Expulsion gave Liam Barrett a dangerous choice. Needing to transfer for his final year, he'd known immediately where to go. It was a distantly familiar place that'd taken everything from him; had once ruined him so absolutely and twisted his persona...
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The late evening darkness swept the lively town, street lamps and houses glowing the ground in artificial silver.
ㅤLiam had spent that evening taking shifts at the cafe, Mia joining him at the till an hour into service and incessantly chatting to him. A small shiver ran down Liam's spine as he stepped into the cool evening air, a lighter in his hand and a fag resting in his mouth, unlit. It wasn't hard to notice the days getting shorter and the nights getting colder, albeit still warm, and Liam was thankful for the declining temperatures.
ㅤHe was joined by Mia shortly afterwards. She plucked the unlit cigarette from his mouth and leant against the brick wall next to him. The town was still bustling even after nightfall, with people idling around in groups.
ㅤ"Smoking isn't a good habit," she told him, rolling it between her fingers.
ㅤLiam shrugged, retrieving another fag from his pocket, abandoning the one that got stolen.
ㅤ"I'd rather live a stress-free short life than a long hassling one." He cupped the lighter around the end and took a long drag, body warming.
ㅤThey both stood in momentary silence, watching as Liam exhaled the smoke which dispersed into the air, floating up in the sky. Liam had sworn to quit many times but had never succeeded. Eventually, he'd no longer cared to.
ㅤ"You texted your boyfriend?" he asked.
ㅤ"Yeah. He said the plan is that we three are gonna go eat dinner somewhere and then we're going to meet up with his friend at Silk."
ㅤLiam slanted her an interested look. Silk was the most trodden club in the area. Liam had been there a few times and vaguely remembered it among his drunk heated nights. But the place was certainly expensive and the bouncers were paid enough to not take bribes. It was his favourite club out of all of them—but also the most difficult to get in underage.
ㅤ"I'm assuming you have a convincing fake ID, then?" he asked. Liam had been held back one year so he didn't have to wait to turn eighteen like Mia did.
ㅤMia smiled devilishly, her screen shining light onto her face like a demon. "You underestimate me."
ㅤ"Isn't it kind of sad to go clubbing on a Thursday evening though?"
ㅤ"Be grateful it's not any other weekday. Thursdays aren't that depressing."
ㅤLiam was silent for a moment, not sure if he should say what he was thinking, mostly deciding against it. Eventually, though, he gave in and turned to her.
ㅤ"Don't they have the LGBT thing on Thursdays?"
ㅤHer mischievous grin grew as she peered up at him. "There is something like that," she confessed. "But it's not as serious as you're thinking. It's not LGBT-exclusive or anything like that. It's just that there's more than usual. There's still plenty of straight women and no one will bother you if you just tell them 'no'."
