Beta || Liam Dunbar || ON HOLD

2

Adriana.

"You can do this..." I whispered to myself as I paced back and forth in the school parking lot. I had just moved from Illinois all the way to California with my dad. My mother had died just over three months ago and dad decided we needed a new start.

I didn't know anyone here, neither did my dad. I understood why he had wanted to get away it just sucked that I had to leave my friends. I took a deep breath before running my hands through my hair and walking up to the front door. Classes had started just over twenty five minutes ago and the halls should be empty by now.

I slowly pushed the door open and peeked in, seeing a few students wandering around the halls, must have been late or had a free period. I closed the door behind me again and wandered forward towards the main office.

The principle then popped out of his office and smiled at me. "Ah! You must be our new student, Adriana Peters, yes?" I nodded, keeping a steady smile on my face despite the nervousness I felt tightening my chest. He smiled back before turning on his heel, grabbing a piece of paper and walking away, motioning for me to follow him.

I sped up slightly to catch up with him and walked beside him, glancing over the halls, my eyes landed on a mixed-race couple kissing against the lockers. I cringed slightly at the PDA when the man stopped and opened a door.

I slipped in beside him and looked over the class, my heart beating in my ears loudly and my chest tightening at all the staring eyes. "Alright everybody, this is our new student, Adriana. I trust you will all play nice." I felt a blush growing on my cheeks at all the staring and I glanced down, attempting the forget about the prying eyes.

The principle spoke a few more words before motioning for me to sit with a boy at a desk with a Bunsen burner on it. I wandered down the aisle, between the desks and sat beside him, giving him a quick smile before looking back to the front of the class.

"I hope you all enjoy this school year." The head spoke once more before exiting the class.

There were a few murmurs across the room before the teacher's clapping broke the quiet. "Alright everyone! As it is the first period back in this class we're going to be doing some really simple experiments." The chemistry teacher spoke before turning to the board and writing on it.

"Hey," A voice hissed and I turned to face the boy who was sitting beside me with a confused look on my face. "Sorry, that sounded a lot more harsh than intended." He laughed slightly and I smiled, not really knowing how to answer him. "I'm Mason."

I smiled at him slightly brighter and he stuck his hand out for me to shake. I hesitantly moved my hand over and shook his. "Adriana." I answered with a polite tone. I didn't really know how to talk to strangers. I had known all my friends from Illinois since I was younger and didn't really care what people thought of me. "Nice to meet you." He nodded, slipping his hand from mine and looking forward again.

"Okay guys, since you have all just decided to sit wherever you want i'm gonna give you all a seating plan." Everyone groaned at this but I was secretly happy- I didn't have to worry about where I had to sit now. The teacher mumbled to herself for a few seconds before starting to place everyone in their assigned seats.

"Mason." She spoke the name of the boy beside me and we both stood up, shifting from our seats to stand at the side of the class so our desk was free. "And... Sophie, there." She pointed to the desk closest to the front on the left side. Mason and a girl with red hair both sat down at the desk, saying hello to each other before sitting in silence, waiting for everyone else to be seated.

"Adriana." Around ten names later she spoke my name and my head shot up. I glanced around the room, wondering which person I would be siting with. "You sit here." She pointed at a desk three behind Mason's and I moved towards it. "With Liam."

I looked around the remaining people and I watched as a boy with brown hair looked up from the girl he was talking to and towards me. He then muttered something to the girl, who giggled, and sauntered to our desk, sitting down next to me.

I looked away from him as he sat next to me and waited for everyone else to get their seats. I felt Liam staring at me and I moved my hair from behind my ear to over my face to block his vision.

"Okay.. class hasn't got too long left now so just get to know the person you are going to be sitting next to for the next few weeks at least."I cringed at her words. I'd rather just learn about how to burn something.. like a leaf.

Everyone instantly started chattering and Liam turned to look at me. We sat in silence for a few seconds before he cleared his throat. "Well - I'm Liam." He spoke with a bored tune.

"I kinda guessed that." I shrugged and he narrowed his eyes slightly at the both sarcastic and snarky tone in my voice. "Sorry. New school, Kinda nervous." I apologized with a small smile and he nodded silently.

"Well, I mean.. I guess I get it," He muttered quietly and I finally looked over at him, and damn if he looked good from afar, you can't even imagine how good he looked up close. "I went to a different school last year, switched here." He spoke, looking to me, his blue eyes shining.

hot damn.

"Mmm, why did you switch?" I asked him after a few seconds of awkward silence - me trying to think of a conversation starter. He fiddled with his fingers for a couple of seconds. "Oh, sorry, sensitive subject? Don't worry about it."

"No." He quickly snapped before breathing out longly. "I got suspended. I caused a lot of trouble in my old school." He explained briefly before looking to me. I wonder what he did to get suspended.. "You?"

"My mother died a couple of months back. Dad and I thought that it would be best to get out of that place.. too many memories, you know?" I muttered softly and he looked to me.

"I'm sorry." He spoke quietly, eyes softening as he listened to my words.

"No need to apologize." I spoke and he looked to me. "It's not your fault." He looked like he was pondering something for a minute before looking to me.

"It doesn't matter." I looked at him questioningly. "You lost someone, whether it was my fault or not, i'm allowed to be sorry. She was probably important to you, her loss affected you and probably not wonderfully either." He shrugged and I stared at him, thinking of his words.

"I never thought of it that way.. thank you." I smiled at him thankfully and he smiled back, about to say something when the bell rang.

"Catch you later." He spoke, standing up and walking away.

"Bye.." I muttered as he walked away from me, probably too far to hear my words. Oh well. I let out a sigh and stood up from my desk, pulling my bag over my shoulder and walking out of the class, glancing down at the piece of paper the principle had given me. "Maths, how fantastic.."