Liam
I watch Tate as she huffs and puffs making me my chicken sandwich and some salad. She effortlessly slices up some tomato and cucumber and adds a bit of lettuce and a drizzle of my favorite vinaigrette. She’s adorable and I couldn’t wish for a better best friend.
She makes me smile, she’s always willing to help me and if I’m down and having a real rough day then Tate is there for me. Always and forever. That’s out little motto. We’ve had it since were six years of age when we sat in her tree house, sprawled out on the blue and pink cushions her mom made and linked our pinky fingers and swore an oath. No matter what happens, no matter where we are, no matter what anyone says, we will be best friends forever and always. She’s my girl.
I know the guys and the girls rib us about being an item but seriously we’re not. I can guarantee that Tate only sees me as the kid she met all those years ago. Damn it, when I go to college I’m sure going to miss her. It is going to be so weird without my bestie by my side. Who will help me when I get stuck with my assignments, who will keep me out of trouble? Yeah especially trouble. I just can’t help myself.
Tate has always there for me. Like the night I got into a fight with some bully who’d been picking on Lilly a few years ago. She wasn’t dating Denver back then. She hung mostly with Tate, but whoever is friends with Tate is automatically friends with me and one-hundred percent protected by me. The bully kept taking the piss out of her for no reason. It wasn’t anything to do with weight, height, speech nothing. Just a regular mean old bully. Every school has a few of them and until someone does something about it, the bully carries on.
Lilly was crying in the playground, I guess we were about twelve and Tate was soothing her telling her it would be alright. “What’s going on?” I asked concerned that our little Lilly was in tears and sobbing her heart out.
“That Richard is picking on Lilly again. He’s taken her satchel and launched it. Him and his mates, something needs to be done about it. I’m going to speak with my dad when I get home after school.” Tate’s face was stern and her cheeks were flushed with anger.
That evening I waited until Richard was going to his friend’s house and jumped out on the little shit. He screamed like a pansy and I smacked him right in the nose. He screamed again, boy could that boy scream. Talk about waking up a neighborhood. Not that his parents would have cared. His parents were always too busy hanging out at the local bar. Richard as you can guess wasn’t from the same background as Lilly, Tate and I and it showed.
“What’s going on out there.” Some fella shouted from his front porch. Richard began yelling and making a fuss, I shot him another punch in the stomach this time. I just wanted to make a point. He yelled again, “some guys trying to kill me.”
I stopped mid punch. Was this kid for real? “Now you know what it feels like to be bullied you jerk.” I hissed at him and ran all the way back to the safer part of town and to my home. I climbed in Tate’s bedroom window where she was sitting curled up like an adorable kitten, reading her book.
“What’s up?” She asked taking in my red knuckles. “Oh no. Liam, what have you been doing?” Her voice laced with suspicion.
“Ah, nothing Tate. Nothing that didn’t need doing.” The next minute, her father knocks on the door and comes in without being asked.
“Thought I might find you here with Tate. Your dad’s looking for you, son. Something about smacking some other boy up. Out.” I didn’t need to be told twice.
That punk had squealed to his parents having recognized my voice and my face. Despite the fact I’d been careful to pull my hoody as far down as possible. When Tate found out, she came marching to our house with her pink nightdress with daisies on it and just let herself right in.
“It’s my fault.” She announced as my parents looked shocked to see her standing there, all five feet nothing of this adorable bundle of twelve year old girl, with her hair in night braids. “I asked him to go and beat him up for picking on my friend, Lilly.” Then she began to cry, her bottom lip trembling. Honestly I could have run over and hugged her there and then. She peeked through her fingers covering her eyes to make sure my parents were suitably convinced.
Dad went over to her, “there, there Tate. We won’t do anything about it if that’s the case. Bullying is serious. Liam will be fine, they won’t press charges but I think it’s time one of us went to talk to the school about it.” And wouldn’t you know it. A week later nobody saw Richard the bully again. Our dads have a lot of sway in this town and with the school.
