AT THE NURSES OFFICE
Liam groaned, his head pounding. He opened his eyes, blinking against the bright fluorescent lights. "Where am I?" he mumbled, his voice hoarse. He sat up slowly, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his jaw. The room was small and sterile, smelling faintly of antiseptic. He remembered the fight, the pain, the fear. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him.
AT CLASS
Liam shuffled into the classroom, his head still throbbing. He caught the teacher's disapproving gaze. "Liam, please explain your tardiness," the teacher said, her voice sharp.
"I was at the nurse's office," Liam replied, his voice barely a whisper. He felt self-conscious, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Just take your seat," the teacher said, waving her hand dismissively.
Liam slumped into his seat, his gaze fixed on the floor. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He knew Damian was in this class, and he wasn't sure how he would react to seeing him again.
The teacher cleared her throat, her voice booming through the room. "Alright class, we'll be working on a project. I'll be assigning partners." Liam's heart sank. He knew what was coming.
"Damian and Liam, you two will be working together."
Liam's eyes widened in disbelief. "Teach, can I change partners?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
The teacher shook her head. "No, you two need to get along for this project."
Damian let out a frustrated groan. "Do we have to?" he muttered under his breath.
OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL
Damian stood by the school entrance, his arms crossed over his chest. He watched as Liam emerged from the school, his shoulders slumped, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"Hey, Nerd," Damian said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "We're gonna do the project at my place. Come to my house tomorrow. Here's my address." He tossed a crumpled piece of paper at Liam's feet.
Liam hesitated, his eyes darting between Damian and the crumpled paper. "Okay," he mumbled, picking up the paper. "Thanks, I guess."
Damian smirked, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of mischief and something else, something Liam couldn't quite decipher. Liam turned and walked away, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't sure what to do of Damian's sudden change in demeanor.
