END OF WEEKEND AND BACK TO SCHOOL
AT SCHOOL
Liam's heart thumped against his ribs as he spotted Xavier by his locker. He hadn't seen his best friend since the weekend, and the memories of those days with Damian swirled in his mind. He felt a blush creep up his neck as he approached Xavier.
"Hey man!" Liam greeted, trying to sounding so casual.
"Hey Liam, what did you do the whole weekend? I couldn't contact you," Xavier said, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"I just did a project with my project partner," Liam mumbled, his gaze darting away from Xavier's inquisitive eyes. "That's all."
"I basically did nothing this weekend," Xavier sighed. "My project partner said not to get involved with the project because I might ruin it."
Liam chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Your partner's not kidding though, haha!"
Xavier shook his head, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Not funny. You're smart, that's why your partner didn't hesitate to be your project partner."
Liam shrugged, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. "I guess you could say that."
"Who's your project partner anyway?" Xavier asked, his voice laced with a hint of suspicion.
Liam hesitated, his fingers tracing the worn edges of his notebook. "Damian."
Xavier's jaw dropped. "Your bully!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Liam nodded, his cheeks flushing. "Mhm, it's not a problem anyway. We get along with the project pretty well, actually."
"You're kidding!" Xavier exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief.
Liam's gaze darted across the hallway, his heart pounding. He spotted Damian walking towards them, his shoulders relaxed, his smile easy. Liam felt a wave of warmth wash over him, a feeling he couldn't quite explain. He was acutely aware of Damian's presence, his gaze fixed on Damian's every move.
Xavier noticed Liam's reaction, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Holy shot glass, you like Damian!" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Liam's eyes widened in panic. "Shh, he might hear you!" he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"But seriously, you like the person who bullied you?" Xavier pressed, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Liam felt his cheeks burn with heat. He couldn't deny it. He did like Damian. But he wasn't sure what to do about it.
"I'm going to class," Liam mumbled, turning away from Xavier. "I'll talk to you later!"
"You haven't answered my question!" Xavier called out, but Liam was already walking away, his heart pounding in his chest.
