A few seconds pass without anyone moving or making a sound. We just stay in shock. This big man who barely fits through the door is staring at us. Suddenly, I see his eyes fill with rage. He throws his beer against the wall.

“Where do you think you’re going, son?” He bolts to Malakai, pushing me away. I fall on my ass while he grabs him by the collar of his shirt. “You’re thinking of leaving us, uh? You ungrateful little sh*t.” He throws Malakai to the floor. He looks terrified, hopeless. I’d never seen him like this. “I’m going to show you what I do to ungrateful assholes like you.”

He starts to put his foot back.

He's about to beat him up.

Without thinking, I stand up and grab this big man’s neck with my arms, pulling him back. He slams me against the wall with the weight of his body. Air is pushed out of my lungs and I cough in his neck. I feel something pointy piercing my back- one of Malakai’s baseball trophies. The pain makes me lose my senses for a second, enough for him to release himself from my grip. He turns around and wraps his hands around my neck. He groans between his teeth, “Who the f*ck are you?”

I don’t have the time to retaliate when I see Malakai, his bat in one hand, rushing to us. He slams his dad’s head with it as if he wanted to hit a home run. He releases me and we both collapse on the floor. Malakai stands beside him, stoic. I take a big breath before getting on my feet. I grab him by the arm. “Let’s go Malakai!”

He nods and we both jump from the window one after the other. Noah is very pale. 

“What happened?” He looks terrified.

“I smashed my dad’s head with a bat,” answers Malakai, ecstatic. Noah’s jaw drops.

I tap Malakai’s arm, “We don’t have time for your exploits Carrot, let’s f*cking go!”

We start running down the street, heading to my apartment.

It’s been a while since I ran - like actually ran.

I quickly look back at Malakai - who’s smiling. He starts laughing, running with his fist up, screaming Yoohoos, releasing all the stress and panic he was feeling seconds ago. I laugh and do the same, Noah joining us just after.

As we’re laughing and running like crazy down the streets of this monotone neighborhood, this feeling takes hold of my body: freedom. I had been living hidden for two years and scared of everyone for a month. Right now, I don’t care who might see me. This moment is mine - it’s ours. Right now, I’m experiencing the most joy I have experienced in years. Right now, with Malakai and Noah - I’m happy.

Even if we almost got killed by a big ugly man.

****

Hopefully, my apartment is only thirty minutes away by foot from their house - so fifteen if you run like happy idiots. 

I knock on the door for Liam to open. When he does, we rush in, gasping for air.

“Well, I guess it was a success?,” he asks with a smirk.

I look at him, with a big smile on my face. “Yes. But we did have to fight for it.”

Liam’s eyebrows come together.

“I smashed my dad’s head with a bat!”

“You did what?,” Liam asks with a concerned look.

I shake my head and say, “well, you know the house,” as I hand Malakai my backpack. “You can go unpack in your new room.” He grabs it and heads to the guest room, followed by Noah.

“So no one got hurt, right?,” asks Liam.

“Nope, only his dad. This mission was a success - thanks to my amazing plan.”

“You mean, thanks to Noah’s plan?” I pout, to which he responds with a chuckle. “I’m proud of you.”

His comment takes me by surprise and warms my chest, I blush instantly. He sees it and proceeds to put his hand on my cheek.

As if that was going to help.

But he quickly pulls back as he hears Noah and Malakai return.

“Can Noah stay here for the night? He’ll just borrow my clothes for school tomorrow.”

“Of course. You live here now. You can make your own decisions.” 

He responds with a warm smile. I had never seen him this happy. They both go back to Malakai’s room.

I turn around to get a glass of water when Liam grabs my arm.

“Adriel, you’re bleeding.”

Right, I think, Malakai’s trophy.

The whole thing went so fast that I forgot I got hurt. Now that I’m aware of it, it’s starting to hurt. The euphoria of the moment has passed. “Yeah, I forgot about it. It’s nothing.”

“So you did get hurt. What did Malakai’s father do?”

He is glaring at me, his grip on my arm is tightening.

“Liam, let go.” He obeys. “Everything’s fine. I’m going to check the wound right now,” I say before heading to the bathroom. He follows me.

I’m about to take my shirt off when I feel him staring at me. “Hum, are you just going to stay here and watch?”

