After another long day at Ridgewood International, Maya found herself walking toward the stairwell with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Vanessa's presence in the hall had been sharper than ever, her smirk appearing at every turn like a warning. Maya knew she could not ignore it, but she also knew Liam would be there, waiting as always.
The rooftop door creaked as Maya pushed it open, and Liam was already leaning against the railing, the city spread out below them. The sunlight caught his hair, making him look effortless and untouchable, yet fully aware of her arrival.
"You made it," he said, his voice calm but with that familiar edge that made her pulse quicken.
"I said I would," Maya replied, her nerves steadying slightly.
He gestured toward the railing. "Come closer. This is better than any hallway conversation."
Maya moved to stand beside him, feeling the wind tug at her hair. The world below seemed distant, irrelevant. Here, with Liam, everything else faded.
"Vanessa will try something soon," Liam said, his eyes on hers. "She thrives on challenges, and she has noticed you. That makes her dangerous."
Maya nodded, biting her lip. "I know. But I want to face it. I don't want to run."
Liam's expression softened, just enough to make her heart race. "Good. Because running is not an option when you are with me. And you are with me now."
Her chest tightened at the words. Being with Liam meant more than just protection. It meant involvement, connection, and an intensity she had never experienced.
For a moment, they simply stood there, letting the wind play through their hair, the city noise far below them. Maya could feel her pulse, her mind replaying every word Liam had whispered to her over the past few days. Each glance, each small touch, had been deliberate, careful, and yet intoxicating.
"I keep thinking about yesterday," Maya said quietly, her voice almost lost in the wind. "About how close you were… how it felt like the rest of the school didn't even exist."
Liam's gaze softened. "Because it didn't. Not when it was just us. Not for that moment. And that is how it has to be, Maya. Whenever we are together, nothing else matters. Not Vanessa, not the rumors, not anyone trying to get to you. You understand?"
Maya nodded, a shiver running through her. "I understand."
He stepped a little closer, and Maya felt the warmth radiate from him. Her heart was pounding, and her hands itched to reach out, to close the gap between them. But she held herself back, sensing that this was a moment to savor, a tension that needed to build rather than rush.
"I don't want to hide anymore," Maya whispered. "I'm tired of feeling like I have to watch every step, like Vanessa is always waiting to strike."
"You don't have to hide," Liam said, his voice firm but gentle. "Not with me. Not from me. And trust me, she will learn soon enough that you are not someone to underestimate."
Maya felt a rush of confidence at his words. There was something in Liam's unwavering presence that made the fear shrink, replaced by a thrilling certainty that together, they could face anything.
She looked at him, taking in the way the sun caught the edges of his hair, the subtle curve of his lips, and the intensity in his eyes. "You make it sound so easy," she said, trying to inject some humor into the moment, though her voice was still soft.
Liam smirked. "Easy? Hardly. But worthwhile. That is the difference."
Maya laughed quietly, a sound that surprised her. It felt lighter than it had all day, a relief in the tension that had gripped her since arriving at school. For the first time, the rooftop felt like a sanctuary.
"You always make me feel like I have to keep up," she said, her eyes meeting his. "And yet, I don't mind."
Liam's grin deepened. "Good. Because I would hate it if you stopped. You are not someone to be ignored or underestimated, Maya. The sooner you accept that, the stronger you become."
They stood in silence for a few moments, the wind tugging at Maya's hair and the city stretching endlessly below. Then Liam reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering just slightly too long. Maya felt a shiver run down her spine and her breath catch in her throat.
"You are ready for this," he said quietly. "Vanessa is clever, patient, and relentless. But so are we. Together, we are stronger than she knows."
Maya nodded, her confidence building with every word. "Together," she echoed.
"Exactly," Liam said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "And one day, she will realize that you are untouchable when we are side by side."
Maya's heart raced at the promise. She felt exhilarated, scared, and alive all at once. Ridgewood International was no longer just a school. It was a battlefield, and with Liam by her side, she had the courage to face every challenge.
The rooftop became their sanctuary, a place where plans were made, strength was drawn, and a bond grew stronger with each stolen moment. Maya realized that whatever Vanessa plotted next, whatever games the school threw at her, she would no longer feel powerless.
With Liam Kingston, she was ready. She was no longer just surviving. She was stepping into a fight she had chosen and embracing it.
The city below seemed endless and intimidating, but on that rooftop, Maya felt infinite. And for the first time, she welcomed every risk, every challenge, and every thrill that came with being by Liam's side.