New Chapter (A Thiam Story)

Chapter 33

While Liam is hanging out with Theo in his dorm, Liam's phone keeps dinging.

Liam checks every once-in-a-while but he already knows what it is.

It's a poll.

A poll about which guy he was kissing. The candidates: Edward (Enemies to Lovers) Brett (Ex to re-lovers) or Nolan (Friends to enemies to lovers).

Not in a million years will Liam ever date Edward. He doesn't even want to be around him at times, imagine dating him. Brett was Liam's bisexual awakening and that was it. They dated, yeah, but Brett ruined it by not being on Liam's side when Nolan was going at him. And finally Nolan, Liam has never felt any romantic attraction towards Nolan. He only sees him as a friend... Frenemy?

Liam really doesn't know. What he does know is that all he want is for the entire situation to be over with.

Liam's phone dings one last time and Theo sighs.

"Do you want me to tell everyone that I am the one you are kissing in that picture?" Theo asks Liam.

It's cute how Theo wants to come out for Liam, but Liam doesn't want him to come out for him. Only for hisself.

"I'm sure. It'll be over with before we know it."

"Li, it has been a whole two weeks. I don't think it's going to stop."

"I don't know why everyone is so obsessed with a freshman."

"Because you are the only interesting freshman that came to this school. Besides me, of course." Theo smiles a cheeky smile at Liam.

"I hate you so much," Liam said as he pushes Theo flat on his back on the bed. Giving him a kissing on the lips during the process.

-

The next day, Liam is in his dorm room sleeping in his bed, when he gets awoken but something hitting him in the face.

He slowly opens his eyes, blinking, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the light, when he notices his best friend.

"Mason? What are you doing here?" He asks in his tired voice.

"Because my Instagram has been blowing up with the poll going around. People keep messaging me asking me if I know who you are kissing. People cannot seriously be that blind to not see that it was Theo. He even kissed you in public."

"It was night, and raining Mase, now can I go back to sleep?"

"No, you need to talk about this with Theo."

"I already did, and I told him not to tell anyone unless he wants to."

And he meant it... Sort of...

"Okay, you're right."

"Thank you."

Mason is about to walk out of the room when Liam stops him.

"My Mom texted me."

Mason immediately turns around to face Liam. "WHAT?! WHEN?!"

"Can I tell you something? Mason, will be a better person than you ever will be! So don't talk bad about my best friend again, and it was my dipshit of a mother who texted me. You two should be friends since you both are crap."

"When we first came back to school after the shooting," Liam admits.

"Well what did she say?"

Liam sighs as he pulls up the message on his phone and he shows Mason.

"I will not stop until I get you." Mason reads out loud. "What the fuck? Your Mom is a fucking bitch."

"I know, I just want her to go away, and for the poll thing to go away too."

"And it will, just give it some time."

"It has been weeks, Mase. I don't think it will ever end."

And he was right. It hasn't ended.

Day after day, poll after poll, Liam going insane by people asking him who was he kissing, was it one of the people on the poll. The whispers he hears about him.

He has his friends to defend him. Hayden trying to make new gossip, Mason trying to shut it down, Corey flipping people off, Hikari trying to shut down the poll, and Theo shooting people death glares.

He knows it's enough, but it's not enough for him to go through a full day of school without trying to punch someone.

-

Another two weeks later, Liam is walking out of his math class when he gets stopped by Edward.

"Yo IED, you are trending on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok — now tell us, who were you kissing? Like I won't judge, I just know for a fact that it's not me." Edward smiles that stupid grin of his.

Edward Bolt, pale skin, broad body, always wears jock clothes, and has the brain of a baby.

A typical straight white boy with privilege.

"Yo, IED. Answer the ques —" Edwards gets cut off with him tumbling to the floor, holding his side cheek. "What the fuck man?"

"He hadn't answered you the first time, take a fucking hint and leave him alone!" Theo said. "Before I give you a fucking black eye."

Damn, it's hot watching Theo be overprotective of Liam.

"You wanna try me Raeken?" Edward said walking towards Theo.

Theo starts walking towards Edward too, until their chests hit each other. They are both yelling at each other until they both get pulled away from each other. Edward by the football boys and Theo by Mason and Corey.

"Theo, stop. You do not need to get in any trouble," Mason tells him.

All the students around Liam, Theo, and Edward are whispering to each other pointing at Theo.

They finally realize Theo is the one Liam was kissing in the photo.

Liam looks teary-eyed. He is speechless because Theo — sort of — didn't come out on his own.

Liam looks at Mason and Corey holding a still angry Theo back, with Hayden and Hikari trying to comfort Liam, with Liam not listening.

But something drastic happens.

Liam watches as Theo grabs everyone's attention in the hallway.

"Hey, everyone listen! So you all want to be nosey, gossipy little bitches, you might as well know the truth. The truth is, I am gay. Yes, I am the one kissing Liam in that photo..."

Some gasps in shock, some smile, some says some accepting things, others look disgusted. But Liam can tell that Theo doesn't care, and he's glad.

"...I don't want it to be a secret anymore because I am happy with Liam. He makes me want to be a better person, and I don't like how you all are gossiping about him behind his back. If there are any other problems, you have two options: keep it to yourself... Or your face can meet my fucking fist. Either way, no one will say anything bad about Liam again."

Liam watches happily as Theo turns towards him, setting his hand out for Liam to take. Liam takes it immediately, interlocking their fingers and they start walking out of the class building.

Liam can't believe that Theo just came out, but he is happy that he did.

Because now, they can finally be together in public.