With Liam

We had met in grade eight. I was in the eighth at the time. He was a grade above me, the new, shy and nerdy boy in grade nine. I was also like that; I still am. It was gym class, and basketball wasn’t my favourite sport. No sport was my favourite. I hated gym class after the fun elementary games came to an unfortunate stop. He didn’t enjoy that class either. That’s how we met. Our paths crossed in the library.

I had successfully skipped class without anyone noticing. Or at least I thought. Liam, who later would help me escape gym and get himself caught instead, had followed me to the library. He took a different hallway, following me like an arctic fox followed an oblivious rabbit. Spooking the rabbit and pouncing at the last moment, catching its prey; I was the prey. I had been sitting on the ground in an aisle when the toe of his shoe dragged on the carpeted floor. I spooked, assuming my gym teacher had found me the same way my sixth grade teacher found me the first time I tried skipping. But it was only Liam. I felt relieved for a moment, then noticed the mischievous look on his face.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell her anything.” his voice was soothing, like the blanket that hid me from things that went bump in the night when I was five years old. “It was too easy to follow you. You moved too slow, kept looking over your shoulder. If you want to skip gym, let me help you do it right.”

“Are you giving me advice on how to skip the class I’ve been running away from for years?” I get a little aggressive when someone offers me help. But later on in our relationship, I learned that he never stopped helping me. It was one of those things that made Liam, Liam.

“Yes I am, now, you leave the gym when nobody is watching.”

“Well du-”

“Look over your shoulder as soon as you get out. If it’s clear, run. And don’t slam your feet into the ground like a horse. Imagine you’re a light-footed cheetah. Your feet should only tap the ground with as little noise as possible. When you reach the library, open the door just barely wide enough to get through. The last thing you need is a slamming library door directing your teacher in your direction. And sitting on the chairs right by the doors is a big no-no.” he raised his eyebrows in my direction. I suppose I did sit there.

“K.” I realized all the places I went wrong. It’s a wonder I hadn’t been caught. Though I guess I could thank our new instructor; she was new to the whole teaching thing, oblivious to those who sat in the corner and was on Instagram most of the time. Not to mention the chip bags she always had in hand; always ‘Lays Regular’.

“Find a place where you can watch who comes in but where you can also hide efficiently. I’ll teach you how to escape for next semester.” Next semester?

“What? Why would next semester be any different?”

“Wow. You really are as dumb as Damon said.” his laugh made it hard to stay mad at him. “Just kidding. You and me are the only students who know about next semester’s plans. We have two gym classes.”

“Ugh!”

“I know, but they’re back to back, right before lunch break. Which means you could escape the school in between gym and the class before that. Then make plans to spend two whole hours doing whatever you want. You have your driver’s license, right?”

“Um, no.”

“That’s cool I’ve got mine. We could go out and catch a movie, go to the restaurant for lunch, etcetera, etcetera.” I barely knew this guy and he was asking me out. Wait, was he?

“L...” I barely knew his name!

“Liam”

“Right, so, are you asking me out? Because I literally just met you!”

“Ok, fine, I won’t ask you out then. We’ll be friends?”

“Sure.”

Next semester, we did watch some movies and had lunch at the restaurant. I dragged him into the mall once or twice and we drank smoothies in bookstores. One day, a few months later, I had been sitting on Liam’s vehicle waiting for him to escape. He came about ten minutes later. He looked stressed and upset. We got in the vehicle, totally silent, sitting there. He didn’t start up the vehicle. He opened his mouth a few times to say something, then snapped it shut. Eventually he did say something.

“Coralia, I have something I need to...well...i-it’s just that...”

“Liam Strout, if you have something to say please say it.” It was annoying when someone stuttered and hesitated like that.

He took a few deep breaths. “Well, when we first met, we were just two friends hanging out and it’s been about 5 months since then.” He hesitated, then spat out the rest. “I was wondering if I could ask you out now.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise and my cheeks glew crimson. “Well, if you-I mean...yeah.”

“Ok, that happened. That’s a load off my chest. So, I’m going to try to ask you out.” He started the vehicle then we got out of it and met in front of it.

“Coralia, w-”

“Liam and Coralia get back here now!” We jumped and turned to look at the school doors. The principal stood there, clearly annoyed that we had gotten out again. He started sprinting to the car, and we jumped in.

Before we drove off, he took my hand in his. “Coralia will you be my girlfriend?” Liam spat the words, then waited for my response. The principal drew closer with every passing moment.

“Absolutely.”

He smiled, then punched the gas, the vehicle jolting forward, our heads thrusted against the head rests.

The principal was only inches from the vehicle but we drove out of the parking lot and onto the road. He didn’t let his foot ease off the pedal until I stuck my head out of the window to confirm that nobody was chasing us. We laughed the whole way to...wherever we were going. We just kept driving, and laughing at our most dramatic escape yet. We skipped the rest of the school day and only started heading home once the sun had sunk and the moon and stars were our only light.

Turns out a whole class had watched us from their classroom. One student even got it on video; they posted it on their Youtube channel, posting the link on Facebook, Twitter and pretty much every other social platform. We got quite some attention for a couple weeks after that. And got in trouble with the principal and our parents. But it was worth it. We had many more eventful happenings after we began dating. Including today, four years later.

We were locked in each other’s embrace, not wanting to let go for the last time. My dad got an offer for a better job on the other side of the province. Which meant we had to move. Which meant I had to leave Liam.

“I’m gonna miss you. So much.” his voice was the tiniest bit shaky. I took a quivering breath, trying to calm my stomach which had itself twisted into a pretzel.

“I’ll email, and we’ll meet up again soon.” I didn’t even believe myself.

My mom came up from behind me, putting her hand on my shoulder.

“Come on, Coralia. Your dad’s waiting.”

I let go first and Liam followed. I get too attached to things, and when it comes time to leave it behind; I struggle.

“I’ll be in the van.” mom left me with Liam.

We stood there, staring at each other, wanting to hold on and never let go.

“I’d better get going then.” I turned away to walk to the van but he held my arm and turned my head to his. His lips landed on mine and those two seconds felt long, like they were stretched to their full extent. They snapped and it was over.

My dad honked the horn of the van, clearly growing impatient.

“Goodbye, Liam. I’ll never forget you.”

“Neither will I. Goodbye.”

I turned around and walked to the van, contemplating the possibility of running off to Mexico with Liam.

But I opened the door and sat on the seat, my backpack with essentials beside me. I pulled the seatbelt over my lap and chest. I turned to the window and Liam was still there, staring through the tinted window.

We drove away. Taking our luggage, and our dog. But half of me stayed there. With Liam.