Aleksei & Liam

15. Homework

(Liam's PoV)

We must have been here for 4 hours now and Lauren and I were on the verge of madness.
I think this must have been a fun evening to the pub goers who could actually name the songs but for Lauren and I, not so much.

Aleksei must have thought I was having the time of my life, you know because I had lied to him about how much I loved this kind of music and that made me feel shit. Even if he doesn't have a problem with my sexuality he sure is going to have a problem with all the lies.

I continued to watch him put his entire heart into his performances and it was so admirable how passionate he was. He would catch me staring at times and send a wink or goofy smile my way, two very contradicting gestures.

They were finally done and to say I was relieved would make me seem like such a jerk but it really was the case.

Lauren and I walked up to where the band were playing, "you were amazing!" Lauren told Charlie as the latter lifted her up in his arms as she clung onto his neck.

A smile formed on my face as I watched them being perfect, I looked over at Aleksei and had a panic attack, he stood there with his arms wide open and a satisfied smile etched across his face.

We never hugged.

I stood still waiting for an order from my brain, it never came. "Oh come on you're supposed to be my groupie." He said with a pout.

I hate him.

I loosely wrapped my arms around his slim waist as he wrapped his arms tight around my neck, "see not so bad." He said before detaching himself from me completely.

It was so easy for him. He simply began to clear the place up whilst I stood there trying to calm my raging heart.

Unrequited love.

After over an hour the lot of us made it back to Jamie's place and didn't get to spend too long as Jamie's parents had guests...guests that were expecting to see Jamie, who had totally not forgotten about their visiting.

"Alright Stass we've got time to kill." Aleksei said as he kicked a newly planted rose bush that was planted outside of Jamie's house.

I cringed at the silly nickname and yanked him away from the rose bush, giving him a stern look.

"Do you wanna come over?" I asked. I wasn't scared. We were friends and having each other over for no reason was totally normal.

"Fine by me." He shrugged and we made our way to my place.

"Please tell me that's your room." He pointed at a window which funnily enough was in fact my room.

"How'd you guess."

"I bet you climb over that fence right there and sneak into your room." He pointed and I shook my head.

"Are your parents in?" He asked as we made our way to the front door, "No, they're usually not here until 9." I said confidently as I unlocked the door and stepped in.
I guided Aleksei upstairs when...

"Liam, is that you?"

I froze in position and was ready to pass out. Not a repeat of last term. Not a repeat of last term. Oh please god, not a repeat of last term.

"Oh?" Mum came into view at the bottom of the stairs with a napkin in her hand.

"What's going on here?" She asked before Aleksei could sweep her off her feet with his charming words.

"I-, I was just giving h-him my homework..."

Aleksei must have sensed the seriousness of the situation because he didn't utter a word and just looked back and forth between mum and I.

"This late?" She asked, "do you think what you're doing is right?" She directed her question to Aleksei now.

He stiffened with wide eyes and turned to look at me. "I'll just give him the homework and he'll leave." I said and it pained me how hostile I had to be to make mum believe this wasn't what she thought it was.

"You honestly don't think I'm buying that do you?" My mouth went dry as the words left her mouth.

"I-it's not like that." I said with a wavering voice.

"I thought I warned you about brining boys over." She said in a pained voice as though I was the bad guy here.

"Do your parents know?" She asked Aleksei once again and I really wished I could tell her to shut up.

"That's enough." I said, emotions getting the best of me.

"I think it's best if I leave, uh...I'll get my homework done with Alfie or someone." He waved a dismissive hand as he made his way to the front door. "I'll see you later Mrs. Stassen." He added with a weak smile.

And just like that he was gone. I hurriedly bolted up the remainder of the stairs and shut myself in my room.

I didn't know what to do.
My phone buzzed a few times and I pulled it out of my coat pocket with trembling hands.

I opened Aleksei's chat and read his messages

'Hi.'

'Hope you're ok.'

'I shouldn't have intruded.'

'I hope you're mum's not too mad.'

'You there?'

'Call me if you're free?'

'Right! I'll stop bothering you.'

I felt tears brim my eyes.
I never cry.
I never expected my own parents to shun me for something so silly.
There was a time my mother could actually look me in the eye and smile, a time my father actually looked at me with pride.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and sent Aleksei a message that simply read 'I'm sorry. Everything's alright.'

He sent me another dozen texts making sure I was okay but I didn't respond. I simply switched my phone off and cried myself to sleep.