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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"Where were you last night?" was the first thing to leave Aaron's mouth.
ㅤThe front door shut behind Liam with a click. Aaron was sitting on the stairs, facing him, a plate of scrambled eggs on his lap.
ㅤ"With a friend... That's a weird place to eat."
ㅤAaron looked from Liam back down to his plate. "Ah, I'm going out. They're gonna be here any second now."
ㅤLiam raised an eyebrow as he hung his suit jacket on the coat rack. "Date?"
ㅤ"No, just Mark," Aaron answered. "Unlike you, I have to organise these things beforehand. I'm not granted so much whimsy. Ella and Logan let you do whatever you want."
ㅤLiam kicked off his shoes neatly enough to resemble parallel intent so he wouldn't get an earful. Aaron's were beside his, perfectly aligned. "There is a little of a double standard," he admitted, staring at them. "They do let me get away with a lot... maybe I matter less. Not that it matters to me. Mind if I have the rest of that?" He gestured to Aaron's plate.
ㅤWill an eye-roll, Aaron surrendered over his food
ㅤ"Thanks, man."
ㅤRavenous, he didn't bother getting a new fork, shovelling it into his mouth like a pig as he walked through to the kitchen.
ㅤ"Don't go into the lounge, by the way," Aaron warned through the balustrades. "Ella and Logan are having a private conversation. Maybe they're finally kicking you out onto the kerb. It's been nice knowing you!"
ㅤLiam paused, pretending his interest hadn't been piqued."Got it."
ㅤThrough the kitchen, he immediately changed course for the door that separated into the lounge. He didn't hesitate to press his curious ear against the closing gap, listening. He hoped Aaron had done something embarrassing.
ㅤ"—ow long as he been an adult now, Ella? We can't keep letting him believe a lie. That's not fair."
ㅤLiam was immediately on edge. They were talking about him—he was certain of that much.
ㅤ"Not yet," Ella's muffled voice insisted. "There's no way he's ready for that; he's still acting out as it is. You know as well as I do what he's like even with the softer version of events. God forbid if he knew the truth. We can't do that to him. Not any time soon."
ㅤ"If not soon, when?" There was a silent pause. "Holding this back from him might do more damage than good, we can't keep hope he somehow eventually forgets. This isn't chip paper. He will find out at some point regardless—imagine how he'd react if we weren't the ones to give that news."
ㅤLiam held his breath, unease chilling him. Something was wrong. There was something they weren't telling him. But, what? What was so important that they'd conspire so suspiciously about it? Did they not trust him by now?
