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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Stone bluntly cut into Liam's thighs as he sat on the edge of the sunken patio wall, the vast grassy expanse hidden beyond him. He caressed where the structure was damaged, broken rock crumbling under his hand. Beside him, Charlie was silent.
ㅤThe faint glow of the distant village held only a candle up to the moon. Trees shuddered under the passing breeze, their silhouettes wavering before the light like the flame may extinguish. It pricked his skin and raised goosebumps with a bite of threatening winter. Shivering, he slipped into his pocket for an emergency fag to warm him up.
ㅤWith the first drag, he savoured the calmness soaking into him, easing the nagging tightness.
ㅤA disapproving sigh—one he'd started getting used to. Charlie's distaste was almost an intrinsic part of the ritual now.
ㅤStaring directly at the frowning man, Liam pulled smoke into his lungs with raised eyebrows. Huffing, Charlie removed the offending stick from Liam's lips. And, whilst Liam had expected him to squash it out, Charlie instead took a drag of his own like he'd done it a million times before. The light flickered in those brown eyes of his.
ㅤ"I thought you hated me smoking." A hint of accusation rolled off his tongue.
ㅤCharlie's smile was more of a wince when he handed it back. "Yea, well, I hate alcohol too."
ㅤ"You drink an awful lot for someone who hates it."
ㅤLiam didn't lift the cigarette to his mouth this time; it trickled into the air between them. Charlie was an alcoholic. Or, at least, something of the same breed. Even if he claimed to hate booze, Liam now knew him too well to believe otherwise.
ㅤCharlie's quiet chuckle was bitter. "What can I say? I am my father's son."
ㅤWithout second guessing himself, Liam smoothed his thumb over the tick of Charlie's gritted jaw. The tension slowly relaxed, his solid shoulders slackening; yet, Charlie's stare didn't reveal much, even if his body did.
ㅤ"Nah, you're not," Liam said softly. "You're Charlie."
ㅤThe blue light of the pool behind them was perfectly still on the surface of Charlie's eyes, his secrets uncompromisingly locked away deep within. His head turned back towards the fields, face darkening against inspection. It left Liam touching nothing but the chilly air.
ㅤ"It's an insult, you know," Charlie said.
ㅤ"What?"
ㅤHis derogatory snort was more more akin to a scoff. "My name: Charlie—it was an insult. From the very beginning. It always was."
ㅤLiam's fingers stung and he extinguished his burnt up cigarette on the cold stone. He didn't speak as he took his time with the action, waiting to see whether Charlie would continue, scared his mere presence would suddenly intrude. Because Charlie was an excessively private person, Liam always felt like his body was too big when Charlie did feel inclined to share.
