I stood there, eyes widened as he really hugged me. It was awkward, having a guy hug you. Any guy who says it isn't, is lying.
When he pulled away, I raised a brow. “Is there something you're not telling me? Because I like chicks,” I told him with a grin.
Liam laughed, rolling his eyes. “And I'd do your sister long before I'd do you,” he said, and when I frowned, he laughed again. “Just kidding, about the sister part. I would never have sex with you, man.”
I laughed. “Thanks.”
“No, thank you,” he said, and the teasing had left his voice completely. “If you hadn't been there, Julie could have gotten really hurt, and I don't know if I would have been able to-”
“You would have kept her safe if I hadn't been there,” I interrupted him, seeing where he was going with this. “If I hadn't been there, it wouldn't have happened in the first place.”
“They weren't just talking about you, Falon,” he said. I wanted him to say what they had said, but he didn't. Maybe he knew what it would do to me if he did. It was doing the same thing to him.
Someone said anything about Julie, and we were both ready to fight till the death.
“I owe you,” he said to me.
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “You don't owe me. If anything, I owe you for standing up for us,” I told him.
Liam shook his head. “No, I owe you. I will make it up to you too,” he replied.
I rolled my eyes again. “Whatever. There's no arguing with Lia,” I replied.
He laughed. “There's no beating Lia at any arcade game either,” he replied. After a moment, he sighed and started backing away. “I guess I need to get going. I'll see you tomorrow,” he replied.
“See you tomorrow,” I said, sitting down again as he disappeared from the kitchen. I listened as the front door closed, and then the Trans Am started up. I could even hear Tone Loc from where I was as he and Julie left.
♥
“So, do you want to tell me exactly what happened?” Ava said as I walked into the living room.
I shrugged, laying the things Julie had taken on the table and sitting down at the other end of the couch.
“Some guys at the arcade were talking about me and Julie. Liam saw what they were saying and confronted them. One of the guys hit Julie, and Liam and I fought with them,” I told her.
Ava crossed her arms as she stared at me. “I thought your fighting phase was over. What happened to just leaving and ignoring them?” she asked me.
I knew she had a right to worry. For a few years, I had been ready to hit anyone that looked at me the wrong way. A lot of the fights I had gotten in were my fault too.
“They hit Julie. That changed things,” I told her.
“You can't really be mad at him, Ava,” Dr. Marstens stepped in, reaching over to her her hand. “I would have done the same thing for you,” he told her.
I grinned as my sister fell to putty in his hands without even realizing it. I think all chicks liked being the damsel in distress every so often. Just like guys liked being the hero every once in a while.
“I know, but I don't want him to go back to that,” she told him, and then turned to me. “Promise me you won't start fighting everyone again.”
I didn't lie when I made her that promise. Feeling the soreness in my knuckles, I knew I wouldn't be fighting anyone soon, unless it was under dire circumstances.
“Why don't you let me tape that cut on your cheek?” Dr. Marstens asked. “Ava could call us in some pizza or something, and we could watch a movie.”
I didn't really have much of a say in the matter. Ava quickly smiled and nodded, standing up to go grab her wallet and the phone. I grinned at her exquisiteness because I knew why.
We looked like a family.
Dr. Marstens moved next to me, bringing the first aid kit with him. He took out the ointment and spread it across my wound. I flinched and he apologized.
“Julie's been okay, hasn't she?” he asked me.
I nodded, despite his question striking me as weird. “Yeah. Why?” I asked.
He shook his head, but didn't explain. As if the simple shake proved that it was no big deal.
I had a feeling it was.
♥
Within the next week, nothing of importance happened. I waited patiently to hear if I would receive my diploma, or be forced to repeat everything. Julie and Liam argued and made up twenty different times about twenty different things. Ava went out with Dr. Marstens, and once, he almost spent the night. If he hadn't been called in, he would have.
And then, within an instant, Liam fell in love.
The day wasn't significant except for the moment Liam grabbed my arm and stopped me in the hall. I was holding two large Icees in my hand, and carrying a bag with Julie's Sour Punch straws and Liam's Snickers. I nearly dropped the drinks.
“What's your deal?” I asked, as I stopped walking and looked at his face. He wasn't looking at me, so I knew he hadn't heard me. I snapped my fingers, and when he still didn't look my way, I followed his gaze.
He was staring down the hall, at a small group of people. They were standing beside the bed that was about to be
