Disclaimer: I don't own 90210

Pairing: Liam and Annie

Rating: Strong T

Warnings: None

a/n: Reason this is late is because I was doing MASSIVE revision and editing. I realised I had written chapters that seemed repetitive and the story was seriously dragging. Anyway this is mostly in Annie's perspective, and sorry if it feels disjointed. Onwards…

Chapter 10

Liam hadn't picked her up in all week and it didn't surprise her. He'd been quite open with his emotions, something he really wasn't used to, so him needing space to get his head right didn't bother her as much as it should.

Annie from a few months ago would have sought him out and demanded to know why he was avoiding her, but she'd somehow learnt to understand - slightly - the inner working of Liam and understood confrontation just made him back off with immediate effect.

"So where's your other half?" Silver asked, sitting down beside her elusive friend.

Annie raised an eyebrow, "Other half?"

"You know… male, blue-eyes, badass complex complete with muscle car," Silver elaborated teasingly.

Rolling her eyes, "haha," throwing a fry at her, "and he isn't my other half."

"Right, that's why you two are stuck at the hip these past couple of months."

"It's not even like that," Annie argued lamely.

"Uh huh," Sliver agreed disbelievingly. "Keep telling yourself that."

"We are what were are, what can I say," giving up the protest, knowing it would only prove Silver's words right.

"And what are you? Complicated?" Silver mocked, knowing that was the word she was going to use.

Annie rolled her eyes, "It's not complicated, it's just … hard to define."

"In other words complicated."

"I know what your trying to say Silver, but things are the way the are, trying to define it will just complicate things," if her hunch was right, Dixon was behind this heart to heart.

Silver looked thoughtful for a second, before speaking frankly. "You saying that because you believe it or because it's what he wants?"

"I want things the way they are."

"You do realise you're only fooling yourself right," Silver told her once again seriously. "You're feeling this boy like crazy and you're too afraid to ask him to define exactly what you are. If I was to guess, I'd say you are far from okay with the situation and your going along with it because you're hoping he commits."

"Liam Court doesn't commit to anyone, and that's pretty clear to me Silver, I'm not ignorant of the situation," Annie argued. "In fact, I've never been more aware of something this much. I just wish people would stop trying to define it for us, when we don't need them to."

Silver raised hands in surrender, "hey, not on the attack here, just wanted to know where your head is at."

"I'm good with things the way they are," Annie deflated from her defensive stance. "Promise."

0-~*+*~--~*+*~-0

Liam needed a week to get his head right and Annie gave him that. She did not hunt him down and demand to know what was going on, just gave him space, and waited for him to come to her. And this English project wasn't exactly a bad way to make up for lost time.

He tried running, and it didn't work. Now he figured embrace it.

"We are suppose to be doing a project," she reminded him, against his lips.

He moved his ministrations to the spot behind her ear that she got weak in the knees to, "We're taking a break."

"Then don't start something you can't finish," she told him, stifling a giggle when he caressed the back of her knees. That was the bad thing about it, he knew all her spots.

He moved his hand further up her leg, "Oh but I do plan to finish." At that however, she slipped out of his arms.

"English project," she told him, even though she was still reeling and her skin was tingling. "Then maybe… we can fool around." she told him boldly.

He looked at her, with a raised eyebrow, "You know that doesn't help me think English project. Right now it makes me think English Project, bad; fooling around, good."

A blush rose in her cheeks despite herself. "And I'm thinking Project, now. Get over here."

"You sure you want me close?" he teased a slow smirk forming on his face.

She smiled, "Quit the innuendo, Court. We need to get this done, 50% of your grade mean nothing to you."

"Fine pause or whatever," Grabbing an extra seat and pulling it close to her. Forcing his mind on the project, and not on the fact that he still wanted her.

After about an hour and half of brainstorming, during his submission to ideas on the project, she couldn't help but watch him discreetly. He was gorgeous and not only in the physical sense - that was a given - but in the emotional and intelligent sense. As much as he tried to stifle his smarts, the guy was brainy. And not only that, but also the fact that he had honoured her request fully and committed to the project, was so amazing.

"…and you do realise I can feel your eyes on me," he broke off what he was saying abruptly, and turning to looking into her eyes. That innocence in her eyes still got to him, since she blushed at getting caught, but didn't quite look away in shame.

"Good," was all she said, straddling his lap and kissing him, letting him know that she was ready to take it off pause and fool around now.

0-~*+*~--~*+*~-0

"Pool tonight. You in?" Liam whispered in her ear, trapping her against the bookshelf and himself.

She smiled, "killer test Monday. Studying" turning away from him to return the book, and looking for a more appropriate title. She knew they hadn't hang out in about 2 weeks but, she had crazy amounts of assignments, term papers and not to forget rehearsals for her part in the school play.

Okay, there was also the limiting her time with him to slow things down between them to a manageable pace, but it made her feel less week concentrating on the others.

"Friday," he stated, pulling her hair away from her neck and lay kisses on her nape, behind her neck, the crook of her neck. "Take a break." wrapping strong arms around her waist and continuing to gently suck on her neck that would definitely lead to a love bite.

She shut her eyes and relished it for a second before remembering where they were, and what she was meant to be doing. "Sounds tempting…" she sighed.

"Get tempted then," he told her easily, in a breathy whisper right into her ear, as lips grazed the shell of her ear.

"You're a bad influence, you know," she conceded, making him grin against her neck.

"You like it," he told her slipping away as abruptly as he came.

0-~*+*~--~*+*~-0

Even though it was unconscious to him, Annie could tell he was getting into this as deep as she was, and when the realisation hit him he would probably run. She didn't want to complicate things, she didn't. But it was heading there and fast.

"Problem?" Silver asked a pensive looking Annie, as she sat down beside her.

Tearing herself from her thoughts she answered, "I deserve a big fat 'I told you so' right now."

"Let me guess Liam Court?" she'd seen this happening from a mile away, but Annie had been so adamant, she'd hoped it wouldn't.

"In a synch," Annie confirmed in sigh.

"You like him."

"That would be putting it lightly."

"You're in love with him?"

"No," she negated firmly, she wasn't but, if she went on recklessly like she'd been doing, then it would be a definite possibility. At the moment though, she wasn't. "I just really - he makes me - I really like him." finally conceding defeat and admitting it out loud for herself.

"I can tell," Silver smiled, nudging her playfully. "So… what are you going to do?"

"Stay away?"

"You mean avoid him."

"Same difference," Annie mumbled irritated at herself.

Silver smiled sadly, pulling her friend into a half hug.

More soon

a/n: if the ending annoyed you, it annoyed me too. People going round the point, infuriating, but think about it. Liam Court isn't exactly Mr. Relationship, and it's natural for Annie to be skittish about confessing she wants more or feels something more. Anyway enough explaining. P.S. really let me know what you think.

Reviews would be lovely. Constructive Criticisms is welcomed. Flames … "to each his own".