Pulchritudinous (adjective)

- physically beautiful; comely.

~*~

My fingers tapped repeatedly on my knee as I gazed ahead at the wall, feeling nerves flood over me. Opposite me sat Liam's Aunt Judy with a cup of tea in her hands, her dull blue eyes fixated on me. It'd been like this ever since I arrived at their house fifteen minutes ago. 


Liam had escorted me to the living room and instructed me to stay put whilst he went to change and pack a bag. The part about the bag confused me a little but my brain was too reluctant to question him because he'd answered the door shirtless.


After about five minutes of waiting, his aunt made her way into the room and sat down, making things very awkward. The clock on the wall read 10:00 am and I contained a sigh, querying why I had to be here this early if we were only going laser tagging. 


"I'm sorry about the other night."


My fingers halted their tapping as I looked up, seeing Aunt Judy set her cup down onto the coffee table and tighten her robe around her petite frame. Her dull blue eyes scrutinised my wide ones, anticipating a rejoinder. She looked slightly apprehensive as if she was suspecting me to lash out on her. 


Clearing my throat awkwardly, I choked momentarily and the older woman looked at me in concern. My cheeks blazed in humiliation and I let out a timid laugh. "It's okay," I supplied with a minuscule smile. "It's not any of my business anyway."


She was undoubtedly relieved that I held no animosity towards her and her shoulders visibly sagged with the relief. A delightful laugh fell from her lips and I found it hard to conclude that this was the same woman who threw an intoxicated tantrum. 


"If it weren't for you, Liam probably would've lectured me again," she spoke in a small voice, reaching for her cup of tea as if seeking warmth. I wondered how the hell this relationship worked, with Liam having to scold his aunt. "You're good for him."


I glanced away from her, an eerie feeling slithering up on me. I'd already told her that it was none of my business yet she was still speaking. She looked anxious to say something and I wanted so badly to roll my eyes. Without meeting her gaze, I asked, "what do you mean by that?"


"He hasn't been as angry as usual, these past few weeks." Aunt Judy announced in a gratified voice. The mention of Liam's anger piqued my interest.


Using the elastic on my wrist, I pulled my hair back into a ponytail before questioning, "does he have anger issues or something?" Sabrina had mentioned his anger before and even he himself spoke about it. And now his aunt was addressing it too. 


"Liam," she cut herself off with a hefty exhalation, her shoulders quivering slightly and I was just about to tell her that she didn't have to recommence when she discoursed again. "He, um, he just has a lot of unresolved anger. It doesn't help that his mom plays favourites either." Liam had never spoken of his mom before, not from what I could remember.

I glanced away, confusion washing over me but I pushed it away. "He's never necessarily gotten angry around me."

Aunt Judy disregarded me and continued speaking. I didn't think she did it on purpose either. "I don't blame Brina though. I mean, she misses her mom so of course, she'd jump as soon as my sister-in-law made contact. Liam doesn't blame her either because he knows his mom's doing it on purpose." She looked to me to make sure that I was keeping up with the information. "Playing favourites, I mean."


I nodded to show that I acknowledged what she said even though I didn't understand anything. It felt improper having her converse about Liam without him here. If I was to comprehend what had made him the way he was then I'd be happier to be told so by Liam himself. 


We were enclosed in silence once again and I was slightly thankful. I reached next to me for the tube of sunblock I'd brought along and flipped it in my hands, looking for a way to occupy myself.


Aunt Judy spoke again, her tone becoming worried. "You're not - you're not one of Martin's friends, are you?"


The allusion to Martin made my entire body tense as I recalled what happened at the park. The concept of him made me remember the warning he delivered me, about Liam, about how I had no idea who I was dealing with. Perhaps he was referring to his temper.


"No," I reacted instantly, not wanting to be affiliated with the green-eyed creep. The dainty woman didn't even attempt to conceal her satisfaction as she let out a sigh and giggled softly.


"Thank God," she beamed and I marked her dull blue eyes brighten the most diminutive of bits. "Martin and his friends were a bad influence on Liam. Both his dad and I used to be jittery with nerves whenever he went out with them. But Liam's changed since leaving them. He -"


"What are you doing up, Aunt Judy?" a deep voice demanded as Liam entered the room, an intimidating scowl present on his face. The woman immediately halted, comprehending that she crossed a line with what she was narrating to me. 


She stood up speedily, cup in hand as she apologised to both of us. Sending me one last gentle smile, she left the room and I frowned. With one sentence, Liam accomplished to frighten her off. I looked back to him, discerning that his features were hardened. 


Liam swiftly schooled his features, turning to me and holding his hand out. With a disconcerted pout, I placed my hand in his and he pulled me to my feet, brown eyes examining my outfit, taking note of the black tights and cropped t-shirt I wore.


A smirk settled on his face and I understood he was going to comment on my uncovered midsection but I beat him to it. I could sense that he was bothered about the fact that his aunt was discussing him with me and he was just going to brush it off. Something told me that he always did that. He got angry at something but then contained it. I'd noticed it that night in the kitchen and right now too. 


I placed a hand on his chest and his eyes snapped to the touch. "You okay?" I inquired softly, watching as a hurricane of emotions billowed in his coffee-like eyes. 


Setting a hand over my own, he groaned. "Yeah." He was holding out on me but I pledged to myself that I was going to be patient. I was not going to be one of those girls who forced things out of a guy. When Liam was ready, he'd tell me.


"Okay. Good," I grinned, stepping back and I could see the confusion grace his chiselled features. He was astonished that I hadn't urged for more information even after I'd already gotten a snippet from his aunt. 


