Nate was the kind of bully teachers feared to touch… his father ran a gang, and that automatically gave him immunity. He ruled the school unchecked, and scholarship kids like Liam were his victims.
The moment Nate and his lackeys walked in, the chatter in the class died. And the remaining students scattered, slipping out the door without hesitation. No one wanted to be caught in Nate's shadow.
Soon, the classroom was empty, except for Liam at his desk… and Nate's gang closing in.
"Heyyy, Nate. How's it going?" Liam muttered, forcing a smile as the bullies reached his desk.
Nate didn't smile back. His eyes were cold. "The physics assignment, Queen. What happened?" he asked sharply.
Liam blinked, pretending to be confused. "Huh… what assignment are you talking about?" he shook his head innocently.
BAM!
Nate's fist slammed down on the desk, the wood rattling under the force.
Don't bullshit me, Queen," he growled. "Or my fist lands on your skull next."
Sweat beaded on Liam's forehead. He chuckled nervously, quickly coming clean.
"Ohhh, that physics assignment," he feigned remembrance. "Right, right. Well, I did yours like you asked."
Nate's nostrils flared. "Then explain why the fuck I scored a seven."
Liam raised a brow. "Seven? That seems like a pretty decent score to me." he muttered casually.
"Seven out of fifty, you little shit!"Nate roared, yanking Liam up by the collar. "And somehow, you…" his grip tightened. "You got a perfect score. Explain that."
Liam smiled wryly. "Ohhh. I think I know what happened. See, I didn't exactly do it myself. I, uh… gave it to my little sister."
For a heartbeat, there was silence.
Then Nate's veins bulged, rage spilling into his expression. "You did what?!"
"I know, I know, it was a dumb idea," Liam blurted, holding his hands up in surrender. "I thought she was going to do it well, but turns out she really sucks at physics." he muttered, his voice carrying a playful glint.
He was clearly teasing Nate, he had been doing so since the beginning of their 'conversation'. But he would soon come to regret it.
Nate's veins bulged at his temple. His fist tightened. "You gave my work to someone else when I told you to do it yourself?"
Liam swallowed. "Um… look, it was a mistake, man. One I totally regret."
Nate's grin twisted cruelly. "Oh, you're gonna regret it alright." he muttered, his fist already clenching as he raised Liam higher.
Liam panicked. "Oh, shit. Wait, I…"
BAM!
Before Liam could finish, Nate's fist drove hard into his gut. Air burst from Liam's lungs in a silent gasp as his body doubled forward. He crashed back into his chair, clutching his stomach in pain.
"That'll teach you not to mess with me again, Queen," Nate sneered. He snatched the oat cookies off the desk and waved them mockingly. "And I'll be taking this as compensation."
Liam's eyes widened. "No, wait… that's mine!" His voice cracked with desperation. The cookies were all he had.
Nate laughed. "Not anymore." He turned to leave, his lackeys following.
Anger burned in Liam's chest, drowning out the pain. His hunger screamed louder than the bruises on his ribs.
He clenched his fists, trembling. "Go fuck yourself, Nate," he muttered under his breath.
But Nate heard. He stopped, and slowly turned, his grin fading into a frown.
"What did you just say?" he asked calmly.
Liam raised his head, glaring up at him with defiance. "I said, go…"
Whack!
Nate's fist whipped across Liam's face, snapping his head sideways. His vision blurred, white sparks flashing in his eyes.
Before he could recover, Nate grabbed his collar again, arm drawn back for another strike. But before he could land another blow…
"That's enough." A sharp voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the class.
Everyone turned.
At the doorway stood a girl. Long auburn hair, honey-colored eyes and curves outlined beneath her neat uniform, skirt hugging her hips, blouse outlining her large breasts. She carried herself with the grace of authority.
This was Selena Skye… the most popular girl in school. And unlike most popular girls who were famous for social status… she was popular because of her identity as the mayor's daughter, and her prowess in all subjects including sports and arts. She was a true talent and arguably even better than Liam in academics.
She was also the student council president, making her the most authoritative student in the school. She was beauty, authority, and power all rolled into one.
The entire classroom shifted. Even Nate, the terror of Clovis Academy, suddenly looked like a child caught red-handed.
Selena stepped forward, every click of her polished shoes echoing across the silent room. "Your actions have proven to be quite hostile, Nate," she said sharply. "Leave now, or I'll be forced to report you to the principal."
Nate's jaw flexed. His grip on Liam's collar loosened reluctantly. Liam collapsed back on his chair, heaving a sigh of relief.
For a tense moment, it looked like Nate might push back. But Selena tilted her chin just slightly.. a silent challenge. And even Nate wasn't foolish enough to cross the mayor's daughter and student council president.
He turned his glare back onto Liam. "This isn't over, Queen." he gritted. Then, with deliberate spite, he tossed the cookie pack to the ground, and stomped it beneath his heel until nothing but crumbs and powder remained.
"And if I were you, I'd stay home from now on," he spat a final warning. "Because the next time I see you in the school premises… You're dead."He declared the words and stormed out with his lackeys.
Silence lingered after they left.
Liam sighed, staring at the crumbs of his ruined meal. His stomach growled, louder than his pride.
Meanwhile, Selena walked to her seat by the window and spoke silently. "You really should stand up to him."
Liam gave a humorless laugh. "You think I haven't tried that?"
She looked at him, one brow raised. "And?"
He chuckled bitterly. "I ended up in the hospital for days."
For the first time, Selena's stern expression softened into a tiny giggle. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out an apple. She tossed it toward him in a clean arc. "Here."
