Chapter 28: Twenty-six

Wednesday morning Liam woke up with a headache. For someone that was starting to not hate his life, this was a big set back.

He shuts his locker, probably a little harder than necessary, and Paige flinches from next to him. She looks up at his face with wide eyes.

"Okay, what's wrong? You've had that scowl since this morning." Paige looks at him with concern.

"Scowl?" Liam's eyebrows furrow.

"You've been glaring all day." Paige points out like it's obvious.

"I have?" Liam asks with surprise. He hasn't been meaning to scowl.

"Yes, you have. Now come on, we're gonna be late for Philosophy."

Liam falls into step beside Paige, an apology quick on his tongue. "Sorry. I wasn't aware I've been scowling all day."

"Well you have been." Paige says, not like she's upset but just explaining. "What's going on?"

"I'm exhausted." Liam sighs. "I don't know. My head has been hurting since I woke up."

Paige cringes. "Oh, it's a headache."

They take their seats in Philosophy class. Paige pulls her phone out under her desk and begins typing. Liam raises his eyebrows, that's out of character for her. She usually sticks by the rules in school.

The class goes by without Paige looking at her phone anymore. Liam doesn't say anything about it. They both sit and listen to the lecture, taking notes occasionally.

After class Paige follows him to his locker. "Do you think it's from stress? You've been working more in school lately, maybe you're just tired."

"It's not that big of a deal Paige, it's just a headache." Liam shrugs it off. His head is still aching. He can feel his vains pulsing in his temples and he hates it.

"Well, maybe not." Paige argues back. "It could be something more, Li. Maybe this is your body's sign to take a break."

"I agree." Ember walks up, joining their conversation uninvited. Liam rasies his brows at her bag on her back but doesn't get time to question it. Her voice is softer than it typically is, not trying to make Liam's headache worse. "Paige texted me. Anyways, I think you're over exerting yourself. You've been more upbeat lately and now you're crashing. Really, this was bound to happen."

"You both sound like therapists. I'm fine."

"Lies." Ember crosses her arms. "Now, pack your stuff. We're dipping."

"What?" Liam's hand pause on his notebook that he was about to pull out of his locker. He glances back at Ember. "Pardon?"

"We're dipping." Ember grins. "You need a break."

"We're ditching school?" Liam's hands fall away from his locker. "We can't do that."

"Oh but we can." Ember smirks. "Chris does it all the time. So does Javi. I've already texted them, Javi and Ian are both gonna ditch too. We can meet up with them."

"Ember, we can't. What would my mom think?"

Ember's face falls a little. "I guess that's true. But if you need a break, you should take it. Think about it." Ember then spins around. "Now, if we're not leaving then I gotta go and get my stuff for third period."

Ember runs off. Paige looks back up at Liam with a small smile. "Think about it. It'll just be you and Ember leaving since I don't want to take the chance of skipping, but you'll have Ian and Javi too. I gotta go now."

Liam turns back to his locker as Paige walks away. He picks up his notebook and stacks it on top of his laptop. He closes his locker and grimaces at the sounds of it slamming.

As he walks to his next class, he makes up his mind. "Shit." He mumbles under his breath while sitting in his seat. He glances around and texts Ember.

Third period is just as torturous as the last two. The teacher's voice is too loud. Every noise seems to scream in Liam's ears. His head pounds in pain.

The bell screeches when it's over. Liam flips his notebook shut and scrambles out of class quickly. He doesn't even make it all the way back to his locker before Ember is joining him. Her bag is resting over her shoulders and securely on her back.

She grins brightly at him. "Good to know you've come to your senses."

Her voice is still softer. Liam is grateful for the fact that they care. He's not sure what he would do without Paige and Ember. He probably would've withered away into a lifeless soul by now.

Liam puts up his books and sticks his laptop in his bag. He zips it up and puts it on. After shutting his locked he turns to Ember with raised brows. "What now? We just walk out?"

Ember turns and starts walking towards the stairs. "Yep."

"Wait seriously?" Liam follows behind her.

"Yeah. This place is too fancy. Too rich. People don't expect these stuck ups to skip. We could just walk out at any time if we wanted."

