it even seems more beautiful than before. Liam reaches for my hand, and I smile.

"It seems like it's even more gorgeous than before" I admit.

"It's kind of like when I see you. It might be weird, but every time I see you I realize something new about you and fing it cute, that makes me fall for you even more," He says, his cheeks red.

I smile, "What did you notice about me this time?"

"The happier you are, the more likely you are to talk, the sadder or scareder, you get silent," He says.

All I can do in that moment is smile. Words couldn't describe my emotions right now, they're all over the place, but they all lead to the same thing. This happiness, this giddiness, is this the thing people describe in the movies and books? The thing girls like me only dream about?

"I want to show you something," Liam admits.

Liam walks over to his motorcycle ang grabs his bag. He takes off his usual leather coat, revealing his tattoos. He takes a sketchbook out of his bag. The same one I had seen that read "DO NOT OPEN".

"I didn't want anyone to see this, but, as I said, you're my muse," He opens the book.

There are so many pictures of me from every angle, it's scary accurate. Every freckle and eyelash are identical to the ones on my actual face.

"Woah..." I say in awe.

"Look, this one is my favorite," He says, pointing to one a bit smaller than the others, I look as if I'm really intent on something.

"It was the day we met," Liam admits, "That's you, drawing your flower in woodshop."

I look at it for a moment, then ask, "How did you know it was a flower?"

"I peered over at your paper," He tells me, "It was a cute little drawing."

I find myself not able to stop smiling, "Thank you, but these are all amazing."

"If I had the money or the GPA, I would go to UNI and study art. It's a stupid idea, though. No one would take me." He says.

"That's not true," I protest, "You could get into a community college, bring your GPA up, and go to a college afterward."

"That's a little hard to do with dyslexia." Liam mummers.

"You shouldn't use that as an excuse Liam. You're better than some diasese you were born with. So what if you confuse M's and W's or lowercase P's and B's? What does that matter? All that matters is where your heart lies, Liam. Plus, you can draw better than Picasso. These drawings are scary accurate."

Liam is silent for a moment, then he says, "You're the first person to ever tell me that,"

"We all need to hear it," I smile.

Liam smiles back, then places a kiss on my cheek, "I don't know how I got so lucky as to find you, Claire."

I blush and tell him, "It was my father. His job relocated, so we did too. He actually got a promotion. My mom said we'd see him more, but the guy only came home once."

"Do you ever suspect he's cheating?" Liam inquires.

"No, maybe he has in the past that we don't know about, but not now. He and my mom talk every night. It's quite cute, really. I just wish he were physically here more. You know?"

Liam nods in agreement, "My dad is always either working to improve this stupis school or out with Magdaline. She's using him for money. For money that he didn't even earn. It was our mother's. It sickens me that he's investing so much time into this girl who everyone can see is using him. I just don't want to become my dad. I want to love my kids. Sure, they'll have flaws. Even if I don't support him I still want to love my kid's unconditionally."

"I see," I tell him.

Liam laughs under his breath.

"What?" I ask.

"These conversations, it seems like they're pointless." He admits.

"I feel like they're bringing us closer." I tell him.

"You think?" He asks, taking a step closer to me.

"I know," I say.

Right after, his lips softly press agianst mine. I don't hesitste to kiss back, everything in this moment seems amazing. It's just Liam, the waves and I. I wouldn't want to have it any other way...

But there's still Louis.