Chapter Twenty-Four | 2am Conversation

The clock on my bedside table read 1:04am in bolded blue lines beside my head. With a deep sigh I flipped over onto my side, once again in hopes of finding a comfortable position to fall asleep. My arms stretched out in front of me to find the cool spots on the mattress. Temporary relief came as I settled into the sheets once again but no sooner than I had hoped, my eyelids were flickering open again

I sit upright on my bed, my legs outstretched and covered with my warm duvet. Nights like these are usually quiet, but it isn't today, because there's a soft tapping sound coming from outside my window. At first I pay it no mind, thinking it's just something lingering in the midnight air, but after awhile I realized that there is indeed something outside my window tapping.

I quickly snatched the covers off myself and hesitantly made my over to my bedroom window. I peered through the window, looking around to see if there was a bird or a small animal lingering around but there wasn't. Instead, there was Liam Claremont standing in my front yard throwing rocks at my window.

I quickly opened my window. "What the hell are you doing throwing rocks at my window at one-in-the-morning?"

"These aren't rocks," He defended himself, holding up his grazed wrist. "They're diamonds from this tennis bracelet."

I withheld an eye roll at his subtle flex. "Okay? But why are you standing outside my house this late at night?"

Liam shrugged his shoulders, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he rocked back and forth. "To talk?" He said, his voice settling into the airy night.

I remember back in the day I used to think Liam's face wasn't anything extraordinary or significant, and yet, I felt somehow magically draw to those serious and sharp features under the pale moonlight. Though he always avoided my gaze, I couldn't help but notice the expensive suit he's wearing, along with his gelled down hairstyle. I couldn't help but find him awe-striking.

"I'll be right down." I sighed, before closing my bedroom window.

I stuffed my feet in a pair of bedroom shoes, and proceeded to make my way downstairs as quietly as possible. Both my father and Braxton were upstairs, and I'd rather them not catch Liam in here, especially at a time like this. I'd never hear the end of it from both ends.When I finally reached downstairs, and opened the door, I'm greeted with a very sad looking Liam. "Sad" sounds so childish, like something flimsy, something one should be able to cast off with a happy reflection or the smile of a friend, but that's exactly how he looked. His prideful exterior seemed to have faded away and a more somber one has taken its place.

"Thanks." He breathed, stepping inside the house. His arms were close to his body. When he walked he wrapped them around his chest like he needed to hug himself or he'd fall apart like a lopsided tower made of dominos.

"We can go outside to the backyard." I told him, gesturing for him to follow me to the back. Liam nodded and walked behind me as I led the way.

Once outside, Liam removed his gaze to the ground, making sure to step on each crunchy leaf that crossed his path. I didn't know why people looked at the ground when they walked, it seemed dumb because they could run into a tree or wall or something, but I don't think he seemed to care.

"You guys should so fire your pool boy." He randomly said, eyeing our pool that was due for a cleaning. A few fall colored leaves floating in the center.

"We're not gonna fire him. He does a good job. We just haven't called him because it's getting colder, and no ones getting in the pool anymore."

"You're probably having sex with him." Liam side eyed me, as he took a seat at the edge of the pool.

My eyes widened his words, and he must have thought the look on my face was funny, because for a moment his lips cracked into a small smile as he chuckled to himself. He didn't look so somber anymore, but instead like Christmas lights in January.

"I hate when you make that face." His unusual high pitched laughter broke the stiff air and made me smile a bit.

I rubbed the back of my neck and made the face again, causing Liam to shove me lightly. "You're so weird." He snorted.

"Oh I'm weird? Says the boy standing outside my house throwing diamonds at my window at one-in-the morning."

"Did you have a fight with your dad or something?" I asked.

The sparkliness in Liam's eyes disappeared after I said the word 'dad'. At first I thought he was some kind of demon because his eyes went dark and he started to scratch his arms.

"Not yet but I probably will when I get home." He mumbled.

"Why?"

A small sighs escapes the boy's lip as he undid the strings of his Versace slippers, before stuffing his feet into the cool water of the pool. "Because I broke up with Imani tonight. At her family's event and I'm pretty sure I just ruined my family's reputation because of it."

I blinked at him, not entirely too sure how to take this information. I could feel a sly smile creeping on my lips, but I didn't let it come over my face. Not yet.

"How'd she take it?" I asked.

"She slapped me." He answered, pressing his index against his cheek. I couldn't help but chuckle then. "Deserved."

Liam shoved me lightly. "Hey, it's your fault. I was doing good with this whole pretending to like her thing until you came back down here messing up my brain and stuff."

"Don't blame me because you can't keep your dick in your pants," I nudged him, and he rolled his eyes at me playfully. "But no, I'm glad you finally found the courage to end things. God knows how miserable she made you look when you two walked the halls together at school."

"Yeah," Liam voiced lowly, swaying his feet back and forth in the water.

Somehow my hand had intertwined with his cold one. His hand fixed perfectly in mine, his long and thin fingers, completing the space left in mine. His hands bore the innocence of a young soul; soft and delicate.