The edges of Liam's full lips curled into a grin and he wholly stunned me when he encircled a muscular arm around my waist and pressed me into his chest. "Thank you," he whispered into my hair before planting a gentle kiss on my forehead.


Blood hastened to my cheeks as I returned his hug. Honestly, he was a giant teddy bear and he just didn't want people to know - I was sure of it. I took a step back but he hauled me closer again and I laughed, remembering that he had an infatuation with keeping me close. 


"So, I have bad news," he said with a smile and it confused me. If it really was bad news then he wouldn't be happy about it. "I found out that you have to book a spot to go laser tagging and by the time I called in last night, they were already booked full."


I pouted. "Oh." Was this his way of rejecting me or something? Trying my best to hide my disappointment, I smiled. "Well, that's too bad.:


Liam leaned down to my height, touching his forehead to mine and whispering, "so we're going hiking instead." He was way too close for my brain to operate so I just stammered out an incomprehensible reply and he chuckled, dropping a kiss to my nose. "Got your sunblock?"


Nodding, I watched as he picked up his backpack, shoving my sunblock into it and whisking me out the front door. He stuffed the bag into the compartment of his seat before straddling the bike. I stepped closer when he beckoned me forward as he placed the helmet on my head, making sure that it was secure.


"You look like a lollipop," he laughed, flicking the side of the helmet and my head spun as I wobbled. 


I hopped on behind him and coiled my arms around his waist. "Shut up. Your dick looks like a lollipop."


"Ouch," he grinned as he started the engine. "You don't even know what my dick looks like, though." The motorbike started with a roar and I winced, pressing myself closer. "But, if you really wanna know, just move your hands slightly lower, baby."


My embarrassed laugh was drowned out by the vibration of the motorbike as Liam sent us jolting forward, the wind munching at my uncovered arms. I wrapped my arms tighter, praying that I wouldn't go flying off into the wind. 


~*~


"My legs hurt!" I blurted, wiping the sweat from my forehead. The sun was hammering down on us like one of those great aunts that never liked you as a kid. There was a burn in my legs as I struggled through, pausing at a boulder and sitting down. "I refuse to go any further."


Liam crossed his arms over his bare chest and I watched as the sweat dribbled down it, running lower and lower until it vanished into the waistband of his soccer shorts. What I would give to be that sweat right -


"We're almost at the top," he disrupted my thoughts and I felt my cheeks blaze. Mortification washed over me and he gazed at me in concern. "You okay?" he questioned as he stepped closer.


I promptly stood up and scampered away from him, persevering further up the trail. "Yeah, no, um, definitely, I'm, um. One hundred per cent!" His laugh followed me as I nearly tumbled over a stray rock.


When Liam said a hike, my dumbass immediately thought of a huge fucking mountain. But he just meant hiking up a trail towards the top of a cliff. You could easily walk to the top with few climbs but the higher you went, the more exhausting it became. My legs were throbbing but Liam refused to turn back, insisting that we get to the top. 


We hiked for what felt like another three hours but was only actually one. I was sweltering so much and I presumably looked like a drowned rodent. My face felt feverish and I could only envision how red it was. 


Liam proceeded without a complaint, tossing me a wink once in a while. Surprisingly enough, I was ahead of him, mostly due to the fact that I didn't want to be anywhere near him when he looked like a glowing Greek God. 


Even though I felt like my legs were about to collapse, I couldn't deny the beauty of nature. I took in a voracious gulp of the fresh air and I instantly felt myself calm down. Stopping in front of a rocky wall, I glanced up and understood that this was the last thing to conquer.


With a determined breath, I sprang up, gripping onto the edge of the rocks and launching myself up, feet using the smaller rocks for support. I squeaked, using as much vigour as I could muster to haul myself onto the higher ground. I whirled over onto my back, gazing up at the blue sky as I observed I made it to the top. 


Standing up, I took in my surroundings. I could hear the flowing streams of water and the closer I stepped to the edge, I could feel the wind graze my face, blowing some loose strands of my hair. The wind felt like a kiss to my moistened skin and I exhaled in satisfaction. 


My heart was no longer pulsating rapidly and I could see our neighbourhood on the horizon, obscured by numerous flourishing trees. I couldn't describe it but seeing all of this made me ease entirely. The noise of footsteps approached my ears and without turning around, I inquired, "why did you bring me here?"


Liam could've taken me anyplace else but he chose to take me on a hike, not that I complained though. I had forgotten laser tagging completely. I recalled back to when Miles stood me up and how distraught I was because I really wanted to go laser tagging. 


But staring out at this magnificent view and gradually feeling Liam wind his arms around my bare stomach before dragging me back into his chest, I apprehended that I didn't mind where he took me. What I cared about most was that I was with him. 


"I know that you're stressed about this whole Jillian thing," he murmured, fingers outlining an invisible pattern on my stomach. "And I remembered a saying about how when everything feels like an uphill struggle, you need to think about the view from the top." His grip tightened around me. 


I thought about it for a moment. As strenuous as the journey up here was, there was no way I could dismiss the beauty that embraced us at the top. It was completely worth it. 


My situation with Jillian had been going on since the end of freshman year and it was only now (with the help of Liam) that I decided to stand up to her. Yes, I'd get in trouble, get demerits and get gossiped about or judged, but it'd be totally worth it once everyone is freed from their stereotype. 


"Thank you," I murmured with an appreciative smile, placing my hands over his which were now resting flat on my stomach. "It's beautiful don't you think?"


I turned to look at him and he grinned down at me, eyes never straying from mine. "Yeah. It is."