Chapter 11: Nine

"Hey." Liam smiles at his two friends after the final bell has rang.

"Hey. Are you ready?" Paige asks.

It's Friday and Liam has agreed to drive them all to Ember's after school. He nods in reply to Paige's question while shutting his locker.

"Cool. I call shotgun." Paige grins.

"Shit." Ember grumbles while following the two of them out. "I get control over the radio then."

Paige shrugs in response and Liam doesn't say anything. He doesn't listen to music often so he's okay with whatever his friends decide to play. Their agreements seem to make Ember happy and make up for the fact she'll have to sit in the back.

When they reach his car Liam gets in the driver's seat and Paige and Ember climb in as well.

Ember melts into the leather seats in the back and lets out a noise that sounds like a moan. "I forget how comfortable your car is, fuck."

"Better than the bus?" Liam smiles a little while starting the bar.

"Way better than the bus." Ember sighs happily.

"Extremely better than the bus." Paige agrees.

"The bus is hot, filled with sweaty ass people so it always smells like BO, we're not allowed to roll the windows down, you have to squeeze together. It just sucks ass in general."

"That it does." Paige nods seriously. Liam smiles as he backs out of his parking space and begins the drive.

"Sounds like my car is one nice upgrade."

"At this point you're just boasting about your rich boy car." Ember says. When Liam looks at her in the mirror she's glaring playfully at him.

"Maybe I am." Liam smirks. "This is the one thing my parents gave me that I actually like."

"How depressing and sweet." Ember hums. "If you put emphasis on the depressing part it will basically sum up your personality as a whole."

"That's just rude." Liam huffs right as Ember bursts out laughing. "And dumb, which sums up your personality in a whole."

"Hey!"

"You were asking for that one." Paige muses. Liam glances over at her and she's smiling.

Ember grumbles under her breath in the back seat. It sounds something similar to rude ass mother fuckers but Liam doesn't say anything. He just smiles.

"Oh shit!" Ember pops up suddenly. She leans forward between the seats and starts messing with the radio. "I just realized I'm not claiming my use of the radio. How dare I?"

Liam lets out a small huff that sounds like a laugh. Paige laughs quietly under her breath. Ember just grins while finding her pop punk station.

The drive isn't terribly long but they've listened to quite a few songs by the time they get to Ember's house. She hums along to some and taps her foot to the beat. Paige looks out the window with a little smile and Liam focuses on driving. There's no real conversation between the three but the quiet that surrounds them is comfortable.

Liam parks in Ember's driveway. There's another car next to him that's a shiny red color. He shuts the car off as the girls start to climb out.

Ember reaches the door first and swings it open. "I'm home!"

Liam and Paige follow her inside the door. There's three teenagers in the living room. Ian and Javi are on the couch while Izzy is on the sofa.

Izzy smiles at Ember. "Hey babes."

Ember grins and walks over to plop on the girl's lap. "Hello, lovie."

"Gross." Ian grumbles under his breath but as Liam walks in he can hear it. It makes him smile.

"Is anybody else coming?" Paige glances around the room before her eyes settle on Ian.

He shrugs. "Chris and Lucas are both coming as well. They had to stop at Lu's because he forgot his bag and they probably got distracted talking about anime."

"Sounds like them." Izzy smiles fondly.

"Anime?" Liam looks over at Paige.

"It's Japanese animations. There's shows and movies, some with really weird concepts. Lucas loves it. Chris watches some too and since they're the only two that do they talk about it some." Paige shrugs. "I don't really understand the obsession."

"I don't either." Ian chips in from his seat on the couch and shakes his head. A moment later he's friendly smiling at them and scooting over to pat the seat next to him. "Now, who's sitting by me?"

Paige nudges Liam. "Go ahead. I'm going to go get something to drink."

"Uh.." Liam just nods and moves over to sit on the couch. He drops his bag at the end of the couch, leaning it up against the furniture so it's not very much in the way, then plops down onto the empty seat.

Ian grins widely at him. Liam is surprised but slowly he feels himself smiling back. He relaxes into the couch as Paige walks over into the kitchen.

"Paigey will you get me some juice?" Ember calls in. Paige does so silently. "Get Liam a soda! He doesn't get sugar enough."

No one says anything about her comment. Paige comes back into the living room with two Pepsi cans in one hand and a glass of juice in the other. She sits one Pepsi on the table in front of Liam and then moves over to sit next to Ember and Izzy on the sofa.

Ember smiles while accepting the juice and taking a drink out of it. She then offers it to Izzy who takes a sip as well. Liam turns to look at the can in front of him and picks it up so he can open it.

He hasn't had soda in a while. He usually just drinks water or tea. He takes a sip and welcomes the taste. It's good and he enjoys the fizzy feeling in his mouth.