"Oh."

And sure enough, it is that simple. They walk out the front door and, except for a few students glancing at them, no one bats an eye. They walk down the pathway and go straight for Liam's car.

"Do you want me to drive? How bad is your headache?" Ember asks once they finally reach the car.

"I'll be fine." Liam shrugs, but hands his keys over anyway.

Ember smiles wide when she takes them. That smile disappears though once they get inside. She sticks the key in the ignition and starts it, then freezes.

"Shit, I didn't think this through." She mumbles, more to herself than Liam. "Your car is so nice. What am I supposed to do if I hit something?"

"Have you ever crashed before?" Liam looks over. Ember quickly shakes her head, nervousness written all over her face. "Then don't worry. It's just like driving a normal car."

Ember gulps. She does eventually start driving. Liam takes note of the fact that she's stiff, but she does eventually calm down. She must get used to it eventually because by the time they're pulling into the Morrison's driveway, she's fully relaxed.

She pops out the driver side door and Liam follows after her. He catches the keys when they're thrown at him before following Ember inside. His shoes get slipped off at the entrance and he takes in the scene in front of him.

Ian is lounged across the couch, his head props up when they enter. Javi is sitting in the chair, looking like he's on the verge of falling asleep. Some show is playing on the screen of the TV but Liam pays it no attention.

"Sit down, I'll get you some medicine for your headache." Ian says, sitting up, just as Liam walks in the living room.

Ember sits down on the sofa while Ian stands up from the couch. Liam thinks about rejecting the offer but doesn't. Medicine would be nice. He sits down on the couch and melts back into the cushions.

Javi turns down the TV, shooting Liam a little smile. Liam smiles back. A moment later, Ian is in front of him again. He sits down a glass of water and then hands Liam a package of cheese cracked sandwiches.

"Eat and then you can take this." Ian says, his voice soft. He puts the pill down on the table next to the water and then takes a seat next to Liam.

Liam does as told, eating his snack quietly. Ember becomes engrossed in what's playing on the TV pretty quickly. Liam can't focus on it, he focuses instead on the crackers. He feels if he tries to focus on more than one thing at once, the headache will only get worse.

Once the package of six cracker sandwiches is gone, Liam takes the medicine. He swallows down the tablet with ease and gulps down the water. Once he places the water glass back down, he leans back into the couch.

Ian's arm reaches up, draping itself across the back of the couch. Liam doesn't pay it much attention up until a cool hand comes to lightly touch the side of his neck. Ian's hand brushes up the side of Liam's face up until it reaches his temple. His fingers brush through the hair there lightly and gently rub at the skin. Liam melts more into the couch at the touch.

Ian's eyes watch his reaction. Once he's sure Liam's okay with the affection, he turns his gaze back to the TV. His hand continues to soothe Liam's head and play with his hair.

The blue eyed boy leans over a few minutes later. His upper boy rests against Ian. The boy smiles, his dark eyes only briefly leaving the TV to look at Liam. Liam's gaze is set on the screen, even though his eyes are fuzzy and unfocused. Ian's hand continues its movements and Ian goes back to watching TV. There's a silent agreement between them that this is okay. Ian's hand doesn't stop, even after two episodes of the show have passed and Liam's headache is long gone.

"So, are your parents just okay with you guys skipping school?" Liam asks quietly at the end of the third episode he's watched with them. He's been wondering this since they parked in the driveway but other things had preoccupied his mind. Now, he speaks softly, the question really only meant for Ian.

"Meh, I guess in a way. They're okay with it as long as our attendance doesn't get too bad. They think every once in a while it's okay." Ian answers, his voice keeping quiet as well.

Liam hums under his breath. "Your parents are so cool."

Ian laughs silently, his torso vibrating from next to Liam. It has the shorter boy leaning into him a little bit more. Ian's arm adjusts around Liam's shoulders so that his hand can brush through the top of the boy's hair.

"I guess." Ian comments as his finger rakes up Liam's fringe before flattening it back down. "Has your headache gone?"

