The Naga's Toy

Chapter 1: Gabriel's Nice?

  16-year-old Liam Matthews was walking to school one day with his best friends Silas Harper and Yazmine Oliver. Silas Harper is a man that you, as the reader, would probably recognize due to his claimed experience with meeting and falling in love with a naga named Edward. Liam didn't believe it, but it was clear that nobody did.

  Liam, Silas, and Yazmine were considered the nerds of the school. Liam was the biggest one. Why? Silas usually hung out with Samuel Nelson and Raymond Holmes (who were somewhat popular) and Yazmine was also considered one of the prettiest girls in the school. Liam had nothing special about him, so naturally, he was the target of Yazmine's twin brother Reed Oliver.

  Yes, Silas was the target of Reed's close friend Kayson Gross, but it was only because Silas had a hard time in swim class. Yazmine was the girl that every popular guy wanted to date besides maybe Samuel for whatever reason. He usually claimed it was because he wasn't into blonde, blue-eyed girls, but Liam didn't believe that either.

  Liam's time at school was very miserable. Usually because of the fact that Reed was fully aware of Liam's small crush on the head of the basketball team, Gabriel Richards.

  Liam wouldn't say that he gay per se. He was still exploring that part of himself, so he wasn't sure if he was in love with Gabriel or if it was just a phase like Silas's wake-up crush on Reed.

  "Let's hope the popular guys leave us alone for once today." Yazmine said as Silas shifted his bag on his shoulder. "Yeah. I could deal without Kayson sticking his nose in my business for once in his life." He agreed.

  Liam stayed quiet. He had nothing to say on the matter. He never had something to say other than answers to questions in his classes this early in the morning. He wished school started later in the day so he could be a little more social and maybe have a little bit more of a social life, even if he did have four friends.

  As the three approached the school, they separated into their usual groups. Yazmine found her girl friends, Silas ran up to Samuel and Raymond while Liam simply hung out with what Reed and the popular crew had dubbed the 'losers' of the school.

  The bell rang not too much longer after that and the students fled into the hall to get to their classes on time so they didn't get a lecture from their teachers for being late upon entering the room.

  Like usual, Liam had science first, and was the first student to get there, so he claimed a seat in the front due to his short stature and waited for the rest of the class to get there in silence while fiddling with his phone. Reed and Kayson walked in not too much longer afterwards, with Reed pushing Liam so he almost fell out of the chair. Ms. Burns gave him a warning look, but didn't interfere. Thankfully, the teacher's knew when they needed to step in when it came to fighting and bullying. Reed never hurt Liam too badly, so nobody had to step in.

  But everyone knew that Reed bullied Liam.

  Not everyone was a fan of it, but there were too many students that were afraid of Reed (Liam included) to do anything about it even if it was painfully obvious to the entire school. Most of the basketball team was afraid of him! The only two students who weren't afraid of Reed were his two best friends (and the two who usually flanked him in the hallway) Gabriel Richards and Kayson Gross.

  Soon, all the students were in their seats beside or behind him. Liam buried his face into his hands, digging his fingers into his dreadlocks.

  "Okay class, today we will be learning about the science behind the brain." Ms. Burns explained once the clock hit 8 on the dot. "Can anyone tell me why the brain is an important function of our body?" Liam quickly raised his hand. He knew this! "Liam?" "The brain is an important function of the body because otherwise it is highly possible we wouldn't be alive or able to move." Liam explained. The teacher smiled. "Very good Liam!"

  Liam smirked to himself as he heard whispers all around him. His classmates were always shocked by his answers, which always seemed to be correct. The only person in the school who wasn't shocked was Gabriel, who claimed it was because he already knew the answer.

  Liam wasn't convinced that Gabriel was just as smart as he was. There was no way. He hardly ever raised his hand in class. Plus, they shared their French class, and Gabriel sucked. The only class that they shared that Gabriel thrived in but Liam sucked at was Gym. But then again, Gabriel was on the basketball team and Liam was nerd. Big difference.

  Soon it was time for French, meaning that Liam would be sitting next to Gabriel. Again.

  As usual, Liam sat down in the front row only to be pushed to the ground by Reed. Again. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't Silas who noticed and stood in the way, but Gabriel.

  Gabriel grabbed Reed by his shirt collar and pulled him up so he was on his tiptoes, a threatening look in his eyes. "Do that again and I'll break your neck with the basketball during practice." He stated. Reed nodded quickly before Gabriel set him down slowly, not quite believing him.

  Liam stared at him in disbelief. Did Gabriel just defend him against Reed? That was definitely not what Liam was used to Gabriel doing. Usually he just laughed alongside his friends. He never defended anyone from one of them, much less threatened one of his friends for someone they were bullying.

  Something was definitely going on here. But what?