Blossoming From Zero (boyxboy)

Chapter 11 - Dinner, And A Warm Embrace

---Sorry this is so late. I got distracted playing games ;p. I appreciate any comments, votes or shares, they help a lot. Thanks!---

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I almost have the list done, but I just have to grab a carton of milk. Upon entering the aisle I notice a familiar face. It's Liam's mother. She's been at the school a few times, so I recognize her face. 

She was buying ice cream. I guess shes a sweet tooth.

This is a perfect opportunity to hand her the muffin recipe. I won't have to face Liam if I just hand it over to her. I'm not really good at initiating conversations though.

"U-uh... Hello Ma'am, I uh..." I say after standing there a few seconds trying to figure out what to say.

"Hm, is there something I can help you with?" She looks back asking curiously.

"A-are you Liam's mother?" I asks trying to make sure I have the right person.

"That's me, Marie!" She says in a proud tone.

"Well u-uh... I heard you wanted the recipe to those muffins?" I say more so as a question, shyly. She quickly grabs my hands and beams at me.

"You must be one of Liam's friends! You know where I can find it?!" She asks like an excited little girl.

"Uh well, yeah. I... I made them..." I answer to her question and not her statement while pulling out the piece of paper with the recipe written on it. Her eyes lit up like she was in the presence of an angel. She sat there for a little while not knowing what to say. She looked at the clock in the store and had a look of unease on her face. She quickly grabbed a piece of paper from her purse and wrote something on it.

"You HAVE to come over for dinner with my family tonight! I have to go now but come to this address at around seven PM and bring your family too, I'd love to meet them!" She says quickly grabbing the recipe and heading out the store before I could say a word.

NOT GOOD... I don't know what to do. My parents aren't here so I can't bring them, and Liam hates me. I don't want to let her down, she looked so excited. I guess I'll have to suck it up and face Liam after all.

I feel a tap on my shoulder snapping me from my thoughts.

"Excuse me, could I get past?" Some woman says with a shopping cart next to her. I realize I'm taking up the aisle and quickly hop to the side feeling a little embarrassed while apologizing.

I begin heading home but something catches my eye. Its a skateboard on sale. I've been meaning to buy one for the longest time now but I always seem to put it off for some reason. Now is a perfect time to buy one. I walk across the street and enter the skateboard shop. I grab the one that's on sale and bring it to the checkout.

"That'll be thirty dollars sir." The cashier says blandly. I hand them the money and quickly head off.

I get home and dress for dinner. Am I really doing this? This is far past my comfort zone, but I don't want to disappoint Liam's mom, she was so sweet.

Their house is two miles away. Its now thirty minutes to seven so I head out. I bring my new skateboard with me and coast down the sidewalk. I remember the directions and landmarks from when me and Cortney drove to his house for the party.

I arrive at the front of the house and lay my skateboard on the lawn. I walk up the stone stairs to the house and ring the door bell, only after hesitating a few times. I wait for a little while and the door opens with Liam's mom greeting me in excitement. Liam must have heard and came walking down the steps leading from the hall on the second floor.

"Mom, who is it?" He groans before walking up to the door. He spotted me and a wave of emotion seem to pass his face.

"What's he doing here?" Liam asks very curious.

"I invited him over for dinner! Its the least I could do after he kindly gave me the recipe to those otherworldly muffins!" She giggles. So wait... she didn't tell him beforehand? I'm so screwed...

"By the way where are your parents?" She asks looking around.

"Uh, well... they're out of town at the moment. I... I hope its still alright that I came." I reply looking shyly to the ground.

"Of course! I did invite you after all." She laughs while speaking the last part of her sentence. "Anyway come in come in!" She waves from me to the interior of the house.

"Dinner should be ready in about ten minutes." She states. "Take him to your room Liam, I'll call you when its ready." I didn't expect things to turn out this way. My body isn't ready to handle all these nerves. Liam looks like he's still pretty shocked at whats unfolding before his very eyes.

We head up to his room in silence. He opens the door and spreads his hand to his room, which I take as a sign to enter. I can't believe I'm in his room again. Just seeing him everyday was enough to keep my crush appetite fed. Being in his room is overwhelming.  I shly take a seat in the corner of the room while he sits on his bed.

"Everything makes sense now..." He says suddenly realizing something. I send him a questioning look.

"I mean at my party, and earlier today." He replies beginning to answer my silent question. "I've thrown several parties before and never had food like the muffin show up. The last party however had an unusual guest... you. That's when the muffins showed up.

I questioned most of my guests as to who brought the muffins over. I can read them easily so I know when they're lying. No one really seemed to know where they came from. And earlier today, you laughed at the girls in the hall. I could tell they were lying but I didn't know the reason as to why you laughed." He says, now making me blush a little. Was he actually complimenting me?

Everything went silent for awhile.

"You wanted to know why I don't like you?" He asks breaking the long silence.

"Uh y-yeah, only if you're okay with telling me." I respond shyly mumbling in the corner.

"To be honest I don't hate you actually, its just... you resemble someone I do hate. With great passion." Hearing him say that lifted something heavy off my heart.

"I don't like bringing this up but..." He sighed. " awhile back when I was still in middle school I had power, status, friends, everything. One morning some annoying hyper kid began clinging to me. I didn't like him at first but we quickly became friends and eventually best friend. He was always there for me when I needed him. We were very close. He became one of the popular kids from hanging out with me since we were always together. One day he began acting a little strange. Almost like he was turning against me. He quickly became snobbish and cocky. He started bullying me, and turned the whole school against me. I became a laughing joke and lost all my friends. He was only after one thing that whole time. He spent month deceiving me just so he could tear me down. He stoled everything from me. He had to move awhile back so I had plenty of time to regain all my power and status I previously had. Then a couple years later, you transfered in. You reminded me of him. I was still filled with rage and anger, in fact I despise him till this very day, s-so I decided to take it out on you... I'm sorry, I know it was a childish thing to do." He finishes with hurt in his voice, trying to hold back his tears.

I don't know what came over me but I quickly walked over to him and pulled him into a big hug. His body was so large I had a bit of trouble wrapping my arms around him.

"Sorry." I whispered under my breath.

I was expecting him to beat me half to death, but to my surprise he hugged me back tightly, pulling me down into his chest and placed his chin atop my head.

"Don't apologize. It's not your fault." He replied in a hushed deep husky voice, sending shivers down my spine.

I listened to his heartbeat, and felt his chest ascending and descending from his breathing. He was so warm and his scent was amazing, it smelled so masculine, putting me at ease, and making me feel safe in his arms. This was the best feeling ever. I could've sat like that forever but heard Liam's mom call from the kitchen.

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