THE REST OF the day just breezed by in a whirlwind of endless classes and pathetic assignments. I was grateful to be finally done with it for the rest of the day. There were only a few hours left before the whole thing came to a close. Whoever introduced education had to be executed in my educated opinion.

Hahaha see what I did there?

Whatever. Making jokes wasn't part of the Lanaya package anyway, so peace out.

My stomach grumbled for the fifth time in an annoying row, reminding me I only had an apple for breakfast that day. I had been in a rush to get to the front passenger seat before Ashely did just for kicks. He still hated the fact that he had to share the ride to school with me. He could just as easily afford to pay for a ride there but riding together was apparently a rule in the Wilson household. Something about the Wilson family time or something dumb like that.

He thought if people didn't see us getting off the same car together then they wouldn't think we were from the same house. The guy was too dumb to realise that whoever knew his parents would automatically know that we knew each other somehow since they dropped and picked me up all the damn time. But who was I to burst his sweet little dumb bubble. I wasn't that cruel to fill him in on that little tid bit.

Yet!

I also didn't have lunch because some crazy teacher decided it was a great idea to give us a long ass assignment which I, of course spent my lunch break doing. I wasn't the type to wait around. I just hated going home with homework. My spare time was too sacred to be tainted by the evils of school work.

With my tupperware container in my hand, I looked around the half empty library until I spotted a familiar face.

Just the face I wanted to see.

With my devilish smile, I strode in his direction intent on my purpose. Liam didn't see me coming until I was sliding down at the table right across from him. My smile widened at the suspicion and irritation as his eyes grew wide, knowing it was already too late for him to pretend he had already been leaving.

"Lord no." He whispered to himself.

"Lord yes." I whispered in kind. My smile, perfectly in place.

He slumped in his seat finally resigning himself to his fate. I rubbed my hands, eager to get my stomach to settle down. My lunchbox so happened to be one of those that had latches on all sides that kept the box and the lid closed tight together. I smiled realising that one little detail. So you could imagine the endless murderous stares I received when it made the popping sounds as I unclamped it. Cackling loudly with each sound it made. I so loved causing trouble.

"Would you stop doing that?" Liam seethed. I shrugged unclamping the last one.

"Can't help it. I'm sure you can see that." He sighed. I took out my sandwich ready to munch away.

"You do know you aren't allowed to eat here right?" Liam supplied as he watched me take a big bite on my salivating sandwich.

"Says who?" I asked chewing behind my hand. He furrowed his brow, gaping at me incredulously.

"The rules! It's written at the door! You really aren't supposed to eat or drink at any library. That's a common general rule." I shrugged like it didn't mean anything. Because it really didn't.

"From all the places you could have had your food, you just had to choose the one place you aren't allowed. You do know you might be punished right?" It was weird seeing him rambling on. I was used to him being all calm and collected. Not freaking out over me breaking one tiny rule.

One of many that were on my list mind you.

He was lucky I hadn't cringed at his cringe worthy little outburst.

Who am I kidding? It's super cute.

"Yep. Making it one of my favourite spots to eat my favourite sandwich. Well it's not really my favourite but yeah whatever. I'm still eating it. Breaking rules is one of my pleasant pastimes so you know. We're good." There was something exhilarating about doing something you knew you weren't supposed to be doing. But this one barely made it to the list anyway.

"Do you want a bite?" I pushed it towards his mouth across the table before he backed away. He wasn't fast enough to actually attempt moving away so the sandwich hit him on his mouth leaving a nice drop of jam on his upper lip.

I couldn't resist bursting out laughing at the outrageous and disbelieving look plastered on his face. Glares and gasps were sent my way and I apologized by rolling my eyes at the stares I got.

Liam grumbled under his breath as he tried wiping the jam on his mouth. I grinned when he continuously missed the tiny bit of jam still stuck on him. Making my face hurt with all the repressed laughter.

"It's not funny." He said with the tiniest hint of a smile. I pulled my phone from my jean pocket and snapped a few pictures. The look on his face was too precious not to capture.

"Yeah it is. This is priceless blackmail material right there." I chuckled when he scowled at me as I saved the pictures directly to my Google drive. Looking at him with a little jam hanging from his lip was starting to hurt my ribs.