"Should we pick what to watch?" Ian asks, glancing around.

The door opens then just as Paige says for whoever is standing there to hear, "We're not waiting for Lucas and Chris?"

"We're not waiting for Lucas and Chris?" Liam looks over towards the voice. Chris is walking in, he's the one that spoke.

"Rude." Lucas shakes his head like he's disappointed, following Chris in.

"Yeah, rude. Do we not get a say?" Chris huffs while going over to the chair. He drops the bag that was on his shoulder down onto the ground next to him. Lucas drops it there too but goes over to squeeze at the end of the couch by Javi, mostly sitting on the Mexican boy.

"Nonsense, Christopher." Ember waves her hand at him. "Your opinion is invalid."

Chris scoffs. "And why is that?"

"Anyone that sleeps with Jessica Hoffman does not get to have an opinion in this group." Ember deadpans, glaring at him. Izzy and Javi snicker at her words.

Chris's eyes widen. "Where did you hear that?!"

Ember glares at him. "Just because I don't go to school there anymore doesn't mean I don't still have ears within the walls."

"You little snitch." Chris turns to glare at Izzy. She shrugs with a smug smile.

Ian laughs and while the conversation is amusing even without context, Liam is confused. He glances at Paige across the living room but she can't explain from way over there. Ian must see his confusion because the boy turns to him with a soft smile and explains.

"Jessica Hoffman goes to our school. Back in middle school her and Ember played sports together and Ember absolutely hates her guts. She's one of those overly loud people that's kind of obnoxious. Em and her used to butt heads all the time over stupid stuff. Chris got drunk at a party last week and hooked up with her."

"Oh." Liam nods a little. Then, quietly, he adds, "Thank you."

Ian hums and turns his attention back to the people around him. Ember is telling Chris off for just assuming it was Izzy that told her as if she doesn't have other friends.

"Ember, you're lame. Other people don't talk to you." Ember seemed like she was about to go off on a whole other rant because of this but Chris continues talking. "Name someone that isn't in this group who you actually still talk to from school."

He gives her a challenging look and she returns it with one of determination. She opens her mouth to speak but nothing comes out. After a few seconds the look fades and she shuts her mouth. She glares at the boy as he bursts out laughing.

"Shut up." She snaps quickly but Chris doesn't stop laughing. "Shut up dickface! If you don't stop I'm going to cut your tongue out in your sleep so you never feel like laughing again."

This made Ian, Izzy, and Paige laugh quietly. Liam smiles along with Javi and Chris continues to cackle, starting to wheeze at this point. His laughing made everyone else begin laughing as well.

Soon they were all laughing. Even Liam is chuckling a little. The atmosphere is nice.

"What's got you guys all giggly?" A woman speaks. Liam looks over and can immediately tell this is Ember and Iris's mom.

"Hey Mom." Ian smiles at the woman. "Ember and Chris are fighting again."

The woman rolls her eyes but holds a fond smile on her face. "Well, I just came out here to ask if you guys want something to eat? We can order in or I can cook something."

Everyone looks at one another. The kids all glance around the room before finally everyone just shrugs. Ian answers his mother with a small smile.

"Either works for us. All up to you."

She smiles back. "You guys are no help. I'll just ask your father."

She turns and walks away again. She goes into one of the doors in the downstairs that remains shut. Liam turns back to the group.

Paige stands up. "Don't pick until I'm back. I have to change out of this stupid uniform."

"Oh my God, yes." Ember stands up too. She looks over at Liam. "You can change in the bathroom."

They both go upstairs and Liam leans over to pull shorts and a T-shirt out of his bag. He walks over to the bathroom Ember had used when he first came over. He shuts the door and then changes quickly.

He hates the uniform so getting out of it is a great relief. He folds up the clothes and leaves the bathroom. He stuffs them in his bag before sitting on the couch again.

Lucas and Javi are having a conversation about someone they must go to school with. Liam listens quietly like Ian, Izzy, and Chris are doing.

After awhile Ember and Paige come back. Paige is in black jogger and a purple shirt while Ember is in red shorts and a white shirt. They both sit down and Javi looks around before speaking.

"What are we watching?"

"That is the question." Ember muses. She looks over at Liam. "Any awesome recs from the world of the riches?"

Liam's mouth suddenly feels dry as eyes turn on him. "Um... no."

"Oh!" Izzy pipes up. "Speaking of world of riches! We should watch that one movie. Oh gosh, I forgot its name." She looks over at Ember like the girl will magically read her mind. "Um... the one we went and saw in theaters with Javi."

"Oh my God no." Javi exclaims. "Never again."

"Come on!" Ember looks over. "It's so good!"

