The sun had barely risen as Lisa and Liam approached the gates of Lakeview High, and already she could feel the weight of a thousand eyes that would inevitably turn their way. She cast a quick glance at Liam, who was walking by her side, looking just a little too… stiff. His shoulders were squared, his eyes alert, as if he were on a mission—which, in a sense, he was. Today, their goal was simple yet daunting: avoid suspicion.
Okay, Lisa whispered, nudging his arm. Rule number one of blending in: look casual.
Liam tilted his head, frowning slightly. Casual?
Yeah, you know… relaxed, like you're not about to be interrogated by the CIA.
Oh, he replied, his tone deadly serious. "Is this a common scenario for students?"
Lisa stifled a laugh. No, I just mean… try to act like… well, like you belong here. Blend in with everyone else.
Liam's brow furrowed in concentration as he glanced around, trying to mimic the slouched shoulders and carefree demeanor of the other students. The effect, however, was anything but natural—he ended up looking like he was trying to remember how to walk.
Um… close enough, Lisa muttered, trying not to burst out laughing. "Just keep it low-key, okay?
As they made their way down the hallway, she could already feel heads turning. Whispers followed them, like little storm clouds forming in the corners of her vision. People weren't used to seeing her with someone new, let alone someone who looked like he had stepped out of another century. She glanced nervously at Liam, who was still rigidly following her lead, casting sidelong glances at students as if he expected one of them to spring at him.
Just as she was considering giving him an emergency lesson on not staring, they passed Sarah, one of the most notorious gossip hounds in school. Lisa tried to walk faster, but Sarah's gaze had already locked onto them like a laser.
Hey, Lisa! Sarah called out, flashing a too-sweet smile. "Who's the new guy?"
Lisa forced a casual smile, but internally, her mind was scrambling. "Oh, uh… this is Liam. He's… my cousin." It was the first thing that popped into her head, and she immediately regretted it.
Your cousin? Sarah's eyes sparkled with amusement, clearly not buying it. Funny, he doesn't really look like you.
Lisa could feel the heat creeping into her cheeks. Yeah, well, distant cousin," she mumbled, mentally kicking herself for not thinking this through.
Liam, who had been watching the exchange with a look of confusion, leaned in, whispering, What's a cousin?
Not now, Lisa hissed back, trying to suppress a groan. Just… go with it.
Sarah raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by their odd exchange. So, Liam… where are you from?
Liam blinked, clearly caught off guard. Uh… far away.
Lisa wanted to facepalm. Really? she thought, far away?
Sarah's smile widened, sensing an opportunity to pry. Far away, huh? Like, another state?
Yes, Liam replied, trying to nod convincingly. Very far. Many… states away.
Lisa cut in quickly, desperate to escape. Well, we've got to get to class. See you around, Sarah!
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Liam's arm and pulled him down the hallway, her heart racing as she could practically feel Sarah's gaze boring into their backs.
"Many states away'? Lisa whispered as they rounded the corner. You're killing me, Liam.
He looked at her, his eyes wide with innocence. I was… trying to be vague.
She sighed, struggling to suppress her laughter. Well, mission accomplished.
They walked into homeroom, and Lisa guided him to a seat in the back corner, hoping they could fly under the radar for the rest of the day. But the quiet didn't last long. A group of boys on the other side of the room noticed Liam and started snickering, nudging each other.
Hey, Lisa, one of them called, smirking. Where'd you find this guy? The Renaissance fair?
Liam stiffened, and Lisa shot him a warning glance, silently pleading with him to ignore it. Just… keep looking straight ahead, she muttered.
But Liam's gaze flicked to the boys, and she could see the confusion in his eyes. Why are they… laughing?
Lisa tried to keep her voice low, but her annoyance slipped out. It's just high school. People laugh at anything even remotely different.
He frowned, a flash of defiance in his eyes. I don't understand why that's funny.
Trust me, you don't want to. She sighed, then added, Just… ignore them. Remember, we're blending in, right?
He took a deep breath and nodded, his gaze returning to the front of the room. But she could still sense the tension radiating from him, like he was struggling not to react.
The bell rang, and as the teacher launched into a lesson on classic literature, Lisa stole a glance at Liam. He seemed absorbed in the lesson, his intense focus out of place among the other students, who were half-asleep or doodling in their notebooks. Every now and then, his hand would twitch, as if he were tempted to ask a question, but he kept quiet.
During lunch, they found a spot at the far end of the cafeteria, but it wasn't long before Emily spotted them and plopped down beside Lisa, casting a curious glance at Liam. "So, Lisa… care to explain?"
Lisa winced, bracing herself. Emily, this is Liam… my cousin. She cringed at how flimsy the story sounded now.
Emily's eyebrows shot up, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Cousin, huh?
"Distant cousin," Lisa clarified, avoiding Emily's amused gaze.
Emily nodded slowly, clearly unconvinced but willing to play along. Well, nice to meet you, Liam. So… where are you from?
Liam, finally catching on, replied with a tentative, Many… states away.
Lisa almost burst out laughing, biting her lip to stifle it. Emily, to her credit, just nodded with a smirk, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
So, Liam, she said, leaning in conspiratorially, what's the biggest difference between here and… wherever you're from?
Liam's eyes shifted, and Lisa could see his mind whirring, trying to come up with something believable. There are… fewer people here, he finally managed, nodding as if that made perfect sense.
Emily's smirk widened. Good answer.
As they ate, Lisa felt a strange mixture of relief and tension. She was grateful for Emily's support, but every conversation felt like walking a tightrope, where one slip-up could unravel everything.
By the time the last bell rang, Lisa felt both exhausted and oddly triumphant. They had made it through the day with only a handful of strange looks, whispers, and awkward encounters.
As they walked home together, she glanced at Liam, who looked relieved to be away from the prying eyes of her classmates. "So, how was your first day as a 'normal' student?" she asked, trying to keep a straight face.
He considered the question, then replied, Confusing. And exhausting. But… I think I understand now why you wanted me to blend in.
Lisa chuckled, nudging him with her shoulder. See? We're a team. And for a guy who's technically a little… dead, you did pretty well.
He gave her a small smile, his eyes softening. Thanks, Lisa. For… everything.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she shrugged it off with a grin. Hey, it's what I do best—help my 'distant cousin' navigate high school." She laughed, but the sound was tinged with genuine warmth.
As they reached her door, she paused, looking up at him. A part of her wanted to say more, to tell him how much she'd enjoyed the day, despite the oddness of it all. But the words wouldn't come, so she just gave him a quick wave.
See you tomorrow, Liam, she said, and for the first time, she realized how much she looked forward to it.