Liam
September 29th, 2016 | 12:30 pm
"Why did you say that stuff to Lexi?" Liam asked his girlfriend.
Rachel shrugged. "We were just wondering, it's not that big of a deal."
"That wasn't very nice," he criticized.
"Come on, aren't you a little curious how one of the most notorious couples in this town fell out of love?"
Liam didn't answer, he turned around and left her.
"Where are you going?" she called after him.
"To class," he said and walked in the direction of his next period. He was pleased to hear the new principal asking Rachel and her friends what they were up to as he left.
He wasn't really sure why what Rachel had said pissed him off. He barely knew Lexi, they had been lab partners freshman year and occasionally saw each other at parties. He doubted she even knew who he was. Obviously, he knew the rumors about her, and Liam even knew which parts of the gossip were true thanks to his work at the hospital this summer. Still, Rachel was rude when she didn't have to be, and that had made Liam angry. Why did she feel the need to hurt people?
He sat down in his class and smiled to himself when he saw Rachel and her friends who were planning to ditch, walk in upset their plans had been ruined. He made no effort to acknowledge her and kept his head down.
"Who pissed Rachel off?" Ryan asked.
Liam shrugged and offered no answer.
***
The next day Liam, Josh, and Ryan were in their math class when the teacher said they all needed to find a partner for the rest of the semester. The three boys looked between each other. It had happened before where one of them had to work with someone else, Liam didn't expect it to be as big of a problem as the other two made it out to be.
"I'm working with Liam," Ryan and Josh both said at once.
Liam forgot they were both awful at math and they both wanted Liam to carry them.
"Dude, no fair," Josh protested. "I suck at math."
"Well, so do I," Ryan said. "Besides you have an older brother who already took this class, get him to help you."
While the two fought over him, Liam looked around the room to see who the loser of their fight would have to partner with. Everyone seemed to have already partnered up except for Lexi. She was looking slyly at Austin who had partnered with some blonde. Ryan and Josh also realized that one of them would have to work with Lexi, and suddenly the conversation became more intense.
"Dude you have to let me work with Liam," Ryan said more fiercely.
"Scared of Lexi?" Josh asked mockingly.
"As if, you are the one who looks nervous," Ryan said scoffing.
"I am not surviving without Liam."
"Well, I want to work with Liam."
"Guys, I think she can hear you," Liam said quietly. All three of the boys looked over and saw Lexi looking over at them. She had this look on her face, and Liam could tell that it must have stung to be the only person in the room without a partner.
"Sorry guys," Liam said and with that, he got up and sat down next to Lexi.
Both Ryan and Josh were looking at him like he was crazy, but what was Lexi going to do? Bite him? Lexi peaked a glance at Liam but then quickly looked away when he made eye contact with her.
"You didn't have to do that," she mumbled, staring directly ahead.
Liam smiled faintly. "I know."
The teacher began to explain how this year they would listen to him teach for half the class and spend the rest of the time working on the homework with their partner. When it was time to work on the homework, Liam noticed Lexi didn't take out a laptop to do the homework like the rest of the students. She went to the teacher and copied down the problems from the textbook on a piece of paper.
They didn't speak for the rest of class. It was peaceful though, it was nice to not have to talk about girls or drama like his friends wanted to. The second class ended however, Ryan and Josh gave him an earful.
"Stupid," Ryan said shaking his head.
"Come on, that was just some joke right?" Josh asked.
"It isn't and besides now you can learn from each other instead of copying off of me."
"Yeah right," they both said, scoffing.
Liam ignored them. The next time he saw Lexi, it was for their new philosophy class. Once again they had to be partnered up and she was looking around for someone else who didn't have anyone to work with. Liam wasn't sure why he felt obligated to make Lexi feel better.
They didn't know each other. Yet, Liam couldn't shake the feeling that if the roles were reversed, he would've wanted someone to come to help him. So he went over and asked if she needed a partner.
"Why do you keep doing this?" she asked.
"Huh?" Liam asked, confused.
Lexi sighed. "Look I don't need your pity, okay? If you feel bad about what your girlfriend said yesterday or something, it's fine just forget it."
Liam was confused by her behavior. "I just thought you might want someone to work with."
Lexi held her glare at Liam until she finally realized he was being sincere. She looked at the ground and Liam heard a mumbled thanks.
"I just thought everyone was on Austin's side, you know?"
Liam felt bad for her. He couldn't imagine what she was going through. Liam offered her a sad smile. "I think he is just one of those people everyone respects. They are scared to piss him off."
"Do you know anything about what happened between us?" she asked.
Lexi looked up at him with these big sad brown eyes and that was when Liam realized she wasn't in pain because of everyone abandoning her, she was in pain because she didn't know why Austin had hurt her.
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Should I?" he asked.
Lexi quickly looked away and shook her head. "No, I was just," suddenly her expression changed and she frowned looking a little past him. "I think your girlfriend is mad at you."
Liam turned around and found Rachel with her arms crossed. "Is this your way of making a point?"
Liam furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"
"Why are you working with her when I am in this class?" she asked.
"I just thought you would work with one of your friends from the cheerleading team."
Rachel looked even angrier now. "Whatever," she said, rolling her eyes. "Have fun working with the social pariah of the year."
Rachel had said it just a bit too loudly, probably on purpose, and Lexi had clearly heard.
"Sorry about her," Liam said quietly as he watched Rachel stomp away to her friends.
"It's okay," she said. "She's not wrong, everyone seems to be keeping their distance from me." Lexi sat down at the table and glanced over at him. "I wish I knew what Austin had told everyone," she muttered. "People insist on avoiding me but I have no idea why."
Liam wondered if she would really even want to know some of the rumors surrounding her, thankfully the teacher began talking and saved Liam from having to answer. The teacher started explaining what they would be doing this year and their semester-long partner assignments. Liam wondered if that was why Rachel was mad at him, he had picked a different girl to work with for the semester. Now Liam kind of felt bad, but Rachel had also been completely rude to Lexi and Liam didn't like it when anyone was mean if he was being honest with himself.
At the end of class, Liam realized he should probably apologize to Rachel. He glanced over at Lexi but she had already gotten out of her seat and was headed towards the door. Liam saw Rachel still sitting with her friends and asked if they could talk. Rachel waved off her friends and they walked to their lockers together.
"You're right," he said finally, hoping that his apology would get Rachel to back off. "I feel bad for her, I mean not a single person wants to work with her, you can't tell me you don't feel bad for her either."
Rachel put her hand on Liam's cheek. "It's cute how kind you are but it's not your problem if someone's feelings are hurt."
"Yeah but if I can do something to make her feel better, shouldn't I?" he asked.
Rachel sighed. "All right, but you have to make it up to me," she said. "You're parents are going to be out of town on Friday right?"
"Yeah," Liam said cautiously.
"Let's throw a party."