Chapter 2: And So, He Took Her Hand.
7th of September 2027 – 05:32 AM
"Stop it, stop it, stop it," Liam said under his breath. His breathing's getting heavier and he starts sweating lavishly. "STOP IT! STOP IT!" he screams, "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH" Liam then opens both of his eyes and gets up. He puts his hands on his head and started breathing rigorously. "Fuck!" screamed Liam. It happened again, he thought to himself. Irritated, he puts on his glasses, gets off his bed and scurries off to the living room. As he walks down the stairs, the shades of his apartment open.
It's been 12 years after the incident back at Windsor Town. Ever since then, his uncle; Joseph Geier, took him in and acts as a legal guardian to Liam. Joseph owns the renowned Geier Foundation that dedicates itself to technology and cognitive science research, but they also helped Liam by giving him a high-rise flat in the capital of the Holy Anglian Empire; Central City. The flat is fitted with some of the best electronics the world has to offer. Despite that, Liam is always alone because his uncle couldn't even bother to take care of Liam, Joseph just believes that Liam can take care of himself with or without the help of the fancy gadgets.
"Good Morning Liam. It's 5:40 AM on the 7th of September, the current temperature outside is 19°C. Not only that but today marks your first day at high school, you should get ready," said Athena, the AI House Assistant.
"Stop reminding me of that will ya? I got that in the back of my head! Now, please ready the bath," ordered Liam.
"As you wish," said Athena. A notification sound effect plays after, signifying that Athena is readying the bath.
Liam goes to the kitchen counter to have a sip of the already-prepared coffee. His legs shivers, "Jesus, it's cold. Athena? Can you turn the heating up as well?"
"As you wish," said Athena.
Liam finishes his morning coffee and walks to the bathroom. On his way there, he stopped for a bit, "Oh and Athena?" Liam called.
"Yes?"
"The coffee is still TOO sweet, use less sugar next time!" ordered Liam.
"As you wish."
"All right then," he then continued walking to the bathroom. Liam takes a cold shower to alleviate the fatigue from last night's exercise.
After his uncle took his custody, Liam has been moving schools frequently, he never stayed in one school for too long. Liam is considered as a problem child, and everyone distanced themselves from him. He's not a delinquent, rather he was considered as a genius and a prodigy due to his intelligence. But he was labelled as a delinquent since he will get into fights with anyone tactless, everything always ends up with someone's face meeting Liam's fists. His selfless acts helped his friends, but paired with his own sense of self-righteousness, it also made them turn on him as well. It's just until a few months ago where Joseph forced Liam to enrol at Chester High, a privileged school that aims to fix delinquents and provide an excellent learning space for prodigies and the top 1%. He doesn't plan to make any friends at all, since for Liam, it's just the same old same old.
After taking a shower, he then starts getting ready for school. His entire wardrobe is filled with uniforms from numerous schools that he attended. He wears the Chester High uniform, a simple dark blue blazer with white buttons, emblazoned with Chester High's insignia and a number pin signifying the student's year, paired black trousers lined with blue-checkered stripes. Liam then goes back to the living room to eat breakfast and heads out to the nearest station. The commute to Chester High doesn't take too much time as it was quite close to his flat. Even though it's his first time commuting there ever since the entrance test a few months ago, he's not confused at all on where he's supposed to go.
7:48 AM - Chester High
Liam arrived at Chester High, he admires the tall gates that greet everyone and goes inside. The place was rather crowded with lots of new students and parents, there are tons of food stands and university stands, somewhat reminiscent of a school festival. Instead of going into where most of the crowds are, he goes to find a quiet place for him to relax.
He then settles in a shade below a catwalk that connects the two main buildings, it has a good balance of sunlight and the cool snowy breeze, just enough for him to sit down and compose himself. He thinks to himself: the school isn't that bad, I think I'll stay here just a little longer. He then remembers that there's no food at home, but instead of ordering takeaway just like he always does for the past few years, he thinks that he should start cooking for himself.
"Can I sit next to you?" a slightly familiar feminine voice sounds from Liam's left.
"Go ahead," Liam replied. The female student then sits beside him.
"It feels good, isn't it? Being away from the crowd and whatnot?" she asked.
"It does, sometimes being alone just calms me a bit."
"Uh-huh. Aren't first years supposed to be getting ready for the opening ceremony?" the girl asked.