"I never in a million years would have thought I'd be sitting here holding hands with Asher fucking Montgomery." He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You? If someone told me a couple months ago I'd be sleeping with Liam Claremont, I would've smacked them right across the face."

A soft silence came between us then, and was somehow comforting and spoke for itself, it was peaceful in a way where you could feel at home. I looked over Liam to see him with a complexed look on his face. I already knew he was thinking of something to say.

"Do you think we've always liked each other and we always just too afraid to say something?" The question seemingly came out of nowhere, but then again most questions at 2am were, at their very core, strange.

"Maybe," I shrugged.

Liam twisted and propped himself up on his elbow so he could get a better look at my face. "Is that why you broke my nose, because you were just too embarrassed to say you had a crush on me?"

I scoffed. "I broke your nose because you were annoying as hell." Liam let out a breath and shook his head.

"Whatever." He said.

I would never willingly admit it but I enjoyed spending time with Liam and I didn't want him to leave, though my body was screaming at me to get some sleep. "I don't know if I've mentioned it before but I did think you were kind of cute back in elementary, but then you'd open your mouth and just ruin everything." I deadpanned, knowing that it would get a rise out of the boy.

As predicted, Liam shot up straight. "You act like you were just high and mighty back then too? Every time you opened your mouth all I'd hear was duh duh duhhh." He mocked in a shrill tone, his face pinched in an emotion that I didn't recognize. He quickly gained control of his emotions, however, and receded back into his cool facade. "Anyways, I guess you can say I only ever cared for you this one time. Back in third grade when we took that school trip to Six Flags and you ended up getting sick on one of the rides and had to go back to the hotel with the teachers. Everyone keep making jokes that you were dying and I just remember flipping out on everyone and telling them to shut up, you're gonna be okay. I guess that's when I realized." He told, flicking a piece of lint off my shoulder. His movement was far gentler than his tone would imply.

"How sweet," I said passively.

"Shut up," Liam playfully rolled his eyes, jabbing a finger into my side. "I started hating you again when we got back to school."

"So you were always in love with me?" I teased him with a sly look.

Liam's mouth hung open, his hand midair before he sent me another eye roll. "You wish. I was just concerned, that's all."

I closed my eyes and smirked. I love making Liam so flustered.

"So, when did you start falling for me?" Liam asked, I melted at his boldness.

I swiftly rolled over so I was on my stomach, facing him. I peered up at him through my eyelashes and smiled as I thought on how to answer his question.

I ask myself why I fell for you all the time. I ask if it was for your eyes, or the pointed curve of your nose. If it was for the beauty of your face or the smell of vanilla and Chanel that you wear around your collar. If it was for the way you carry your body ready for war, or the way you fuck without remorse. If it was for your kisses. If it was for your name. All of these things are true, but just partly. I fell for you in pieces. In the way your eyes hold the sun even when the moon is up at night. In the way your nose buries in my neck and you sleep carelessly into my chest. In the way your face looks vulnerable when tears smears the corners of your cheeks. In the way you smell of self-loathing and freedom, that I crave more than anything else. In the way you kiss sharply, like a pocketknife. In the way your name writes tragedy instead of forever.

"I don't think there was a moment. I think I just always fell for you." I said instead, causing Liam to blush deeply as he stared at me, wide eyed.

Suddenly, Liam splayed his hand on the nape of my neck and pulled me closer. Our breaths intermingled as we stared into each other's eyes. Liam's eyelashes fluttered shut and before I could stop myself I pressed a quick kiss to Liam's mouth. It was barely more than a brush of the lips, but still, it happened.

His eyes widened when he realized what we had done, then he slowly relaxed and smiled. A blush crept up his neck yet again. He shyly leaned forward, until we were a hair-width away and exhaled. "Can- Can I kiss you? Like, a real kiss?" I asked breathlessly. I nodded. Liam testingly brushed his lips against mine a second time, and then cocked his head slightly so that we fit together more comfortably. I slowly began to work his mouth against Liam's, and hummed in appreciation when he sloppily returned the gesture. We moved together in unison, licking into each others mouths. The only sound was the leaves rustling in the breeze behind us and the occasional panting of breath when we broke apart.

"Not to like... ruin the moment" Liam said in between desperate kisses. "But, if we're going to do it outside can we at least get a blanket first?" I stalled my kisses, much to Liam's dismay. He squinted my eyes to see if he was joking or not and then snorted when I realized that he was dead seriously.

"Let's go inside." I said, standing up from my position on the ground, intertwining my hands with his.

"But your family-"

"Let em hear!"

Liam smiled sheepishly, before following me inside. He's got a heart so pure, I bet he has flowers growing between his ribs, and liquid gold running through his veins, his lips taste like the warmth of the sun, and his hands feel like home, he's a god in human form, and I can't believe I have him all to myself, even if it's just for the night.

••••
Excuse any mistakes or errors

Probably my favorite chapter. I like how they finally opened up to one another after like years of lying to their selves.

But yeah, that was cute and all but it's time to fuck some shit up now.