Friendship Happy Coming of Age

"I swear, it's the best" I said with a giggle. I leaned against the counter next to the sink, the wet water from someone washing the dishes earlier penetrating my top.


" really, you swear, Vanessa?" Liam questioned, stroking an imaginary beard.


"Yes, really, I swear, on your life" I promised.


His hand shot up to his mouth, covering it.


"My life? Mine?" He joked. I smiled to myself. Liam was the best. But my grilled cheese was better.


The sounds of laughter from the lake filled the room. We were alone in the summer beach house we were renting and that's just the way I liked it. Hanging out with my best friend since I could remember was better then hanging out with my little cousins who were obsessed with bodily fluids.


I started to gather ingredients as we started at me with over exaggerated curiousness.


I turned to the stove, putting a pan on the stove a little to loudly.


I started making the grilled cheese and Liam walked behind me. I turned around and smiled at him.


His curly brown hair glinted in the sunlight from the window, and his smile was brightened by the dimples on his tanned face.


I turned around again flipped the sandwich.


The breeze from the open window swirled around us.


"Grab a plate" I no so much asked but demanded.


He walked to the dishes and grabbed a plate, making a clinking sound with him.


He spun around several times before slamming down in the table.


"Dinner. Is. Served. Ms Vanessa Hallen" He stated blandly with a small smirk on his face.


I grabbed the pan and walked over to he table. I smiled at him before I slide the grilled cheese on to the plate.


"Eat. Up. Mr Liam Collins" I said, motioning to the food.


He whirled around and grabbed a knife and fork, before bounding over to the shelf to get a napkin. Half stuffing it down his shirt, he looked at me.


"Care to join me for this meal?" He said in a posh british-like voice.


The smell of the freshly cooked delight made me more anticipated for my upcoming victory.


I rolled my eyes "just eat"


"No seriously, come, I can order some wine?"


He asked not dropping the voice still.


I grabbed his hand with the fork and stabbed the sandwich.


"Eat" I replied simply.


"Fine. Wine is expensive anyways" he shrugged.


"We are also underage, stupid, mom will kill us" I informed. We were on a summer vacation together while his mom and sister were away in Italy. He doesn't like them very much, so my mom and dad are like his.


Especially since his dad left when he was young. He comes from a lower class family while mine is well off even with many, many kids.


"Lemonade is also expensive" he replied.


I gave him a questioning look. "Listen little buddy, I know your just afraid that my grilled cheese is better then yours, alright? So just eat it and fuss up!" I accused with a finger in his face.


Athough I was serious about what I was talking about, I was holding back a smile.


"So it must be, very, very, good?" He asked, with one eyebrow raised.


"Yes! That's what I've been trying to tell you idiot!" I yelled with my hands in the air with an annoyed smile on my face. He just smiled right back at me.


When I realised this was a tactic, I sighed.


"Eat the damn thing alright? It's getting cold" I mumbled, pinching the brow of my nose.


"But if it's so good it should be great even if it's co-" I cut him off.


"Boy you really know how to get on my nerves" I sighed out.


"Being on your nerves is great, that way I'm always around" he smirked at me.


And with that, he took a bite, chewing carefully.


I tried to convince myself that it didn't matter, but somehow, it did. How, I don't know, but right now, I didn't care if my little sister Ashley drowned on the lake, all I cared was that he liked my damn grilled cheese.


Suddenly his jaw stopped moving, he swallowed. He slowly stood up from the chair, as if he was in a trance.


Quickly breaking from said trance he looked at me.


"THIS IS GOSH DANG DELICIOUS!" He yelled throwing his hands up.


"HOLY MACARONI" he continued to yell. Suddenly he bounded away, still yelling miscellaneous phrases.


I followed him, up the stairs of the giant suite, cold wood underneath my feet, up and on to the balcony. No matter how many times I ran threw these halls, they shocked me, I just wasn't built for the rich life, even if Liam seemed to fit right in.


