Unwritten Desires-Chapter 55

Eleanor

The silence burned hotter than his grip ever could. For a moment, we just stood there, his piercing gaze pinning me in place, the air thick with all the things he wasn’t saying.

Then, just like that, Liam let go.

No words. No explanation.

He turned on his heel and walked out, leaving me standing in the suffocating closet air with my pulse thundering in my ears.

I swallowed hard, dragging in a shaky breath before I followed. My footsteps felt too loud, like they were betraying me, and I forced myself to keep my face blank as we slipped into the hallway. Too many students were still hanging around; the last thing I needed was anyone reading the tension rolling off him in waves.

I kept my voice low, careful, as we walked side by side.

"Uh... thank you for... that... but..." I hesitated, glancing at his profile, "why did you do it?"

He let out an annoyed sigh as we took a corner. "Can we not do this? I have class right now."

"No you don’t." I didn’t waste a beat before answering.

That must have caught his attention because the next thing I knew, he glanced at me—though it didn’t last more than a second before he looked straight ahead again. "So you’re stalking me now?"

I would’ve sworn I heard a hint of amusement in his voice but when I looked up at him, his face was unreadable as ever—stoic with no flicker of emotion anywhere.

I guess I was just imagining things then, you know, trying to find cracks in the stupid walls he always kept up.

"No...don’t change the topic." I crossed my arms over my chest as I followed him out to the courtyard. "I know you only said that because you wanted to get rid of me."

"Oh..." He said as he settled on a bench sprawling slightly, his fingers tapping the backrest in slow rhythm.

I followed, plopping down just a few inches away from him. I would have sat further away from him but like the courtyard was packed with other students. And as he often pointed out, the people were always watching.

"You know that and yet you still followed me out here."

If it had been anyone else that was sitting this close to me, I would have admitted how annoyingly attractive they looked in that sitting position.

But this was Liam—and acknowledging that would be stepping into dangerous territory.

So instead, I tore my gaze away, staring at anything but him as I pretended the magnetic pull didn’t exist.

"Why did you do that?" I brought up the question again as he had dodged it the first time.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Don’t play dumb, Liam." I fixed him with a hard glare. "I know how much you despise Jake. I know how much you despise everyone, including me. So come on, tell me. What’s the catch?" I didn’t even realize when I had shifted closer.

Liam then let out a soft breathy laugh, taking me by surprise. "I help you, and instead of getting a thank you, I’m getting questioned. That doesn’t sound fair to me." He tilted his head to the side as his gaze swept over me.

I was losing my patience now. Why won’t he just answer the fucking question? "Stop trying to change the damn topic."

"I’m not trying to change the topic."

"Yes you are." I was tempted to raise my voice but I didn’t want to attract any more attention to us. "Why did you do that Liam? Why did you help me?"

"I. Didn’t. Help. You." He drew out his words. It seems I wasn’t the only one getting pissed. "I only did that so you’re precious Jake wouldn’t suspect our relationship and think you’re somehow being blackmailed into being with me."

His voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned in. "The less people think I’m just an emotionless jerk to you, the more convincing this relationship looks."

A faint smirk tugged at his lips as his eyes skimmed across my face. "Wasn’t that the plan... darling?" The endearment rolled off his tongue slowly, like a taunt dressed as affection.

My eyes narrowed into thin slits as I turned away from his gaze with a small huff.

I should’ve known. The only reason he ever did things was for his own damn benefit.

I was still in the middle of my silent fuming when a deep chuckle pulled my gaze back to his. "I mean why else would I do it? Wait a minute, don’t tell me you actually thought I listened to your silent plea earlier." His chuckle rolled into a low mocking laughter, tightening the knot of irritation in my chest and I bit back the urge to slap that smile off his face.

"I know you’re stupid but I didn’t think you would be that dumb."

My jaw clenched as I spoke through gritted teeth, dragging out my words. "I didn’t think that."

"Sure, babe."

My jaw ticked at the sound of the nickname and that was when I lost it. But of course I couldn’t say anything to him so he wouldn’t know I was mad. Because if he knew I was mad then it would only inflate his ego, and I didn’t want that.

