Page 10 of Shattered Melodies

Jake’s expression darkened, his eyes glinting dangerously. “Or what? You gonna fight all three of us?”

For a moment, doubt crept in. Could I really take on all three of them? But then I felt Liam’s presence behind me, heard his shaky breath, and my resolve hardened. “If I have to,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

Just then, a car turned onto the street, its headlights illuminating the scene like a spotlight. Jake and his friends took a step back, clearly not wanting to get caught causing trouble.

“This isn’t over,” Jake spat, pointing at Liam. “Watch your back, new kid.”

As they skulked away, I turned to Liam, my hands shaking slightly from the adrenaline dump. “You okay?”

Liam nodded, his face pale, eyes wide. “Yeah, I… thanks, Caleb. For standing up for me.”

The vulnerability in his voice, the gratitude in his eyes - it hit me like a tidal wave. In that moment, I realized I would do anything to keep him safe, to see him smile, to make him happy. The depth of my feelings terrified me.

I wanted to pull him into a hug, to tell him that I’d always protect him, that he meant more to me than I could put into words. But I held back, afraid of scaring him away. Instead, I gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, trying to convey everything I couldn’t say. “Anytime, man. That’s what friends are for, right?”

As we continued the short walk to Liam’s house, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. The air felt charged, full of unspoken words and emotions I couldn’t quite name. My skin tingled where we’d touched, and I found myself hyperaware of every movement, every glance.

When we reached his front porch, Liam turned to me, his eyes soft in the fading light. “Thanks again, Caleb.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how close we were standing. The urge to reach out and touch him was overwhelming. “No problem. I’ve got your back, always.”

For a moment, we just stood there, looking at each other. I felt drawn to him, like there was some invisible force pulling us together. I wanted to lean in, to close the distance between us, to finally give in to the feelings I’d been trying so hard to ignore.

The porch light flickered on, making us both jump. The spell broken, Liam gave me a shy smile that made my heart race. “See you tomorrow?”

I nodded, trying to ignore the way my pulse was pounding. “Yeah, tomorrow. Goodnight, Liam.”

As I walked home, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The confrontation with Jake had brought everything into sharp focus. The fierce protectiveness I felt, the way my body responded to Liam’s presence, the constant desire to be near him - it all added up to something I couldn’t deny any longer.

One thing was clear: my feelings for Liam were more than just friendship. The realization both terrified and exhilarated me. I’d never felt this way about anyone before, let alone another guy. What did it mean? How would it change things between us?

Tomorrow was going to be interesting, that was for sure. But as scared as I was, I couldn’t wait to see where this new chapter of my life would lead. Because one thing was certain - whatever happened, Liam was worth it.

CHAPTER 3

Trainwreck

LIAM

Playing the grand piano in our living room, my fingers flew over the keys as I practiced for the talent show. The music was my escape, my way of drowning out the constant tension that seemed to fill every corner of the house. When I played, I could almost forget about the pressure, the expectations, the never-ending arguments.

Almost.

As I lost myself in the melody, my mind wandered to Caleb and our band. The way we connected through music, the thrill of creating something beautiful together - it felt like magic. For the first time in my life, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere.

But even as the music soared, a nagging voice in the back of my head whispered doubts. Was I being selfish, pursuing this dream? Was I letting my parents down? The conflict tore at me, a constant war between my passion and my sense of duty.

I could hear my parents’ voices drifting in from the other room, muffled but still unmistakable. They were talking about my future again, like they always did. It was like a broken record, skipping and repeating the same old tune.

“He’s throwing away his potential,” my dad’s voice growled. “All this time wasted on piano when he should be focusing on his AP classes.”

My mom’s softer tone followed. “I know, dear, but maybe if we approach this differently-”

“Liam!” My mom’s voice suddenly cut through the music, sharp and impatient. “Are you actually practicing in there, or just messing around?”

I gritted my teeth, trying to keep my cool. “I’m practicing, Mom. Promise.”

The door swung open, and my dad walked in, his eyes narrowing as he watched me play. I could see the disappointment etched in the lines of his face, and it made my stomach churn. “Son, we need to talk.”

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