"It's confusing and complicated and tragic!" Javi tosses back.

"It sounds girly." Chris plainly adds into the argument. "Just from what I heard back when you guys went to see it."

Izzy huffs. "It's amazing."

"It sounded kind of... intense when I heard about it." Paige mumbles and shifts to show she's uncomfortable with their option.

Izzy gives her a reassuring smile. "It's good."

"Well, I guess I'm down." Paige shrugs.

"No!" Javi shakes his head quickly. "Please, no! I can't go through that again!"

"Yes!" Ember says excitedly. "Liam vote yes!"

Liam's eyes widen. "What?"

"C'mon! Vote yes!" Ember pushes and Liam just shrugs. He couldn't care less what they watch. She grins at his reaction. "I'm counting that as a yes!"

Lucas also says he doesn't care so Ember counts that as another yes. Ian sighs with a shrug which is again counted as a yes. So, in the end they all have to watch it since Chris and Javi are out voted.

Ember smirks smugly while searching for the movie. About that time her mother emerges back into the room and smiles at them. "I'm ordering chinese!"

"Yay!" Izzy cheers. "Thank you!"

"Thanks Mom." Ember agrees on top of the smiling girl.

As the woman passes by she stops behind the couch where Liam is sitting. She smiles softly when he looks over to make eye contact with her. "You must be Liam."

"Oh- um- yes that's me." He nods once.

"Good to finally meet you." Her voice is soft. "I've heard a lot about you."

Then she's walking away before Liam can even say anything else. His mouth hangs open for a moment before he realizes and snaps it shut. As he turns around, eyes still wide, Ian chuckles quietly from next to him.

Liam notices Ian drape his arm on the back of the couch behind him but doesn't say anything. Nothing needs to be said. It doesn't make him uncomfortable so he chooses to ignore it.

The movie starts and as it goes Liam feels like his eyes can never leave the screen. It's the type that keeps you on the edge of your seat with suspense.

At some point the food gets delivered because Ian nudges him softly and hands him a to-go box. He's never eaten with chop sticks before so instead of embarrassing himself he just uses the plastic fork instead. It's quite good food if he's honest.

The movie nears an ending two hours later. Liam feels himself dropping lower on the couch and shifting a bit to get more comfortable. He must be closer to Ian than he originally thought because even if they're not touching he can feel the boy's body heat next to him. It's actually relaxing.

His eyelids are droopy by the time its over. The credits play and they all sit in silence for a few moments. Liam feels stunned, the whole movie was very suspenseful. It was good though.

"Holy shit. That was weird." Lucas is first to break the silence. That sends a round of chuckles throughout the room.

"Yes, weird, but also good." Ember says dismissively. She's all cuddled up on top of Izzy at this point.

"No, freaky." Javi shakes his head. "Just as bad as the first time I was forced to watch it."

"Did it scare you Javi?" Izzy raises her eyebrows with a teasing smirk. Javi just flips her off in response and she laughs.

"You got any suggestions on what we should watch next?" Ian keeps his voice down as he leans over to whisper to Liam. Just the two of them can hear so Liam doesn't feel so anxious now.

"Not really." Liam lightly shakes his head. Ian smiles softly and nods before turning back to the rest of the group.

"What are we watching next?" Ian picks up the remote from the table where Ember sat it down.

"Nemo!" Paige smiles widely. "Liam has never seen it before so I must make him watch it! Oh! And then we can watch Finding Dory!"

"You've never seen Nemo?" Chris looks over at him and Liam just shrugs. He can feel all the eyes on him but in his sleepy state it only makes him feel slightly unsettled. "Damn, you must of had one shit childhood."

Not very far off, buddy. Liam smiles a little as though he's amused.

A second later a throw pillow is hitting Chris in the face. He makes a surprised sound and looks over to find Paige glaring at him. "Don't make fun of Liam."

"Damn, okay woman." Chris holds both his hands up in a surrendering motion. He then hugs the throw pillow to himself and leans back in the chair.

Since no one objects to them watching the cartoon Paige puts it on with a happy smile. Liam watches it with droopy eyes.

He can hear a few whispered conversations throughout the movie but they don't bother him. He's glad the boy next to him doesn't join in on any because they're too close for that not to be distracting.

After the movie ends Paige puts on the sequel. Everyone seems to be just fine with this again. Liam isn't sure when during the movie his eyes finally close but at some point they do and he drifts off to sleep.

He feels cozy here. They eat take out food in the living room and cuddle up together while watching movies. It's a type of thing he never thought he'd be able to partake in and yet here he is.

And he's enjoying every second of it.

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Liam's starting to really become part of the group now. Ian's taking an interest to him too.

Love you ♡

- Z