The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden(9)

Liam catches my eye, and maybe it’s my imagination, but his whole face seems to light up when he sees me and he waves enthusiastically. Is it possible he likes me as much as I like him? I mean, he invited me to come today. So maybe he does. The thought of it is enough to make my heart start beating faster again. Liam Cass. God, he’s so cute.

But then he starts talking to another girl, who is on stage with them. That’s Olivia Reynolds. She and I share the same first name, but that’s where the similarities end. She’s on the debate team, like Liam, and she’s really gorgeous. She has silky blonde hair that looks professionally styled, and she’s totally stacked. Unfairly stacked, given how skinny she is. When she’s talking to Liam, the two of them look like a really attractive couple. Between the two of us Olivias, she’s clearly the superior one.

How could Liam like me when she’s around?

I try not to think about it.

By the way, Liam is totally brilliant during the debate. I don’t even entirely understand what they’re debating. Something about transportation between different states. It’s all really boring, honestly. But Liam is such a good speaker. He should become a politician or something. Whenever he talks, everybody is paying such close attention to him. Even Madison looks up from her phone for, like, two seconds.

The judges deliberate at the end, and our home team wins the debate. I applaud as loudly as I can. Madison just rolls her eyes. She isn’t into extracurricular activities, and to be honest, neither am I.

“So are you going to go talk to him now?” she asks me.

“What?” My eyes fly up to the front of the room, where Liam is now talking to Olivia Reynolds. Again. God, she’s really pretty. It’s so unfair. “Now?”

Madison huffs. “You made me sit through that whole stupid boring debate and you’re not even going to go talk to him? Seriously, Olivia?”

“He’s busy.”

“So? Interrupt him.”

“I can’t just talk to him out of nowhere.”

“Why not?”

“It would be weird.”

“Seriously, Liv.” She holds up a hand. “I can’t even.”

Maybe if Liam weren’t talking to Olivia Reynolds, I could go up to him. But I’m not wrong. It would be weird if I went up there now. I mean, he’s going to think I’m some total stalker or something.

I start to explain that to Madison, but she’s not listening anymore because Aidan has burst into the auditorium to find her. He’s still wearing his outfit from football practice, and he stinks of sweat. God, couldn’t he have taken a shower or something before coming here? The first thing he does is plant his lips on Madison’s and they kiss for like five minutes straight. It’s so gross. I try not to look. They probably wouldn’t even notice if I left right now.

“Hey, Aidan.” Madison separates from Aidan for a split second, probably because she needs to breathe. “Tell Olivia she should go talk to Liam.”

My face burns. I’m not surprised Madison told her boyfriend that I liked Liam, but I still hate that she did it. Can’t Madison and I have any secrets anymore? Plus Aidan is like the worst person to know. He has a big mouth and he’ll tell everyone.

“Liam Cass?” Aidan makes a face. “I hate that guy. He’s such an asshole.”

“Why is he an asshole?” I say. “He’s really nice.”

Aidan snorts. “Yeah. Nice to you. Anyway, you could do better, Olivia.”

“That’s what I said,” Madison chips in.

“Whatever,” I mumble.

“Anyway.” Madison grabs her backpack off her seat. “Aidan and I are heading out. Want a ride home?”

I absolutely do not want to sit in the backseat while Aidan drives erratically because he has to make out with Madison and touch her legs while they’re driving. I’d rather walk the two miles home.

Aidan and Madison take off through the back exit while I sit back down in my seat. I really must be a stalker, because I’m still looking at Liam. He looks so good dressed up. Part of me wants to snap a picture with my phone so I can look at it later. I’m totally staring. It’s awful. But I can’t stop. This is why I’m failing math.

Liam goes up to talk to the debate teacher, Mrs. Randall, and then he talks to an attractive woman in her forties that has the same dark hair and eyes that he has and also a similar nose. I think it’s his mother. He looks a lot like her. He seems to be really polite to her, which is good. I read online that it’s a really good thing when boys are nice to their mothers. I don’t know what Madison was talking about. How could she say she doesn’t trust him?

It isn’t until most of the people in the auditorium have a filtered out that Liam looks into the audience and our eyes meet. He gets that smile on his face again, and I feel this warm tingle in my whole body. I’m sure Liam doesn’t give slobbery kisses like Aidan. I bet he kisses really well.

Oh my God, he’s coming over to me.

I stumble to my feet, trying to temper the dopey smile on my lips. How do normal people smile? It’s like I forgot how. God, he’s going to think I’m such a loser.

“Hey, Olivia,” he says.

“Hey,” I say.

That sounded good. Casual. My voice didn’t squeak and I didn’t spit when I talked. Score.