Breaking Ice

Chapter Thirty-Five

Ladies and gentlemen, we have have arrived safely at your destination. Thank you for choosing our airline and enjoy Munich.

The pilot repeated the announcement in German as they landed in the Augsburg Airport at the same time Bexley opened her eyes from a short nap. The almost 9-hour flight had her already jetlagged and she planned to rest as soon as she arrived at the academy.

She needed a comfortable bed, doubting it would feel like home. Turning her cell phone on, she received many messages from her classmates and her family, but as she scrolled down, she saw the one that mattered to her the most.

"Hello darlin'. Hope you make it to Germany safe. I'll be expecting your call, no matter the time. Love you and already miss you."

Jeremiah's cheesy message made her heart flutter, and she quickly answered the text while she waited for everyone to get off the plane.

"I love you too. Just made it and ready for a shower and some rest. Will call you later, I already miss you too."

"Miss?" A stewardess stood in front of her, smiling at her. "It's time to go."

"Oh, yes. Thank you, I just got distracted."

"Missing family already?"

Bexley nodded but didn't say more as she stood from her seat and grabbed her bag, hurriedly making it out of the plane. The baggage claim area was not far ahead, and as she waited for her luggage, she couldn't help but suddenly feel uneasy about the entire situation.

Her cell phone rang, and she smiled. Already missing her family, she answered the call.

"Hi, Mom!" she greeted. "I just landed and I'm waiting on my luggage."

"Oh, sweetheart. I'm glad you made it okay. We're just about to go to bed, but wanted to call you and make sure you landed safely. Is there someone meeting you there?"

Bexley looked around. "I don't know. But as soon as I get my luggage, I will check. Or maybe call someone. I have the scouts' numbers."

"Good. I can't wait for you to come back. But have fun and don't forget to take lots of pictures."

"I will. Bye, Mom. The conveyor belt is running now. Give a kiss to everyone for me."

She hung up the phone and waited for her belongings, feeling strange as almost every passenger waiting was speaking German, and she couldn't understand a word.

And at last, her luggage appeared on sight, and she grabbed it as swiftly as possible, heading towards the exit to see if there was, by any chance, someone waiting for her.

But she never imagined that someone would be him. Her worst nightmare.

With a banner in front of him that had her last name, his blonde hair slightly ruffled and his remarkable amber eyes, which to her dismay, had made her fall head over heels for him, Liam Parker stood.

He had a smile on his face, the kind of smile that could make a girl run away, not the other way around.

Bexley froze on the spot, many ideas running through her mind, and she hoped in vain that there was another Evans in the airport.

"What are you doing here?" Was the first thing she said as she approached him.

"Picking you up. I will be taking you to the academy," he said with an air of victory, as he thought this was his chance to finally get his girl. "It has been a while, Bexley."

"And I wished it could have been forever. Wasn't there anyone else to come get me?"

Liam shook his head, putting his hand on his jean pocket as he shrugged his shoulders.

"They're all busy preparing for the next semester. So, either come with me, or stay here until someone can finally decide to come get you."

Bexley folded her arms on her chest, looking away.

"Come on, Bexley. I promise to be a gentleman," he added, showing her a genuine expression. Or at least, that's what she thought. "We need to get along if we're going to be skating partners again."

"What?" Bexley shouted, getting the attention of the passengers who were trying to make it out of the airport. "Are you crazy?"

Her heart beat erratically at the thought of being the lunatic's partner.

"I've been solo since the moment you did what you did to me. I'm not skating with you. Not going back to that."

Liam sighed, turned around and walked out of the airport, giving her the choice to either follow, or stay there. "Talk to the scouts about it. I didn't make the decision."

Looking at him walk out the doors, she stayed frozen on the spot, debating. But when she realized she didn't have any other choice, she grabbed the luggage and stomped out of the airport, following him to the parking lot, where she was sure his car would be.

Liam opened the door for her, urging her to get in as the chilly weather was biting into their skin, and grabbed her luggage, setting it on the back of the car.

"Please, tell me you're lying. I didn't come all the way here to be blindsided like this," Bexley expressed, trying to look for a hint in his eyes that this was all a bad joke.

"I wish I could, considering the way we left things."

"The way I left things after you almost practically raped me!"

Liam tensed next to her, gripping at the steering wheel. But relaxed soon before he turned the ignition on. "Like I said, discuss that with the scouts."

He drove away and made his way to the academy, eager to drop her off. He had made the mistake of almost forcing himself on her, but if they were to work this out, they needed to forget what happened.

Which for Bexley, that would never be possible. "Why did I even accept this? I should have stayed home with Jeremiah," she muttered, loud enough for him to hear.

"Boyfriend?" he asked, curiously, lifting an eyebrow. Bexley glared at him.

"None of your business, and you better get me there fast."

"Your wish is my command," he smiled.

What felt like hours was just 30 minutes and they arrived at the academy, the majestic building had Bexley gasping in awe.

It was winter time, and the snow had covered the landscape, making the place look like a castle in the middle of nowhere.

"Beautiful," she whispered with a smile, forgetting for a moment she was still in the car with Liam, even long after he had parked.

"Indeed," he replied, looking straight at her instead. Bexley couldn't get out of the car fast enough, slamming the door shut before she grabbed her luggage from the back.

"You better stay away from me these next months, Liam Parker, or I swear you won't like me."

He laughed.

"What's so funny?" Bexley asked, getting upset.

"Oh sweetheart. Of course I won't stay away. That's the point of being skating partners."

The sole idea of it all made her skin crawl, and for a moment, she thought she would cry.

As he drove off and left her standing by the entrance, she couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into.