Liam & Maddie Duet

Chapter 2-1

Chapter Two

MADDIE

As soon as I finish practicing alone in the school studio, I make my way across campus to my apartment. After I’m inside, I sit to take off my shoes, and moments later, I hear the smoke detector blaring next door. It wouldn’t surprise me if my neighbors were burning popcorn again since it’s happened at least half a dozen times already. I don’t think much of it until the emergency sprinklers in my apartment turn on. Panic courses through me, and the first thing I do is pack as much of my s**t as I can into a duffel bag, then loop my backpack over my shoulder. I look around, trying to remember if I’ve forgotten anything important like pictures, books, clothes. The faint smell of smoke fills my apartment. When someone knocks, I rush toward the sound, but the heat from the fire brushes against my skin.

“You’ve got to get out,” a girl who lives a few apartments down the hall tells me, but I can’t remember her name.

“What’s going on?” I ask, trying to understand.

“The whole place is gonna burn to the ground,” she says in a thick Southern accent, pulling me away as I shut the door behind me. I thank her while crossing the parking lot, then look back and see black smoke billowing from my neighbor’s window. I close my eyes tight, trying to take in steady breaths, and tell myself it’s going to be okay, even if I don’t fully believe it right now.

Minutes pass, and I hear the sirens screaming in the distance while a large crowd gathers in the parking lot. Treacherous flames lick the side of the building, and we all watch in silence. The fire needs to be contained before it spreads, and everyone loses everything in their apartments.

I search for a familiar face while surrounded by strangers when I find Shelby, a freshman who’s a dance major too. “Shelbs. Do you know what happened?”

“No idea,” she says with wide eyes.

We watch firefighters unload from their truck and trek up the stairs as fast as they can. It doesn’t take long before more firemen are attacking the fire with strong torrents of water from outside the building.

My first reaction is to call Sophie to ask her to pick me up as my nerves get the best of me, but then I remember she and Mason left his morning. I open my phone, ready to call Lennon, but then decide against it because I don’t want her to worry. Besides, crashing on her couch isn’t really an option. Their apartment is tiny as it is with the kids and Hunter, and I’d just be in the way although I know Lennon wouldn’t mind.

So I suck up my pride and call Liam since he said he’d be on call if I needed anything. It rings twice before he answers, sounding sexy with a hint of a rasp in his voice. With each word, my control slips, and he notices immediately. It takes him all of fifteen minutes to arrive. Liam’s hot as hell in a black T-shirt that hugs him in all the right places and workout shorts. He must’ve been at the gym because he smells like sweat and man.

On the way to his house, I give him a hard time because that’s what I do best. Sometimes, when I’m anxious, making jokes helps to take my mind off things. Unfortunately for Liam, he’ll bear the brunt of it all weekend. Plus, I enjoy riding his a*s and watching him squirm. I’ve been waiting three years for him to confess how he truly feels, but he’s locked up as tight as Alcatraz. Unfortunately for him, I’m determined to break in.

After Liam gives me his babysitting speech, one I’ve heard from him time and again, I make my way toward Sophie’s room that’s off the living room. I c***k open the door and see it’s as tidy as can be. It looks as if she hasn’t stepped foot in here in weeks. Wanting to change out of my dance clothes, I rummage through my duffel bag, then head upstairs to the bathroom. I practiced my a*s off today, something I like to do during my long school breaks, and my muscles are sore. After I shimmy out of my tights and leotard, I step into the shower and hope the hot water washes away all the stress and anxiety that quickly built when I smelled the smoke.

Though I’m still unnerved, I’m safe and have a bed to sleep in for the rest of the weekend. The two girls who lived next door to me went home for Thanksgiving, but I can’t even imagine being told that all my belongings were destroyed. If I were home visiting my parents, they’d try to coax me into staying in Utah. They mean well and love me and my sisters with all their hearts, but I need my freedom. Moving to Sacramento was one of the best decisions I ever made. While it hasn’t always been easy to live on campus, I have zero regrets. Liam being here is just a bonus.

After I wash my hair and step out of the shower, I dry off, then get dressed. When my foot hits the last step of the stairs, Liam’s staring at me with wide eyes, which only causes me to smile. His reaction says more than it should, and his attention only encourages me more. Booty shorts and crop tops will be worn all weekend.

“Take a picture. It’ll last longer.”

He nearly chokes on his beer when I plop down next to him. “What the f**k are you wearing?”

Tilting my head at him, I narrow my eyes. “This is what we call clothes.”

I hurry and grab the remote, and while I’m flipping through the channels, I notice Save the Last Dance is on. The movie’s almost over, but it’s at the best scene, the one where Sara auditions for Juilliard. I remember memorizing the choreography in my bedroom until I nailed it when I was a kid. Standing up, I bust out a few moves, and Liam glares at me.

“You know the entire dance, don’t you?”

I step up on the coffee table in sync with Julia Stiles as she pops up on the chair. “You know it.”

“Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me,” he says with a grin. I’m half-tempted to do the handless cartwheel just to show off but don’t push my luck because the last thing I need to do is break an ankle with my winter recital coming up in a few weeks. So I sit and hold back the urge to finish the routine.

