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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"I guess the big question now is whether our relationship is public or not."
ㅤSandwich half-demolished in a single bite, Charlie looked up with his mouth full. They'd decided to sit outside for lunch since the weather was so nice, commandeering one of the wobbly picnic benches.
ㅤThe sun soaked through Liam's black hair and trousers, the warmth fending off the gentle breeze and brightening the surrounding colours—emerald green grass, a sapphire sky. Framed by this saturation, Charlie was handsome with his overdue trim tousling on his forehead, his autumnal hues kissed by tree-dappled light.
ㅤThe fresh air was less claustrophobic than the cafeteria. Liam had never liked it in there.
ㅤCharlie hummed, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. Liam watched the movement. "I never even considered that, to be honest."
ㅤWhilst the other man had scarfed down his food, Liam was picking at his own. "And why's that?"
ㅤ"You ask, but if you haven't noticed already, I don't really have any friends to tell. Why would I waste precious time thinking about something like that?"
ㅤ"You've got Ben," he pointed out. "And Chris."
ㅤ"And do I seem like I'd share anything with them?"
ㅤ"I guess not..." Charlie's friendships had always felt strangely distant to him. "You ought to change that, maybe."
ㅤBut it was clear from the expression on Charlie's face that he didn't see the point. After all, he was never one to complain, so how close could he possibly hope for a friendship to be when he kept everyone at arm's length? Even when they were younger, no one knew a thing about him—not a peep of which girl he fancied, not a whisper of which boy he'd fallen out with. No, his mouth had been loud, but his words had been silent.
ㅤ"Well, you share with me at least." Liam smiled. He was grateful for the boyfriend he got, at least.
ㅤ"Yea," Charlie said, finishing off his last bite. "'Cause I trust you."
ㅤA horrible spike stabbed right through him, hurting. Guilt. It'd frozen him for a blink.
ㅤEnsuring it didn't show on his face, he released a silent breath, and banished that feeling, brushing crumbs off the table onto the grass below.
ㅤ"Okay, but circling back to the original question; how do you want to play this? How 'out' are you?"
ㅤ"I don't really care. So I'll do whatever you want to do."
ㅤ"I think," Liam began, considering the variables, "we don't tell anyone at school. I get teased enough already from that video. No need to fuel the flames. But outside of school, we can be."
ㅤUnfortunately, Charlie cared no more for this topic than Liam expected, his eyebrows raised in slight amusement as he thought about something else.
ㅤ"You're acting like a businessman with your face all serious and your hands gesturing all measuredly like that," Charlie said, smirking. "Where's your briefcase?"
