a good friend...

Z: hey Liam? Can I stay over for today?

L: sure, but why?

Z: I ate the cookies mom made for grandma :')

She can't find me at home or I'll be dead meat.

L: wow you're an idiot.

Z: be there in 15.

Since I wasn't the only one having dinner today, I decided couldn't survive on instant ramen. I looked up a recipe for a all-in-one-pot-curry and got to cooking.

• easy one pot curry •

- butter

- chicken thighs

- carrots

- onion

- potatoes

- salt

- garlic

- ginger

- honey

- ketchup

1) start but removing the fat from-

Screw that. I'll just get the ingredients and put them in a pot. How hard can making curry be?

I finished putting everything in the pot, put the lid and sat down on the couch, waiting for Zach.

Soon enough, he came over.

"Hi- something's burning, are you cooking?!"

He pushed me aside and rushed to the kitchen, where the remains of my curry lay. All black.

"What the hell were you trying to make anyway?"

".....curry."

"Bro how do you mess up curry? It's like the easiest thing to make. "

"Shut up. "

"You go clean up, I'll make us dinner." He said chuckling.

-----

"You would be like, the perfect husband! Your food is amazing!" I said shoving another spoonful of curry and rice into my mouth.

"I think most people know how to cook basic curry, Liam."

"If I don't find a partner, I may just end up marrying you. "

He snickered and continued eating.

I guess I never noticed how lonely it gets. I've always eaten alone, but it feels so much better when I eat with Someone. It's always times like these, I wish I had a normal family.

"Hey Zach? Thanks."

"...for?"

"Um coming over I think. And making dinner, It gets lonely sometimes." I said looking away.

He looked at me, visibly shocked.

"I'll come over more often now, yeah?" He said smiling.

--------------

I woke up when I smelt pancakes. Oh right, Zach stayed over, I reminded myself.

I walked to the kitchen, to find him placing a plate of pancakes on the counter.

"Finally woke up?" He said looking at me.

"You didn't have to..."

"I'm not letting you go to school without eating breakfast."

"Are you my mom or something?" I chuckled.

He ignored my comment and started eating.

We, even if he isn't my mom, this is the most motherly thing I've experienced.

-----

We made it to school and parted our ways for class. My first class-

Darn in. It's with Matthew.

I sighed walking in the class. Sitting in my own seat I hid my face in my hands, ready to go to sleep.

Just as I was about to drift off, someone poked me.

"What-"

I froze when I saw the guy that was at the coffee shop the other day looking back at me. Y'know, the one with the disgusting hand.

"Hey Liam." He smiled at me.

"W-why a-are you here?" I stuttered. I wasn't one to stutter, but with this guy I couldn't help it.

"I transferred schools. Didn't expect to find you here though."

I looked away, uncharacteristically scared.

My eyes met Matthew's who was looking over confused. I stared back, just as confused.

---------

As soon as the bell rang I launched up and ran out of class. I shared 3 classes with him. Damn it.

He sat with me in all of those.

I walked to lunch, surprised to find Perry sitting with Zach and Cindy. I grabbed lunch and walked over.

"I am your idea wife right Liam?" Zach said.

What the hell are they talking about?

"Oh cmon, you're the one who said it. "

"Did I? Oh yea I think I said ideal husband right?"

"Same thing. So I win." He said smugly.

We, well they, spent the break complaining about classes, and I'm usually complaining the most but right now, my mind was was preoccupied with something else.

Soon enough, they all went to their classes. I only share one class with Zach and Cindy.

I waited for all of them to leave, until it was only me and Perry left.

"Uh Perry, I need to tell you something."

He looked at me, signalling me to go on.

"Remember that guy from work?" He immediately tensed up.

"Yeah, what about him?"

"He transferred to this school."

"Did you meet him?"

"Yeah, he sat beside me in all of my classes."

"Perry, you know something about him don't you?" I asked after a bit.

"N-no not really." He said looking down.

"It's fine, you can tell me when you're comfortable." I tried to reassure him.

"Thanks. Um see you later. Try to keep your distance from him, okay?"

I nodded. Honestly, can't say I'm not curious if Perry is so scared of him. And I have never been so scared of a person without knowing them either.

As I was walking to class lost in thought, I ended up bumping into someone.

What's up with me bumping into people all the time?

"Oh Liam, I need to talk to you."

That voice...

I walked back, trying to distance myself from him. This is the fear I was talking about.

"Cmon, I won't hurt you. I'm promise. "

He took my hand and led me to an empty classroom. Im dying today.

"I've seen you talk to Perry. You're his boyfriend?"

"Huh? No. He's a friend. "

Wait, so he knows who Perry is? I wanted to get out of there, but my curiosity got the best of me. I needed to know what had happened between the two.

"H-how do you know Perry?"

He paused and looked at me.

"He's my ex. "

I looked at him, shocked. I wasn't shocked that Perry was gay, but I why would he be so scared of him if he was just an ex?

"Then why is he so..."

"Well, How do I say this?"

"I guess you could say I was abusive."