"Yes." Liam's answer is more hesitant than he thought it would be. He's worried that Ian will stop soothingly running his hand through his hair. Luckily, he doesn't stop at Liam's reply but rather just hums quietly.

"That's good."

Liam's eyes grow heavy. Ian's hand is soothing and this house has become comfortable for him. These people are becoming comfortable to him.

"Are you gonna be at my house this weekend?" Liam whispers out. He's hoping that talking may keep him awake. He doesn't want to fall asleep against Ian, that'd be embarrassing.

"Not this time." Ian answers. His voice is soft but when he speaks up again it has more of a teasing tone. "You going to miss me?"

Liam smiles a little. He feels heat growing up his neck from embarrassment but ignores it. "Maybe."

Ian chuckles under his breath. Vibrations come off him, making Liam's entire side feel like it's buzzing.

"Me too." Ian says, his voice so quiet Liam almost misses it. The words make the heat on his neck worse. He smiles a little and tries to focus back on the TV.

The front door opens causing everyone to look over. When Liam's head turns, Ian's hand falls down from his hair to rest on his shoulder. Ian's father pauses in the doorway when he looks around his living room to see all the teenagers there.

"Now, if I'm not mistaken," He pauses, nudging the door shut behind him with his heel. He takes his phone out of his pocket and clicks it on, checking the time before putting it back. "School isn't over for another hour. What are you guys doing home?"

"Liam needed a mental health day." Ember speaks up before anyone else can. Liam turns his head to Ember. What's a mental health day?

"Oh?" Clint turns to look at Liam. There's concern dancing in his eyes but he doesn't ask anything. Soon he turns back to Ember. "He can't spend a mental health day at his own house? Does he have to have all of your company?"

"His house isn't the right environment for a mental health day. We're here for emotional support because, to be honest, he really needs it." Her words sound like a joke but Liam knows that what she's saying is entirely truthful.

Clint looks like he still doesn't believe her. He glances over at Liam. Finally, his shoulders ease and a kind smile reaches his face. "Alright. Just don't get me in trouble with any parents."

He looks over at Javi as he says the last bit. The Mexican boy laughs. "My mom won't find out."

"She better not. That woman scares me." As if to prove his point, Clint shivers. Then, after receiving chuckles from the kids in the loving room, he walks away. He goes into his room, the door clicking quietly as he shuts it.

Liam turns his head back to the TV. Ember speaks up again before he can refocus though. "When do you need to be home?"

Liam can almost feel the headache coming back at that thought. He doesn't exactly want to go home. He melts further into Ian's side almost instinctively. "I don't know."

"You don't have to think too much. You can stay until later if you want." Ember smiles, she then looks back at the TV.

"Do you not want to go home?" Ian leans down to whisper, his nose brushing up against Liam's hair. Liam slowly shakes his head. "That's okay."

Ian's hand lightly squeezes Liam's shoulder before going up to play with his hair again. Liam feels himself relax again.

A little under an hour later, Javi leaves. He says something about having to go home on time or else his mother will be suspicious. He says bye to Liam with a friendly smile that makes the boy smile kindly back. Awhile later Paige walks in. She gives Liam a nice smile and a little wave.

"I'm gonna go change." She shoots up the stairs and comes back in sweatpants and a pink t-shirt. She sits next to Ember and listens patiently as the excited girl catches her up on what she missed of the show.

Liam doesn't really want to leave. He likes it here. He likes being squished into Ian's side and he likes having his best friends close to him. He also likes the TV show they're watching. It's some zombie apocalypse show that apparently Ian decided to rewatch with Javi, now Liam is hooked too.

He stays for another two hours before deciding he should leave. He can't get home too late, and he's dying to get out of the school uniform.

"I should probably go." Liam murmurs, standing up from the couch. Ian's hand falls and goes to sit beside his thigh.

"Okay." Ian nods. He flashes Liam a nice smile and Liam returns it.

"Bye." Paige says gently and gives him a little wave.

"We'll see you tomorrow Li." Ember calls out as he leaves the living room.

Liam slips on his shoes and exits the house. He gets in his car and mentally prepares himself to go back to his house.

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Love you ♡

- Z