Chapter 30

                                    

                                          
Liam
                          
February 14th, 2017 | 6:00 pm
                          
Liam was nervous. It was Valentine's Day. He and Rachel were going to meet up tonight and he was so nervous. Why was he so nervous? It was Rachel, he loved her, and things had been going well. More than well. They were dating again, things had gotten better between them, but Liam was still anxious. He didn't want to mess things up.
                          
Lexi must have sensed Liam's nerves. She had been watching him fumble with his tie for ten minutes now. She came down the stairs and walked over to him. Lexi fixed his tie for him and offered a comforting smile.
                          
"There's nothing to be worried about Liam, Rachel is going to love it," she said reassuringly.
                          
Liam nodded. "I just don't want to mess anything up," he said.
                          
Lexi chuckled. "You won't, and besides we all make mistakes, we're human, remember?"
                          
Liam managed a small smile, he needed to relax. Lexi was right, everything would be okay. "Did my parents come back yet?" he asked.
                          
Lexi shook her head. "They called and said they are going straight from the hospital to dinner so that they won't interrupt you and Rachel's night."
                          
"Okay great," he said, nodding. "Do you have any plans?" he asked, although he doubted she did.
                          
Lexi unsurprisingly shook her head. "I just came back from a therapy session, I was just going to go upstairs and work on some homework and hopefully finish reading something."
                          
Liam understood, although he wanted her to move on and meet someone new. Ryan and Josh had both offered to take her out tonight but Lexi politely declined. Valentine's day felt like a weird day to go on a first date anyway.
                          
"If you need anything let me know," he offered.
                          
"Thanks, Liam, but you don't have to act like such a big brother all of the time, I'll be fine," she said with a small smile.
                          
She went back upstairs and Liam heard her door close. Lexi was starting to get used to life here, it made Liam feel better. After all, it had been his idea to move her here. He only hoped things would get better for her. His strange agreement with Austin to help her to move on felt wrong and right at the same time. On one hand, Liam hoped that it would help Lexi and change her for the better, on the other hand, he had heard how betrayed she felt by Macy intervening in her relationship. Lexi refused to see Macy now, Liam wondered what she would do if she found out he had spoken to Austin and even agreed to convince Lexi to move on.
                          
Liam put those thoughts away when the doorbell rang. He excitedly raced to the door and swung it open. Rachel was standing there looking gorgeous as always. Her long blonde hair was flowing down her back in small waves. She was wearing a beautiful deep red dress. She smiled when she saw him. The real genuine smile he had originally fallen in love with.
                          
"Hey," he said with a smile.
                          
"Hey," she replied back. She was holding a small gift bag in her hand. She offered it to Liam as he closed the door behind her.
                          
"You didn't have to," Liam said. "I was supposed to be doing things for you all night."
                          
Rachel grinned. "I know, but I wanted to, it's nothing big."
                          
He opened the bag and took out the gift. It was a framed picture of them, she had written little inside jokes between them in white all over the black frame. He traced over some of the letters in her perfect handwriting. He smiled and looked up at Rachel.
                          
"I love it," he said.
                          
She looked surprised." Really?" she asked. "I thought it was kind of lame."
                          
Liam shook his head. "Wait, let me go get yours," he said. Liam ran to the kitchen and grabbed the jewelry box. He brought it back and handed it to her. She couldn't help but smile as she opened the box. Her jaw dropped as she carefully picked up the locket.
                          
"Liam," she said in awe. "It's beautiful."
                          
"Open the locket, I think the picture will look familiar," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
                          
He watched as Rachel opened the locker and her smile grew. "We picked the same photo," she whispered.
                          
"It's my favorite picture of us," he said softly.
                          
"Mine too," she said. "Will you put it on me?" she asked.
                          
Liam nodded and clasped the locket in the back for her. She turned around and looked up at him. "I love you," she whispered.
                          
"I love you too."
                          
They spent the night eating Rachel's favorite food and laughing and talking. Liam even took her into the basement where he had moved all the furniture so they could slow dance. He knew Rachel had always wanted him to learn a couple steps so he had been practicing for days. Ryan and Josh had poked fun at him for it, but Liam wanted to do it for her anyway. Besides according to Lexi, the key to a girl's heart was effort. 
                          
"I'm impressed, Liam," she said as they slow-danced. "I didn't think you would ever learn how to dance."
                          
Liam smiled. "Only for you."
                          
Rachel blushed and dropped her head on his shoulder. Liam wished they could preserve this moment forever, he missed her so much. Liam hadn't even realized how well they fit together until she wasn't there anymore. She wasn't the insecure, self-conceited girl, Liam had once thought she was. No, that was her mother's doing. Liam could see Rachel for who she was now, she wasn't this perfect doll her mom could manipulate. She was her own person, a girl who loved to design her own clothes, who saw the world for what it really was, a girl who deserved to be happy. Liam only hoped he could remain by her side forever. She knew she was going to change the world.
                          
He loved who the two of them were becoming. They were growing, changing, adapting, but they were in it together. He realized that now, she knew him so well. Liam thought about his philosophy project. Wisdom Sharers: Rachel had shown him his faults and how to fix them, Platonic: Rachel truly understood him and his journey, Romantic: Rachel loved him and he loved her. Liam knew she was his soulmate, he only wished he had realized it sooner.
                          
"I love you so much, Rachel," he whispered.
                          
He held her tightly, he knew the perfect moment couldn't last, but that was okay. They would have a lifetime of perfect moments together.