So I decided to change the topic and bring up something that had been sitting in the back of my mind for a while now.

"Yeah... about that," the corners of my eyes tightened under my forced smile. "I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something." I looked him up and down and I felt very satisfied when his smile disappeared in an instant.

"If it’s not related to this conversation, I’m not listening."

"Oh it’s related alright." My smile was genuine now as I lifted my chin with mock pride. "It’s about that nickname-calling you always do."

He seemed curious now as leaned back on the bench with an arched brow. "What about it?"

"You’re using way too many nicknames, it’s starting to get weird."

His brows furrowed slightly. "What’s weird about it?"

"You call me babe, sugarplum, baby, darling, sweetheart." I stared blankly at him. "And there are probably others that I don’t remember right now."

He blinked at me, and it was obvious that he was clearly not getting my point. "You’re not supposed to be so... random. Even though it’s not real, I’m still your girlfriend." It took everything in me not to visibly shudder at the word.

"You’re supposed to have a special nickname for me... and not just call me anything that pops into that stupid head of yours. That’s how it’s meant to be. I’m even surprised a man in his thirties doesn’t even know this. Have you even dated anyone before?" I eyed him with suspicion.

I must have hit a nerve, judging by the glare he sent my way.

"I do have a nickname for you." His eyes turned into sharp slits as his gaze never left mine. "Two actually." He sat up now and I didn’t need any further explanations to know which ones he was talking about.

I hated those nicknames...especially four eyes.

I mean he was practically picking on me for using glasses.

How the hell was that my fault?!

"It’s just that if I call you that out in the open, most people are going to think I’m... bullying you." he said, his gaze trailing over me with infuriating slowness, making my skin prickle like he was peeling back layers I didn’t even know were there.

I shifted uncomfortably under his stare, my arms instinctively folding across my chest.

The hell? Did he seriously have to look at me like that?

"Well technically that is the truth. You are bullying me." I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper as I rolled my eyes with deliberate slowness.

"Bullying is a strong word," Liam replied, his tone maddeningly calm, "and the whole point of this damn thing is to hide the truth. Isn’t it?"

I opened my mouth, the retort slipping out before I could stop myself. "Do you want to start another argument?

In response, his jaw tightened ever so slightly, the faintest flicker of irritation breaking through his otherwise blank expression. And for once, he didn’t have a comeback.

Silence settled between us like a thick fog, his blue eyes still locked on mine, sharp and unyielding, making me feel like a prey under a predator’s watch.

Then out of nowhere, he said softly, "Cupcake."

I blinked, certain I’d misheard. "What?"

"You said you didn’t want me to call you random nicknames, did you not? Well, I pick cupcake." His face stayed frustratingly neutral, like he was dead serious.

My stomach did a weird flip as I processed his words, an uneasy mix of irritation and something I didn’t want to name curling low on my gut. "You cannot be serious. Of all the nicknames in the world, you’re going with that?" My brows furrowed as I leaned towards him, searching for any sign that this was a joke.

"Yeah... it’s perfect." Liam said without missing a beat. "It’ll trick people into thinking I see you as such a sweet soul with an even sweeter personality."

"I am a sweet soul." I shot back defensively, frowning at him.

A slow, fake smile crept onto his lips, his tone mocking and detached. "Oh yes you are. My girlfriend is the absolute sweetest."

"Stop that." I snapped, feeling my cheeks burn at the teasing lilt in his voice.

"What I’m only agreeing with you." He said, tilting his head innocently, though that glint in his eyes gave him away. "Why are you getting mad?"

I clenched my jaw, forcing down the urge to snap back at him. Instead, I let out a sharp breath and tore my gaze away, fixing it on the bustling courtyard ahead of us.

Why did he always have to get under my skin like this? Every word out of his mouth felt like a jab cloaked in that maddening calm of his, and the worst part was that he knew it.

I hugged my arms tighter around myself, willing my face to relax even as my thoughts whirled. If this was his idea of "keeping up appearances," then I was in for a long, long ride.