Three Kisses ✔️

Chapter Sixteen

"And I pick Emma." Steph finished.

I pretended to act shocked as I got up, while Liam didn't let anyone see what he was feeling about this.

I hate when he puts on that careless, stone cold act.

I walked over to the closet by the front door while Liam followed close behind, but I hesitated when I reached for the doorknob. Did I really want to get kiss three done? Sure I wouldn't have to do the awful punishment for losing the game, but I'd feel so guilty for hiding the bet from Liam, and using him.

You need to do this. A voice in the back of my mind coaxed, and that's all the convincing it took. I do need to do this.

I finally opened the closet and walked in, closing the door again once Liam was also inside.

We stood in the dark for a moment, and my heart hammered, was I really about to do this?

"Any news on the mole?" I asked, breaking the tense silence.

"None, no one has any idea who it could be. It doesn't make any sense." Liam replied.

I sighed in disappointment, how was I ever suppose to feel safe again? There's a gang that could attack me at any moment, and a traitor in Liam's gang.

My eyes were finally adjusting to the dark, and I faintly saw Liam reach out just before I felt him tuck my hair behind my left ear.

His touch sent my heart racing, and warmth invaded my chest. Why does he make me feel this way?

I leaned into his touch, unable to resist, and his face started to get closer to mine.

The whole point of seven minutes in heaven is to make out, so I wasn't surprised that me made a move to kiss me.

What did surprise me was the fact that just before our lips touched, I turned away.

The guilt of lying to him got the best of me.

And in that exact moment I realized that I might have feelings for him.

"We shouldn't." I whispered, feeling the need to give him a reason for why I didn't kiss him. Rejection hurts, even if you're stone cold and emotionless.

"Why not?" He whispered back, and if it weren't a serious situation I would've laughed at the fact that we were speaking so quietly. I guess when you're in the dark you just feel the need to be quiet.

"You hate me, remember?" I explained, my voice still hushed.

"I don't hate you." He immediately replied, his voice dead serious.

"Well what about that blonde girl you've been spending time with?" I pressed, I needed a reason to not kiss him.

Through the darkness I could just make out the confused look on his face.

"Danielle? She doesn't mean anything to me, she was just a distraction."

"Distraction from what?" I asked, what did he need distracting from? The gang stuff?

"Yeah, a distraction from y-" He started to explain, but abruptly stopped and muttered "Never mind." Instead.

I opened my mouth to question him further but a knock at the door interrupted me.

"Times up, you two can come out now." Lisa called from the other side of the door.

I let out a sigh and quickly opened the door to escape the small dark space. After all that I need some distance from Liam, and time to think.

Once we were back on the couches, Lisa picked Stephanie to take a turn, and I picked Leo, and they both went without complaint. I really think our plan to get them together is working wonders.

Lisa gently nudged me to get my attention once the two left, and once I was looking at her, quietly asked "Did you get kiss number 3?"

I shook my head, "No."

Her eyes grew wide in shock and her face was practically a question mark.

"I couldn't do it. I had the chance to, but I couldn't go through with it." I whispered back.

Her confused look turned to pity, "You're a good person Emma, but do you really want to be seen practically naked in front of the whole school?"

"Shh!" I shushed her, she wasn't exactly quiet when she said that and I don't want the bet to be compromised before I can complete it! Liam and Garrett are still in the room.

What I need is for Liam to do something to make me not like him, and then I can get kiss three done guilt free.

That shouldn't be too difficult, guys always end up messing up at some point.

"Well it's been seven minutes, I'll go get them." Garrett announced as he got up from the couch.

Lisa, Liam, and I all quietly waited while poor Garrett retrieved Steph and Leo, and suddenly we heard "Ew guys! Really? Get a room!"

"What do you think they were doing in there?" Lisa asked as we laughed at the horror in Garrett's voice.

"The nasty." I answered, laughing harder when I imagined the disturbed look on Garrett's face when he opened the door. I bet he didn't even knock. His innocent eyes have been scarred forever.

A minute later the three returned, Leo and Steph looking like absolute messes.

"My bedroom is off limits." I warned them, smiling teasingly, although my eyes were serious. I don't want them hooking up in my bed.

"Don't worry Emma, there will be no hooking up of any kind in your bedroom." Leo assured me.

"Yeah, because the hooking up already happened in the closet." Garrett commented, and I grimaced in disgust before breaking out into laughter. 

As I laughed I looked over at Liam and he was looking back at me, a small smile on his face and a strange emotion in his eyes.

My heartbeat sped up at the look he was giving me, I couldn't process what it meant, but my body understood. I just wish my mind could keep up.

"Let's watch a movie, you know, something that doesn't involve kissing." Garrett suddenly suggested, bringing my attention away from Liam.

Everyone agreed and twenty minutes later we were all crammed on the same couch watching the cartoon version of Hercules.

Steph and Leo wanted to sit together, and then Garrett didn't want to sit with Lisa and I so Steph could have his spot, so after ten minutes of arguing we all just sat on the same couch.

And it took me another ten minutes to convince everyone to watch Hercules. It's one of my favourite movies and I didn't want to watch a scary movie. Last time I watched a movie with the boys it was horror, I wasn't going to do that again anytime soon.

The opening song of the movie had just finished when Liam shifted and placed his hand on my thigh.

Oh, did I forget to mention? I ended up beside him. Lucky me right? I need space from him to think and yet somehow we're sitting shoulder to shoulder.

I looked down at his hand and my heart started hammering for the millionth time tonight. Although my thoughts distracted me from my racing pulse.

Why is his hand there? That's something boyfriends do, don't they? Does this mean he likes me back?

I shouldn't be getting so ahead of myself, I'm just starting to realize that I might have a crush on him, there's no way he likes me like that. And do I even want him to like me like that?

That would make things a million times more complicated.

When did this night become so confusing?

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Shoutout to Moonlight_Akira for the amazing cover in the media!! I love it! Thank you!!

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