The balcony was small, with a black railing around three feet high guarding us from falling. Around this railing grew vines and flowers, of all colours.


The magnificent stone bricks on the wall were also over grown with vines, going up at least nother sorry before ethe roof came.


The fresh smell of rain clouded my nose but the sun was, out, not bright, but not a gloomy day either. From here I could see all the way to lake were my cousins and siblings splashes around and the grownups sat in chairs and talked. The soft humm of a boat could be heard somewhere In the distance.


"VANESSA CLAIRE HALLENS GRILLED CHEESE IS THE BEST! THE. BEST!" he yelled out.


"Liam! What the hell are you doing?! You know I don't like my middle name!" I screamed, throwing my hands up.


As if he became a different person, he slowly turned behind him to reach my eyes.


He stepped closer, his demeanor changing from a wild high school kid at a party to a Russian security guard.


He towers over me, me being the short girl I am.


"Is that what you wanted princess?" He asked, calm and collected.


I stared in shock. "What the actually john just happened?" I questioned.


He's done this before, he's chaotic. I should be used to it, but it shocks me everytime. Everytime he acts as if there is no care in the world. As if it revolves around him. As if the isn't a 16 year old young adult but a 5 year old kid. But that's also why I love him.


"I said is that what you wanted? The reaction?" He asked again. His warm hand suddenly grabbed my chin and lifted my face to meet his. His hand was warm but not sweaty, and rough but at the same time, smooth.


I-i mean- you, I mean not really- like i-" I couldn't find the right words.


Did he like it? Was it funny? I guess if my boring life was a movie, then yea, but, I really don't know.


"Your crazy" I huffed, shaking my head.


He tightened his grip on my face, and smiled.


"Only for you, darling"


"Why? I'm boring" I said blatantly. "I don't even know why we are friends. I mean I had everything handed to me on a silver platter, I've ever worked for anything, I'm not anyone to anyone either" I sighed, deep down I knew it was true.


"Your everything to me, Vanessa" he said in a soft voice. The type of voice that wants to make you float away.


I shook my head. I turned away and begun to walk down towards the door.


Suddenly, Liam's hand grabbed my arm and pulled my swiftly towards him. He embraced me in a tight hug. His chin rested in my head, and I rested on his warm, strong chest.


"Everything, Vanessa, everything" he mumbled "from your eyes to your laughter, everything"


I pulled away from him and rested my hands on his chest. I could feel his muscles through the tight tank top he was wearing.


"My eyes are poopy brown and my laugh sounds like a witch that lost her voice" I said skeptically.


"No" he grabbed my shoulders and looked into my eyes. "Your laugh is like dandelions in the wind, lost in space and time, and you eyes are chocolate syrup, rich and thick, deep and dark, with particles of honey that hold the answered to the universe"


I stood there shocked, before a smiled cracked on my face.


"What, you write that down a thousand times so you could wait untill the perfect moment?" I asked through laughter.



"No I'm just really smart" he shrugged, a wild grin coming through his adorable face.


"But I'm not like that, Liam, you are, you know? Like, book worthy" I confessed.


"Oh yeah? If I was in a book, how would you describe me?" He asked through a questioning but joking voice.


I stepped away, preparing to make a dramatic speech "Liam, hair brown like a stick, after it rained, eyes blue, like a blue crayon, and a soft smile, like a sheeps coat" I announced.


"Don't quit your day job girly" he smirked at me.


"Well how would you'd describe my hair better then that?" I giggled out as I cross my arms over my chest.


"Sun Bleached hair, like a sandy beach. wild and free like the wind is always with her. Wavy and long and majestic." He shot back at me.


"Don't quit your daydream kiddo" I replied with a smirk.


He embraced me again "everything, Vanessa, everything" he mumbled into my ear.


I smiled to myself and I hugged back.
























Posted Sep 07, 2022
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