I had a terrible nightmare last night. I was running through the cafeteria naked and everyone was laughing and filming me. But the worst part was the fact that it was going to be my reality at the end of the year.

Now that I was at school, and walking through the crowded hallways to my first class, my anxiety level was rising. All of these people were going to see me almost completely naked. Maybe if I just lied to Steph and Lisa and told them that the kisses happened they'd believe me and I wouldn't have to streak.

Although I could easily get away with that, it would eat me alive until I told them the truth and then I'd have to streak anyway. No use prolonging the inevitable longer than I had to, right?

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice the person in front of me in time to move out of their way, causing me to I collide with their chest. I really needed to stop doing that, my forehead couldn't handle any more damage, and neither could my ego.

"Do I have to kiss you now?" A deep familiar voice asked. Liam of course.

In that moment I also realized that his arms were around me, steadying me so I didn't fall from the impact.

"No." I mumbled as I pushed him away and continued on my way to class.

"Ouch. Was I that bad of a kisser?" He asked, his voice giving off the slightest hint of offence as he caught up to me.

My cheeks began to warm, how was I supposed to know if the kiss was good? I'd never kissed anyone until him.

I shrugged, "I don't know."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw him give me a confused look, "What do you mean you don't know?"

"I mean I wouldn't know. I'd never kissed anyone before." I blurted, immediately slapping my hands over my mouth to make sure I didn't say anything else that might embarrass me. Thankfully before he could respond we got to my classroom and I slipped inside before he had a chance to make fun of me.

I was so humiliated by the exchange that I couldn't pay attention in my first two classes. I didn't remember anything that was taught and I knew the homework was going to be a pain to complete since I wouldn't know what I was doing. But I had bigger things to worry about at the moment.

At lunch I decided to confide in Steph and Lisa about what happened. I needed them to tell me that it wasn't as big of a deal as I was making it. Maybe I was just being overly dramatic.

"I pretty much told him that he was my first kiss." I mumbled.

They both gave me looks of pity. This was worse than I expected if they were feeling sorry for me instead of laughing at my humiliation.

"Why don't we just forget about the whole game." Steph suggested, giving me a sympathetic smile.

Lisa gave her a dirty look and I shook my head. I wasn't going to quit the game because I had no chance of winning, that wouldn't be fair. If they had to do the whole game then I had to suffer the consequences of losing.

All of a sudden Lisa and Steph's eyes got wide as they looked behind me.

I scrunched my nose in confusion as I turned to see what they were looking at, and to my dismay Liam was walking right toward us. This wasn't going to be fun.

"Can I talk to Emma alone for a minute?" He asked when he got to our table, taking us all by surprise. Them because he wanted to talk to me alone, and me because he knew my name. I never told him it.

"Sure, we're going to get something to drink anyway." Lisa said, and then her and Steph got up and walked away. They deserted me without even seeing if I was okay with it.

"What do you want?" I snapped when Liam sat down across from me.

"Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning?" He asked, taken aback by my harsh tone.

I rolled my eyes at the weird expression and calmly repeated "What do you want?"

He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath, "Look." He began. It seemed like he was searching for right words to say. "I don't know why you kissed me, and now I find out that I'm your first kiss. That's a lot of pressure on a guy. Isn't the whole first kiss thing supposed to be special or something?"

I just shrugged. Sure I wanted my first kiss to be with someone that I really liked, and I wanted it to be like something out of a movie, but that just wasn't how it worked out for me. There was no use dwelling on it when I couldn't change it.

"Why me? Why did you choose me to be your first kiss?" He asked, a desperate glint in his golden eyes. He really wanted to know.

"I didn't choose you, that's just how things ended up. I can't tell you, I wish I could but I can't." I explained the best I could without revealing the game. This sucked. I wanted to tell him everything but I just couldn't.

"Was it so you could brag about it? 'Oh Suzie kissed a football player, well guess what? I kissed the bad boy.'" He fumed, imitating me in an annoying voice.

"Not everything is about you, okay?" I snapped. How could he think I kissed him just for bragging rights? I would've told the whole school by now if that was my goal.

"Whatever." He mumbled, getting up and storming off before I could say another word.

What just happened?

Thankfully Steph and Lisa returned before I had much time to stress over it.

"What happened?" Lisa asked when she saw how baffled I was.

I shook my head, "I don't know."

"Hey, do you two want to come to the football game on Friday?" Steph asked, effectively changing the subject.

Lisa immediately agreed, but I was hesitant. Did I really want to sit outside with a bunch of loud, cheering people when I could be at home reading or doing homework?

That made me sound really nerdy.

I was ready to turn down the offer but then I remembered how carefree Liam seemed in detention yesterday, and how I wanted to be more like that, so I decided to step out of my comfort zone and agree to go to the game. I was determined to make the best of a bad situation with Liam, and following his stress free example seemed harmless.

We made plans to meet up at the front of the school ten minutes before the game started, and the more we talked about it the more excited I got. The three of us didn't see each other much over the summer because Steph was visiting family and Lisa had a summer romance with some guy from out of town, so it would be fun to all hang out again. I really missed it.

The bell signalling the end of lunch brought me back to reality, and only then did I realize that I had to see Liam again because we both had the same class next. Great.

"Bye." I called to Steph and Lisa as I walked away, and towards my dreaded English period.

When I arrived to the classroom I chose to sit in the back corner, maybe Liam wouldn't see me there. But did I really have to worry? He was clearly mad at me so there was a good chance that he would leave me alone now.

I let out a sigh of relief when class started and Liam hadn't walked through the door. I guess he was skipping class, which shouldn't have surprised me since he had a reputation for breaking the rules.

Unfortunately for me, ten minutes into the lesson he showed up and sat right beside me. At first I was confused, but then he gave me the ghost of a smile to let me know that he wasn't mad anymore.

"I know you're not one of those girls. I'm sorry I accused you of kissing me for bragging rights." He apologized a few minutes later, taking me by surprise. I didn't take him for the apologizing type.

"It's fine. I'm sorry I can't explain anything to you." I replied, giving him an apology of my own.

He shrugged and looked forward, leaving me alone for the remainder of class.

Other than him constantly bugging me since the kiss, he didn't seem so bad. Why did I think he was so terrible before I got to know him? I mean, for being the school's bad boy he hadn't gotten into much trouble. I didn't really understand how he got his title. Did everyone else know something I didn't?

When class ended Liam walked out with me like we were friends or something. And then to shock me ever more he started a conversation.

"So are you going to the game on Friday?"

I nodded, "Yeah, with Steph and Lisa."

He ran a hand through his hair, "Maybe I'll see you there."

I shrugged, "Maybe." But I didn't think I was really going to see him.

"This is my class, bye." I muttered awkwardly when we arrived to my classroom.

"Bye." He replied, giving me that charming smile of his as I walked into the room.

After everything that happened with Liam yesterday and today, walking to my last class together was somehow the most normal part. How did we go from complete strangers two days ago to being kind of friendly now? And why did I have a bad feeling about it?

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Shoutout to jialithakkar for making the awesome cover in the media section! Thanks you so SO much!

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