THE WEEKEND
Liam stared at his phone, his heart pounding in his chest. He'd completely forgotten about the project. He'd been so caught up in his own world, trying to forget the events of the previous day, that he'd let the deadline slip his mind. He scrambled to his feet, his stomach churning with anxiety. He had to get to Damian's house.
AT DAMIAN'S PLACE
Liam stood on the porch, his hand hovering over the doorbell. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He checked the address again, making sure he was in the right place. He could feel his cheeks flushing with heat. He was about to walk into Damian's house, the house of the boy who had beaten him up just a few days ago.
The door opened, revealing a woman with kind eyes and a warm smile. "Oh, hello dear, are you here for Damian?" she asked.
Liam's heart skipped a beat. He felt his throat tighten. "Uhm, hi, yes I am," he stammered.
"Are you his boyfriend?" the woman asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Liam's face flushed crimson. "Wh-what? N-no, I'm not, ma'am!" he sputtered. "I'm here to do the project with him."
"Oh, sorry dear, I thought you were his boyfriend," the woman said, her smile widening. "Come inside. I'll call him." She turned and called out, "Damian! Your classmate is here!"
Liam hesitated, his feet rooted to the spot. He didn't want to go inside. He didn't want to face Damian. But he knew he had to. He had to finish the project.
"Take a seat, dear," the woman said, gesturing towards the living room.
"No thanks, ma'am," Liam mumbled, his gaze fixed on the floor.
He heard footsteps approaching. "What is it, Mom?" Damian's voice was laced with a hint of annoyance.
Damian appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening as he saw Liam. "Oh, you're here early," Damian said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Let's go to my room."
Liam nodded silently, his heart pounding in his chest. He followed Damian up the stairs, his mind racing. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about Damian. He seemed... different.
DAMIAN'S ROOM
Damian's room was a mess, clothes strewn across the floor, books piled on his desk. Liam sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on the piles of research papers scattered across the desk.
"Let's start with the research first, and then we can make it," Damian said, his voice surprisingly gentle.
Liam nodded, his gaze still fixed on the papers. He felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. He was surprised to find that he wasn't as scared of Damian as he had been before.
They spent the next few hours working on the project, their conversation flowing easily. Liam was surprised to find that he was actually enjoying Damian's company. Damian was surprisingly insightful and helpful, offering suggestions and insights that Liam had never considered before.
Liam glanced at the clock. It was late. He should go home.
"It's late already," Liam said, his voice barely a whisper. "I should go home now."
Damian looked up from his work, his eyes meeting Liam's. "It's late already. You can sleep here. I'll sleep on the couch. Stay here for the night."
Liam's eyes widened in surprise. He hesitated, his mind racing. He didn't know what to say.
"Okay," Liam finally mumbled, his voice barely audible. "Goodnight."
Damian nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. Liam felt a strange warmth spread through his chest. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew one thing for sure: things were changing.
