The question caught him Liam off guard. He didn't expect Kai to ask him such a thing.
On the other hand, Kai was unsure how to respond. He felt too nervous to say he wanted to be more than just friends.
"We are friends," Kai said nervously.
"Friends, huh?" Liam shook his head. "Okay then."
The pair stood there awkwardly for a few moments. Kai thought about getting in his car and driving off, but that was more the anxiety in his head speaking than his actual desires. It would be easier to just get in his car and drive off, though. He wouldn't have to face Liam again until work on Friday.
"Friends, it is," Liam responded eventually.
Liam leaned closer to the blonde, their lips just inches apart.
Kai's eyes widened when he realized how close they were. He felt his cheeks flush a deep red, and his heart was nearly beating out of his chest.
He stared into Liam's eyes, not knowing what else to say or do. He didn't want him to pull away, but he was afraid of what might happen if he didn't.
The last time he kissed someone was with his best friend over a decade ago, and the feelings they shared were purely platonic. It was more of a test than a real kiss.
They had promised to kiss each other if they still hadn't had their first kiss after prom, so the situation was totally different.
"Liam..." he whispered, barely audible.
Liam's hand reached up, caressing Kai's cheek. At that moment, he was beginning to feel a little nervous because of the way the blonde was looking at him. He wasn't usually someone to get nervous.
"You're really beautiful," Liam stated in a low tone. "But I've already told you."
"Y-Yeah, I know," Kai said, trying to make it less awkward. "I'm gorgeous."
Kai could hear his heartbeat. His heart was pounding against his chest, thumping loudly. He was certain Liam could hear it. In fact, the entire block could probably hear it.
He couldn't believe that Liam was standing in front of him, looking at him with such adoration.
Kai closed his eyes. He didn't want him to stop touching him, but he knew if he didn't get his emotions under control, he was going to lose control and do something stupid.
He always did stupid things.
"May I?" Liam asked in a whisper.
Kai was unable to verbalize anything. Instead, he nodded slightly. He could barely comprehend what was happening.
He felt Liam's lips against his. They were soft and warm. He didn't realize that touching lips could feel that way. His heart fluttered. His stomach fluttered. His body felt as if it were floating, and he felt pleasantly light-headed.
Kai opened his eyes and looked away. He felt he would never be able to look at him again. He was so embarrassed. It was rather irrational.
Liam pulled away, smiling. "Friends can kiss, can't they?"
"Yes." Kai smiled. "Friends can kiss."
Kai took a deep breath and sighed. It was a small kiss. It didn't last long enough for him. He wanted more, but he was too nervous to mention such a thing.
"You liked it," Liam stated.
"You're right," Kai replied. "I did."
"Good."
"You know, Liam," Kai started. "You are quite the surprise."
"Yeah?" Liam chuckled. "Why's that?"
"Yes," Kai answered. "I had no idea you could be so sweet. I thought you were just a dick."
"Me either," Liam admitted. "I, too, thought I was just a dick."
"Yeah!" Kai laughed. "And I'm a bitch."
"And so can you," Liam smiled. "Be sweet, I mean."
"I try," Kai stated.
"Well, I'm glad." Liam smiled. "Because it would suck if you weren't nice."
"Yeah!" Kai laughed. "That would be terrible."
Liam ran his hands through his hair and grinned.
"So, we're friends, right?"
"Right," Kai nodded. "Friends."
"And friends can do stuff together, right?" Liam asked.
"Like what?" Kai tilted his head and looked up at the taller man.
"Like go places, eat food, and just spend time together," Liam suggested. "Watch anime like nerds."
"Sounds good to me," Kai stated. "Especially the anime part."
"Great," Liam smiled. "We can start tonight."
"Tonight?" Kai questioned.
"Yes," Liam responded. "I was thinking maybe we could go get some food and talk or whatever."
"Um..." Kai paused. "Maybe."
"I'm buying," Liam added.
"Oh, that changes everything," Kai laughed.
"I figured," Liam said, rolling his eyes. "Bitches love free food."
Kai puffed out his cheeks. "Dick."
"Guilty as charged," Liam chuckled.
Kai fiddled with the hem of his shirt.
"So, what do you say?" Liam asked with a hopeful tone in his voice.
Kai hesitated. He didn't want to give the wrong answer. He did want to go out with him, but he also wasn't sure if he could handle spending a night out with him. He didn't want to make a fool out of himself. Plus, he hadn't spent that much time out of his apartment, aside from work, in a long time.
