Page 9 of Shattered Melodies

“Hey!” I protested, but I was grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood.

Liam chewed on his bottom lip, looking all adorably uncertain. But then, slowly, a smile started to spread across his face. “Okay,” he said, nodding. “Let’s do it.”

I let out a whoop of excitement, high-fiving him with my free hand. “Yes! This is gonna be legendary, just you wait.”

We spent the next couple of hours working on our set for the talent show, tweaking arrangements and figuring out how to best incorporate Liam’s piano skills. The more we played, the more I found myself drawn to him. It wasn’t just his musical talent - though that was certainly part of it. It was the way his whole face lit up when he played, the way he listened intently when others were speaking, the little crease between his eyebrows when he was concentrating hard.

As the sun started to set, casting long shadows across the music room, we decided to call it a day. Sarah and Mark packed up their instruments, chatting excitedly about the talent show.

“Same time tomorrow?” I asked Liam, my voice coming out all hopeful and eager.

He nodded, his eyes all warm and soft in the fading light. “I’ll be here.”

As Sarah and Mark headed out, promising to brainstorm costume ideas, Liam and I lingered behind, neither of us quite ready to leave.

“That was… amazing,” Liam said softly, his fingers ghosting over the piano keys. “I’ve never played with a band before. It felt…”

“Right?” I finished for him, stepping closer. “Yeah, I felt it too.”

We stood there for a moment, the air between us charged with something I couldn’t quite name. I wanted to reach out, to pull him close, to…

The sound of a slamming locker in the hallway made us both jump. Reality came crashing back, and I remembered Jake’s threat from earlier.

As we walked towards the school exit, my arm still around Liam’s shoulders, I couldn’t help but feel like I was on top of the world. The warmth of his body next to mine, the lingering rush from our music session - it all combined to create this perfect bubble of happiness.

“Hey, uh, mind if I walk you home?” I asked, trying to sound casual despite the worry gnawing at me. “I just… you know, thought we could keep talking about song ideas for the talent show.”

Liam looked surprised but pleased, his eyes lighting up in a way that made my heart skip. “Sure, that’d be great.”

As we stepped outside, I scanned the area, my eyes darting to every shadow and corner. No sign of Jake or his crew, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. I stayed alert, hyper-aware of our surroundings, ready to protect Liam if needed. The thought of anyone hurting him made my blood boil.

We walked side by side, our shoulders occasionally brushing, sending little sparks of electricity through me each time. Despite my vigilance, I found myself getting lost in our conversation. We talked about our favorite songs, about the kinds of music we wanted to explore together, about our dreams for the future.

“I’ve always wanted to study music in college,” Liam admitted softly, his voice taking on a wistful tone. “But my parents, they don’t really get it, you know? They think it’s just a hobby.”

I felt a surge of protectiveness, along with a flash of anger at anyone who would try to dim Liam’s light. “That’s rough, man. But hey, you’ve got serious talent. Don’t let anyone tell you to give up on your dreams, okay?”

Liam smiled, a soft, grateful thing that made my heart skip a beat. “Thanks, Caleb. That means a lot.”

As we rounded the corner onto Liam’s street, I finally let myself relax a little. We’d made it without incident. But just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, I heard a familiar, sneering voice behind us that made my blood run cold.

“Well, well. What do we have here?”

We turned to see Jake and two of his friends blocking the sidewalk, their postures menacing. My heart rate spiked, and I instinctively moved closer to Liam, my body tensing for a fight.

“What do you want, Jake?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady even as adrenaline surged through me.

Jake’s eyes narrowed, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. “Just wanted to have a little chat with the new kid here. Teach him how things work at Oakwood High.”

I felt Liam tense beside me, his breath catching. The fear in his eyes only fueled my determination to protect him. “Leave him alone, Jake,” I said, my voice low and warning, surprising even myself with its intensity. “He hasn’t done anything to you.”

Jake took a step forward, his face twisted in a sneer. “Aw, how cute. Caleb’s got himself a little boyfriend. Didn’t know you swung that way, man.”

I felt my face flush, equal parts embarrassment and anger. The word ‘boyfriend’ echoed in my head, stirring up feelings I wasn’t ready to confront. “It’s not like that,” I snapped, even as a part of me whispered that maybe I wished it was. “And even if it was, it’s none of your business.”

Jake and his friends laughed, the sound grating on my nerves. “Whatever you say, lover boy. Now why don’t you run along home and let us have a word with your new pal here?”

I stood my ground, moving slightly in front of Liam. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat, but all I could think about was keeping Liam safe. “Not gonna happen. Back off, Jake. I mean it.”

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