“You make it look so easy,” he says, still mesmerized. I’ve noticed my dancing seems to put Liam in a trance.

Regardless, I’ve never really been able to take compliments when it comes to my craft because, like most art, it’s subjective. Everyone tells me how good I am, but I only notice the mistakes. I’m my biggest critic, which is why I practice so damn much. My childhood dance instructor used to say the only way to be a better dancer is to keep dancing, and it’s true.

“Anyone can do it if they apply themselves.”

Hefty laughter releases from Liam. “Doubtful.”

“It’s true. Anyone can be taught. Some are just better than others, more coordinated and such.”

“Maddie, you don’t just dance. You breathe it in and let it out, allowing the music to stream through your body. I’ve never witnessed anything like it before. Even when you’re just playing around.”

His words leave me speechless. I turn back to the TV and try to drown myself in the movie, though my heart is ready to beat out of my chest. Not often do I lose my train of thought, but when Liam is so f*****g nice to me, it throws me off. I just wish he’d give me a damn chance—a real one. Sometimes when he looks at me, it’s like he’s contemplating us, but then he catches himself and puts on his macho act again. I’ll eventually break through or die single trying, but regardless of how frustrating it really is, I’m not giving up. Clearing my throat, I break the silence.

“I’m so happy about Mason and Sophie.” I’m giddy thinking about my sister marrying the man she’s been in love with for years.

“Me too. It’s about damn time, too.” Liam’s wearing a smirk that’s adorable as hell. “I’m just surprised Mason didn’t die from blue balls first.”

I snort. “You know I’ve been sending him pictures of engagement rings for the past three months? I’d like to think I helped.”

A laugh escapes him. “I’ve heard.”

“Really? So I did have some influence after all. Have you seen the ring?”

“Not yet,” he says, turning his attention back to the movie.

I’m curious as to which one Mason picked out. I’ve been asking Sophie what her favorite styles are, and as soon as she’d answer, I’d text Mason. Though he never said he appreciated it, I know deep down he did.

“I can’t wait until someone proposes to me. Though I really need to get rid of my V-card soon or I’ll be single forever,” I blurt out just to watch him squirm, which he does. “I’m not getting any younger, and now that my sisters will both be married soon, it’s my turn. I love weddings. I’ve been dreaming of mine since I was a little girl.”

“I don’t know what the rush is.” Liam lets out an annoyed sigh because he hates talking about this, especially with me.

“For starters, I’m tired of being treated like a delicate little virgin flower who will wilt. I’ve been told to wait for the one all my life. Did my sisters wait?” I glare at him, my frustration evident as he stays silent. “Exactly. Plus, I really could make some money. Then once it’s gone, everyone will be over it, and I won’t be the subject of conversation. Maybe if you would’ve just taken care of it years ago…” I allude, and Liam glares at me. We don’t really discuss it, but now seems like the perfect time.

“Maddie,” he says in a hushed tone as if someone could hear us.

I sit up straighter and peer into his blue eyes. His breathing is shallow, and I see his pulse racing in his neck.

“Liam,” I say his name in the same tone as he said mine. “You should’ve taken me then.”

“You were underage,” he barks out harshly.

“And now I’m not. So what’s the issue?” I know I’m putting him on the spot, and he despises it, but dammit, we’re having this conversation.

He opens his mouth, then closes it before standing and walking to the kitchen. I follow him, refusing to let him avoid me. Going to the fridge, he grabs another beer, trying hard to ignore me. “Tell me,” I push.

“I’m not talking about this right now, and nothing will change my mind. End of discussion.” After taking a big swig, Liam glances at me, then goes back to the living room. He’s the most stubborn person I know. I’ve given him so many opportunities to reciprocate the way I’ve always felt about him, but he pushes me away each time with some lame excuse as to why we can’t cross the line. There have been times I feel I’ve made a breakthrough, but then he builds a wall taller than the one I scaled. It’s annoying as hell.

Instead of following Liam, I make my way to Sophie’s room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I wonder how I’m going to survive being around him this weekend. We aren’t alone often, and I want to take full advantage.

Wanting the day to be over, I turn off the light and climb under the blankets. I don’t have an appetite, so instead of eating dinner, I play on my phone until the inevitable happens. Tomorrow’s a new day, and if Liam thinks he’s getting out of this conversation anytime soon, he’s sadly mistaken. I can count on my fingers how many times we’ve been alone together since I’ve been here. It doesn’t take long before my eyes are heavy, and I drift off.

The next morning, I force myself out of bed. I slept longer than I intended but realized after yesterday that I needed it. I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but I make my way into the kitchen and put a kettle of water on the stove for tea while I cook breakfast. Because I’m nice, I make enough food for Liam because the smell typically wakes him from his cave, or so I’ve learned from being here when Sophie cooks.

The kettle whistles, and I steep my peppermint tea, inhaling how good it smells. It doesn’t take long to make everything, and as soon as I split the scrambled eggs and avocado onto two plates, Liam walks into the kitchen, wearing jogging pants that hang from his hips. My jaw nearly hits the floor when I see those delicious muscles rippling down his body.