Chapter Six _ There Comes A Time...

AUDREY

The night was chilly and the sky was starry, but the only star I noticed was the one in front of me. Drowning me in his stares and causing my breath to be caught. I hope this wasn't a dream again, clearly not. But, did Liam just stare at me for 10 seconds straight without blinking? I exhaled inwardly, mustered all the courage I could, and stared back at him. That was when he broke the stares and that look I thought I saw disappeared quickly, or maybe it was my imagination that was making it up.

He broke the stare, now focusing his gaze on the starry sky. "It's a nice view here, you know."

"Yeah, it is." My mouth was dry and I suddenly became thirsty, after these few seconds of staring. I felt as though my breath had been caught in my chest. I inhaled deeply and exhaled.

"I'm thirsty, let me go get a glass of water." He nodded, glancing at me briefly.

"I will be here."

Getting to the table where our families occupied, chattering and bickering, I downed an entire glass of water, gasping for breath.

"Whoa! Are you that thirsty?" That was my father. He and the other occupants of the table stared at me with smiles on their faces. Only if they knew the situation that precipitated this sudden thirst and the emotional situation taking place inside of me.

"You have no idea, dad..." I settled for the safest answer, before abandoning them at the table and heading towards the balcony. Upon discovering this feeling of mine, spending time with Liam had suddenly become hard. His proximity was enough to set the fire in me burning and desiring him. But, that wouldn't stop me from spending time with him; he was my best friend, way before this feeling sprang up. And this friendship mattered to me, I couldn't be the one to ruin it.

On getting to the balcony, he was busy with a call, probably from one of his girlfriends.

I sat down on the chair that was close to the railings, staring at the night sky, because that was the only way I would avoid fixing my gaze on him. But then, I heard him laugh in a rich contralto _ he was really having fun _ and that drew my eyes away from the starry sky.

"Baby, you know I will be down for that."

I smiled. "Called it!" I knew the call was probably from one of his girlfriends. But the question was, which one was it?

"Why don't you give me a few minutes, I'm with my buddy, let me say my goodbye then I will come over."

My teeth dug into my lips, causing my lips to draw a pale white line. Buddy, huh? That's what I was, and what I would always be, yeah?

If only he knew that this buddy of his was probably falling for him and wished to be more than just a buddy. It was a privilege being Liam's best pal, I mean he always made exceptions for me _ treating me like his sister. But, as far as I knew, that's what I would ever be _ his buddy and best pal. It hurts though. To think that the only guy I ever had feelings for, I couldn't get.

"Hey, buddy.." His voice snapped me back to reality. The reality was that he was about to bail on me and scurry off with one of his girlfriends.

"Winnie is waiting for me at her house."

I forced a smile. "Winnie, huh? She had lasted pretty long, are you thinking of making it official with her?"

"Far from it." Okay, that was a relief.

"It's just that she's fun to be with, and quite skillful and experienced in... You know'. I pressed my lips together. Hell, I knew what he was trying to say.

"She is quite skillful and experienced in bed, you mean?"

"That's why you're my best pal!" He half exclaimed, pinching my cheeks softly _ as he always does.

"I'm happy for you guys, just don't catch the feels okay?" Well, I was far from happy. I was bleeding inside.

He gave me a thumbs-up, and I smiled.

"Plus, don't do anything I wouldn't do. Well, not like you haven't done pretty much of it." I finished and he burst into laughter. Well, I joined him. There was something about his face whenever he was smiling, chuckling, or laughing, that would always draw me into joining him.

He leaned closer and pecked both sides of the cheeks.

"I'm sorry to bail out on our family dinner, and on you."

"You have been doing that lately." Gosh! I didn't mean to say that out loud, but either way, I couldn't take it back anymore. And I stopped regretting why I said it when I saw how remorseful he was. His head was slightly bowed and he was working at his fingers. I had probably caught him in the act.

"Hey, will you ever forgive me? It wasn't intentional. You know I don't like standing you up or bailing out on you."

He said, his eyes so blue and captivating. I resisted the urge to cup his face _ as he stooped low in front of me. Instead, I took his hand. I knew what I was about to say might sound pathetic and would seem like I was desperate, but I wouldn't die in silence on this one. He was my best friend, and I had every right to spend time with him.

"If you don't like it, then stop doing it. It hurts when you do it repeatedly knowing fully well that I would get angry, and then you expect me not to get angry."

He bit his lips, squeezing my hands softly.

"Okay, you know what?" He was staring fixedly at me again and my heart couldn't help leaping a few times. God! He was so handsome.

"What?" I tried not to sound excited, even though my ears were itching to hear what he wanted to say.

"I will make it up to you, but it will be a surprise, yeah?"

I tilted my head to the side thoughtfully, pretending to think about it. What was there to think about?

"I will be waiting for your surprises," I responded after a few seconds of pretending to weigh the thoughts in my head. I loved surprises, and getting one from him would be the sweetest thing. "I hope I don't have to get angrier at you after that," I said with a soft laugh and he joined me.

"No, bestie, you won't. May I go now?"

I shrugged. "You may, she would probably be waiting for you."

He leaned closer and pecked me again _ to my surprise. Two rounds of pecks in one sitting. That was a first.

"You are the best. I will call you when I get back." He finished with a smile before running off, denying me the opportunity to relish in his backside, even if it was just for a minute.

I exhaled deeply, returning my gaze to the night sky. There comes a time when you have to hide your new feelings for your best friend to avoid losing him forever. This was that time.