Figuring You Out

Chapter Thirty- Two

"Remember boys the bus is leaving at half eight to go to Watford Sunday morning, don't be late," Coach shouts as we change after particularly harsh circuit training. Liam is fidgety and occupied beside me.

"Kebab and then Xbox at mine?" I suggest, trying to snap him out of his weird mood.

"Sure," he shrugs. Truth be told I needed the distraction me and Red had sent a few texts both ways but nothing more after our kind- of- breakup- but- not- really- because- we – were – never – dating – in- the- first- place – situation. We pile out into the blanketed night and move under the spotlights to a kebab place near our local Tube station before we embarked on the cramped transport system back to mine.

"Two doner kebabs and two cokes please," I order, to the server in his twenties who's ginger hair was peeping through his very flattering cap.

"Coming right up," he says, deadpan, me and Liam muster a laugh just as the door creaks open and a huddle of women enter one of them being Leah, although this time she was dressed in a short sequin dress with a dark red lipstick that complimented her golden cheekbones and soft chocolate coloured skin.

"Hey," she smiles, addressing us to her friends, "This is Oliver and Liam,"

"Blubber boy," a blonde giggles, all but Leah break out in cruel laughter, "Has he lost his voice?" she mocks again.

"I...I just don't... I just don't waste it on people like you," Liam stammers, he had a bad stammer when he was younger and it occasionally came back whenever he was particularly nervous or upset.

"God there is something wrong with you," a new voice sneers, in a deathly tone.

"Guys," Leah warns, her voice laced with sympathy but to me she's wasting her breath. I scoff and shake my head.

"Come on, let's just go," he says, after that particularly harsh comment, but the ginger dressed in blue polo has returned with his hands full of polystyrene boxes and bottles of frosted coke. I hand over a ten pound note and tell him to keep the change in a bid to escape into the crowded compartment of the Underground. I can still hear them sniggering behind us and I can tell it's upsetting Liam. We grab our boxes and push through the lipsticked crowd out into the open when I feel a gentle grip on my arm, I turn angrily but knowing its Leah.

"I'm sorry," she says, her face pitiful.

"Not sorry enough to stop them though, hmm?" I snap, coldly, she retreats, stung by my words, "You're a nice girl, Leah. But my god you lower yourself to the level of those people when you stand by and let those people say what they said,"

"I know and I'm sorry," she cries, she turns to Liam who's scratching his thumb on his box, "Liam, I really am sorry,"

Liam nods stiffly and walks onwards, I look down at Leah wishing my eyes were daggers then stepping in line with Liam who was now stepping down the stairs to our Tube platform.

"I don't know, Dude. Just ignore-"

"Let's just go, yeah?" he cuts me off, I nod and follow him onto an empty carriage. I grab a seat and open my own food fumbling for something to do, "Listen, I'm going to head straight home. Don't really feel up to Xbox,"

"Oh, come on Liam, it's just some girls. When have we ever taken notice of them,"

"I just need to be alone right now," he says, seriously, as we arrive at our stop.

"Ok," I say, "But please know that they don't know what they are talking about,"

"Thanks, Olly," he says.

"I'll text you later," I say, as we run up the stairs out into our neighbourhood. He gives me a nod and we begin walking our separate ways home, while eating our make shift dinner. I get home and see both Dad and Mum's car parked neatly outside. I enter after dumping my half eaten kebab and see both of them curled up on the sofa like a couple of teenagers with a fluffy blanket draped around my mother shoulders whilst my Dad's knees host the laptop playing a film.

"Hey, honey," Mum chirps, she rises and I lean in for a standard hug and kiss on the cheek, "Can I get you something to eat?"

"No, me and Liam got a kebab after training," I explain, she reaches and ruffles my hair.

"Alright, go get a shower, yeah? Me and your dad will be down here if you want to talk,"

"Talk about what?" I blurt, my voice raising and heart hammering. 

"Anything,"

"Just tell him, Claire," my Dad bites rather irritably. 

"Tell me what?" I ask, my stomach dropping.

"My flights have been confirmed for Paris,"

"Oh," I say, composing myself, "That's great! When are you leaving?"

"The apartment isn't quite ready for me yet. It's just after your exams- May 3rd," she says cautiously.

"That's great, Mum. It's really great," I say earnestly, bringing her in for a hug which she accepts her crazy curled hair brushing my cheek, she pulls away and takes my face in her hands her hazel eyes meeting mine, she breaks into a huge smile and kisses my forehead.

"My boy," she whispers, tears glassing her eyes, I squeeze her hand before fleeing upstairs to change. I get to my room and once I had shut myself in I was instantly on my phone texting Liam.

O: Hey, mate, you alright?

L: I'm alright. Thanks for tonight

O: No worries

I flick onto Instagram and see a request from Leah, I internally scoff but accept it after a strong dose of rationale and the pinch of goodness in the back of my head that tells me she apologised and I should probably show a hint of human decency. I accept the request and see her own profile is public so scroll through the seemingly endless photos of her and her herd in bathroom mirrors and many more of her own selfies which show he cheeky but quietly clever side. Another notification flashes on the top of my phone.

R: Hey, how are you?

And for the first time in this crazy, drama filled day I am able to take a second and relax in his company, albeit electronic.