So yeah. When I say I’m going to miss Tate when I go to college. I mean it. “Here’s your food.” She places the plate down in front of me. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse right now.
“Thanks, Tatey Baby.” I say stuffing my face and seeing her blush. Did she just blush?
Did my best friend seriously blush? Wow.
I'm not sure how I feel about that. I mean I don't really mean anything by it. Or do I?
Nah, I gotta stop thinking this kind of bs. Tate only sees me as her best friend. I'm like her brother. Aren't I?
TateDon’t ask me why, but going up the stairs with Liam trailing behind me, I get the distinct impression he is checking my butt out. Or do you think it is wishful thinking on my part? This being a teenager crushing on your best friend sucks. Sucks. Sucks. The heat is rising and I can feel my face is as hot as a smoking grill.Then he says, “hey you’re not putting on weight are you?” And laughs. Well that is enough for me to stop abruptly and turn on him.“Don’t be so rude, of course I haven’t. Besides it’s gross you checking out my butt. You’re supposed to be my bestie. Stop it.” I huff off up the stairs as he laughs behind me.“Hey I was just kidding. Don’t be so sensitive. I was joking. C’mon Tate you’re as thin as a rail. You even have flat pancake boobies.” He sniggers. I’m close to slapping his face.“Really? Well it’s a good job we’re not dating then isn’t it, you moron.” I reach the top step, turn left and walk along our hardwood floor to the fourth room on the left where my
TateI open my laptop and my notebook and start on my assignment. “I told you, Liam. I’m not doing yours as well. Deadline is next week so I suggest you get your butt off my bed and start doing some work.” I flick to my music app on my mobile and begin playing one of my favorite artists, Taylor Swift.“Yeah in a minute.” He says still with his eyes closed. I roll my eyes. I know I’m going to have a late night whilst he is out at practice then with Jennie, doing his too.I hear his mobile ring and then his voice. “Yeah, what’s up babe?” Who is he talking to and calling them babe? It makes my stomach drop and my chest tighten. Those are the words I want to hear him saying to me. I bet it’s fucking Jennie.“Sure, tonight after practice. I’m still on. I’ll swing by and pick you up from yours.” He is silent no doubt Jennie big tits is telling him all sorts of mind blowing things she’s going to do to Liam tonight. I feel sick. Physically sick.“Yeah, no problem. It’ll be fun. I can bring a
Liam I couldn’t ask for a better best friend than Tate. She means the world to me and if anyone were to hurt her, they’d have me to answer to. I feel like a heel asking her to do my assignment but honestly I hate history so much that it kills me. I’ll make it up to my girl for sure. Maybe I’ll ask dad if we can take a trip in his jet for the weekend and head out to somewhere different. I’ll have a think about it. Maybe to her favorite place in Oregon to hike the Tamanawas Falls Trail. She loves that and it’s only a quick two and a half hour flight. We could camp out under the stars. Brimming that I can make it up to Tate, I run down the stairs in her house to the front door. “See you later, Liam.” Her mother calls out as she crosses the entrance foyer to go into their kitchen. “See you soon, Mrs H.” I open the door and step outside. It’s still warm at five p.m and practice is going to be another session of working my butt off and sweating like a pig. Still I love it. I’m passionate
Tate “Hey Lilly. I’ll be ready in half an hour.” Lilly smiles at me on the vid call. “Fantastic. Just checking in with you, Tate to make sure you’re still coming out with us girls later.” “Absolutely. What should I wear?” I’m a bit nervous about going with them all to the house party, usually I refrain from these. I’m not as ambitious at dressing as the others either, especially not like Tammy. She’s a regular short skirt, open blouse type of girl. That’s not my style. “Wear something casual. I’m wearing this.” Lilly says and moves back a bit so I can check her outfit out. She’s wearing cut off shorts that are frayed at the bottom and blue denim. “I love your halter top. I’m so into hearts.” “I know, I just love it. Picked it up from D&G last weekend. Something like this would suit you.” I love Lilly, she’s so adorable and sweet and always has something nice to say to everyone. “Yeah maybe this weekend I’ll go shopping. I’m just finishing up my assignment then I’ll get ready.”
