Liam's POV:
I regretted it for the first time–coming to the Academy this early. I thought it would help matters but I guess I was wrong. As soon as I settled in, a group of five male schoolers approached me–Jayden and his friends. I wonder what they were up to. I ignored them until they had to sit around me blurting some greetings and I remained silent.
'So what did it feel like? Hugging the town girl?' Jayden asked with a smirk. I stared at him for a while then looked away. I guess he realized I wasn't ready to answer him so he led his group to another part of the class. Everyone saw me with Athena– I realized at that moment. Trying to focus on a new day, I searched my backpack for a book.
'Good morning ' she greeted. I looked up at her. She wasn't smiling today, dispirited and a bit anxious. I couldn't bring myself to reply to her greeting to avoid starting a conversation. I turned away.
She looked around before she took her seat quietly. It seemed like the other schoolers were staring at us.
How do I explain this, Athena?– I thought as my heart ached in my bitterness.
Athena's POV:
I knew something was wrong. It was rest period already and while I was still contemplating on talking to him or not. He slipped out of the hall quietly, he hasn't talked to me since morning and I couldn't even thank him for yesterday. It left me worried.
While I was putting my things together –we just finished a practical.
'Athena Lucas' I looked up and I noticed a young lady staring at me. I couldn't read her expression correctly but it was obvious she didn't like me very much. 'Liam isn't someone that would do that to any girl.' she added. I liked how she hit the nail on the head instead of beating around the bush.
'What?' I pushed pretending to be confused.
'He has once been charged for assault' she told me quietly and I quivered. 'But he didn't do it.' she said softly.
Somehow I had faith in him even though we just met. He didn't look like a badass–so I wasn't bothered. But my father has been working in the Ministry of Justice since I've known him and I know the fact that the deadliest crime to be charged with is assault. Some of those people commit suicide in the end because it comes with great shame and pain. You automatically lose everything–even your family.
' I can't remember the last time he talked to a girl–he keeps his distance from us all' she continued. ' I'm just trying to say that you ensure you don't cause any more problems for him, he has enough to dwell on for the rest of his life' she concluded. Tears welled up in my eyes again, I wasn't hurt by her words but I never thought I could meet someone who's in a tough situation like me. I now had to compare because I couldn't decipher which one was worse than the other —mine or his.
'I hope your brother and father are quite understanding unlike Minerva's' she said again as she walked away. Probably it was the girl's family that caused him that shame and pain.
Poor Liam.
********
It was time to go home. I looked around and noticed that other schoolers were busy—some were packing up, getting ready to leave, some were leaving and some were talking to their friends.
'Liam' I called quietly as soon as he finished packing. He shifted his gaze to my face. Sorry written all over his face, he slowly looked away before looking at me again
'I don't hate you, Athena. It's just that you'll have to stay away from me. You can't understand and I can't explain' he said.
'I understand' I replied to him trying to fight back the tears in my eyes. I quickly slipped a note into his hand. He glanced at it and looked at me again. 'Sorry' I managed and turned away from him trying to pack up my things too. I could feel his eyes all over me but I dare not meet his eyes. Now I understood why he had that look on his face when he saw Juno; he must have thought he came with accusations.
'I'm sorry Athena. Take care of yourself.'' and that was all. When I looked up he had left already.
Life is harsh. I left the hall quietly.
Liam's POV:
Kai and Arthur picked me up with Arthur's car as Father could only forgive me after I returned my car keys to him until further notice. Today is our usual hangout day. While they chattered on. I carefully opened the note Athena gave me.
It read:
'I understand that I have to keep a distance. I understand everything that happened in the past with the girl. I didn't get to thank you yesterday, Thank you, Liam'
Does she know that I was wrongly accused too? How did she get to know?
Someone in the hall must have told her about it. Maybe Jayden...
'Liam!' Kai's voice jolted me back to revive.
We had arrived in the town after a long drive–it didn't take much time though as Arthur was a literal reckless driver.
'I hope you didn't come with alcohol today' I asked. But the looks on their faces disappointed my curiosity. They never listen–Arthur would always drive in his drunken state and it was always like a narrow escape from death on our way home.
The weather was cool, we stood at our favorite spot sitting in the car. We talked about how the Academy's practicals have been difficult and time-consuming. It's funny how even VIP schoolers were not special to the teachers when it comes to practicals. I told them about the incident with my Father too and all they could do was make a joke out of it, laughing so loud.
'The Rex is taking a new wife, I heard so' Kai announced, frowning. And at that moment, I got enthusiastic about something they said since we got here. I looked at Arthur gape-mouthed and the disappointment on his face explained it. His father–the King has been married to the Queen over the years and unlike the other Rexes, he was a monogamous man. It bothered me for some minutes as I was eager to know what prompted this decision.
'I guess it is compulsory for every Rex' Arthur muttered quietly, the pain was obvious.
'This is not good.' I murmured.