Perfect For Me

CHAPTER 17 (Liam Williams)

Another typical Monday morning. As always Ethan didn't want to get up. I couldn't really be angry with him, because honestly neither did I. I know, I said I liked school. And that's true. I liked learning and I had the benefit of being very smart. Most things just came easy to me and I didn't have to study much. I was very lucky it was this way, otherwise I would have dropped out of school long ago. Ethan and my work took very much time from me. If it wasn't for my grandparents, I would have to work during weekdays too. But when they died, they gave me all their money. It was possible because my mom was already too far into her alcohol addiction to count as their heir. With that money I was able to buy the apartment we were currently living in and still go to school and pay Ethan's education fee.

I got of topic. So, as I said I usually liked school, but I didn't want to go there today. Nate made me promise I would go and apologise to Ryan! It was true, I had started the fight. I just had been so frustrated about the kiss the day before, I had wanted to get any reaction out of Ryan. He had left me sitting on my bed dumbfounded and he was going to pay for that. Originally I hadn't planned on PHYSICALLY fighting him but..... things turned out the way they did and I was not even angry about it. I knew throwing punches and hitting people wasn't the real way to put arguments aside. And I would always raise Ethan in the knowledge that fighting was bad but sometimes it just felt good to be able to let out all your frustration. And it wasn't like Ryan was innocent. Even though neither one of us had been able to throw a punch before we whad been stopped I knew he had wanted it to happen just as much as I had. 

So, I didn't really see why I had to go and apologise. And I really didn't know how Nate got me to agree with him and promise to say sorry!

Still, the thing I said about his parents was a low blow. And Nate didn't even know how low. I felt kinda guilty for it. I mean he too made a comment about my parents but other than me, he didn't know my background story. I knew how Ryan was treated at home and what he felt like because of that. Like a giant disappointment. Exactly what I had said. Though we may not be friends I could tell how talented and hard-working he was. Which still did not make him better than me, but it didn't make him a disappointment either.

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I dreaded lunch the whole day. I knew I had to apologise then. In theory there would still be the locker rooms before soccer practise, but I rather would talk to him in private. So, I took a deep breath and went towards the cafeteria with Nate and Jamie. Benn had had a different class, so he went with other teammates. "Oh come on. It's just an apology. Don't act like you'll die because of it!" Nate rolled his eyes. "But I will!", I stubbornly said. "It's downright embarrassing!" Nate and Jamie just scoffed. But hey, THEY didn't have to say sorry to their worst enemy! With a sigh I turned towards the table.

"Hey, can I talk to you real quick?" I definitely never had seen someone turn their heads faster than the soccer players on Ryan's table today. Some even choked on their food in surprise. Yeah, I couldn't really believe it myself that I was standing at my rivals' table, asking to speak with my BIGGEST ENEMY! But calm down, it was not the eighth wonder of the world. I rolled my eyes. A month ago, it may had been but now we almost were best buddies. Who kissed. Ugh, that kiss! It still kept me awake at night. I just couldn't figure out how and why it had happened. On my side I knew why. I wasn't in denial anymore; I definitely had a crush on Ryan Lander. But just a teeny tiny one. But on his side, I had no idea. Was he disgusted by me?

"Hello? Hello Liam! You still with us?" I swatted the hand away that waved in front of my face. "Yeah, sorry. Can we go outside? It's kinda private." I blushed. How embarrassing! The whole table whooped but was quickly silenced by two angry glances of Ryan and me. "Sure, let's go."

We stopped in the hallway. No one was out here at this time. I nervously wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans. Why the hell was I nervous?! I gritted my teeth and pressed out. "I'm sorry." "What?" 

That definitely wasn't what Ryan expected. I sighed. "I'm sorry for what I said Saturday evening. About your parents. I'm sure they don't really think you're a disappointment. And if they do....at least I don't." I quietly added the last part, hoping he hadn't heard it. I looked away. "Aww. No need to get all mushy feeling now." Ryan fake cooed. "But, thanks. And I,... I'm sorry about what I said about your parents too." He then added in a serious voice. Wow, that definitely was something I hadn't expected. Nevertheless I smiled at him. "Okay. Truce?" Ryan took the hand I extended and shook it. "Truce." He confirmed. I turned around and started walking towards the cafeteria when Ryan called after me. "Liam? Hey, and about Friday.... Can we...." He nervously bit his lip. "Can we just forget it happened? It was a heat of the moment thing and I,.... Oh, I can't believe I'm about to say that, but I would like to keep you as a friend. You're not as bad as you may have seemed..." 

I ignored the stinging in my chest and smiled once again. "Sure, that would be great!"