Tate The music is so loud, I can hear it from the end of the drive where my father has dropped me off. “Don’t be too late. You sure you don’t want a ride back home, Tate?” He asks. I can tell he is concerned, this is my first house party. Neither of my parents is used to me going out into the big world. Just kidding, what I mean is they are hiding their nerves very well and not making a big deal of me going to my first ever party. Sure I’ve been to the school discos. But they are governed like we’re babies with teachers milling around, some even joining in the dancing. Like we want to see that. Ugh. It grosses me out so much. “I’ll be find pop. Honestly it’s just a bunch of kids. Besides you know Lilly and Tammy will be here.” He squeezes my hand that sits on my lap. I’m not going to admit it, but I’m as nervous as hell. There are so many kids outside sprawling masses of them on either side of the drive, on the front steps to this grand house, it’s painted white with a dark green fr
Tate “Hey girls.” Tammy shouts out despite the fact that we’re standing right in front of her. She’s swaying, the beer bottle is in her left hand, she takes a hefty swig. I want to remove it from her and throw it in a bin. “You’ve taken your time. Let’s get you both a drink.” To my surprise Lilly steps in. “I’m driving, Tammy. No drinking for me. Besides it’s a school night. I cannot be doing with feeling shit in class tomorrow. I’m driving Tate home later.” I smile, so grateful that at least two of us aren’t going to be getting wasted. “You two are such spoil sports. You need to have some fun. C’mon just one little drink.” Lilly is firm and shakes her head. “We’ve just go there and you’re already drunk, Tammy. Can’t you slow down a bit?” “Don’t want to.” She takes another swig from the bottle of beer. “You wanna take one of these.” And from inside the cup of her bra she pulls out a small clear plastic bag with some white pills inside. “Jesus. Tammy.” Lilly grabs the bag. “What i
Tate Why is he even here? I’m waiting for my breath to come and for my heart to stop freefalling. He winks at me. The cheek of it, I wish he knew exactly what that does to me. It makes me melt when his electric blue eyes make contact with mine. I can feel my palms beginning to sweat. “What are you doing here?” I ask Liam as he has one arm draped around Jennie’s shoulders. He has no idea how I feel about him and I am trying my damn best to keep it that way. Only it is so fucking hard. Hard. Hard. “Thought I’d just drop by since Denver was coming to meet Lilly.” He drawls. That soft, sexy voice of his. Jennie pushes herself closer into Liam and lays a possessive hand on his chest. The bitch. I hate her as she stands there so close to him. I want it to be me. Liam is wearing black jeans, a black Versace t-shirt and black dessert boots. He looks so frigging hot that if I wasn’t so angry at him for being here with her I’d probably be lusting after him more than I am right now. My hear
Liam “Well that was a bit awkward.” I say as I grab my best friend’s hand. It feels small and delicate in mine. Jennie is glaring at me, it feels as if she has daggers coming out of her eyes. I’m wondering if she is considering throwing the contents of her bottled beer at me. I’m ready to duck in any case. I never promised her anything. We’re casual, you know that kind of hook up when you want it casual. She knows the score. She also knows that Tate is my best friend. So like it or not, I’m taking Tate home. And, after the most embarrassing moment for my bestie, I think I ought to take her home pretty damn soon. “You guys leaving already? The party is only just starting.” I nod and reply to Denver. “Yeah, you know. We’ve got class tomorrow and to be honest, I’ve not finished my history assignment.” I pull Tate closer to me. She is blushing. Why is she blushing? She’s been doing this a lot lately. I’m wondering if it’s a girl thing at her age. I don’t have any sisters otherwise I’d a