“Yes. I want to make sure it’s not deep.”

“What about a little privacy?”

He rolls his eyes and grabs my shirt. In a second, he takes it off of me and throws it on the bathroom floor.

This sure brings back some interesting memories.

Gripping my shoulder, he inspects the wound. His touch sends chills down my spine.

The wound is a cut on the middle left of my back, and judging by his reassured sigh, it’s not that bad. 

“I’m going to patch it up. Where can I find some bandages ?”

I point to the cupboard just next to the sink.

As he disinfects my wound, he asks, “so with Malakai taking the guest room, I guess I’ll sleep on the couch from now on?”

“Well, I don’t think Malakai will be comfortable sleeping with you. He only just met you,” I say sarcastically. He sighs with a smile. I swallow and continue, “you can sleep in my room if you want.”

“With you?,” he says with raised eyebrows.

“No - with the Queen Elizabeth.” 

“What a privilege.”

I hit his stomach with my elbow. What a dumbass. 

****

The evening is going smoothly, Malakai and I are cooking some Carbonara while Liam and Noah are watching because they both suck at cooking. That’s when I realized that living with Malakai wasn’t going to be easy: we keep on fighting over ingredients and who should do what. It’s like I suddenly got an annoying wife.

But it’s okay, we will get used to it.

While cooking, he whispers, “so Liam’s sleeping on the couch?”

“No, he’s sleeping with me.”

“Oh okay, just please, don’t make too much noise.”

“What do you m- ” I pause, realizing what he just implied. I slap the back of his head, to which he answers with raising his eyebrows up and down, teasing me.

“You’re one to talk, you little-”

“Is it almost done?,” cuts Noah. “I’m starving.”

After a few minutes, dinner was ready and we all sat around the kitchen counter. We talked about all sorts of things, the conversation was fluid as if Liam had always been part of the group. We also learned that Noah and he were huge fans of Harry Potter. Once they started talking about it, there was no end to it. They talked about their favorite characters - Luna Lovegood for Noah and Harry Potter for Liam - and compared their merchandise. They both agreed on Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw being the best houses, because that’s the ones they belong to - according to an online test. As Malakai and I went to sleep, they both decided to watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

I’m glad Liam gets along with Noah so well.

****

I’m drifting to sleep when I feel something move next to me. Liam just came back from the living room. Judging by the time - the movie just ended.

“Your hair has gotten pretty long.”

Since he’s behind me, he can see the length of my hair. He’s right, I haven’t been to a hairdresser since I left our hometown. 

“I know, I should cut it. I’ll do it for summer.”

“Don’t,” he answers, twirling one hair strand with his finger. “I like it.”

I turn around to face him. He looks exhausted and a bit… sad. Did something happen while watching Harry Potter with Noah? I open my mouth to ask if he’s alright, but he cuts me, “I’m glad you made such good friends here.”

“Yeah, me too.” My answer is making him even sadder.

I reach for his hand and lace our fingers together. We stay in silence for a moment, just staring at each other when he suddenly says, “Adriel, I have always wondered - what happened with the Kellers?”

I hold his hand tighter. He’s talking about the reason why I left my hometown. I thought everyone knew what the Kellers had done to me. Knowing that Liam is not aware of it lifts a weight off my shoulders. Firstly, because if he knew he would lose his temper and God knows what would happen, and secondly - for my pride. Every time I think about it, I feel disgusting, sullied and pathetic. I’m glad he has no idea of the horrible things I’ve been through back then.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I came here to forget, don’t force me to remember,” I say as I let go of his hand. 

He puts his hand on my cheek, “it’s okay, I understand. I’ve only heard rumors.” He brushes my cheek with his thumb, his eyes wandering from my eyes to my lips. His face is unreadable. “The way they talk about you back there - I can’t stand it. What happened wasn’t your fault.”

It was partly my fault. But it happened because of my parents’ doing. And what kind of rumors? I’m scared to ask. I guess they’re just an amplification of the truth. It still hurts that Liam had to hear such things.

I hear noise coming from the guest room. Right, I’ll have to get used to that.

“Please, could we just not talk about it? I’m really tired.”

“Of course, I’m sorry.”

I turn my back on him once again. I don’t know what has gotten into him. Why would he ask me that right now? And why does he look so sad, so empty?