"He's not going anywhere,"Liam growled,his eyes fixed on Julian with a fixed intensity that made the other boy stumble back.
Without waiting for an answer, Liam pulled Oliver away aggressively, his long strides forcing Oliver to practically run to keep up.
"Leave me alone, stop treating me like a kid.." Oliver bellowed.
They passed the library, heading instead for the deserted staircase of the East Wing. Behind them, Julian stood in the middle of the hallway, a look of utter confusion on his face.
Once they were behind the heavy metal doors of the staircase, Liam spun Oliver around, pinning him against the cold concrete wall. The air between them was electric, charged with weeks of repressed longing and the raw heat of Liam's jealousy.
"You didn't get it, do you?" Liam hissed, leaning in so close that his chest brushed against Oliver's. "You think I'm just playing hero? You think I'm bored?"
Oliver's breath came in short gasps. "Liam stop, I didn't mean to avoid you, I and Julian are working together on a -"
"I'm not playing hero with you!" Liam shouted, his voice cracking. "I'm just jealous, don't you get it? Seeing you smiling at him while I'm standing right there..."
"What do you mean? Just stop already.." Oliver said, confused as to why Liam was acting this way.
The silence that followed was heavy. Liam's gaze dropped onto Oliver's lips, his breathing ragged and uneven. The anger in his eyes softened into an agonizing longing. He tilted his head, his hand sliding from the wall to the back of Oliver's neck, his thumb brushing the sensitive skin behind his ear.
Oliver's hair stood on end. His breathing seized as he bit his lips nervously. "What is he doing?"
For a second, the world narrowed down the space between them. Liam leaned in, his eyes fluttering shut, his lips a mere breath away from Oliver's.
Liam lingered there, his forehead almost resting against Oliver's. He was trembling, caught between the urge to take what he wanted and the fear of losing the boy he had wanted to get close to.
"Fuck off !!!" Oliver yelled, pushing him away suddenly, his gasps as racing as fast as seconds. His eyes depicting irritation.
"What are you doing Liam? What did you intend to do?" He couldn't take it anymore, he moved further away from Liam. Staring at him in annoyance.
Liam stood unmoving. His voice seemed to have been trapped in his throat. "Oliver listen," he murmured, trying to pull his hands, but Oliver slapped it away.
"Oliver let's go sit in the library. I've got something to show you" Liam said suddenly, with a forced smile, changing the topic swiftly.
"Let's make this clear,"Oliver said. His breathing hitched. "What am I to you?"
Liam had always treated him well, Oliver would admit. And Liam was the first friend he ever had. To him, Liam was a very good friend, or probably, his best friend .Though the boy had been a jerk in the beginning, he was undoubtedly a very good person at heart.
Oliver's heart thumped in his chest, awaiting Liam's answer. Though he didn't deserve to be Liam's best friend, he still hoped to be something more than an 'ordinary friend '.
It was as if Liam had become mute. He stood in front of Oliver, not knowing what to say. "You're my best friend " "You're like a brother ". But to Liam, those words aren't enough to describe Oliver with. To him, Oliver was something different entirely, something that he couldn't pinpoint.
Seeing liam react this way, Oliver realized he had said too much. Probably, Liam had taken him as a friend out of pity, or because he had saved him at the willows valley. Liam was an intelligent, handsome and wealthy student whom everyone admired afterall. What could he possibly gain from being friends with someone like Oliver.
"I understand. Don't worry...err.. I appreciate all what you've-"
"Shut up!" Liam yelled, annoyance crepting into his voice. Suddenly, a knock sounded on the door.
"Oliver, Liam! ,are you okay in there?" It was Julian's voice. He was knocking the door really hard.
The door opened and Liam walked out. "You better mind your ass.." he whispered into Julian's ear before walking away.
"Oops," Julian exclaimed adjusting his lens.
Oliver also walked out, wearing an unreadable expression.
"Are you okay? Did you had a fight with Liam?" Julian asked innocently.
"Of course not!" Oliver answered forcing a smile.
Oliver didn't understand at first, why being around Julian felt so easy when he had spent most of his life shrinking away from people. Julian never tried to claim him or pull him into conversations he wasn't ready for. He spoke softly, listened patiently and treated Oliver like an equal.
Around Julian, Oliver wasn't the poor student, not the bullied boy. He was simply someone whose ideas mattered. Julian have him space instead of pressure, and for someone who had learned to survive by staying quiet and unnoticed, the quiet respect felt like safety.
The night was too quiet, and that was the problem. Standing on the balcony, Liam gripped the cold railing as the city slept below him. One could see the the cold air of loneliness which enveloped him.
He kept seeing Oliver's face, not frightened like it used to be when others cornered him, but wounded in a way Liam had caused himself. Deep in thought, Liam stared at the glittering city below.
The thought made his stomach twist. What kind of person hurts someone they claim to protect. If Oliver never looked at him the same again, Liam knew he deserved it. And that was the cruelest truth of all.
Oliver hadn't wanted to come to Liam's house again. After meeting with Liam in the hallway that day, he had stayed away from him completely. But that evening, a strange number had called him. The stranger turns out to be Liam's dad.
"Your mother asked me to give you some documents. She said it would be better if you come to collect them here." He said kindly.
"Okay sir," Oliver said. "I'll come right away. Location sir ."
The location was Liam's parents house, Liam's father met him at the door.
"You must be Mrs Montero's son," he said with a warm smile while handing the documents to Oliver. "Liam has told us so much about you"
Oliver gave a stiff smile. Before he could reply, the man added, "Stay for dinner. It's late already."
"I don't want to be a burden," Oliver said quietly.
"You won't be," the man replied. "Please."
At the table, Oliver avoided meeting Liam's eyes, and they never interacted much. Just when Liam poured him a cup of water after he'd choked on his food.
Liam's mother studied Oliver carefully. "So this is Mrs Montero's son?" She asked at last.
"Yes," Liam said. "Oliver ". He knew nothing good would come out from his mother's mouth.
"I see," she replied. "Your mother works very hard for my family "
Oliver nodded uncomfortably. "Yes ma'am."
"You're in the elite physics program, aren't you?" She asked again.
Oliver nodded.
"That's surprising," she said calmly. "Such programs are expensive. Sponsorships can be very generous, but generosity should have limits." She said, glaring piercingly at Mr Adrien.
Oliver's chest tightened....