"When did you get involved in boxing, Liam?" My mother asks.

" I was about 7 when I started, so about eleven years. Have you ever done sports, Claire?" Liam asks.

I put my spoon down, and say, " I was in soccer when I was four, if that counts."

My mom laughs, as Avarie smiles with Liam. Gosh, his smile is just... charming.

"I've never really been that athletic," I admit.

"That's fine. That's just you," He tells me.

I smile for the first time since we sat down,"Thanks."

"You're welcome," He says.

"Claire? Can you help me wash my bowl?" I hear Avarie's voice call.

I turn to her and say, "Sure, c'mon."

Avarie and I head to the sink, and I take her stool out from under the sink. She hops on it, washes her hands, and puts the bowl in the dishwasher.

"Do you love Liam?"

"What?" I ask, turning in the direction of my little sister.

"Do you love Liam? I think you do." She says.

"Don't be silly, Aves. He already has a girlfriend," I tell her.

"Oh," She looks down.

"Its okay. It's not your fault," I tell her.

Avarie nods, dries her hands, and returns to her normal, happy self.

"Can you read me a bedtime story tonight?" She asks.

I laugh silently, and say, "After Mom washes you up, okay?"

"Okay!" She says, and runs off to do who knows what.

As I rinse my own dish, Liam walks in holding two bowls, "I can wash the dishes," he says.

"All I'm doing is rinsing them. Just put them down," I state.

"How about I hand them to you?" He asks.

"I guess that would be okay," I tell him as I put my bowl in the dishwasher.

He smiles, as I reach my hand put as he puts one on my hand. I feel his skin press against mine. I feel butterflies errupt in my stomach. My cheeks get hotter, and I quickly rinse the bowl, not looking at Liam.

"Could we have an extra session tonight?" Liam asks, "I really need help with math,"

I look at him and say, "As long as our parents are cool with it."

He smiles, "I'll call my dad."

Liam steps out as I finish rinsing. My mind immediately heads back to our hands brushing against each other. He has a girlfriend, Claire, shut up! I sigh as I rinse the last bowl. I walk into the livingroom and see Liam on the phone, and my mom on the couch.I go to open her mouth, but she interupts me, "Liam already asked," She says.

"So its okay if we study for a bit?" I ask.

"Uh...Yes," She says, as if she didn't expect me to ask that.

"Okay... Can you bathe Avarie and then come get me? I told her I would read her a bedtime story tonight." I tell her.

"Sure, sweetie," She states, and kisses my head, and heads up to Avarie's room.

•.•.•.

"So, if the residual plot is curved, then the plot is not linear?" Liam asks.

"Exactly," I tell him.

These are some simplistic things Liam should have learned sophomore year, but I'm glad he's making an effort.

"I swear, you are the only person in the school that can make this seem simple," He says, "You seem like you've got it all figured out."

"I don-"

"What do you want to be?" He interrupts me.

"Excuse me?" I ask.

"After high school, what do you want to be?" He repeats.

I bite my lip, and say, "A geneticist."

"English, please?" he asks.

I laugh, "It's a person who studies genetics."

"Why?" he asks.

I put my pencil down, "Its always fascinated me. How both my parents have dark hair, I'm a red head, my sister is a blonde. How one child could look so identical to one parent, yet those parent's genes seem weaker. How a kid could look so much like an aunt or uncle rather than a parent. I just want to keep digging deeper and deeper. Its almost like..."

"Finding out how a piece of art was made," Liam finishes.

I look up at him, "Exactly."

My mom walks in the kitchen, "Claire, I've finished washing Avarie." she states.

"Alright," I say, and get up, "I'll be right back." I tell Liam, and he nods.

I head upstairs into my sister's room. I see her princess covered walls, and see her on her bed with her princess covers with her princess sheets in her Belle pajamas.

"What story do you want tonight?" I ask her.

"Beauty and The Beast!" She says and smiles.

I go to grab it off the shelf, when she says, "No! I just want you to tell it," she tells me.

"Are you sure, Aves? I ask.

"I love it when you tell stories" she says.

"Okay, well there was once a merchant who had a daughter. The daughter really cared about her dad,. One day, her father was selling things, and he had to go deep into the forest. Eventually, it got late, so he had to find a place to stay. He saw a Castle, and walked in. A beast lived there. The beast was very angry that the merchant had walked in, and kept him there. His daughter, who's name was Belle, got very worried, and went out to find her father. She came across the castle, and walked in and found her father. The beast was very angry, but Belle pleaded for the beast to keep her in the castle rather than her father. So, the beast agreed. Eventually, Belle got very lonely living there alone with just the beast, and missed her father. So, the beast had given her a magical mirror so she could see whoever she wanted to at any time. Then, she saw her father was very ill. She begged and begged the beast to let her dee her father one last time. Eventually, the beast agreed to let her go for seven days. Belle went to see her father, and forgot about the beast for a long time,but the beast let her stay, beacuause he loved Belle, and wanted her to be happy. One night, she had a dream. Her dream was that the beast was dying, and crying for her to come back. The next morning, Belle went back to the Beast's house, and promised him if he stayed alive, she would live with him forever, beacuse she loved him. The Beast turned into a handsome Prince, and was healthy once more. Belle and the Beast got married, and lived happily ever after."

By the time I had finished, Avarie was fast asleep. I smile, andhead back downstairs to see Liam grabbing his coat.

"My dad texted me saying I had to head home" He says.

"Oh, alright." I tell him.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow?" He asks, stepping closer to me.

"Yeah," I say, letting him get closer and closer... Claire, what are you doing?!

Liam leans in closer and closer, our faces only centimeters apart, before his lips touch mine, I state, "Goodnight, Liam."

Liam stops in his tracks, as if only realizing what he was doing, "Goodnight Claire..." and walks out.

I wanted him to kiss me. I really, really. did. He has a girlfriend. She's really sweet and I don't want to hurt her. But there is one thing I can't deny after tonight.

I am in love with Liam James Payne.