Chapter 4 : Liam To The Rescue

Deborah’s POV 

“They are just eyes and I have two of them like everyone else,” I said plainly, wondering what exactly he was playing at. 

“Come on, Deborah. I was flirting with you,” Liam said, with a roll of his eyes. 

“You see, this is why I need help,” I groaned in frustration. The fact that I did not realise Liam was flirting with me, meant it might have been possible that Caleb had flirted with me in the past and I did not know, “Oh my God. I'm a hopeless case,” I groaned, feeling sorry for myself. “Why couldn't I see what you were doing?” I asked as I moved back to my bed to sit. 

“You just have to be open to signals. Don't be Deborah the ignorer,” Liam said with a small smile. 

I realise this wasn't the first time Liam had called me Deborah the ignorer. “Did I ignore you?” I asked, trying to figure out the reason behind the nickname. 

Liam looked like he wanted to say something, but was holding himself back. “Why would you care if I ignored you?” I asked again, wondering if he was really serious about what he was saying. 

Without saying anything, Liam moved slowly towards me and knelt in front of me, “Because you have such beautiful eyes,” he said, his voice sounding sensual, while he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. 

I looked at him for a few seconds, my mind still blank. “You're flirting again,” I said as a self-satisfied smile spread across my lips.

“Yeah,” Liam replied with a smile of his own. “You're supposed to say something flirty back.”

“Something flirty back,” I repeated, thinking about it. “Oh, I know. I'll say it to Caleb tonight at the party,” I added with a triumphant smile. “What do you think?”

Liam stood up abruptly, his smile instantly disappearing like something offended him, “Yeah, you can do that,” he replied curtly. “But just remember you're still in training so don't expect miracles.” 

I nod my head knowing that he is right. 

“We'll need to have another flirting lesson," he added.

***

As I approached the venue for the keg party, I could hear the sound of thumping music from outside, and it grew louder the closer I got. The porch light flickered, casting shadows on the faces of the students milling around outside. I could feel the bass vibrating through the soles of my low heel shoes as I and Liam joined the crowd—he had offered to walk in with me since this was my first party. 

Inside, the air was thick with the smell of beer and sweat. Red solo cups littered every surface, and people laughed and shouted over the music. The living room was packed, with several bodies sweating to the beat of the music on the makeshift dance floor. I adjusted my glasses, as I looked around for Caleb.

“Alright, I'll get us some drinks,” Liam said with a smile, stopping me at one corner of the room, “Just try to be cool.”

With a smile across my face, I bump him lightly on his shoulder with my fist, “Dude, when am I not cool,” I replied. “Oh my God, there is Caleb,” I exclaim as soon as I spot him. 

“Yeah, good luck,” Liam muttered, his smile disappearing again from his face. 

With my attention on Caleb, I don't bother even as Liam walks away. “I should go to him, I have to go,” I muttered to myself, my eyes still on Caleb. 

I exhale the breath I didn't even know I was holding when I saw Caleb dance towards me. 

“Hey,” I greeted nervously as Caleb stopped in front of me. 

“I thought you were staring at me from over there,” Caleb said, while his body moved lightly to the music. 

“Was I?” I asked, trying my hand at the flirting. With a defeated sigh, I added, “I'm sorry if I was weird yesterday.”

“Don't worry about it. Olivia is a bitch,” Caleb replied, and you are awesome.” 

“Am I?” I asked excitedly. Everything felt like it was happening just the way I wanted. I had successfully flirted my way into Caleb's view and he was feeling me in every possible way. 

Then I felt something hit my face, making me blink my eyes, a bit startled. When I steadied my glasses, I realised the last few seconds were all in my head and Caleb was only just walking towards me. 

“Hey,” I greeted, more nervous than I was in my imagination. 

“Hey,” Caleb replied simply. 

“Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt,” I said, wondering where all my courage disappeared to. 

“Cool,” Caleb replied in the same cool manner. 

“Cool,” I replied as nothing more crossed through my mind at that moment. Caleb threw a ping pong ball into one of the red solo cups beside me, making me realise that was what had hit me the first time. “Sorry if I was being weird yesterday,” I said, trying to act cool like one of the guys, but it only made me feel more awkward.  

“You don't have to say it, It's cool,” Caleb replied, his tone sounding like he was bored. 

“Okay,” I nodded with a smile that really felt like a grimace. At that moment I spot Olivia and her minions—Mindy and Cindy. 

“Yes, she does,” Olivia said with a satisfied smile like she was really elated to see me here. “Doesn't she, girls?” she asked, turning to look on both sides of her. 

“Whatever “it” is,” Mindy replied, using her fingers to illustrate the quotation mark. 

“And I think “it” is her vagina,” Olivia continued. 

“It's like a vagina, only dryer,” Cindy said, with a smile for what I presumed was her smart input. 

“We call it, a Deborah,” Mindy added. 

I stood looking at each of them as they took turns hurling insults in the form of rhymes at me, my heart sank as I heard Caleb laugh with them from the corner of my eyes. The next thing I know, Olivia's hand is moving towards my face. I flinched, expecting the hard hit. 

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” I heard Liam ask. As I turned towards his direction, I noticed he had caught Olivia's hand, and stopped it from reaching my face. 

“We're doing nothing,” Olivia muttered, taking a step back. 

“She means you,” Mindy said, referring to me. 

“Because, you're nothing,” Olivia said with a sly smile. 

I stood wondering why they decided to go with lousy rhymes that didn't even match so much with each other, but the most painful part was the fact that Caleb stood there—completely silent, while Liam, who didn't mean anything to me, did his best to stop Olivia's bullying. 

“Oh, I thought you were talking about how much lube you need,” Liam said simply. 

I saw the surprise register on Olivia's face at the interruption. 

“She buys it in venti-sized tubes too,” Liam added, making me snicker lightly in response.

“Fuck you!” Olivia exclaimed in shock while those within earshot laughed. 

“But with the number of guys you're seeing, it's probably up to Trenta, right?” Liam said, his voice a little louder. “That's the largest one,” Liam whispered to me.

“Oh!” I exclaimed as understanding dawned on me and I couldn't help but laugh out loud, even Caleb did as well. 

“Don't you dare laugh,” Olivia said to Caleb angrily, using her hand to jab him. 

“Why is it all about me all of a sudden?” Caleb asked even as he snickered and walked away from where we all stood.

Obviously annoyed that her insults turned on her, Olivia turned to Liam, “What do you even see in this boring nobody? Deborah the borer, or does her bony body make your boner look bigger?” She asked smugly.