“I don't know. I guess it was alright.” I shrugged as Jay and I walked through the grocery store. My mom had sent me on some insane mission to get a special kind of peanuts for her 'famous' salad she was making tonight for a pot-luck. Somehow I got bribed into it. “He was nice, but really boring. I was too nice to say no to a second date though.”
“Katie!”
“I know, Justice! I'm sorry, but... well you know how I am.” My friend rolled her eyes and spotted the peanuts we were looking for. “How much did your mom say to grab?”
“Four or five pounds. She's making a shit-ton of salad.” My heart stopped when I saw a familiar face across from the apples. “Shit!” I ducked down and Justice was by my side within four seconds.
“Why are we hiding?”
“That Liam. The guy I groped in the middle of the movie theater.”
“Is his friend Niall with him?” I stopped my friend from standing up any further.
“Does it matter? Now, stay down and act casual.”
“What are you doing?” I looked up to see Liam and one of his friends from the theater (not Niall, much to Justice's disappointment) standing over us.
“I... uhm... dropped a peanut.” I coughed and straightened myself up and quickly scooped peanuts into a bag.
“Aren't you the girl from the theater?” I shook my head violently. “Yeah, you are! Mate, this is the girl I told you about. The one who groped my chest.” Dammit.
“Okay, yeah, that's me. But I only did that because... because...” I couldn't think of a good excuse. “Well, I got what I came for. Time to go, Jay.”
“Hey, tell Niall to call me!” My friend yelled as I dragged her behind me to the checkout line. She loosened her arm instantly and tried to keep up with my pace.
“Only if you tell Katie to call me!” Liam's voice was catching up behind us. I felt a hand grab my arm and spin me around. I was inches away from Liam's face. “Here,” Liam's hand reached up and tucked a piece of paper between my chest and bra strap. “We should hang out sometime.”
“Is this your thing?” He raised an eyebrow in confusion. “You act all bad ass and mysterious hoping to swoon a girl?” Liam smirked and grabbed my hand, gently bringing it to his lips.
“See ya soon, babe.” And he was gone.

~*~

I fiddled uncomfortably in my red dress and white heels. I hated these church pot lucks, mostly because my mother chose what I was to wear. While everyone else was in jeans and t-shirts, I was in a dress with heels and a stupid polka dotted bow in my hair.
“Quit fidgeting.” My mother whispered harshly under her breath.
“Well maybe if I was in more comfortable clothes, I wouldn't be fidgeting.” I replied with just as much bitterness behind my words.
“Katherine, what have I said about--”
“Thank you for coming tonight. I hope you enjoyed tonight's sermon. Have a blessed night.”
“Thank God.” I muttered under my breath and quickly stood up to leave. The only thing good about this weekly event was the free food. I quickly escaped my mom's death grip and ran (as fast as these stupid shoes would allow) out of the church before climbing into my car and speeding off. I grabbed my phone from the middle console and patiently waited for it to switch on. I had plans to stay in a hotel room with the girls for the next two weeks and I was not about to pass up the opportunity to get there as early as possible.

~*~

“Okay, so I might have exaggerated the 'hotel' part, but this is where we're staying!” Ellie looked so proud as we all met in the motel parking lot. The sign blinked on and off and a light blew as we walked in. It was almost like a bad episode of Friends. “Room for five, please.”
“How long will you be staying?” The woman at the front desk asked.
“Two weeks.” Mary Ann spoke up.
“Here.” The lady nearly threw the key at us. “Pay at the end of your visit.”

The first day was terrible, we ended up eating all the food, and needed more groceries by the second day. “Hey guys! Look who I ran into at the grocery store!” Justice came into the hotel room with two arms full of groceries, followed by two guys who also had their arms full of groceries. Niall and Liam. Of course. Why wouldn't he be here? He seems to be everywhere else +-I went.
“Why do you have so much food?” Kelsi asked as she finished off the bag of Cheetos we had on the table.
“Because Niall and Liam are staying for dinner!” Justice smiled. “I ran into Niall at the store and I told him that we were having a quick dinner tonight and he asked if he could come along! I told him he could because, really? How could I not? And then asked if he could bring Liam so I said the more the merrier!” I swear she was on drugs.
“Jay, can I speak with you for a second?” I asked, standing up from the bed and covering my bare legs with a blanket. I couldn't believe she brought guys over while I was in my tank top and panties!
“What's up?” She asked as she followed me to the bathroom.
“Of all the guys you invite, Liam and Niall?”
“Look, Niall is pretty, and Liam likes you. Come on, it'll be a party! Liam bought us some alcohol, so he's cool, right? He said his other friends are coming too. They're just coming for snacks and booze. Maybe a little weed, but--”
“What?!”
“Come on, you love it!”
“Yeah, but not when there are strange guys involved!”
“Loosen up a little, Katherine.” Justice shook my shoulders, using my full name. She meant business.
“You're right.” I agreed with a brief nod. “What's the worst that can happen?” Why did I ask that? Why did I always ask that? Every time I ask that, something terrible happens.
“Hey, the guys are here!” I heard Liam say. I sighed and shook my head, letting my worries leave me.

