Inhibitions • Kian Lawley

T W O

"Jc move your lazy ass, I'm sick of being fucking late for classes," I said dragging the covers off him exposing his naked body. He groaned and just turned over.

"Brandon, Nate and Miles are waiting downstairs for us," I watched as he dragged the covers back off him. He must have been hurt from the argument he had with Hannah. I smacked him across the back of the head causing him to moan and get up from the bed.

"You've got 10 minutes and we're leaving," I stated leaving the room so he could get changed, I ran downstairs to see that Eleanor and Niamh were standing at the front door with the guys. El took a quick look at me and then turned to talk to Nate, I sighed and rolled my eyes, I walked straight past and went into the kitchen.

"Hey stranger," Niamh said from behind me, I smiled and turned around. She wrapped her arms around my neck tightly and I placed mine on her lower back.

"I felt like I haven't saw you in ages," I said from over her shoulder, I glanced over at the guys to see Eleanor watching us, she laughed and kissed Nate's cheek, I just ignored her.

"Are you coming to the party tonight at my frat house, don't worry I don't think El's coming," she said which caused me to chuckle, I pulled out of the hug and hesitated,

"Ermm umm yeah I'll be there," I replied smiling as I pushed my hand through my hair, she smiled back. I heard Jc stumble as he came down the stairs. I ran up and grabbed one side of him,

"Of course you're drinking right now," I whispered in his ear, everyone laughed at him and cheered once he reached the bottom of the stairs, they jumped all over his back so I let go of him and walked behind everyone.

We were late for class as usual, everyone sat in the same row as each other but I was left on my own a couple of rows behind. I came to the realization that I was probably the least popular out of our group of friends, I don't even know why I still live in the frat house, it's not as if me and Jc are close anymore. I was an outcast, I was the nerd of the group, I was self conscious about myself, I was the least confident. I assumed the guys didn't really like me but I carried on pretending to be like them.

"Mr Lawley, your essay?" Mr Young asked pulling me out of my thoughts, everyone was staring at me, especially the guys. I shook my head.

"Haven't got it," I replied and he shook his head walking away to collect everyone else's essays.

The lesson dragged, I was still spinning in my thoughts, everyone had gotten up to leave but I waited behind after everyone left,

"Hey sir, here's my essay," I said handing the 4 pages to him, he looked down at it and flicked through the pages,

"Kian you have a lot of potential, I know you want to fit in with your friends and you don't look like a nerd, but standing out is the best way, be an individual and don't follow the crowd you're influenced by, keep handing in the essays like this if you want to but think about it alright," he said and I nodded pretending like I was gonna do as he said, I left the room and went to my next class.

~~~~~~

"Kian, are you ready?" Brandon shouted from downstairs,

"Yeah give me 2 seconds," I shouted back, I looked at myself in the mirror, my hair was the same as always, flat and boring, I never wore my good clothes I always wore my old clothes which weren't very nice. I decided to put some volume into my hair and style it so it was pushed up to the right slightly, I put my ripped jeans on, white t-shirt and my blue denim jacket on followed by my vans. I sprayed deodorant and aftershave and then left to go downstairs.

"Wow, where is Kian Lawley and what have you done to him?" Jc said and I laughed as we left to walk across to the other side of campus.

Before we could even see the house, the music was so loud and there was people screaming and shouting. We got to the house and went inside and it was packed as expected. Everyone stared at us, especially girls.

"Well you clean up nice don't you," Hannah said and I smiled,

"Oh this old thing, I just threw it on," I said sarcastically and she laughed. She twirled the ends of her hair between her finger and thumb.

"You're funny Kian, I never knew how funny you actually were," she said inching closer to my lips,

"Hey Hannah, could you go grab me a drink thanks," El said pushing Hannah away from me,

"What the hell Eleanor, have you decided now that you want me and that you want to be around me now," I said,

"I've always wanted you Kian," she said, I scoffed as she placed her hands on my arms which made me feel nervous. I pushed her off me.

"Yeah well maybe you should show it then, you won't hug me, hold my hand, kiss me, you won't let me touch you," I said,

"You have to wait Mr Lawley, patience is the key," she said winking and I shook my head,

"You're unbelievable do you know that, trying to make me jealous by kissing Nate and laughing with him and hugging him, I'm not just someone you can mess about with, I'm done," I said, but before I could turn around to leave, El put my hands on her waist and started to dance with me, I can't say that I didn't enjoy it because I did but I pushed her off me and walked away.

"Hey bro, where are you going?" Miles asked grabbing my arm and handing me a red cup filled with beer.

"Outside, I need some air," I said taking the beer from him and walking outside, I sat on the wall in front of the house. Niamh came out and sat next to me, we sat and talked and she kept me company until everyone started to leave.