Present - Tenth grade
"Oh my god, Liam, is that really you?"
Liam winced, abruptly returning to reality.
He whirled toward the voice that had shouted his name. Shouted, literally. The people nearby were watching them curiously. Liam's eyes widened in embarrassment, before spotting the dark-skinned boy who had called him and who was now looking at him with a huge smile on his face.
He tried a few more steps as if to make sure he had guessed "Yes, it's really you! You remember me, right!?"
"Uh .. uh-uh" he muttered, taken aback. "Mason, right?"
"Yes, God, how have you changed! Intense, I almost didn't recognize you! What are you doing here? I thought ... you went to Los Angeles, I think?" Mason moved all the way closer, putting a hand on his shoulder when he realized he had been recognized.
"Uh .. yes, I mean, no- I went there, but- I'm back- yes, I mean-" he stammered.
Mason chuckled. "Okay, maybe you haven't changed that much," he joked. Liam blushed, but Mason continued as if nothing had happened "When did you enroll?"
"Well ... today, actually," he replied nervously.
He remembered Mason. He had moved to Beacon Hills in their fifth grade. He had been one of the few who had been friends with him. At least he never made fun of him. Then he moved to Los Angeles and they never met again.
"I'm really glad to see you again!" he said with a smile.
He looked genuinely happy, so Liam smiled back. "Um, me too ... Me too ..."
"Hey, do you want me to show you where the office is?"
Liam looked relieved. He was already afraid that he would get lost, and that he would be late for class from day one. "Um yeah, please... thank you!"
They walked towards the school, entering the main entrance and moving quickly through the hallways. Mason began babbling about more or less, teachers and classes. He was saying something about the stern biology teacher, Pinch or something, when he suddenly stopped in front of a door. "Here we are, I'm waiting for you, so I'll take you to class. I wouldn't want you to get lost."
"Okay thanks" Liam smiled at him, extremely grateful. This guy was a godsend. Maybe it wouldn't have been that bad!
When Liam came out with his teacher note, his schedule, and the locker number and combination sheet, Mason said he was sorry they didn't have many classes together.
"Okay, now you have eco with coach," he read.
"Coach?" Liam asked, confused.
"Yeah, lacrosse coach. It's Finstock, but everyone here just calls him Coach," he explained. "Do you play lacrosse?"
Liam shook his head. Let alone. He and sport were two polar opposites. Especially since he had never been a sociable type, able to integrate into a team.
"You should try, you definitely have the body. Our team could use some help. My boyfriend is the goalkeeper," he communicated with nonchalance.
Liam looked at him in amazement. "Boyfriend?" Then he stopped, maybe it sounded rude? "I mean- not that it's a problem, it's ... okay, it's cool- I mean-"
Mason chuckled. "Don't worry." He shrugged.
Liam blushed. "No, I mean- uhm- I'm too- well-" he took a breath "I'm bi" he concluded then.
"Well, good to know." Mason winked at him.
Liam let out a chuckle. It was nice to see someone talking about it quietly and cheerfully. He wasn't ashamed of who he was, but he knew from experience that people can be pretty mean and nasty. So he usually never talked about it, or at least not with strangers or near-non-strangers, in this case. In fact, he was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Mason, it was as if those five years hadn't passed at all.
"This is it." Mason stopped in front of a classroom. The door was open, an excited buzz came from within. "Hey, if you like, we could have lunch together? I'll introduce you Corey - my boyfriend - Nolan, Alec ... my other friends'' he offered, with a friendly nod.
Liam nodded, smiling. "Yes sure, thanks!"
"You're welcome, man! Then I'll see you later." Mason patted him on the back and gave him one last big smile, before walking away.
Liam turned to the class, taking a deep breath and finally entering.
He immediately marched to the desk, where he placed the principal's note, and then turned to look for a seat, careful not to catch anyone's eye. Eventually he opted for a seat in the middle row, next to the window.
When he was seated, he placed the sheets with his lessons and locker number in the pocket of his bag and took out his notebook. When the bell rang, he heard everyone moving around him, taking their seats as the last of the latecomers rushed through the door. He was looking for the pen, bent over in his bag, when someone slammed the door, prompting him to look up.
The man whistled into the whistle that hung around his neck, approaching the desk, a pile of papers in his hand, but remaining standing. "So, you little shits, listen to me carefully." Liam looked at him with wide eyes. Was he serious? "I know it won't interest you in the slightest, but the school is organizing a fundraiser next week for the kids in the town's orphanage. I know you little spoiled daddy kids probably don't even know what the word charity means, but I want everyone of you to give something. And write a nice note that makes your coach's eyes fall for commotion. And yes, that will be worth half the vote, so see what to do" He dropped a stack of papers on each first desk of the first row. "Pass behind, return the forms tomorrow signed by your parents." he said, as the first in line began to obey. "Parents, Greenberg. You are not smart enough for me to think that you are even the least bit emancipated." Then he turned to sit at the desk.
Liam was sure he had never heard a teacher speak like this in his life. Or any person, actually. Surely the Coach was something else.
When the girl in front of him passed him the two remaining sheets, he placed one on his desk, and turned in his chair to give the last to the person sitting behind him.
When he put the paper on the desk of the boy in question, intent on looking at what was surely his cell phone hidden on his legs, he jerked his head up.
And Liam found himself looking into the greenest eyes he had ever seen.
Or had he already seen them ...?
The guy stared at him for a good two seconds, before widening his eyes.
And Liam did the same when he recognized him.
No way.
"Uh, you a-!" he started. Liam paled, whirling around and turning his back to him again. He clenched his fists in his lap, eyes closed.
No way. No way! It can't really be him. What have I done wrong for-?
"Liam Dunbar!" The coach's snappy voice startled him. Liam's head snapped at him.
He could feel Theo Raeken's eyes on him. He hadn't lost sight of him even for a moment.
"Y-yes?" he answered, his heart pounding. No way. No way!
"Oh there you are. So ... from today we have a new student!" he happily communicated to the class. Liam looked around nervously, with a smile on his face that probably seemed more like a grimace to everyone. "I sincerely hope he is better than you losers" the coach muttered then rolling his eyes. "Now let's get started - who wants to give an sum up of the program dealt with so far to Mr. Dunbar?"
Liam cringed in the chair. He didn't know if it was because of the insults that everyone was probably throwing at him at that moment, or because of Theo's games that he still felt burning at the back of his neck, but at that moment he just wanted to disappear.
No way!
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