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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Having been rocking on his heels in hesitation, Liam finally rapped on the front door, clearing his throat. It was a dull grey morning, overcast and damp. The sky was drooling and the sun was turned away in disgust. The only positive thing was the earthy green smell carried in the chill. He held a breath of it in his lungs, soothing himself, still itching for a cigarette.
ㅤThe door swung open. Mia took one look at him and groaned.
ㅤ"Liam."
ㅤ"Mia."
ㅤHer tired, clouded gaze swept the street before returning to him. She frowned.
ㅤ"It's six in the fucking morning."
ㅤShe stepped aside and Liam entered to shelter himself from the drizzle.
ㅤ"Is your mum home?"
ㅤShe scrubbed her sleep-puffed face with her pyjama sleeves, her response considerably delayed. "Mmm, no. She's... somewhere."
ㅤOn that positive note, Liam made himself at home. He laid on the sofa like he owned it, legs suspended over the arm. Watching her sleepily sway in front of the kettle in the kitchen was almost enough to make him feel bad for waking her up. Her college started later than most sixth forms did.
ㅤShe returned with two cups of tea, one without sugar—just as Liam liked it—and sunk into an armchair.
ㅤ"Okay. So, tell me: why are you knocking on my door at five in the morning?"
ㅤLiam shook his head, amused. "The time is going back an hour each time. It's not daylight savings yet. It's seven o'clock, Mia. On a weekday. It's not unreasonable."
ㅤShe dismissed that with a wave. "Yea, okay. Watch me bang at your door at four in the bloody morning next time and how it makes you feel."
ㅤHe rolled his eyes.
ㅤ"I'm assuming it's important," she ventured, sipping from her mug.
ㅤ"I guess you could say that... But, before all that, tell me how you are."
ㅤCaught off guard, her eyes widened. "Huh?"
ㅤ"Why do you sound so surprised?"
ㅤ"It's just..." She blinked. "Sorry. You never really show, erm... compassion. Something about it being gay."
ㅤHis lips quirked up. "Okay, so call me gay. You'd be half right anyway. Now, answer."
ㅤ"You need to work on this whole caring thing."
ㅤ"Answer."
ㅤShe drooped, hiding a frown behind her cup. "It's nothing really. My mum's been giving me a hard time again."
ㅤLiam nodded, comprehending. Because Mia's mother came from a devout background, traditional gender roles were a concern under this roof. Being a stay-at-home mum herself, she apparently pushed for Mia to be the same way. It wasn't the values that were an issue necessarily, it was that Mia didn't want that for herself.