Liam glances at her, the girl's wearing Chester's uniform, she has long brown hair and her eyes are dark blue in colour. He looks away, adjusts his glasses and sighs, "I could say the same for you."
She flinches, "What gave it away?"
"It's obvious. Most new students are shy– they tend to make friends during their first day; I mean if you're a second year, you won't be here, instead you'll be finding your old friends, but who am I kidding? I'm just speculating, of course. Well THAT, but also that pin that every student wears to show their class."
The girl, surprised, looked down at her uniform to see the pin, then she lets out a sigh, "You're quite sharp, aren't you?"
"It's nothing, I just–" as soon as Liam was about to continue, another voice called the girl far off in the distance. It's a different girl, but with a noticeably gorgeous bobbed hair.
"Evie!" the girl turns around to face her. "What are you doing here? Everyone's looking for you!"
"Marie! It's not what it looks like!" the girl who seems to be Evie called the other person back.
"I don't care what it looks like, I need you RIGHT NOW, EVERYONE needs you right now. You should head back, it's starting soon," exclaimed the bobbed hair girl.
Evie pouts, "fine then! I'll see you later!" then she runs off to the direction of the main hall.
"Please excuse her behaviour, she's my little sister, you see. Ah, where are my manners, my name's Marie Har– uhm Walker, pleased to make your acquaintance," Marie said graciously.
"Oh, uh, yes..." Liam replied, "What's up with the formality?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, I need to keep good first impressions for everyone that I first meet, I have an image to keep," Marie said.
Liam grew confused and asked, "Image?"
"Yes, I'm the Student Council President. So I can't make myself look bad in front of everyone,"
Liam then stands up, "I see. Well then, I'll see you later Ms. President." he walks away from Marie while waving his left hand.
"Wait! You're a first-year, aren't you? The Main Hall's that way," Marie said while pointing.
"Oh, I know. I'll be there in a sec, I just needed to do something," assured Liam.
"Ooh and before you go, have you seen someone named Liam Clarke?" asked Marie.
"I did not," he replied, in a way to assure the panicked Marie.
"Well, okay then. I'll see you later!" Marie said before running off to the distance.
"Yeah," Liam isn't planning to go to the Main Hall at all. He's all too familiar with opening ceremonies and since his last relaxing spot was infiltrated rather quickly, he decided to seek a better one and he had one place in mind: The rooftop. While Liam's going to the rooftop, the opening ceremony begins.
Marie is backstage readying her speech, along with Evie who's helping the crew. "Marie, should I cancel the first-year rep speech?" Evie asked.
"I don't think we should, I think it would be better off to just call the person right from the crowd," said Marie.
"What if he doesn't show up?" Evie asked.
"Well then it should be you who's going to deliver the speech," Marie said.
Stuttering slightly, she said, "W-why me?"
"You got the 2nd best on the entrance test, right? It's only natural it'd be you."
"Whoa– okay then, I haven't written anything but I think I could improvise. Either way, you could leave it to me!" Evie said while smiling and giving a thumbs up to Marie.
"Alright then," Marie replied, feeling somewhat relieved.
Meanwhile, Liam just got to the roof and is admiring the beautiful view it offers. From the left, he can see the entire academy, which is currently bustling with people. From the right, he can see the entire Central City, the high-rise buildings, the monorails, and the packed highways. He sits in front of the fence and gazes on the view while having his mind on somewhere else.
Back at the Main Hall, Marie just did her speech, and it's time for the first-year representative speech.
"Next, the newly-enrolled student's address. The representative of the incoming class, Liam Clarke," said one of the MCs. The entire crowd gives scattered applause, some of the students in the crowd actually know Liam but only to the point of it being just rumours.
"Hey isn't that THE Liam Clarke? The one that said he assaulted his own friends?" said a student.
"I've heard of him before, I can't believe they let someone that dangerous in here," said another student. The claps are scattered and unorganised. Later, the voices of the doubtful students became apparent.
"Everyone, please calm down, " the entire hall goes silent for a bit, but just as Marie planned, the MC changes his script. "Unfortunately, Mr Clarke is unable to be here today, because of that, the new student's address will be delivered by Evie Harlow of Class 1-A," after hearing this, the entire crowd went crazy, they're clapping as if Evie herself was some kind of idol. Evie then walks up to the podium and delivers her speech.
