Expelled and needing to transfer for his final year, Liam had known immediately where to go. It was the place that'd taken everything from him; that'd ruined him so absolutely it'd twisted his personality beyond recognition.
The place where he'd met...
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Liam's pen tapped impatiently on his notebook. His eyes darted from the clock and back, each minute dragging like a body skinned against tarmac. The teacher's lecture on communist Russia might've been the most interesting thing in the world if he listened but he was incapable of doing so.
ㅤOnly thirty seconds remained until the lesson ended. With a stomach begging to be fed immediately, he silently packed his rucksack, hoping he was unnoticed.
ㅤ"That's it for class toda—"
ㅤLiam stood and marched out before anyone could say otherwise. Because sixth-form classes ended five minutes early, he could power right through the school without shoving past any kids who liked to stand in the middle of cramped corridors for no reason.
ㅤHe reached the cafeteria, hoping to grab a seat at Charlie's usual table. But, as he approached, he noticed a familiar face.
ㅤ"Oh. Hey, Ben."
ㅤBen smiled as Liam took a seat opposite.
ㅤ"Hey there, lover boy. I'm surprised to see you here."
ㅤ"Really? Why?"
ㅤBen leant back in his seat, rubbing his nape. "Well, not many people tolerate Charlie."
ㅤIt wasn't exactly the breakthrough of the century.
ㅤ"You do," Liam pointed out, rummaging for his lunch.
ㅤ"I guess so. But I think you'll find I'm one of the only ones."
ㅤLiam pondered that. He wasn't sure how Charlie's small circle of friends interacted with one another. He was curious.
ㅤ"Do you know Chris?"
ㅤBen thought about it for a moment. His eyes suddenly lit as though remembering. "Ah, yes. Not personally, but Charlie's mentioned him before."
ㅤLiam must've looked puzzled since Ben shrugged. "He's not a 'friends' kind of guy, shockingly. He mostly keeps to himself now. I've never met any of his other mates. He used to be a lot friendlier, mind. Just... not anymore."
ㅤHe already knew that. Charlie was an entirely different person now. Where he'd been loud, funny and irritatingly sociable in the past, he was now quiet and serious. Whilst most might've argued the change was for the worst, Liam considered himself a dissenter. Maybe Charlie had always been that way but lost himself by pretending otherwise. He was living honestly now—no longer repressing himself—and perhaps that was why he no longer found it necessary to abuse others.
ㅤ"Which is why I'm quite glad you're here," Ben went on.
ㅤLiam froze. "Huh?"
ㅤ"Well, he doesn't have many people willing to hang out with him. He's a bit... difficult." Ben crossed his arms, suddenly amused. "He may not seem it, but he's high maintenance."
