We're Just Misfits

Chapter 4 - Friend? Enemy?

A frigid gust of wind swirled around the wood-clad room, rising towards the tall ceiling and twisting around the grand glass chandelier. The temperatures dropped around Liam as the wind descended and clinked the crystal of the light shade. Instantly, the boy shivered awake. The young man turned onto his side, pulling the covers up to his chin but still slowly rising from his sleep.

            As the teenager sat up on his fluffy cloud, he reached for his phone at the bedside table. He tapped the crystal-clear display and brought it to life as he unplugged it from it's charging cable. Acknowledging that he had woken up 20 minutes earlier than usual, and therefore had some time to relax, Liam heaved himself up from the bed. The boy strolled over to the other side of his bedroom, where he turned on his laptop and tapped the Touch ID sensor. The display blossomed and revealed the desktop. Liam sat down at his oak desk and clicked onto Instagram. The main page opened up and the boy searched the name "Jack Bakier." He wanted to see if the guy that had been so reserved around him was any different online. After searching all the names, he came across a page with a familiar profile picture.

            Liam clicked on the page and saw Jack's page wasn't private. Yet there wasn't much use for it. There was a single post on the teenager's page. Just a picture of a birthday celebration with the caption "Happy Birthday Ben." Liam wondered who Ben was, but decided there was no need researching any further. The boy has discovered that there was nothing else to be seen online about Jack, and he respected anyone enough to know not to go digging. Feeling ever so slightly defeated, Liam shut down his MacBook and walked into his en-suite where he got ready for another day trying to decipher the mystery that was Jack Bakier.

            After the intrigued teenager was ready and had eaten breakfast, he sat in the luscious lounge for a few minutes before he had to leave. Liam sunk back into the sofa, breathing in deeply. He looked up at the high, recessed ceiling and ran his eyes over the grand chandelier. The five light bulbs inside shone brightly and cast glittering shadows across the room. The boy stared at these shadows as he came up with a resolution. Today, he would try to befriend Jack somewhat. He had noticed the secretive guy had no friends, and thought it only fair to introduce him to the rather large ensemble that was Liam's friend group.

            Liam glanced at his shiny silver watch and saw it was time to leave. Standing, the boy smoothed his blazer and trousers. He grabbed his bag, and headed to school after he had locked the giant oak double door. Although the young man savoured the crisp air, he would much rather a lift in his dad's Porsche instead of having to walk 20 minutes to school. Still, it gave him time to think.

            A muffled ding stopped Liam from thinking, however. Pulling out his phone, he saw a text from Samuel. Wondering what it could be about, the boy opened up WhatsApp.

            Sam: Hey L! My road is blocked .-. Can I walk with u as it's the only way??

            Liam: Sure! Not that I could say no. I'll be on da corner.

            Sam: K

            Liam was slightly irritated and happy at this outcome. He had sort of wanted to be alone with his thoughts, the birds his only company. However, it was still rather good that he could walk to school with his best friend. The boy walked down the road until he reached "Da corner." It had been named this simply because it was the midpoint of Sam and Liam's houses. It was also a very convenient place to meet, because there was a taxi area on the opposite side of the road, and a bus stop just a bit further down.

            A few minutes later, Samuel arrived. As he rounded the corner, Liam strode over to meet him and they clasped hands briefly. Together, at a pace slightly faster than Liam's normal one, they began to chat.