"Sure," Kai responded eventually.
"Great!" Liam smiled. "Where shall we eat? Any ideas?"
"McDonald's," Kai chuckled.
"McDonald's?" Liam raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not picky," Kai shrugged. "I like salt."
"I don't think McDonald's counts as going out to eat," Liam laughed.
"But the fries," Kai protested.
"The fries are only good straight from the fryer," Liam stated. "If they aren't fresh, they're trash."
"We can ask them to fry them fresh."
"They don't. They just refry the old fries."
"Fries taste delicious with ketchup," Kai began. "It doesn't matter if they're fresh. They still have salt. The shape of the fry and amount of salt used is engineered for maximum deliciousness. They also have Mac sauce."
"You don't need Mac sauce," Liam sighed. "You can have my sauce anytime."
The statement grossed Kai out a bit. He was not going to dip fries in his so-called sauce.
"I'll just make you some fries sometime," Liam offered.
"Do you have something against McDonald's?" Kai asked.
"Yeah," Liam replied. "They suck."
"You suck," Kai scoffed.
"I most definitely could suck something," Liam smirked.
"Fine," Kai snickered. "Why not just order pizza and hang out?"
"No," Liam sighed. "The house is too noisy. We'll get roped into cleaning out the garage."
"You don't want to?"
"Hell no," Liam shook his head, looking toward the direction the garage was in.
Kai decided to take a peek at the man cleaning out the garage. Like a stealth assassin, he slowly approached the dumpsters and hid behind them. He crouched and looked past them at the man, who somehow had his asscrack hanging out even more.
The man was scratching his ass cheek and chugging another beer. Kai could see several empty beer cans on the ground. The man was definitely an alcoholic of some sort.
Liam approached Kai, leaning down to look at him. "What the hell are you even doing?"
"I'm investigating," Kai whispered, not wanting to draw attention.
"Larry?" Liam asked as he stared into the man's crack and recoiled in disgust. "That's my mom's husband."
"Not your dad?" Kai asked.
"Hell no!" Liam frowned. "Larry's really a dick. Like, an actual dick. He's not a semi-erect dick like I am."
Kai cocked his head to the side.
"My dad is dead," Liam stated.
"Oh," Kai sighed. "I'm sorry."
Liam shrugged. "Don't be. I never met the man. But Larry, stay away from that guy, please?"
Kai was a bit confused, but he didn't feel like it was his place to pay further. If Liam wanted to talk about it, he would, but it didn't seem like he wanted to say anything else about the Larry guy.
Kai stood up and shrugged.
"I try to avoid him." Liam nodded.
Kai thought about it for a moment. He had used up all of his social energy for the year by coming over and meeting Brenda, so he didn't really want to go out, but he knew that would disappoint him. There was another place they could go, and it was a place Larry wouldn't be able to pester them.
"Why don't we hang out at my apartment?" Kai suggested. "I don't really want to go out. I'm tired."
"Aren't you always tired?"
"Yes," Kai agreed.
"You can't even sit up long enough to eat anywhere?" Liam asked.
"No," Kai said, shaking his head. "I can just go home and sleep. I'll just leave your ass here."
"You wouldn't," Liam smirked.
"I would."
Before Liam could respond, the blonde had already made his way back to his car. He sat down in the car and started the engine.
Sleep was only a few blocks away, after all.
As Kai buckled his seatbelt, Liam got into the car. He leaned back in the seat and glared at the blonde.
"What?" Kai laughed. "Decided you wanted to come along?"
"Yeah," Liam stated, fake pouting. "Don't leave me here."
"Fine," Kai stated. "I guess."
Kai shrugged and drove off. It didn't take long for him to get to the apartment complex he lived in. He parked the car and looked over at Liam.
"Wow, you live close to me," Liam stated as he looked around after they parked. "I wouldn't have guessed you were right down the road."
"What do you want to do?" Kai asked.
"You," Liam stated in a playful tone, clearly teasing the blonde.
"I'm serious." Kai frowned.
"Eat pizza?" Liam chuckled.
It took a moment for it to register that he was taking Liam to his apartment. They would be alone. He had never been alone in his apartment with anyone before, let alone someone he was actually fond of.
He became nervous about the prospect. He couldn't believe they would be alone together.