"Here, let me help you." I extended my hand towards his mouth. It didn't register in my mind exactly what I was doing until I was rubbing my thumb on the side of his upper lip.

Liam froze as his eyes widened a fraction at the action. His gaze flew to my own, the action so innocent yet sensual as he gave me an intense look. I abruptly withdrew my hand feeling like a hot potato salad. Not sure how exactly, but it made sense to me of course.

"Chill. It's not a big deal." He cleared his throat so loud while looking everywhere else but my face. This time I actually cringed, rolling my eyes at him. I wouldn't have been able to not to, even if they had paid me.

"Nope. Don't make it weirder than it already is. Cut it out." He glared at me shrugging it off like it never happened. His face yet again morphing into the emotionless statue I had been accustomed to.

"You're the one that made it weird." I coughed trying not to smile as he shifted in his seat. He looked so miserable so I nodded at the book in his hand, trying to change the subject.

"So what's your latest read. Care to tell me what it's about." Suddenly aware of where he was, he cleared his throat again and proceeded to tell me what the book was about. Apparently it was about two people that loved each other gravely- (wasn't every other book)- but no matter what they did, they could not find a way to be together. There were always obstacles and hindrances everytime they got together. People or sometimes circumstances.

Blah blah blah blah!

After his very long and detailed description, I couldn't help but just gaped at him utterly shocked out of my mind.

"Wow. I swear I didn't peg you for a hopeless romantic. Not one bit. I mean come on. You just don't seem to have a single romantic bone in your body. You literally frown for a living. Be honest with me, are you perhaps getting paid to read this?"

His lips twitched before they rose into a full on blown grin. He smiled at me. Not his usual lopsided smirk but a full open mouth exposing his straight white teeth. I choked on my breath.

Yeah of course he's even hotter when he smiles.

I inwardly groaned rolling my eyes.

Yeah I spoke too soon, so what?

"I'm not." That was his only answer. I had to admit it left me more puzzled than I already was. It didn't explain the kind of books he read. So I asked him.

"Then why do you read romantic novels then? Please tell me because I'd really like to hear your answer. Trust me. I'm more invested than you might think." I took another bite of my almost forgotten sandwich, vaguely aware of his eyes following my every action as I chewed then swallowed.

"Frankly speaking, I think it's all just bullshit that a guy meets a girl in some strange way and then they supposedly fall in love with each other. Then they pass a few meaningless tests and trials then proceed to live happily ever after."

What the hell is he on about?

That wasn't even remotely correct but I furrowed my brow, patiently waiting for him to continue. Which he did.

"But what they don't write about is that the guy cheats on her a few months down the line after they get together or married or whatever. Bursting their silly little bubble. Then the problems keep escalating from there, one after the other. That's not even the worst part.

What about when they keep having more problems but they still stay together because they are in love. And then they start having a bunch of kids that they don't even give a shit about. Making them witness as they tore each other apart and still not give a shit.

Heartbreak of course then followed by a nasty divorce that they should have had long before they even had any kids. And now their unfortunate kids have to watch as their parents continue hating each other every single day. Over and over again because they still can't get that they should have never met in the first place."

My mouth was literally on the floor. I could feel the distaste he felt with each word he spit from his mouth. He sighed when he saw me gaping at him.

What the fuck?

"That's the ending  I'm most interested in. Realistic and believable. I just haven't found it. Yet."  I just stared at him somehow connecting the dots.

"That doesn't exactly make complete sense but I do have to admit that you're right to a certain degree. But you have to understand that those books are solely written for those that do believe in happy ever afters. It's also to show that even through hardships, two souls can connect on a much deeper level than the mere emotional level we are capable of nowadays.

And they can live happily ever after. It probably won't always stay that way but some people already experience that in their everyday lives. They don't need to read about it too.

But the books, they give people hope that there is someone for everyone out there. All they have to do is find them. Making it work will be up to them." I was almost out of breath by the time I stopped. He stared at me for a few seconds before his smile widened as he continued studying me.

Great now I've said too much.

And I got two smiles in one day.

*****

Who knew Lanaya could be a hopeless romantic?

And looks like they're bonding.

Do you think this might be a start of a great friendship or more?

Let's see what you all think..

If you liked this chapter then please vote and comment.