–

“You did what?!” I asked, nearly in tears from laughing so hard. Liam and I had decided to go on a short walk while everyone else was throwing back their hard lemonades and beers.
“I left my pants and ran.” Liam repeated laughing at his own story.
My eyes were wide and mouth in a shapely 'o'. “How did you manage to get yourself in that position?”
He shrugged as his right hand swung at his side occasionally. “How long have you been a goody two shoes?”
My eyes blinked rapidly, “What?” I asked in confusion.
Liam smirked, “Don't pretend like you don't live for what your parents want. I bet your mum still picks out your clothes.” He spoke as if he had known me his whole life.
“How did you-”
“I'm observant,” Liam interrupted. It was quiet as we continued under the black sky. “Are you going to answer the question babe?” He questioned minutes later.
“I told you not to call me babe.” I smirked and leaned against a tree. My head was starting to spin. “Alcohol and murder are not a good combination.” Liam's eyes got about as wide as his head.
“Who did you murder? What did I miss?” He took a step back and clapped his hands behind his back.
“I'm drunk. Ignore me.” I grabbed my head. Really, Katie? Murder? What the hell. You were supposed to say an empty stomach. “I meant to say empty stomach. I swear. I've never murdered anyone... that I know of.” I shrugged as Liam moved closer to me again and leaned beside me.
“Are you okay, babe?”
“Yeah, just... dizzy.” Liam draped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to lean into his side. “Thanks.” I felt myself blushing. No. You are dating a perfectly nice guy. Boring guy, but nice.
“So you never answered my question.”
“Well... I guess I always have. Scared they won't pay my college tuition.” I shrugged.
“Have they used that against you?”
“My mum has, before. I don't really see my dad all that often. He's away on business a lot.” Oh god. Stop talking.

Liam's POV

“I'm sorry--” Was all I could get out before she continued talking.
“But it's okay, cos my mum has a boyfriend that comes over a lot, so she's not lonely. I am, but she's not.” Liam raised an eyebrow at me. “I'm pretty sure my dad's having an affair too. I was FaceTiming him one day and there was a half naked man walking in the background.”
“What?” Did she just say man?
“I don't know if Mom knows that Dad's gay, but I know. Maybe he's bi-sexual... he made me. Would that make him bi-sexual? I don't know. I really don't care either. They fight a lot, so it's nice to see them happy when they're apart.”
“We should get back to--”
“I think they think I'm going to Uni where they did, but little do they know I'm going to Uni in Scotland. I got accepted there two weeks ago. They might not pay for it though... but I have some money saved up! Sure, it's not enough for a semester, but I'm close!”
Silence. Maybe I could get her back to the hotel now. I think she needed sleep more than anything right now. I had basically heard her life story in five minutes. Wait... was she crying?
“Are you okay, babe?” She shook her head.
“My life is one big mess.” Katie's voice cracked as she spoke. “I know that people have it harder than me, but it's hard dealing with what I just told you.”
“Hey, come here.” I pulled her in for a hug and she instantly wrapped her arms around my waist. “It'll be okay. I know life's tough, but it'll be okay.” She nodded as she buried her head in my shirt. No one understood more than I did. My life was the exact opposite of hard. I just didn't want to take over my dad's company and no matter what I did, he looked past it and told me he understood what I was going through.
“We should get back to the others before they all pass out.” She sniffed and wiped under her eyes. I nodded in agreement and tilted her head up for her to look at me.
“Better?” She nodded.
“Better.” Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but they had a small sparkle in them still.

Katie's POV

I was so embarrassed. I couldn't believe how much I told him! I'm an awful drunk. I'm never drinking again. “Better?” Liam asked me.

“Better.” I nodded. Liam's face started moving closer to mine. Was he going to kiss me? He was going to kiss me. Katie. Stop this from happening. Stop it! “We should,” I quickly turned my cheek. “see if everyone's asleep.” Liam coughed awkwardly and nodded in agreement before we walked back to the motel room.

Notes