Sun and Star Academy: Book 1: Sun Kingdom

Chapter 15: What Liam Wants

The next day had arrived and Kareena still hadn’t seen Liam or heard from him, she was making her way to her next lecture when she heard two guys laughing, it came from one of the recording studios, “Alright- see you later mate” Cole called out whilst leaving, he acknowledged Kareena before walking away

Kareena stood at the doorway and saw Seth packing up his laptop, “Hi Seth”

Seth turned to face her, “Hi”

“You guys seem close...” Kareena said, she frowned immediately after saying that, “What is wrong with me?”, she thought to herself

Seth frowned slightly, “Cole and I go way back...”

“So...", Kareena started after an awkward pause,"What are you majoring in?"

*******

Liam was furious, the first thing he had to deal with upon arrival to the academy is the news that Seth Phoenix was back....to finish his studies, as if. “Damn it”, Liam cursed as he punched the wall, his knuckles reddened but no serious damage was done. He glanced at a nearby window which partially reflected him, he had fresh cuts on his face but was grateful his clothes covered the rest of his injuries. He closed his eyes for a moment but the shrill screams and cries he heard in his head caused them to open again immediately, he took a breath and continued to walk. He was lost in thought until he overheard a conversation

“I’m majoring in mixing and music”

“That’s amazing, what instruments do you play?”

The voices he heard were all too familiar and as he entered the recording studio, his vision went blurry from anger, in one swift movement, he cleared the space between them and took Kareena’s hand and it startled her, but upon seeing his face- she went from startled to worried, “Liam...oh my god, what happened to your face?”

“I’ll tell you later, in private” Liam replied

Seth frowned at Liam’s injuries and noticed how he carried himself off, he was more injured than he let on

“I’m sure you two know each other...” Kareena said when she noticed Liam look back at Seth, his eyes had the look in them, the one she didn’t enjoy seeing

“I hope your trip back was uneventful” Liam said, not interested in hiding his disdain

Seth smiled curiously and raised an eyebrow, “It was certainly better than yours”

Liam tensed up and Kareena noticed, “Glad to have you back...Phoenix”

Seth took a step forward, “Are you sure?”

Both he and Liam seemed to be saying much more to each other with their body movement and eyes and those three words from Seth sent a shiver down Kareena’s spine with the way it was said. The way the entire confrontation between the two guys scared her

Seth delayed his exit no longer and Kareena took hold of both Liam’s hands, “Let’s talk...”

Liam sighed and nodded

*******

“Are you feeling any better? You looked really tense...” Kareena asked whilst standing with Liam in an empty corridor

“I’m fine”

“No you’re not Liam...what happened to you?”

Liam ran his fingers through his hair, clearly stressed, “Why were you talking to him?”

Kareena shrugged, “It was just small talk...Zoe said he’s nice”

Liam laughed, “Seth and nice...in the same sentence- give me a break”, he rotated his wrist a bit and winced, “Stay away from him Kareena- he’s trouble”

Kareena glared at Liam, “You can’t tell me who I can and can’t talk to Liam...”

Her stubbornness angered him more, “Just stay away from him...I won’t repeat myself”

Kareena walked closer to him, “Are you worried because he was the former top student? Is that what this is about? Mr. Grey said he’s just back to finish his last year...”

“You don’t know anything about him so please don’t talk as if you do”

Kareena was annoyed, “Well clearly, I don’t know you either...Look, I don’t know what happened since you’ve been gone...but I’d like my boyfriend back...so if it means you have to go AWOL on me...again, to get him back then by all means, do it”, she stormed off- not looking back

“Great...things are already changing” Liam muttered

*******

Liam failed to get a hold of Kareena since their argument which took place two days ago- she hadn’t answered any of his calls or his texts- he decided against going to her dorm room in case she didn’t want him there. As he walked, he saw Zoe talk to Mark in one of the corridors, “Zoe, do you know where Kareena is?”
Zoe seemed hesitant but Mark nodded at her and she smiled, “Our lecture just finished- think she was heading to the bathroom”

Liam nodded his thanks and went in the direction Zoe pointed him in

“I know what you’re thinking but Kareena does miss him, it’s better to let them fix things rather than to let them build...”

Zoe nodded, “I guess you’re right”

*******

Liam walked into the girls bathroom, Kareena was at the basin washing her hands- she noticed him and her eyes widened, he checked around to make sure they were alone before locking the door

“You can’t be in here...” Kareena said

“We need to talk”

“I have a lecture in a bit Liam”

“Kareena” Liam said with a sigh, “You can’t keep avoiding me”

Kareena wiped her hands on a piece of paper, “What do you want to talk about?”

“Seth and I have a long history...like family rivalry history, it’s not pretty. So when I say stay away from him, it’s to protect you”

Kareena threw the paper away

“You have to trust me”

“What are you afraid of Liam...I can see it in your eyes you know...Does Seth have something on you? Are you worried that by talking to him, I’ll fall for him?”

“I’m afraid that Seth will tear us apart with what he says...”

“There’s nothing he can say that could do that...and there’s nothing he has said to imply anything close...”

Liam massaged the bridge of his nose, “I was wrong to snap at you...and to talk the way I did...I was upset and the last thing I needed to see was Seth”

Kareena leaned against the wall, “Are you going to tell me what happened to you?”

Liam hesitated

Kareena shook her head and picked up her bag to leave, he caught her arm- “People...broke into our...property”, he frowned whilst thinking, “They tried to get into our home...attacked us, attacked me...”

Kareena hugged him tightly, he flinched, due to his hidden injuries but didn’t let go of her, “Are you alright? Is your family alright?”

He breathed against her ear, “Everything is okay now...they didn’t get into our home, so my parents were safe...and I’m almost good as new”

Kareena let go, “Almost? How can I help?”

“You already are...But please Kareena, for my sake...stay away from Seth”
Kareena nodded, “If that’s what you really want”

Liam nodded

“On one condition...no more secrets- I want to know everything you know”

Liam smiled wearily, “Then there’s a lot we need to talk about”

“Thankfully we’ve got time”

Liam pulled Kareena in for another hug, she happily obliged