"Before I start, I would like to thank everyone for coming here," as Evie's speech continues, backstage, Marie is getting ready to confront Liam herself.
"' Scuse me, Jason? Do you have a picture of Liam Clarke?" Marie asked.
"He's listed somewhere in the database, let me try and find him," Jason pulls out a tab-like device and starts tapping on it, "Ah! Got a hit, here's what he looks like," Jason gave the tab to Marie.
"Wait, isn't this?" Marie just realised that Liam Clarke was the same guy that Evie was bothering below the catwalk earlier. Liam's unkempt dark grey hair, his set of glasses, she thought to herself: there's no mistaking it, that's him alright! She then asks Jason, "Have we got a location on his whereabouts?"
"Well," Jason moves closer to Marie, then taps on the tab while it was in her hands. "Security camera should be able to pick it up," the tab then beeps, "There he is, building A rooftop."
Marie then rushes to the aforementioned rooftop, she felt lied to and demands an apology for causing her so much trouble. She barges through the door and sees Liam sitting down on one of the rooftop benches. "Give me a break, will you? I've been looking for you this entire time,"
Liam looks behind him, "Oh, and you are?" Liam asked.
"MARIE! We just met like half an hour ago! How co– nevermind, that's not important. Why are you here? I told you, you're supposed to be at the Main Hall!" Marie doubled down on him.
Liam laughs, then said "I was just joking, of course I remembered you," Liam said reassuringly.
"Nevermind that! You were supposed to be the one to give the speech!" Marie said.
"Oh about that? Yeah, I'd rather not."
"Why?!" she then sighed with discontent. "You're giving me a hard time y' know that?"
"Hey, how about you sit next to me for a second?" asked Liam
Marie walks to the bench and sits next to Liam. Liam then goes on to say "The reason on why I skipped it is because I'm bored with it. It's always the same and nothing exciting ever happens. So I can't help but find a place to be alone and let my mind wander around the place,"
"What do you mean it's always the same?"
"The stands, the crowds, the opening ceremony, the speeches. I mean it's better off this way for me, I bet someone else just replaced me for the speech right?"
"Someone did replace you, but nevermind that! I looked all over the place for you! Why didn't you tell me you're THE Liam Clarke?!" asked Marie.
"You never asked," said Liam.
Marie then sighs and said "Fine then. I've read your file, I know for a fact that you have been transferring schools, and you never settled in for too long. So you don't have that many friends."
"You've done your homework I see, well then you're correct. I'm not planning to get close to anyone since I'm gonna be moving again."
"How about giving another shot?" asked Marie.
"What do you mean?" Liam asked back.
"This time, it'll be different. I want you to join the Student Council," Marie said. Her eyes pierced Liam, and her smile gives off an angelic impression.
"I don't think I can help you with that, I mean you know the things I've done right?"
"You told me yourself that I've done my homework. Your past is too farfetched, too hyperbolic. I wouldn't call it an assault since most of the time, they're the ones that hit you first. Not only that, but you're always in the right, you're always defending someone, you're always fighting for something. It's a shame that they would just see you as a mere delinquent even though you helped them," Marie said.
"What do you mean?" asked Liam.
"Well, trying to change other's opinions on yourself alone is hard enough, so I'll help you," Marie said reassuringly.
"You do know what you're getting yourself into right? My rep alone can't be fixed that easily." Liam said.
"Let's just say I have a good PR Team. What do you think? You help me with the Student Council work, and you can try to be different for once in Chester?" Marie said. She offers her hand to him, "So how about it?"
He looks down to his right for a second, thinking about what he should to at this point. For his entire life, he never joined any student organizations let alone having a circle of friends. But for someone as influential, and as smart as Marie, to show trust in his past is one of the things he can't overlook.
He always sees himself as a loner, but this time, he finds someone who trusts his actions, who wants his help, and genuinely believes in him. Not once did the thought of benefiting this for himself cross his mind, as the only thing that he is thinking of is how he can avoid being a hassle to Marie and her friends. Not only that, but he was also thinking of how he can trust Marie. With no actual drawbacks, apart from doing more work for the Student Council, Liam accepts Marie's offer. He stands up and shakes her hand in agreement.
"Fine, I'll do it."
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