Baby (2)

The classroom buzzed with the usual chatter before the teacher arrived, but I stayed quiet, sitting at my desk near the window. My notebook was open, but I wasn't paying attention to it. Instead, my mind kept replaying Liam's smirk, his words, and that ridiculous "baby."

Why did he have to say that? And why did it make my stomach flip like this?

I shook my head, trying to focus. The sunlight streaming through the window warmed my cheek, and I tried to ground myself in that sensation, blocking out the faint murmur of thoughts swirling in the room. It was always a little overwhelming, being surrounded by so many minds.

But then Liam walked in, late as usual, his hair still damp and his bag slung lazily over one shoulder. He made a beeline for the seat next to mine—because of course he did.

"Hey, partner," he whispered as he slid into his chair.

I didn't even look at him. "You're late," I muttered, keeping my eyes on my notebook.

"You noticed. Cute."

I glared at him out of the corner of my eye, which only made him grin wider. He leaned closer, resting his chin in his hand as he watched me.

"Stop staring at me," I hissed, my face heating up again.

"I can't help it," he said, his voice low and teasing. "You're fun to look at."

I turned fully to face him, narrowing my eyes. "Don't you have better things to do than bother me?"

"Not really."

I groaned and turned back to my notebook, determined to ignore him. But it wasn't easy with him sitting so close, his presence so distracting.

The teacher finally started class, and for a blessed few moments, Liam was quiet. But then I felt a light tap on my arm.

I glanced down to see a folded piece of paper. He was passing me a note. Seriously? What was he, twelve?

Reluctantly, I unfolded it, my curiosity winning out.

"Can I call you baby again? Just testing the waters."

I clenched my jaw to stop myself from smiling, grabbed my pen, and scribbled back:

"Only if you want me to punch you."

I handed it back, keeping my expression neutral. A moment later, he stifled a laugh, and when I looked over, he was biting his lip, trying not to burst out.

He passed the note back.

"Worth it."

I glared at him, but the butterflies in my stomach betrayed me.

The rest of the class passed in a blur, his presence pulling my attention away every few minutes. And even though I tried not to let him get under my skin, I couldn't help but wonder how someone could make me feel so annoyed and so... happy at the same time.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. I quickly shoved my notebook into my bag, eager to escape the whirlwind of Liam's teasing. He'd been stealing glances at me the entire time, and I was this close to losing my composure.

As I stood to leave, Liam stretched lazily, blocking my way out.

"Move," I said, trying to sound firm, but my voice came out softer than I intended.

"Where's the rush?" he asked, standing and slinging his bag over his shoulder. "We've got the whole day, baby."

I glared at him, my face heating up again. "Don't call me that," I hissed, brushing past him.

But of course, he followed me.

The hallway was loud and crowded, students bustling to their next classes or lingering by their lockers. The noise—both external and internal—started to build, a cacophony of thoughts blending together. I clutched the strap of my bag tightly, trying to focus on my breathing.

Liam noticed. "You okay?" he asked, his tone losing its playful edge.

"I'm fine," I said quickly, but I didn't stop walking.

We stepped outside into the courtyard, where the air was cooler and the noise less intense. I took a deep breath, letting it steady me. Liam walked beside me, quiet for once.

After a moment, he said, "I get it, you know. The noise."

I glanced at him, startled. He looked serious, his usual grin replaced by something softer.

"You mean the thoughts," I said quietly.

He nodded. "It can be... a lot."

I studied him, searching his expression for any sign of the playful Liam I'd come to expect. But he looked sincere. Honest.

"How do you deal with it?" I asked, surprising myself with the question.

He shrugged, looking up at the sky. "Took me years to figure it out. But I've learned to tune most of it out. Focus on one thing at a time, like a volume knob." He glanced at me, his eyes piercing. "If you want, I can help you with it."

My stomach flipped. His offer was genuine, and for a moment, I considered it. But before I could respond, Kia and Ethan appeared, breaking the moment.

"Hey, you two!" Ethan called, grinning as he jogged over. Kia followed behind, looking less enthusiastic but still smiling faintly.

"You're late to lunch," Ethan said, pointing an accusatory finger at Liam.

Liam smirked, his playful demeanor snapping back into place. "Can't a guy have a moment alone with his favorite person?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Who, Ava?"

I froze, my face heating up for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

"Maybe," Liam said, his smirk widening as he glanced at me.

Ethan laughed, clearly finding the whole thing amusing, while Kia gave me a knowing look.

"Let's go," Kia said, tugging on Ethan's sleeve. "I'm starving."

As they walked ahead, Liam leaned closer to me. "Think about my offer," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, with a wink, he added, "Baby," and jogged off to catch up with the others.

I stood there for a moment, my heart pounding. Despite the teasing, there was something comforting about Liam—something that made me feel less alone.

Maybe, just maybe, I'd take him up on his offer.