Liam caught it, blinking in surprise. "Oh, no, I can't…"
"Just take it," she cut him off firmly.
He exhaled, then smiled. "Thanks… for the apple. And for, you know, stopping him before he could send me back to that hospital."
Selena gave the smallest smile, then turned her attention to a book, not uttering another word.
Liam's gaze lingered on her for a moment as he bit into the apple. He allowed himself a smile before turning away to face his own book.
After a while, break was over. The rest of the day's lectures rolled by, and soon, the final bell rang. Students spilled into the hallways in loud chatter, heading to their respective houses.
Liam quietly packed his bag and slipped out of the school, heading straight to the diner downtown where his first shift awaited him.
The city buzzed around him as he walked to Ben's Burgers… his evening refuge. The diner's neon sign flickered weakly, but inside was warmth, laughter, and the smell of fried hope.
He pushed the glass door open, the tiny bell above it jingling with his arrival. Inside, the place was lively. A handful of customers occupied booths lined with red leather seats, munching on burgers stacked high with cheese and fries dripping in oil.
Behind the counter, two of his co-workers, Jerry and Summer, were busy.
Jerry, a lanky teenager with a perpetual grin, wiped down the counter, while Summer, with curly hair pulled back in a messy bun, expertly stacked burger buns.
"Hey, Liam!" Jerry called out.
"Evening, Liam," Summer added, offering a tired smile.
Liam returned their greetings, a small smile touching his lips. "Hey, guys. Long day, huh?"
"You know it," Jerry replied, shaking his head. "Just another Monday in Clovis."
Liam nodded, and walked past the counter, reaching for the door that led to the kitchen, a portal to his post-school responsibilities. It creaked slightly on its hinges as he pushed through.
On the other side was the heart of the diner… the kitchen. A sprawling space with metal counters that lined the walls, bowls of prepped vegetables, spice racks, and sauce bottles. The air was thick with the scent of grilled beef, toasted bread, and fried oil.
To the right stood the sink, already piled with plates and trays… a mountain of work waiting for Liam.
Ben, the fry cook, and owner of the restaurant stood by grill. He was a man in his late fifties, his hair already having grey strands. He wore a simple apron stained with grease and sauce, his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscled forearms.
Despite his age, there was strength in his stance and warmth in his eyes, as he expertly maneuvered a spatula, flipping patties with ease.
"Hey, Ben," Liam said, his voice a little strained.
Ben's head snapped up with a warm smile. "Liam, there you are! Good to see you, kiddo. How was school today?"
Liam sighed. He dropped his backpack by a small corner. "It was… cool, Ben. Just the usual." he replied casually, making his way towards the dishwashing station.
Ben watched him closely, the corners of his lips twitching upward in a knowing smile. "Cool, huh? That sigh says otherwise. What's eating you, kiddo? Flunked a test?"
Liam rolled up his sleeves. "Like that can ever happen," he scoffed, dipping a plate into the washing solution.
Ben chuckled. "Just kidding. But seriously, what's bothering you? Is it those bullies again, isn't it?"
Liam's jaw tightened as he began to scrub the plate with a sponge. He let out a dark chuckle. "It's not just the bullies, Ben. It's… everything. The whole world, y'know. It's all gone to shit, and every day I have to wake up knowing that I might not live to see the next."
He paused, letting out a frustrated breath. "It's a shitty life, Ben. And I hate it."
Ben turned to face him. "I hear you, Liam. I really do. This world is a shitty place, no doubt. But hating it… that's like trying to swim against a tidal wave, kiddo. It'll just wear you out."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "There's a time for fighting, sure. But there's also a time for adapting. Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is to find the little bits of good, even in the worst of times. They're there, you just gotta look for 'em. And when you find 'em, you hold onto 'em tight. That's what makes it easier to keep going, to survive."
Liam scoffed, not looking up from his relentless scrubbing. "Good? Ben, what good are we talking about? This life they've handed us? It's a rigged game. There's no good side, only degrees of bad. And I refuse to just accept it. I'm not going to embrace it. I'm going to fight it. I'll keep fighting until one day, I manage to eradicate it, all of it." he stated, his grip on the plate hardening.
Ben chuckled softly. "Well if anyone could actually pull that off, Liam," he said, his voice laced with genuine admiration, "it's you. You've got a fire in your belly, a will of iron," he said.
"But remember this, kiddo: even the strongest fire needs fuel. And sometimes, that fuel comes from knowing when to rest, when to regroup, and when to let someone else carry the load for a bit. Don't burn yourself out before you even get started."
Liam's shoulders relaxed slightly. He nodded. "Alright, Ben," he said, his voice a little softer. "I hear you." He looked up at the chef, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "Thanks."
Ben chuckled. "Anytime, kiddo. Now, come on, get those dishes done. I've got burgers to flip." he said and continued his work at the grill.
Liam only smiled. Ben was one of the few people in this city he truly respected. He was more than just his boss; he was a mentor, a protective figure who treated Liam with the kind of kindness and concern only a father would give. Sometimes Ben would even slip him extra food to take home for himself and his sister.
It was this feeling of belonging that made working at the restaurant one of Liam's most cherished escapes from the harsh realities of his life.
Just as he was about to dive back into the dishwashing, a sudden commotion erupted from the front of the diner: Loud shouts, the unmistakable sound of furniture crashing, and a chorus of terrified yelps pierced through the kitchen's rhythmic clangor.
"What's going on?" Liam muttered.
Ben exhaled heavily. "Stay here," he muttered, already pulling his apron loose.
Liam dropped the plate back into the water and wiped his hands hastily. "No way, I'm coming with you."
Together, they pushed through the kitchen door and into the main hall.