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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Liam woke to the sound of his alarm, flailing his arm out to find his phone on the floor and somehow swipe in the correct direction. In the past, he'd found random screenshots of his alarm screen and wondered how he'd managed to achieve that. Mornings were a Scottish mountain climb in the winter for him.
ㅤA grumpy groan hexed from beside him.
ㅤ"Turn that shit off," it demanded.
ㅤThere was a beat of confusion until Liam remembered where he was and what'd happened, his brain whirring and stuttering, cogs grinding against the curse of being awake.
ㅤ"Sorry," he whispered. His phone was now silent in his palm.
ㅤSitting up carefully, his wincing eyes painfully adjusted to the natural light drizzling through the window. His movements were careful—cautious not to bother Charlie who still wanted to sleep.
ㅤIt seemed their urgent conversation about that copper wasn't going to happen any time soon, not with Charlie in such a state.
ㅤUntangling himself from the sheets, aches called out in multiple places, serving as firm reminders of what he'd done the night before. The cut on his abdomen was throbbing and red, angry that he'd sacrificed its healing for some dick.
ㅤBut it'd been worth it.
ㅤHe managed to collect together his clothes and was by the door, glancing back at Charlie once on his way out. The man slept grouchily, his back dismissively turned. It tugged a wry smile on Liam's lips.
ㅤOn his walk to the café, he tried to tame his hair without product, repeatedly running his hands through it to force it to the normal position on the top of his head. It didn't comply, so he eventually let it fall over his forehead where it insisted on being.
ㅤAlthough he hadn't time to stop back home before his shift, he'd hoped he could get his shit together afterwards. He would need to go to school today to intercept Charlie and would prefer to feel human during their conversation.
ㅤThankfully, because Liam and Mia were in charge of opening today, they would be alone for the first hour. He'd ended up half-jogging there since Charlie's place was further away than he'd expected. It further infuriated his injury.
ㅤHe made it with a second to spare. Mia was already inside, pottering around with the chairs, and, peculiarly, Chris was there too.
ㅤHe was about to announce his arrival when the two of them started snogging. His face fell further in disgust.
ㅤ"You guys are fucking gross."
ㅤThe pair jolted apart in surprise, and it was comical that Chris was the one to burn red. Meanwhile, Mia was smirking like a fuckboy.
ㅤ"Good morning to you too, Liam. T'was our morning gift for you; we know you struggle to get laid."
ㅤLiam snorted. "If I wanted to watch amateur porn I would google your mother's name."
