Chapter 4The Milk Spill, The Bully, and the Boy Who Chose the Wrong Path

The subtle shift between Liam and me didn't escape my mom's notice.

For several days in a row, he hadn't come over to our house.

He used to always do his homework with me.

Well, he didn't actually do his homework.

He just liked resting his chin on his hand, watching me work, idly twirling the ends of my hair around his fingers.

When it annoyed me, I'd swat his hand away.

He would just smile, his eyes curving like a sly fox.

"Finished? Want to go for a walk?"

I would fake being annoyed.

"Liam, if you aren't going to study, don't distract me."

"Then kick me out."

He would prop his head up with his other hand.

His tone was absolutely shameless, knowing full well I'd never actually kick him out.

Sometimes I studied very late.

He would accidentally fall asleep on my desk.

When he finally left, he would stretch by the door, smile, and wave.

"See you tomorrow."

That was the dynamic between Liam and me.

There were no explicit confessions, but he rooted himself into my life, deliberately leaving his mark everywhere, flaunting his blatant favoritism for me.

Who wouldn't fall for someone like that?

I liked Liam.

And I had carefully, secretly fantasized about our future together countless times.

Maybe we would start dating. Maybe after graduation, he would gently, formally take my hand and confess.

Thinking about that, Maya's face suddenly flashed in my mind.

Liam holding her in his arms, smirking, letting her stand on her tiptoes to kiss him.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my eyes burning with unshed tears.

My mom was asking me.

"Liam hasn't been walking you home lately.

"Did you guys get into a fight?

"Your teacher called his mom and said Liam is dating someone. Did you guys..."

I shook my head, cutting her off.

"He isn't dating me."

My mom froze, clearly wanting to say something else.

But I suddenly looked up and asked her.

"A few days ago, that magnet school offered me a spot to boost their Ivy League acceptance rate, right?

"I thought about it. I'll transfer."

Before, Liam had told me he wanted to stay by my side forever.

And I had the exact same hope.

But now.

I had absolutely no reason to stay here anymore.