panic

"I guess you could say I was abusive. "

I stared at the ground for a while, things finally making a little more sense.

Wait...

"Why would you hurt him?" I said, my anger clear in my words. Why would anyone hurt Perry?

"No reason really. He's a pretty guy isn't he?"

"Don't talk about him like that. What did you do to him?"

"Oh I didn't rape him if that's what you're wondering about. Well didn't go that far atleast. "

"You're disgusting." I said through clenched teeth.

"I-"

"Don't. Why are you talking to me anyway?"

"Well, you're kinda cute. Also I like that you're scared of me." He smirked at me.

My eyes widened.

"N-no I'm not! stay away from me and Perry."

"I will stay away from Perry because he's stronger than he used to be. Also that guy Matt is with him so I can't try, even if I wanted to. "

He turned to me.

"You on the other hand-"

He walked towards me, trying to corner me. Walking back without looking, I lost my balance and fell on my back. Nice work Liam.

He calmly walked over, leaned down and gripped my wrists, holding them above my head.

"I can do what I with."

"Y-you said you wouldn't hurt me."

"I said I wouldn't hurt you, today. "

He let go of my hands, and got up.

"My name's Jeremy. I'll come to the coffee shop tomorrow, Matthew's team has a game so neither of them will be there." He smiled to himself and walked out of the classroom.

Jeremy.

I sat up, more confused that ever. I didn't even notice I was trembling till I looked at my hands. Anger or fear?

I got up, and walked to my car deciding I didn't want to attend my classes. Oh I didn't get my car today, I came with Zach. Great.

I'll just walk back.

--------

Zach pov •

"Hey zach, have you seen Liam?" I heard Cindy ask.

"Nope. "

"You didn't either? He just kinda disappeared after lunch. I don't know where he went."

"Let's ask Perry."

We walked around looking for him, and found him near his locker, immediately asking him.

"Maybe he just went home." He suggested.

"He came with me today, he couldn't have. "

He suddenly looked worried, "I'll call Matt, you guys look in empty class rooms. We only have like five so it's fine."

"Why would he be in one of those?"

"Just go look. " He said jogging to where I assume Matthew is.

"If he says so. "

We looked through the class rooms not seeing anyone in them.

"I knew there would be noth-"

"Isn't that Liam's bag?"

She got the bag, and opened it to find his phone and wallet in it. How the hell did he get home?

"Zach?" I looked back to see Perry and Matthew panting.

"Uh we found his bag. His phone and wallet are here so I'm not sure how he got home. "

"Can't he walk?"

"He doesn't like physical activity, and his apartment is kinda far away. "

"Well why is his bag here?" Matthew asked.

"How are we supposed to know?" Cindy snapped.

"I-"

"Okay, calm down guys, let's just go to his house and check up on him. I don't think he'll mind extra company. " I cut them off.

They nodded and we quickly got to my car.

"If he wanted to detox, he could have just given his bag to one of us and then went. Didn't have to make all of us panic. " Cindy said.

Perry and Matthew looked at each other, almost like they knew something was up.

Did they know something I didn't?

Ah whatever. I'll cook something for Liam, food makes him happy so if something did happen he can cheer up.

Should I bake something- okay I'm actually becoming a mom.

"A studio huh?" Perry said looking at the small apartment.

"Wait he lives alone?"

I chuckled and nodded.

I parked outside, as they all got out. Cindy knew where the spare key was, so she opened the door, only to find an empty apartment.

"Oh cmon!" Matthew groaned.

We heard the bathroom door opening and out came Liam with his towel over his waist.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH"

He screamed and quickly locked himself inside the bathroom again. By now all of us were laughing, but also glad to know he didn't get kidnapped or something 

Matthew looked particularly relieved.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We came to check up on you. That reminds me, hurry up and wear your clothes. We need to talk. "

He didn't actually hurry up, so I made us some tea.

When he finally came out, he sat down on a chair looking worried. Worried is correct my friend.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You should have told someone before just disappearing! And you left your bag at school. Why was it in an empty classroom? How did you walk home? You could have just told me to drive you! Or called an Uber or something. You live alone you should be more careful you moron!" I yelled, my anger slowly subsiding.

I turned to sit down to see 3 pairs of eyes looking at me in shock.

"You really are a mom. That's exactly what my mum would say if I disappeared on her." Cindy said barely holding back her laugh.

"But he's right. Did something happen?" I heard Perry ask.

"Oh n-no. I just wanted a shower. Y-yeah thats it."

He's stuttering? I've never heard him stutter. None of us were convinced but we decided to drop it since he was okay.

"Just tell someone next time, okay?"

He nodded and looked away. Something was up.

I looked and Cindy who was probably thinking the same thing.

"I'll make us something to eat."

Maybe food will shift the mood?

"I'll help you!" Cindy said coming over probably as a cover up to talk about him.

Why? Because She hates cooking.

Liam pov •

"We'll head out now, we are going on a double date, so can't be late." Perry winked.

...date huh.

"I probably won't come to school tomorrow, but good luck for your game." I said giving them my best 'i-totally-did not-meet-anyone-creepy' smile.

Matthew looked over at me in surprise.

He looked at Cindy and Zach behind me and motioned for me to come out, closing the door behind me.

"Perry, you go on ahead I'll be there in a minute."

Perry waved at me and started walking down the footpath.

"Why's he walking?"

"My house is just about a mile away from here. He's probably going there."

I hummed in response.

After he was a considerable distance away, he turned to me looking.... concerned?

"How'd you know about the match? The coach didn't let anyone outside the team know."

Ah shit, now you've done it Liam.

I looked away, trying to think of an excuse.

"I'm friends with-"

"You met Jeremy didn't you?"